The UN organization UNESCO is on the lookout world-wide for places with outstanding cultural or natural heritage, and many of these sites are wonderful places to visit with kids.

For example, some major US National Parks have been designated World Heritage sites: such as the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and the Florida Everglades.

World-wide, Heritage Sites include Quebec City's historic district, the Great Wall in China, Petra "Lost City of Stone" in the Jordanian Desert, numerous historic sites in Italy, castles in the UK, and much more -- UNESCO has a total of 890 World Heritage sites.

Check out some highlights in a "blog carnival" hosted by About.com's Guide for Italy Travel.

(UNESCO, by the way, is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.)

*Photo of the Grand Canyon courtesy of Xanterra Parks and Resorts.

We've got a new feature, at About.com sites: a chance for readers / site visitors to share their thoughts. Just click on a special link at the end of an article, and use a simple form to send your tips and ideas.

My first try at this is a page about Summer Travel Ideas. Scroll down the page, and you'll see a link: for "Readers Respond: Got Suggestions for summer Travel?" This takes you a form to fill in.

If you're already an About.com member, it's full speed ahead. Otherwise, you'll be asked for a Membername, Email Address, Password, and Date of Birth.

Hope to hear from you about some favorite destinations! And by the way, all the blogs posted here and at any About.com site have a "Comments" link (- you can see it below)... Another way to share opinions and tips.

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*Photo courtesy of Mammoth Mountain.

Ski resorts try hard to woo summer travelers, with jazz festivals, food festivals -- and, always, plenty of fun for families.

Okemo, for example -- an ultra- family-friendly ski resort in Vermont -- has a Family Adventure Retreat in August with two full days of activities (family yoga, biking hiking, wilderness challenge, lots more.) Deer Valley, in Utah -- famous among foodies-- also has a Summer Adventure Camp, for kids 12 months to 12 years old.

Meanwhile, in Colorado, Winter Park definitely goes the extra mile -- or rather 3030 feet-- for families in summer, with its giant summertime Alpine Slide.

• more about summer at ski resorts
• lots more summer vacation ideas

*Photo courtesy of Winter Park ski resort.

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I love this idea: kayaks with plexi-glass bottoms, so you can see into the sea you're paddling on. Turtle Bay Resort, on Oahu, is offering kayak tours over coral reefs, using new Peekaboo™ kayaks.

Turtle Bay Resort is on the beautiful and less developed north coast of the island: not even an hour from Waikiki, but a totally different Oahu. Turtle Bay Resort has 880 acres, five miles of beach, five different bays, pool with waterfall and slide, on-site snorkeling, horseriding, surf lessons... and now, eco-kayaking (but not on the big-wave bay you see above.)

• Read more about Turtle Bay Resort, and see photos
• Top Things To Do on Oahu
• more Hawaii resorts

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Photo courtesy of Turtle Bay Resort.

Once again, it's that peak summer travel season, when the line-ups are long, the flights are packed, and in many cities, rainstorms frequently cause delays and canceled flights (which are hard to re-book, because, um, the flights are packed.)

Check out some practical tips for Summer Air Travel, to reduce your risk of delayed flights and other summertime travel blues.

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Summer means high season for theme parks. Any theme park you care to visit will have fun on-site for little kids: a play area, for example, designed for tots.

But some places go much further: entire theme parks are dedicated to the younger set, such as Sesame Place, or LEGOLAND, or the classic Magic Kingdom in Disney World. Other parks create whole sections for their wee visitors, such as Seuss Landing at Universal Orlando.

Have a look at Theme Parks for Little Kids.

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If you didn't know already, Mickey and pals have been entertaining guests in Hong Kong since Sept. 2005. Their theme park is now set for a major expansion: 30 new attractions and three new themed lands will be added, over five years time.

The new theme areas are Grizzly Trail, Mystic Point and Toy Story Land. Once the $3.6B expansion's done, Disneyland Hong Kong will have more than 100 attractions in seven themed lands.

 | More about Disneyland Hong Kong

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*Photo courtesy of Disneyland Hong Kong.  | more about Disney Vacations  |

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Why not celebrate in a city that puts on a big bash?

Macy's Fourth of July fireworks in NYC are famous (-check out the best places to view); Boston throws a party called Harborfest, DC has a giant Independence Day Parade; in LA, the Rose Bowl has Family Fun Festival, concert, and Americafest fireworks...

See:

• Fourth of July Festivities

*Photo courtesy of Disney World.

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It's a paradox: babies are so small, yet they need so much stuff!

And we have suggestions for yet more baby gear, for you... But at least these items are mostly small and easily portable. Click for baby swim wear that keeps babies and toddlers afloat; swim diapers; water wings; baby floating seat in the shape of a car; and more.

 | Baby Pool Gear  |

Plan a family trip in July with a fun event at the center of the itinerary.

• Fourth of July Celebrations - visit a city that has a big bash
• Hot Air Balloon Festival in Stowe VT
• Montreal Jazz Festival - many outdoor concerts, big-time kids' zone
• Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Washington DC- with special kids' activities; overlaps July 4th holiday
• Hawaii Festivals - Ukulele Festival in Waikiki with free concert, rodeos, kids' fun

*Photo courtesy of Montreal Jazz Festival.