Q: My family wants to go to New York City this summer. Can you recommend activities for kids who are in elementary school?

A:  The truth is that there are so many kid-friendly activities in New York that it would be impossible to list them in just one entry.  First off are the classics: The American Museum of Natural History (explain that Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson won’t be there), Central Park Zoo, Bronx Zoo, looking up relatives at Ellis Island, waving to the cameras at “The Today Show.” But the lesser known attractions are just as much fun. Ramp up the sugar buzz at Dylan’s Candy Bar on Third Avenue. Then head over to the New York City Police Museum or take the Roosevelt Island Tram. For more great ideas, check out www.mommypoppins.com.

Q: My husband and I have skied several times in Park City, Utah. We love the town and are wondering if it’s a good place for a summer vacation.

A: In our humble opinion, Park City is even more fun in the summer. The weather is gorgeous — lots of sun, no humidity — the restaurants are less crowded, and the surrounding mountains play host to loads of activities. The resort areas (Park City, Deer Valley and TheCanyons) offer all the standard summer mountain resort fare, including hiking and mountain bike trails, alpine slides and hot air balloon excursions. We particularly enjoy watching the U.S. Olympic aerial freestyle ski jumpers fling themselves into the sky before plunging into an enormous pool at the Utah Olympic Park.

Off the beaten path highlights include hiking in the Uinta Mountains and an evening at the Summit County Fair’s rodeo (held this year from August 1-8).

Q: My family and I would like to spend some time this summer at a family camp. Can you suggest one?

A: Family camps — traditional summer camps that are open to the entire family — are a great vacation option for families who enjoy the outdoors and the inherent hokiness (think skits and “repeat after me” songs) that comes with the summer camp experience. Several Minnesota children’s camps offer  family sessions in addition to their regular programs. But when it comes to camps that are devoted solely to families, the best known and loved is Camp du Nord, on Burntside Lake outside of Ely.  Run by the YMCA of Greater St. Paul, du Nord hosts sessions throughout the year. Their extremely popular summer sessions are filled by a lottery in the dead of winter, but the camp’s website shows they still have openings, especially at the begining and end of summer. Please note that some of those sessions take place before the full-team of counselors — whose grace and wit are the hallmark of the du Nord experience — is in place and that there may not be as many organized activities as there are during the peak of the season.

Q: I’m traveling to Hawaii next winter. Should I buy my plane tickets now?

A: We called Tom Parsons, publisher of bestfares.com, to get his take on the constantly changing airfare scenario and how it could pertain to flights to and from Hawaii next winter. His advice? Wait.  “Hawaii is getting beaten up right now,” he said, referring to the global recession that’s keeping not only Americans but also the Japanese from dancing the hula. Rates from MSP to Honolulu for next winter are currently costing around $700 and Parsons thinks they are unlikely to go much higher. But if you wait a few months and monitor the fares every two weeks or so, you very well may come upon a bargain as the airlines try to fill their seats. At the very least, he advises travelers to wait until Southwest Airlines begins service to Denver (scheduled to start this May). That should lead to cheaper prices to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle, where Hawaii-bound flights are much cheaper than what we Twin Citians usually pay.

Other tips: If you want a good fare, stay away from holidays and spring break.  Schedule departures on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Q: My husband and I are planning a weekend in Madison. Any suggestions about what to do?

A:  The Wisconsin capitol is one of our favorite midwestern getaways. Home to both the University of Wisconsin and the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile, Mad Town mixes the high brown with the down-home. We suggest starting your trip with a crash course in Wisconsin humor by attending a live performance of Michael Feldman’s radio program Whad’Ya Know. We especially recommend the shows that are held at the  Monona Terrace Convention and Community Center, a gorgeous lakeside complex inspired by the designs of native son Frank Lloyd Wright. Other must-dos  include the Dane County Farmers’ Market held at the Capitol and a visit to the U of W’s Aboretum. And what self-respecting traveler could visit the epicenter of America’s dairyland without a stop at an ice cream store? There are no shortage of options, but we particularly love Babcock Hall Dairy Store, where the university’s Department of Food Science peddles its yummy inventions.

What are your favorite things to do in Madison?

Q: A reader wrote asking for tips about traveling to the pacific islands of American Samoa, specifically the National Park of American Samoa.  A:  American Samoa is a five hour flight from Honolulu, and Hawaiian Airlines only flies into Tutuila, the main island, on Thursdays and Sundays. The National Park is located on three islands: Tutuila, Ofu and Tau. A twin prop plane will take you to the remote islands. Because weather challenges can delay those inter-island flights, the experts at the National Park of American Samoa recommend a stay of at least ten days if you want to experience all three islands. That sounds like good advice to us because each island offers very unique experiences. Tutuila has a well-maintained hiking trail system through its rainforest. Ofu has what is agreed to be some of the most gorgeous stretches of beach in the world. Tau is more secluded and is perfect for the adventurous traveler who likes to have a guide (you tell someone at the park the night before you need one, and a cousin or friend will appear the next morning) hack their way through trails with a machete. In terms of accomodations, the place to stay on Ofu is Vaoto Lodge, which has nine guest rooms and serves meals family style. On Tutuila and  Tau, a great way to experience local culture is to take part in the park’s “home stay” program. More like a bed & breakfast than a standard hotel, the home stay program allows you to live with a local family for a fee of between $30 and $40 a night. Snorkeling is a big draw on Ofu (the water is not readily accessible on the other two islands), with over 250 species of coral. But you’ll need to bring your own snorkels, masks and fins as there aren’t any for rent on any of the islands. Â