One week to Halloween; dressing as a tree; the home of Anne of Green Gables; haunted tours
|  | Sunday, October 24, 2021 | | | | |
 | | PHOTOGRAPH BY LISA WINNER | | By Amy Alipio, TRAVEL Assistant Managing Editor
Traveling with family is nerve-wracking in the best of times. But for those with children on the autism spectrum, “there are 10 additional layers of stress,” says photographer Lisa Winner, whose son (pictured above, at Golden Gate National Recreation Area) was diagnosed with autism when he was 3½ years old.
Stressors particularly abound outdoors in nature. As Judith Newman writes for Nat Geo, “There are many surprises in nature—and anyone who loves an autistic person knows surprises are not their jam.” A trip to the Grand Canyon with her autistic son involved “a steady stream of ‘nope’, a refusal to get out of the car, and plaintive sobs when he realized we wouldn’t be back home in New York City for another week.” She has not repeated the experience.
According to one recent study by IBCCES, which oversees training in the field of cognitive disorders, 87 percent of autism families never go on vacation.
But with all the proven health benefits to children of being outdoors, many families are pushing for parks and other public lands to be more accommodating to those with autism. A new initiative to certify parks and recreation centers as autism-friendly could be a game-changer. To earn certification, 80 percent of all personnel must receive specialized training on dealing with people on the spectrum. Other accommodations might include designated low-sensory areas, special entrance lanes to avoid long waits, and barriers to deter kids who are prone to running off.
Winner—whose poignant photos of her son’s travels appear in this story—hopes that “as organizations become more cognizant of accommodating individuals with invisible disabilities, travel for families such as mine becomes a more distinct possibility. As Hans Christian Andersen once said, ‘to travel is to live.’ I hope all families, regardless of cognition abilities, get ‘to live.’”
What are other ways parks can be more autism family-friendly? Share your thoughts.
This is a special monthly Family newsletter dedicated to travel. Like what you’re reading? Drop me a line with comments or travel tips for our Nat Geo Family community. If you want to get the Family newsletter every week, sign up here. If you want your children to get Nat Geo Kids or Nat Geo Little Kids magazines, subscribe here.
| | | |
 | | PHOTOGRAPH BY STEVE SHOEMAKER, AMITY PHOTOS | | Historic and haunted. Some people might call a place with paranormal ties haunted, others might see it as enchanted. Destinations just know it’s good for business—and family travelers may find that creepy hotels, ghost tours, and cemetery walks are actually a good way to learn about history and culture. Ghost tours of Oswego, New York, for example, feature many of the historic city’s 19th-century buildings (pictured above). Unearth more thrilling spots in this story.
We asked, you answered. In last month’s family travel newsletter, we reported on lumberjack tourism. In response, readers wrote back to tell us about beloved fallen trees whose trunks had been repurposed into artistic sculptures or trees planted in memory of loved ones. One reader recommended the World Forestry Center in Portland, Oregon, and the Lumberjack Breakfast at Paul Bunyan's Cook Shanty, in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. And if you’re still looking for a trick-or-treating costume next weekend, take a hint from another reader who, inspired by the apricot tree in her childhood front yard, went dressed as a tree one Halloween. | | | |
 | | PHOTOGRAPH BY HEATHER OGG | | | Prince Edward Island, Canada. I like long walks, but too long walks, especially with kids, can generate a lot of whining. One cool thing about the new Island Walk (pictured above), which circumnavigates the entire Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, is that no matter where you are, you’re never far from a place to eat, sleep, or explore. Anne of Green Gables fans will enjoy the section of the trail between Bayview and Cymbria, which takes in author Lucy Maud Montgomery’s childhood home in Cavendish. (Traveling elsewhere? Have children do a little upfront research with the newly updated Nat Geo Kids World Atlas.) | | | |
 | PHOTOGRAPH BY SEAN CRANE, MINDEN PICTURES
| | Ghostly animals. In just one week, kids will be seeing all sorts of fake ghosts and ghouls—and maybe one of these eerie animals. Ghostly animals that aren't supposed to be white (like a polar bear is) often have a condition that affects their pigmentation, which can make them more vulnerable to predators. But the white eastern gray squirrel (above) is protected in Olney, Illinois, where dozens of them live. Have kids keep their eyes peeled for other weird nature events on Halloween, then have them record their explorations in this Nat Geo Kids Activity Journal Set. (It does have an African safari theme, but you never know when zebras might be running around your neighborhood!)
The environment and you. Humans impact the physical environment in many ways: overpopulation, pollution, burning fossil fuels, and deforestation. Changes like these have triggered climate change, soil erosion, poor air quality, and undrinkable water. These negative impacts can affect human behavior and can prompt mass migrations or battles over clean water. Help kids understand the impact humans have on the physical environment with these resources from the National Geographic Society.
This newsletter was edited and curated by Amy Alipio and Rachel Buchholz, with David Beard and Monica Williams. Have a healthy and a sane (as possible) week ahead | | | |
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