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In late June, we took the family on the new 10-hour direct flight from Boston to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines and proceeded to spend 5 nights in Istanbul and 3 nights in Cappadocia. Lisa and I had been to Istanbul previously on our honeymoon, but the kids had never been there. They were immediately mesmerized by the stunning architecture of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, the calls to prayer that echoed throughout the city, the endless alleys that snake off in every direction at the Grand Bazaar, and, of course, the glorious Turkish food.   We stayed right down the block from the Topkapi Palace at the charming Empress Zoe. Every morning, we would have breakfast in the shaded outdoor garden, befriending the cats. Before dinner, we would return to the hotel to have our backgammon tourney atop a hidden balcony that overlooked the Sea of Marmara and the dome of Hagia Sophia. The bartender at the Empress Zoe made the best mojito I ever had. He would make the mojito and lemonade from scratch every time. I happily waited 10 minutes to drink this heavenly concoction.   The new tram system is easy to use to get around the city. We took several guided tours that we highly recommend. Gamze Artaman was recommended to us by Tom Brosnahan, the original author of the Lonely Planet Guide to Turkey, and now at the helm of TurkeyTravelPlanner.com. She was outstanding, arriving at the Chora Church when it opened to see the renowned 11th-century mosaics without the crowds. We visited the exquisite Suleyman Mosque and a much smaller gem, also designed by the great Turkish architect, Sinan, the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque. Gamze further impressed us by showing us a church from the 14th-century that was now in the back of someone's apartment building. Staring at the wooden pews and small pulpit, it looked like nothing had changed for 500 years. Finally, she walked us around the neighborhood where she grew up, Balat. We saw the Ahrida Synagogue, founded in the 1430s and later used by Jews expelled from Spain in 1492.   A second tour Lisa arranged was on a private boat on the Bosphorus Strait with Zoe Yacht. This was no Boston Whaler, but a spacious two-tiered motorboat with comfy leather seating. We spent over 4 hours touring the entirety of the Bosphorus to the mouth of the Black Sea, seeing the many palaces, mosques, resorts, and homes of people like Agatha Christie who stayed in Istanbul when writing "Murder on the Orient Express." We also had a wonderful English-speaking guide, Ozer, who gave us an overview of both the European and Asian shores. An unexpected highlight was the sighting of dolphins jumping by the side of the boat.   The food was exceptional. Sure you can go to a kebab house every night, but there are some talented chefs in the city now working their magic with fish and lamb and vegetables at restaurants like Yeni Lokanta, Lokanta Maya, and Matbah Ottoman Palace, which only serves specialties from the Ottoman Empire. After getting lost, we found my favorite place for Turkish delights and halvah, 1777 Ali Muhiddin Haci Bekir, and ate sublime baklava with pistachios from Karaköy Güllüoğlu, in operation since 1820.   From Istanbul, we took an easy flight to Kayseri and drove an hour to Ürgüp in the heart of Cappadocia. We met Suha, owner of the first cave hotel in the region, Esbelli Evi, who happens to be another close friend of Tom Brosnahan's. We had a spacious three-bedroom suite with full kitchen and patio, all carved out a cave. With its tall fairy chimneys jutting out of the landscape, early frescoes found in caves at Gombe, and underground cities that reach 8 floors below ground (where 2nd-century Christians lived to avoid Roman persecution), Cappadocia is a fascinating place to explore.   Once again, one of our favorite jaunts was with a guide, Mehmet Gungor, accompanied by his dog, Saki, as we hiked into this lunar-like landscape.We were all by our lonesome in the stunning Rose Valley, hiking in and out of caves that once housed pigeons. Mehmet told us stories of his life both here and with his family in the Netherlands while sucking down a beer. Not your typical hiking guide.   The next morning we took a magical hot air balloon ride over the terrain and then toured the under-ground cities.We rented a car our entire time in Cappadocia and it was easy to drive through this rural part of central Turkey. We made it to the mountain town of Güzelyurt, where we found more underground cities and churches from over a millennium ago . Back in Ürgüp, we loved the restaurant, Ziggy, so much that we dined there twice for dinner. You sit on the top floor overlooking the hills, while dining on small plates of delectable eggplant, lamb, and tomato-based dishes.   We never felt unsafe, either walking through the neighborhoods of Istanbul or driving on the backcountry roads of Cappadocia. In fact, with direct flights, it was a pretty easy vacation, one that we can easily duplicate for anyone else wanting a taste of this beautiful country.

 

Generations Riviera Maya, Mexico

This all-inclusive in Riviera Maya, Mexico, just south of Cancun, is a new family-friendly brand from Karisma, better known for their adults-only resorts. One of our favorite things about this place is their gourmet food (their restaurants don't require reservations!), and their spacious rooms. Another perk? Free child-care from 8am to 9pm. If you want to check out the adults-only El Dorado Royale next door, just pop over for a swim in their adults only pool or eat at their lovely restaurant. Built around a huge pool and situated on a sandy beach, swimming is the main attraction here. You can even choose a swim-out suite to jump into the pool right from your room. Their snorkeling program is also great as is their kids program.   The Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Billed as a "boutique within a resort", The Reserve is a self-contained area surrounded by tropical palm trees within the Paradisus Palma Real. The Reserve is meant for families who want personalized service yet with all the amenities of a full service resort. They offer several restaurants on site and lots of activities like movie nights, beach volleyball lessons, painting, salsa lessons, pizza-making workshops, and live music performances. Unlimited greens fees at the nearby golf club are part of their all-inclusive package, though the golf cart is extra. The Reserve features a huge spa with fitness center as well as a Kids Zone with 2 pools, slides, and requisite game room. Amazingly, the resort offers some excursions as part of their all-inclusive amenities: horseback riding, boat tours and guided bike rides.   Beaches, Turks and Caicos

The ultimate in the family-friendly all-inclusive vacation, Beaches, Turks and Caicos, can easily book up a year in advance as people sign up for the following year while still at the resort. What's the appeal? There is something for everyone from young kids to teens to their parents. The Pirate's Island Waterpark with nine giant water slides and lazy river and Oscar the Grouch entertainment for the younger kiddos; surf simulator, swim-up soda bar, and hangout with pool, air hockey and foosball, nightclub and DJ training sessions for teens, and a full-service spa, yoga, pilates and aerobics, and butler cabanas around the pool for the adults. A unique offering is their 5 day National Geographic scuba program that teaches kids 10 and older how to dive while educating them on marine ecology as well.