My memories of National Geographic start as a small child. The photos were captivating, and throughout school the stories became resources for book reports, speeches or art projects. When I went to college and worked in the library (it was much cooler than you think!), I came across old leather hardbound volumes from the early 1900s (think Teddy Roosevelt hunting Tigers in India). Now, as a dad, one of our favorite travel activities is to get some room service at the end of a fun day and watch National Geographic specials. They love it as much as me, so of course the kids also receive National Geographic Kids.

As you can tell, I dig National Geographic, so you can imagine how excited I was when they gave the Five Hens an opportunity to review a great new book geared towards family travel and education – National Geographic The 10 Best of Everything Families: An Ultimate Guide for Travelers. As its title suggests, it is full of great “10 Best” lists for family travel throughout the United States, and even some international locations. In keeping with that spirit, here are my 10 favorites about the book, in no particular order:

1. Organization. The book is really well organized. You can efficiently plan vacations based on geographic regions, types of activities or all sorts of educational endeavors.

2. Affordability. Traveling can be expensive, so any opportunity to have a lot of fun at a reasonable price is great. Most of the suggestions from National Geographic are for great activities that are either low cost or free – you can’t beat that!

3. Variety. National Geographic did a great job of capturing so many different types of places, activities and options throughout the U.S. There really is something for every family.

4. Seasonal Celebrations. My favorite section covers seasonal celebrations, which provide a great opportunity to experience the cultures in different geographic areas that really reflect the people’s lifestyle, values and history.

5. It is not all about “tourist traps.” National Geographic did not just pick the most popular places in the biggest cities – many of the recommendations are in smaller towns or more obscure places that are every bit as fun (if not more) than some of the “tourist traps” that can be more expensive and crowded.

6. Truly about “families“. Not every book or publication that purports to be focused on the family really is. This book highlights places and activities that are family friendly. And as all parents know, happy stimulated kids equal happy parents and true family fun!

7. Succinct and Helpful Information. The information provided for each activity or location is short, but useful. There is just enough information to capture your interest, and then it provides the web address so you can explore it more as you plan your trip. I suggest looking at it with your little chicks – that way planning can be a fun, family activity too.

8. Focused. The book is not a complete travel guide that tells you where to stay, where to eat, how to get there, that sort of thing. While those are sometimes helpful, for me they always feel more like advertisements than impartial guides. So I like a book that is focused on a limited list of fantastic options for the little chicks, and this one delivers.

9. Inclusive. The international section of the book has similarly valuable information, so it provides good ideas and some highlights of places beyond U.S. Borders that may provide a great family experience. For more specific information once you choose an exotic destination, I have found Lonely Planet to be useful.

10. It’s National Geographic! How can you go wrong? I know I sound like a crazed National Geographic groupie (no, I don’t camp on the lawn of their D.C. headquarters), but seriously, this brand has delivered throughout my life, so I know I can trust the product and its recommendations. I have been to many of the Northwest and Rocky Mountain places, and all of the recommendations check out. Based on the brand and my own experiences, I am confident that most of the other National Geographic recommendations will too. So give it a shot – it’s a great book and can help you do what matters most – enjoy some family time while nourishing your chicks with fun and education!