Welcome to the sixth edition of SINGLE PARENT TRAVEL e-zines - a continuing series of monthly newsletters created for the community of single parents who like to travel with their kids. As my Web site continues to be featured in national newspapers and magazines, (most recently Time Magazine, the Houston Chronicle, and the Miami Herald), the newsletter readership increases daily. I urge all my new readers to go back and peruse the five previous newsletters I published, which are archived on my Web site: www.SingleParentTravel.net . Each of the previous newsletters has valuable information to help you prepare for your single parent family vacation.

Thank you for all your wonderful e-mails this past month. I enjoyed reading and responding to them all. (There was one exception: Betty Seagraves, if you are reading this, your e-mail keeps bouncing back. Please advise an alternate e-mail address). Single adults who like to travel with children have written me from all over the U.S. and as far away as the U.K., Argentina and the Cook Islands. In response to those inquiries, we have enhanced the Web site and now have a special section for each of the following:

PACKING LISTS
This section contains several packing lists for different climates, plus a suggested first aid kit.

ARTICLES & DESTINATION INFORMATION
Many e-mail inquiries asked for suggestions on great destinations and activities for single parent families or for information on specific destinations, such as Hawaii. This section covers some areas in the U.S., Latin America and Europe and will continue to be enhanced.

FAQs
We have posted the most common questions with accompanying answers and we urge readers to e-mail in their questions and suggestions. You may email me directly at globalbrenda@yahoo.com or through the Web site.

TRAVEL SUPPLIERS
Numerous travel suppliers have contacted me asking to be mentioned in my newsletters. The following are those deemed to be "single-parent-travel-appropriate:"

EASTOVER RESORT & CONFERENCE CENTER
Located in Lenox, Massachusetts, this family resort center offers a Single Parents Week taking place this year on July 8-13. Sorry for the late notice, but it is something to keep in mind for 2002. Further information may be found on their Web site: www.eastover.com, through e-mail: info@eastover.com, or by calling 800-VACAFUN.

TOUGHTRAVELER.COM This Web site offers a terrific selection of travel, school, and business equipment for active families - fanny packs, briefcases, camera bags, backpacks, and kids gear. I haven't tried any of their gear yet, but I welcome comments from readers who have.

MIAMI B&B One of our readers, Sidonie ("Sid") Sawyer, a traveling single mom with three kids, has a Key West style home in Miami and rents rooms year round for $30 a night, including breakfast. Kids pay $15.00. Sid tells me her home has a big back yard, is located in a safe neighborhood and offers free parking. For further information you can contact Sid via email: ssawyer@herald.com. You may also call her at work 305-376-3471.

MEETING THE LOCALS
In my last newsletter I had promised to write about ways to meet the locals and have a cultural experience with your kids when traveling throughout the U.S.A. or overseas. There are a few things you can do in advance of your trip to get the ball rolling:

*Ask everyone you know if they have a contact at your vacation destination. Have your kids do the same. Then pursue that lead by asking for local travel advice or offering to take your local contact out to dinner.

* Use your business, personal and academic contacts. E-mail or call your regional office at your destination, check out your college alumni directory, or call on church, Rotary Club or gardening club members. Don't be shy about this. In most cases, people are delighted to act as a guide or host or give you sightseeing suggestions.

* Consider joining an organization just for the contact benefits. One such organization is Women Welcome Women, an international organization designed to promote cultural understanding and friendship. I recently joined and already have an e-mail pal from the UK who is planning to come to my area to visit her daughter. The Web site is: www.WomenWelcomeWomen.org.uk. There is a membership fee.

* Contact tourist boards for information or cultural exchanges. In some cities, such as Amsterdam you can pre-book afternoon tea with a local family.

* If you or your child has a special interest, capitalize on that and contact the appropriate organization in advance. Enlist the aid of your child's teacher. Perhaps your child did a paper on the Battle of Little Big Horn and you are planning to visit the battlefield. Try locating the local historian via a Web search. Wouldn't it be fun to have a personalized tour when you get there? Do you have a budding journalist in the family? Contact the editor of the local newspaper at your destination. Sports are always a gateway to a new friendship. Perhaps your child's coach can help you get in touch with a local soccer, lacrosse or football team at your vacation destination.

Once you arrive at your destination there are some other things you can do to enrich your cultural experience and have a little fun. But you have to be willing to step out of your normal "overseas comfort box." On my Web site, under the "Articles" section, is a newly created page called "Latching Onto Locals." Just click on the Web page below and read some field-tested ways to make new friends and enrich your next travel experience.

http://www.singleparenttravel.net/Articles/locals.htm

Enjoy your holiday week!

NOTICE TO SINGLE PARENT DADS
I am currently writing a book entitled "The Single Parent Travel Handbook." One of my chapters will be entitled "Single Parent Dads Tell Their Stories." If you have a travel story or advice to contribute, or know of someone who does, please contact me via email: globalbrenda@yahoo.com. You need not be a professional writer. I will be happy to edit the article or even ghostwrite it based on a phone interview. Contributors have the option of remaining anonymous.

POSTING MESSAGES
Feel free to send me your comments, queries or feedback to me directly at: globalbrenda@yahoo.com or to the list directly at: SingleParentTravel@yahoogroups.com. Please note that comments sent to the list must pertain to single parent travel.