The sleepy town of Larache has been many things throughout history. The ancient site, known as Lixus, was an important trade center from around 1000 B.C. to 100 A.D. It was settled by Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Romans. Larache proper was founded around the year 800. It was an important port city for roughly six centuries. Larache was a shipyard for the Corsairs in the 15th century. It was a hideout for Barbary pirates. The medina was built during this period. Larache was occupied by the Portuguese in 16th century. In 1578, the Portuguese fled Morocco through this port city. Larache was taken by the Spanish in 1610 and lost to the Sultan in 1689. It was the principal port of Spanish Morocco from 1610 to 1689 and again from 1912 to 1956. Today, Larache is an important agricultural and fishing center.

Online maps are a great travel planning resource and a great way to get the kids involved in a family vacation. Map the imperial cities - Marrakesh, Fez, Meknes and Rabat - as well as Berber villages, desert oasis and mountain ranges. Use online maps to pinpoint your family travel destination and get a lay of the land.

Books are a great way to introduce young children to a new adventure and get teens and tweens ready for a family trip. We've compiled a list of books about Morocco and books by Moroccan authors for children of various ages and with varying interests. What better why to begin a journey that a trip through literature?

Moroccan music is a web of rhythm and sound. And it comes in a variety of forms. Arab-Andalusian music, a classical tradition imported from Muslim Spain, combines rhythm, vocals and instrumentals in complicated musical structure called nawbat or harmonic modes. Berber music, played at weddings, festivals and tribal gatherings, are poems and tales told through song. Moroccan popular music is rooted in Arabic style but influenced by African, Western and all forms of Moroccan music.

Read Moroccan newspapers online and, in addition to brushing up on Moroccan current events, find out what's happening from Casablanca to Tamegroute and discover what Moroccans are reading about.

Online resources make learning lots of fun. Learn about Ibn Battuta, an explorer from Tangier, and take a virtual tour with this 14th century traveler. Map the routes followed by Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo and compare the two. View images of daily life and discover the Moroccan culture. Get fun facts about Morocco. Test your knowledge before you depart and again when you return. Print the information you find fascinating and take it with you on your family trip. Explain your findings to your family members and use the things you learn to make your travel journal really cool.