Kids Guide Traveler | Family Vacation Destinations

Travel articles below are reprinted from previously published Kids' Guides.
Please consult the attached website links for the most up-to-date information.

FAMILY VACATION DEALS & TRAVEL NEWS

SELECTED FEATURES
Tucson, Arizona
Charleston, South Carolina
Disney Update
Miami Beach, Florida
San Diego, California
Smugglers' Notch, Vermont
Tanque Verde Ranch, Arizona

KIDS' GUIDE FAVORITE VACATIONS

TRIP PLANNER
Helpful websites to plan your next family vacation

Family Vacation Deals
and Travel News

Family Vacation Deals are updated in January and June with the release of the new print version of the Kids' Guide.
The website is updated periodically between those dates.
PLEASE NOTE: Special packages are offered for a limited time and may be discontinued at any time. Rates and dates are subject to change without notice. Please use links to individual destinations for current prices and availability and to see new packages and offers.

FLORIDA

ORLANDO
The Orlando Magicard, valid for up to six people (excluding accommodations), allows vacationers to save at 95 area establishments from attractions, accommodations, restaurants and dinner theaters to ground transportation and shopping malls. The card is available free of charge through the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Travel counselors can be reached for vacation-planning information by calling 407-363-5872.
www.orlandoinfo.com, 800-551-0181

HAWAII

RESORTQUEST (Aston Hotels & Resorts) KIDS STAY, PLAY & EAT FREE PROGRAM
ResortQuest Hawaii's family program, ResortQuest Kids Stay, Play & Eat Free, gives guests exclusive free offers at nearly 40 attractions, restaurants and retailers across Hawaii's four major islands. The yearround program entitles children (12 & under) to free activities, meals and merchandise when staying at any ResortQuest Hawaii property when accompanied by one paying adult. For a complete listing of offers by island, visit www.ResortQuestHawaiiKids.com.
www.ResortQuestHawaii.com, 866-774-2924

CARIBBEAN

BAHAMAS
Stella Maris Resort, on Long Island in the southern Bahamas, offers spectacular diving, snorkeling and fishing year round in its crystal clear, warm waters. Family-friendly accommodations include ocean-view hotel rooms, one-bedroom cottages (both with mini fridge) and 2, 3 and 4-bedroom bungalows (with full kitchen), some with private pool. Children 7 years and younger always stay free. Children from 8-12 sharing an accommodation with their parents are $25 per child per night. Cribs and babysitters are available and the resort offers a special kid's menu.
800-426-0466

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC & MEXICO
Dreams & Sunscape Resorts & Spas, seven luxury family-focused resorts in Mexico and the Dominican Republic offer a fully-supervised Explorer's Club for ages 3-12 as part of their all-inclusive packages. Accommodation options for families include swim-out suites or two-bedroom master oceanfront suites as well as connecting rooms or other room categories. All-inclusive rates at Dreams and Sunscape Resorts & Spas include accommodations, meals, premium brand drinks, 24-hour room service, Explorer's Club, pools, sports facilities, water sports equipment and instruction, entertainment, taxes and gratuities. Babysitting is available but charged additional.
Dreams Resorts & Spas offer luxury accommodations and extensive facilities, activities and programs geared towards families and friends.
866-2DREAMS
Sunscape Resorts & Spas offer family-oriented accommodations, plus a comprehensive line-up of facilities, activities and programs to enhance family vacation experiences.
866-SUNSCAPE

JAMAICA
Club Mongoose, a children's program for ages 2-12, is complimentary as part of the all-inclusive plans at Sunset Resorts in Jamaica. The Resorts include Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios, Sunset Beach Resort & Spa in Montego Bay, and Sunset at the Palms in Negril, a newly renovated eco-friendly all-inclusive resort featuring whimsical stilt houses scattered throughout a 10-acre tropical garden bordering the Negril Royal Palm Preserve.
800-234-1707

MEXICO
Cabo La Estancia, a luxury beach resort and spa in Cabo San Lucas Mexico, offers spacious, private villas located on Mendano Beach, the only swimmable beach in Cabo San Lucas. Families can choose from three types of villas-two bedroom-three baths, three bedroom-four baths or penthouse units offering 5,500 square feet occupying the entire eighth floor. Resort amenities include the Desert Spa, infinity edge pool, kids program and babysitting services. Packages and last-minute deals are posted on the resort's website.
310-577-8600

The Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort is a AAA Four Diamond resort featuring 375 luxuriously appointed guest rooms and suites offering views of the Sea of Cortes, four recently renovated ocean view dining venues, new Spa Oasis, draped beach front palapas, two lighted tennis courts, "Vacation Station" children's program, a full service fitness center and infinity edge swimming pool.
800-HILTONS

ROATAN
Anthony's Key Resort, a PADI 5-Star Gold Palm Resort in Roatan, offers a popular Dolphin/Scuba Camp in the summer for children ages 5-9 and 10-14. While parents enjoy scheduled boat dives or snorkel trips to Roatan's world-class underwater sites, children learn about interacting with bottlenose dolphins and will be exposed to diving and snorkeling skills according to their age and skill level. Camp begins on Sunday and ends on Friday. Children join parents for lunch daily and parents are welcome to observe and participate in most activities.
800-227-3483

ST. JOHN, USVI
Cinnamon Bay Campground is an unspoiled island refuge set on the northern coast of St. John, USVI, operated by Caneel Bay, a Rosewood Resort. Surrounded by Virgin Islands National Park and located just steps from the longest beach on the island, Cinnamon Bay offers rates from $30 per night based on double occupancy. Cinnamon Bay offers a range of accommodations, including 40 screen-lined coattages, 55 durable pre-erected tents, and 31 bare sites for camp-it-yourselfers with space enough for one large tent or two smaller tents. All accommodations are private and less than a five-minute walk from the sands of Cinnamon Bay Beach.
Cinnamon Bay can be reached from St. Thomas via ferries from Red Hook or Charlotte Amalie to Cruz Bay, St. John, and then a 15-minute taxi ride to the campground.
800-539-9998

ST. LUCIA
Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa along St. Lucia's south coast allows adults to enjoy quiet time without kids, families to spend time together and kids and teens to spend time away from the adults in their own supervised areas. Families stay in rooms close to the action of the recently launched CocoLand featuring a water park and Kidz Klub. A wing for adults is situated near the Kai Mer Spa and tranquil adult-only area, complete with cabana beds and hammocks. At CocoLand, youngsters take nature hikes on Coconut Bay's 85 palm-fringed acres and participate in supervised arts and crafts. Teens spend time with their peers at Da Buzz, the resort's club for 13-17 year olds, complete with X-Box 360s, soda and snack bar, oversized bean bag furniture, movies and organized activities.

EAST

MAINE
Hog Island Audubon Center in Muscongus Bay offers special youth and family camps during the summer. Set on a private island and run by Maine Audubon, the 330-acre preserve in midcoast Maine provides an intimate setting for exploring nature.
888-325-5261 ext 215

Linekin Bay Resort is a family sailing resort that is virtually unchanged from its start over 60 years ago, offering a very family friendly, laid back, rustic environment of years gones by. Groups range from families with young children to large multigenerational groups. Special kids camp and discounted kids rates are offered.
866-847-2103

MARYLAND
Baltimore
Harbor Magic Hotels (Pier 5 Hotel, Admiral Fell Inn and Brookshire Suites) offer a Family Adventure Package which includes deluxe overnight accommodations at the Harbor Magic Hotel of your choice with breakfast for two adults and two children. The package also includes a Harbor Magic camera and frame along wth a Harborplace & The Gallery discount book, a choice of two ESPN Zone 40 point game cards, two adult and two child passes to Ed Kane's Water Taxi, Top of the World Observation Level, or the USS Constellation.
www.harbormagic.com, 866-583-4162

MASSACHUSETTS
For a family adventure close to home, Zoar Outdoor offers whitewater raft trips, canoe and kayak instruction, rock climbing and camping/lodging in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts along the Deerfield River. The area features many acres of state land for hiking, biking, water sports and backroad driving and is also a popular destination due to its growing number of artist's studios, galleries, performing arts and restaurants. The Zoar Gap trip, featuring class II and III rapids, is ideal for families (minimum age 7) and first-time rafters. Half-day guided float trips are available for families and groups with children 5 and over. Spring trips begin mid-April and continue throughout the summer. A fly fishing program was added last year with guided float fishing trips.
800-532-7483

The Inn at The Oaks, steps from the Cape Cod National Seashore and the Cape Cod Rail Trail offers family suites including pet friendly accommodations in the carriage house, as well as king and queen size rooms. All guest rooms and suites have private baths, A/C, TV/DVD, sitting area or activity table, telephone and wireless internet access. Additional amenities include fireplaces, claw-foot soaking tubs and refrigerators.
877-255-1886

Boston
Visit www.bostonusa.com for a complete set of Family Friendly hotel packages. For publications/brochures, value cards and family-friendly discounts, visit the website.
888-733-2678
The Colonnade Hotel , a 285-room boutique hotel located in Boston's fashionable Back Bay, offers a Kids See & Do package and Family Connection Package.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
The Appalachian Mountain Club offers week-long Family Adventure Camps during the summer, plus year-round all-inclusive stays at AMC's Highland Lodge in the White Mountains, New Hampshire, featuring expert-led activities, outdoor gear, meals and lodging. A more rustic closer-to-home destination is AMC's Mohican Outdoor Center in Sussex County, New Jersey, which is operated on a self-service basis all year. See listing under Outdoors for more info about the Mohican Outdoor Center.

NORTH CAROLINA
The Outer Banks Official Travel Guide & Getaway Card is available from the Outer Banks official travel web site at www.outerbanks.org or call the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau toll free at 877-OBX-4FUN (629-4386). The guide includes sections highlighting cycling, the Civil War trail, and running along the Outer Banks as well as information about campgrounds, beach access, public boat ramps, fishing, lifeguard locations and more.
877-OBX-4FUN

WEST

ARIZONA
Arizona Tourism Center with resorts in Sedona and Scottsdale offers packages of 4 days/3 nights in a one bedroom suite (sleeps four) for $349. Five days/4 nights in a one bedroom suite are available for $449. All resorts feature full kitchens in one bedroom suites and larger. Amenities include pool, hot tub, fitness, barbecue areas and an on-site activity center offering arts and crafts for kids. Prices are subject to availability. Holiday and black-out dates may apply. Travel, taxes and incidentals are not included.
877-444-8044

For parents traveling with kids, the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort has many attractive amenities. An all-suite resort, guests can choose from a standard two-room suite, a one- or two- bedroom casita, a Grande Suite or mountainside Palacio, a 3-bedroom fully furnished home overlooking the resort. The resort's Hole-in-the-Wall River Ranch features four acres of cascading waterfalls, secluded waterways, three new swimming pools, and a 130-foot waterslide. Located on 27-acres the property is surrounded by the Sonoran Desert and bordered by the 3,000-acre Phoenix Mountain Preserve offering immediate access to hiking, jogging and biking trails. The Coyote Camp children's program is available for children ages 4-12.
800-876-4683

Xanterra South Rim, LLC, operator of the lodges and other services in Grand Canyon National Park at the South Rim, and the Grand Canyon Field Institute offers a two-day, two-night "Learning & Lodging" program which combines in-field adventures with naturalist guides, comfortable accommodations in park lodges, in-park transportation, one dinner, two breakfasts, two box lunches, retail coupons and a course completion certificate. Group size is limited to 12. Children 10 and older are welcome to participate when accompanied by an adult.
www.grandcanyonlodges.com, click on the "promotions" link.

COLORADO
Wilderness Trails Ranch in the San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado has been operating continuously as a guest ranch since 1950. Horseback riding instruction includes all day and half day rides, trailblazing, cattle work and clinics for grown-ups and an award-winning children's and teen program for ages 3-17. Week-long all-inclusive vacations include accommodations in historic yet elegant log cabins, all meals from ranch fare to gourmet cuisine, swimming, horse-drawn hay rides, fishing, lake activities and evening entertainment. Spa services, white-water rafting, guided fly fishing, guided excursions to Mesa Verde National Park, and discounted rides on the historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad are available optional activities.
800-527-2624

Estes Park is the location of one of YMCA of the Rockies properties suited to family travelers with facilities to accommodate family reunions. Outdoor recreation includes fly fishing, rock climbing, hiking, rafting, outdoor education programs and day camps.
www.ymcarockies.org

GRAND CANYON
Grand Canyon Expeditions offers all-inclusive 8- and 14-day adventures through the Grand Canyon, including special-interest excursions that focus on archaeology, history, ecology, geology and photography. Guests ride the Colorado River's rapids, explore side canyons and camp on the river's beaches. Tours are all-inclusive including meals, beverages, sleeping gear, dry bags, tents, personal storage boxes and transportation to and from Las Vegas, the point of origin. Trips are scheduled May-August and are recommended for ages 8 and up.
800-544-2691

IDAHO
Warren River Expeditions, providing white water rafting trips on Idaho's Main Salmon and Middle Fork of the Salmon River, offers a 25% discount for kids 14 and younger.
800-765-0421

Destination Wilderness of Idaho offers guided family trips, inflatable kayaks and kayaks support trips on the Main Salmon River. Legendary whitewater, pristine scenery, abundant wildlife, sandy beaches and hot springs are samples of what this magnificent canyon has to offer.
866-872-5666

MONTANA
Resort Property Management has a large selection of luxurious vacation homes and condos in Big Sky, Montana, just 45 minutes from Yellowstone National Park. The Kid-cation Vacation Package includes the family's choice of a summer vacation home or condominium in Big Sky's Meadow Village or up on Lone Peak; two-hour trail ride on horseback at an area rance, fly-fishing in well-stocked trout ponds, a hayride and BBQ down by the Gallatin River and a half day scenic float down the Gallatin. The Kid-cation Vacation package also includes a Montana Kids Pack with area maps, visors, games, snacks, water bottles and "moose trail mix." To learn more, call 866-995-4455 or visit the website.

For a downloadable travel guide, packages and deals and vacation planning info about family-friendly activities in western Montana's Glacier Country, including Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake area, visit www.glaciermt.com.

SOUTHWEST U.S.
Dvorak Expeditions offers kayak and rafting trips from a half-day to 10 days covering 9 rivers and 29 canyons in five states. Specific dates are reserved for family rafting trips where each adult paying full price may bring a child free or larger families can participate on the trip at one special price. Exclusive 22-day teenage (13-17 years) Whitewater Skills Course is available. Guide training courses (minimum age 18 years) are offered in spring; spring break trips for college students; custom fly-fishing expeditions; youth group trips; kayak, canoe and raft instruction are also offered throughout the season.
800-824-3795

WYOMING
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
Programs offered by the Yellowstone Association Institute include multi-day Lodging & Learning programs at park hotels and Field Seminars at the organization's field campus. A complete listing is available at www.YellowstoneAssociation.org
307-344-5566

U.S. / INTERNATIONAL

ADVENTURE U.S. & ABROAD
Boundless Journeys, an operator of high-quality, small group adventure trips worldwide, offers many trips appropriate for families. Their most popular is the 8 day/7 night Costa Rica: Rainforests and Volcanoes Family Adventure. 2009 dates are February 15-22 and April 12-19. Peaceful and stable, Costa Rica is recommended as an ideal first family adventure to an exotic location. The wildlife, culture and geography offer phenomenal learning opportunities and fun activities abound at swimming pools, butterfly farms, swing bridges and zipline tours. Accommodations, expert local guides, transportation in Costa Rica and meals are included. Normally priced at $2895 per person for adults and $2595 per child 7-11 years old, Boundless Journeys is offering a $100 per person discount for Kids' Guide readers on 2009 trips. Other trips recommended for families include Tanzania: Migration Safari and Peru: The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.
$100 per person discount for Kids' Guide readers
800-941-8010

COSTA RICA
NatureAir is the world's first carbon neutral airline and the only domestic airline in Costa Rica that offers children ages two to 11 a 25% discount off the listed ticket price. NatureAir's vacation department can also create a family package for all fitness levels, personal tastes and budgets. For a complete list of schedules and prices, visit www.natureair.com

TRUSTED ADVENTURES
Trusted Adventures is a group of seven experienced, like-minded, owner-involved adventure travel companies who formed an alliance in 2005 to offer a way for families to identify and book top quality adventure travel vacations. The group is dedicated to the promotion of ecologically sensitive and responsible travel and collectively offers over 300 trips to 80 destinations worldwide.
Members include:
· Austin-Lehman Adventures, offering luxury multi-sport adventures throughout the Americas, Europe and South Africa, 800-575-1540
· Euro-Bike & Walking Tours, has been leading active cycling tours and guided walking trips in Europe for over 30 years. 800-321-6060
· Myths and Mountains, offers cultural journey to Asia, South America, Antarctica and Africa. 800-670-6984, www.mythsandmountains.com
· ROW Adventures, offers rafting and active travel in Idaho, Oregon and Montana since 1979. 800-451-6034, www.rowadventures.com
· The Wayfarers, offers worldwide walking vacations since 1984. 800-249-4620, www.thewayfarers.com
· Western River Expeditions, offering whitewater rafting vacations in Grand Canyon, Arizona, Utah and Idaho for over 45 years.
· Wildland Adventures, offering authentic cultural and natural history explorations worldwide. 800-345-4453, www.wildland.com
For more information, visit Trusted Adventures online at www.trustedadventures.com

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
Ecoventura, a family-owned small-ship adventure company, offers designated departures over school breaks and during the summer for families to explore the Galapago Islands. Supervised water games, snorkeling and sea kayaking instruction are geared toward the younger set. Children can visit the bridge and learn about astronomy, navigational charts and knot tying. Naturalist guides present information on Ecuador ecology, geology, marine mammals and reptiles and the history of the Galapagos Islands and Charles Darwin. Kid-friendly food is available and special parties are planned.

International Expeditions, a leader in nature travel, is offering 10-day journeys to the Amazon and the Galapagos for families. Among the assets that make International Expeditions Family Voyages special are IE's Family Directors, custom-crafted, family-friendly itineraries, special pre-trip materials for young explorers, and IE's hallmark guides who know and love their destination. A kid-centric menu with favorites like chicken fingers, pasta and waffles will appease even the fussiest eaters, while adults dine on international and local cuisine.

WALKING & CYCLING VACATIONS
Many parents cross taking a vacation to Europe off their list of things to do at least until their children are teens. But Breakaway Adventures, a tour company specializing in walking and cycling overseas vacations, regularly has families with children of all ages travel on its more than 200 tours. For more information and detailed itineraries, visit www.breakaway-adventures.com or call 800-567-6286.

SKIING

See Websites & Trip Planner below.

 March 2008

FEATURE ARTICLES

Discover
Tucson, Arizona

Arizona, particularly Tucson, has always been one of our family's favorite vacation destinations. The dramatic landscapes of America's southwest are worlds away from our typical scenery at home and with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, a sunny vacation is virtually guaranteed (except perhaps during "monsoon" season in August and September when violent afternoon thunderstorms are known to pass through).

Metropolitan Tucson lies in a flat valley, but is surrounded by five mountain ranges, three with peaks of 9,000 feet and higher. To the west and east lie the saguaro-studded hills of Saguaro National Park. The city has grown rapidly and redevelopment surrounds its original adobe fortress or presidio downtown, which marks Tucson's formal founding in 1775. A car is essential for sightseeing, but the area is easily navigated on a few major roads and many sights can be reached within an hour or less.

Tucson's accommodations range from hotels and motels, historic bed and breakfasts and guest ranches to luxurious resorts and world-renowned wellness spas. The major resort area lies about 10 miles north of the city, where many award-winning destinations are tucked against the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Resorts include Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort, Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf and Tennis Resort, The Lodge at Ventana Canyon, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, Omni Tucson National Golf Resort and Spa, Tanque Verde Ranch, The Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa, and Westward Look Resort.

Stretched over 500 acres under the sheer red granite cliffs of Pusch Ridge in the Santa Catalina Mountains, the setting for the Hilton El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort is truly spectacular. The El Conquistador was built in 1982 and is one of the area's early resorts. It came under the Hilton brand in 2002 and has undergone major renovation since then. 428 guest rooms include 92 one, two and three bedroom casitas, ideal accommodations for families. A one-bedroom master suite can be joined on one side or both with another bedroom with bath to make a spacious 2 or 3-bedroom unit with shared living room with fireplace and tv, dining room, and efficiency kitchen equipped with a sink, microwave, mini-refrigerator, counter and cabinet space.

All rooms have a private balcony or patio with sweeping mountain, desert or courtyard views. Some casitas offer lawn space off the patio convenient for children to play outside or patios that border the casita pool. Natural vegetation and flowering plants line the winding pathways that lead through the casita complex and to the casita pool and hot tubs.

Outside the main hotel, the Desert Springs Water Oasis fulfills every kid's dream and consists of a large traditional pool, a 143-foot water slide, hot tub and children's splash pool with water fountains. The pool area is well designed utilizing rock features and waterfalls to separate elements and mirrors the cliffs of Pusch Ridge that rise dramatically behind the resort. The Desert Springs outdoor cafe serves lunch and tropical drinks poolside. While typical December temperatures only approach the mid-60s, by mid-afternoon, the sun can be warm enough to swim, lounge in the hot tub and cool off on the waterslide.

The El Conquistador is the only Tucson resort with its own equestrian center on property. The resort borders Coronado National Forest and miles of trails are accessible for horseback riding as well as hiking, biking and bird watching without the need to pack up the car. Horse rentals and guided rides for all levels are available. The one and a half hour sunset ride leads up Pusch Ridge on a narrow, rocky and steep path, and offers riders stunning views of the iridescent mountains and valley below. Wranglers are particularly attentive to children and use a lead line to assist them when necessary.

If golf is your game, Tucson is an ideal destination, offering year round play on desert-target courses and traditional parkland layouts designed by notable architects including Tom Fazio, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tom Weiskopf. The Hilton El Conquistador features 45 holes of championship golf on three different courses and a golf academy. The 9-hole Pusch Ridge Course is located at the resort and winds, dips and climbs through a 175-foot vertical drop in the foothills. The Cañada, a desert-style design, and the Conquistador courses are located seven minutes west of the hotel via hotel shuttle. Rolling terrain, emerald fairways and greens combined with spectacular mountain views and a perfect climate make for a fabulous day. Be aware when making tee times in winter: Tucson is a high desert, so does get cold, and early morning frost can delay play for several hours.

Another one of our group's favorite courses was the very challenging and beautifully designed Canyon Course by Tom Fazio at The Lodge at Ventana Canyon. A newer luxury resort along the foothills, The Lodge at Ventana Canyon is notable for its exquisite design seamlessly incorporated into the natural mountain and desert landscapes.

In addition to golf, horseback riding and the Desert Oasis pool at the Hilton El Conquistador, amenities include 31 lighted tennis courts, a fitness center with custom spa services, full-service salon and Kids Camp during the summer. On-site restaurants include Dos Locos offering Latin fusion cuisine and outdoor seating; Sundance, serving traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner; and The Last Territory Steakhouse, serving mesquite grilled entrees picnic-style in an outside courtyard or family-style inside with live music and dancing. Children's menus are offered in Sundance and Dos Locos restaurants. The Hilton Breakfast is complimentary for a child five years of age or younger when accompanied by a paying adult.

With all this, a family could easily hole up here for the week and never leave the premises. Besides resort life, however, Tucson has a great number of attractions and activities that are unique to the area and well worth a visit.

For sightseeing, there's no better place to start than the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. It is the best introduction to the unusual and complex environment surrounding you-the Sonoran Desert-an area encompassing parts of Arizona and California in the United States and the Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, Baja California Sur and the Sea of Cortez. It is the only place in the world where the giant saguaro cactus grows. Experiencing the Desert Museum is just like taking a walk through the desert, except this is a controlled outdoor environment with interpretive signs and docents on hand to introduce you to the plants and animals you see. Almost two miles of winding paths traverse 21 acres through mountain woodlands, desert grasslands, a riparian corridor, desert cave and walk-in aviaries with plenty of opportunities for hands-on action. Invisinet mesh is used to create strong, safe, nearly transparent enclosures in large, open exhibits. You will see coati, beaver, river otters, desert fishes, black-tailed prairie dogs, bighorn sheep, reptiles and spiders, bobcats, coyotes, birds and leave with a much better understanding of the unique world of the Sonoran Desert. Gardens identify commonly seen cacti, succulents and trees. The gift shop at the Museum is one of the best we visited, carrying souvenirs, natural history books and fine native crafts.

Check back soon for more Tucson sightseeing attractions...
Quick Reference:
Tucson Visitors Center
La Placita Village, 100 S. Church Ave., downtown Tucson, 800-638-8350

Hilton El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort
10000 N. Oracle Rd., 800-325-7832

Loews Ventana Canyon Resort
7000 N. Resort Dr., 800-234-5117

Arizona Dude Ranch Association

Tucson Attractions Passport

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
2021 N. Kinney Rd., 520-883-2702

Saguaro National Park (East & West)

Sabino Canyon Recreation Area
5900 N. Sabino Canyon Rd., 520-749-2861

Pima Air & Space Museum
6000 E. Valencia Rd., 520-574-0462

Titan Missile Museum
1580 W. Duval Mine Rd., Sahuarita, 520-625-7736

Old Tucson Studios
201 S. Kinney Rd., 520-883-0100

Hotel Congress
311 E. Congress St., 800-722-8848

Kartchner Caverns State Park
520-584-4100

Kitt Peak National Observatory
520-318-8726

-December 2008

Discover
Charleston

Mention Charleston, South Carolina, to anyone who has been there and you always hear good things. It is a city renowned for its southern charm and hospitality, historic preservation, stately homes and gardens and host of family-friendly activities. We set out last spring to discover its charms for ourselves and learn why it consistently ranks as a top ten travel destination in the U.S. by readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine. In October, 2008, Charleston was honored with the number two position by the magazine.

JAMES ISLAND COUNTY PARK
Our first stop was James Island County Park. From downtown Charleston, it is a 15 minute drive across the Ashley River. The Charleston area is naturally divided into distinct regions by the many rivers and waterways that wind through the lowlands. Historic Charleston is located in a sheltered harbor off the Atlantic at the junction of the Cooper and Ashley Rivers, a strategic location which accounts for its important role in so many key events in American history.

We checked into one of ten vacation cottages available for rent at James Island County Park, ideal accommodations for nature lovers and campers. The kids were immediately distracted by the anoles sunning themselves on the side of our cottage and, so began what would become a major preoccupation of this leg of our trip -- the quest for lizards. Each cottage has three bedrooms, a living room, kitchen and bath and sleeps up to eight people. Two bedrooms have queen size beds and one small bedroom has just enough room for a bunk bed. Our cottage was clean and in good condition, furnished with heavy duty pine furniture and equipped with TV, telephone, cooking utensils, flatware, dishes, bed linens, blankets and bath towels. The cottages are built on stilts and overlook the Stono River marsh. Relaxing in the rocker on the screened porch, watching the sunset and the burnt orange, brown and golden sawgrass sweeping across the lowlands was the perfect end to the mild spring days. Our mornings usually began with a walk out on the dry marsh. The hard sand was perforated with small holes made by fiddler crabs and we found neat piles of oyster shells and tracks, telltale signs of a raccoon who had visited during the night.

The park facilities are superb and include several miles of walking and hiking trails, freshwater lagoons for boating and fishing, paved trails for rollerblading or biking, playgrounds and a spray play area and SplashZone family water park. Bicycles, pedal boats, kayaks and hydrobikes are all available for rent. The green trail from the cottages leads to a picturesque floating fishing/crabbing dock on the creek. The park also contains a full-service campground. Round trip shuttle service is provided to the downtown Charleston Visitor's Center, nearby Folly Beach County Park, and the Folly Beach Fishing Pier for $5 per person.

FOLLY BEACH
Folly Beach, at the west end of Folly Island just twenty minutes from downtown Charleston, is an offbeat, laid back beach town that bills itself as the "Edge of America." The fishing pier, another facility operated by the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission, is an impressive sight, extending more than 1,045 feet into the Atlantic Ocean and rising 23 feet above sea level. Fishing passes, rods and shelter rentals are available. You can't help but notice the unusual brown color of the ocean, particularly against the backdrop of a clear blue sky and white sand. We learned later that this is always the case due to the silt flowing from the rivers, creeks and lowlands, and is a vital ingredient to the area's ecology.

KIAWAH ISLAND
The posh, gated refuges of Seabrook and Kiawah Islands are further down the coast. Most of the 10-mile-long barrier island is private, but luxury accommodations include 600 private villas and homes and The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, a 255-room oceanfront hotel and spa. An expertly designed community, Kiawah Island has won awards for conservation and use of the natural environment in its development. The stunning homes are hidden among the live oaks, pines and palmetto palms of the maritime forest. Kiawah Island's golf courses along with those at Seabrook Island and Wild Dunes have established Charleston as a premier golf destination. Kiawah Island boasts five professional golf courses by Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Gary Player and Clyde Johnston and will be host to the Senior PGA in 2007 and APAGA Championships in 2012. More than 30 miles of bike trails, marsh creek canoeing and kayaking and a nationally acclaimed tennis program are also available.

If you're not staying at a villa or home here, you can catch a glimpse of them if you visit Beachwalker County Park, another Charleston County Park facility, that provides public access to the island's gorgeous, pristine beach.

ANGEL OAK
On your way to Kiawah and Seabrook Islands, a short detour to the Angel Oak is a worthwhile stop. Owned and operated by the City of Charleston Department of Parks, the Angel Oak is a live oak tree estimated to be 1,400 years old, America's oldest living tree east of the Mississippi. Live oaks do not grow particularly tall, but have wide spreading canopies. The angel oak stands 65 feet high and provides 17,000 square feet of shade under its massive limbs that gracefully arch to the ground and are braced with metal bars. A small visitors center and gift shop is on site.

MOUNT PLEASANT
We continued our tour of the area by crossing the newly constructed Cooper River bridge which connects downtown Charleston to Mount Pleasant, Sullivan's Island and Isle of Palms to the north. The new 3.5 mile bridge is the longest cable-stayed bridge span in North America and offers spectacular views of the harbor. Bike rentals are available accompanied by EZ-Read maps or take a "Tour at Your Own Pace" MP3 historic guided tour offered by the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum is just on the other side of the bridge in Mount Pleasant. The imposing 888-foot. aircraft carrier Yorktown is the flagship of the battle group with a destroyer, Coast Guard cutter and submarine also on display along with 25 aircraft, Congressional Medal of Honor Museum and Cold War Submarine Memorial. Veterans lead guided tours of the museum.

BARRIER ISLAND ECO-TOURS
One of our family's favorite activites was the Barrier Island Eco-Tours leaving from the Isle of Palms marina. Naturalist-guided boat excursions range from 2-5 hours and accommodate groups from 2-49 people. Fishing trips, blue crabbing clinics, kayak trips and dolphin discovery tours are options. We chose the Capers Island Wildlife Exploration which took us to Capers Island Heritage Preserve, the closest undeveloped barrier island to Charleston. Along the way, we cruised through a winding maze of salt marsh creeks and learned about the rich marine environment along the tidal creek beds. At high tide, the marsh meadows teem with fish, shrimp and crabs. As the tide ebbs, fish find shelter in the creeks and inlets, while scores of fiddler crabs scuttle across the exposed muddy flats. Oysters line the sides of the creek. Our naturalist/captain pulled a crab trap and net from the water and the kids clamored to see the marine creatures up close. Once at Capers Island, we walked an inland trail and passed a freshwater pond where an alligator pair and many babies lounged at water's edge. Our naturalist pointed out evidence of a bobcat and otters and explained the unique maritime vegetation. He also noted that heat and bugs often prevent summer visitors from walking in the interior of the island. Past the forest and dunes, the trail opened onto a beautiful beach known as the "bone-yard," named because of the old bleached tree skeletons and stumps rising up out of the smooth white sand. On the way back to Charleston, Shems Creek in Mount Pleasant's Old Village is a good stop for outdoor dining on fresh fish sandwiches or other seafood and watching the sunset and returning shrimp and fishing boat fleets.

PLANTATIONS
We would not have considered our trip to the old South complete without a visit to a plantation. There are several nearby that offer different degrees of preservation and focus. While the history of many plantations begins prior to the Revolutionary War, almost all plantation houses were burned down during the Civil War, so few structures are original today. Some of the area's best preserved plantations are located west on Highway 61 on the Ashley River.

Drayton Hall is the only surviving plantation house. It was saved from destruction during the Civil War because a small pox flag was hung outside the house. Today, the house, whose construction began in 1738, remains in nearly original condition, without running water, electric lighting or central heating. It is not furnished so its architectural elements are clearly visible. Admission includes a guided tour of the house, self-guided nature walks and an African-American focus program.

Middleton Place boasts America's oldest formal landscaped gardens, with the original garden dating from 1776. A gentleman's guest wing beside the family residence serves as a house museum. Carriage tours of the elaborate gardens and grounds, house tours, and craft demonstrations in the Plantation Stableyards are offered.

Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens in Mount Pleasant is America's only working plantation. Fruits and vegetables are still sold at the Farmers Market on Highway 17. Nine original slave cabins are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The current plantation house was built in 1936 and is open for tours.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is still home to the Drayton family, now in its eleventh generation. Thirty-minute tours of the restored house are available as well as self-guided walking tours and tram tours of the grounds, Once a 500-acre rice plantation, it is now an incredible wildlife preserve abundant with alligators, turtles, herons, snowy egrets-and lizards.

The Audubon Swamp Garden is adjacent to Magnolia Plantation. Entrance is included in Magnolia Plantation's admission fee. Visitors traverse the blackwater swamp over a series of boardwalks and bridges. Moss-draped cypress and tupelo gum trees rise up from the eerie blackwater which conceals an occasional alligator speckled with bright green algae. Binoculars would have been helpful here. You'll see many nesting herons and egrets, alligators and keep an eye out for turtles and otters.

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN
From the cottages at James Island, we moved to the moderately priced boutique-style Holiday Inn Historic District in downtown Charleston. There we could park the car for the next few days and just walk--by far the best way to explore the city's historic neighborhoods, shops and hidden streets and alleys. The City Market, an open air market, is on North and South Market Streets. Vendors sell everything from new merchandise to antiques, handmade art and crafts to sundries and souvenirs. There you can see local women weaving exquisite seagrass baskets, an art form that has been passed down since Colonial times when the coiled baskets were used for winnowing rice. South of Broad Street you will find the city's most affluent neighborhood, some of Charleston's oldest and grandest houses and a good place to view the harbor. Downtown accommodations range from inns and bed and breakfasts to full-service hotels, but you won't find any highrises here. Charleston retains its historic charm because visionary planners allowed nothing to be built higher than the many church steeples that dot the skyline, one of the reasons for Charleston's nickname of "The Holy City."

Originating in 1670, Charleston has a rich and colorful history and, today, everyone seems to be an eager guide. Local residents and professional tour guides alike share stories of the colony, plantations, wars, earthquake and hurricanes, architecture and food. You can choose a boat, carriage or walking tour. Topics range from gullah tours which explore the history and stories of African-American Charlestonians to history, architecture, pirate and ghost tours. Our family chose a daytime ghost tour given by Tour Charleston LLC. Based on the local best selling book, The Ghosts of Charleston, the walking tour captivated even our 10- and 16-year-olds. Our theatrical tour guide clearly enjoyed his job as he recounted fascinating stories about strange happenings at historic buildings and graveyards all within an area of a few blocks.

If you are in Charleston in the spring, be sure to check out the Historic Charleston Foundation's Annual Festival of Houses and Gardens, scheduled for March 19-April 18, 2009. The Historic Charleston Foundation has been instrumental in preserving the city's architecture and historic treasures, largely through proceeds generated by the Festival tours. A month-long schedule of special events includes afternoon and candlelight evening walking tours, a rare opportunity to tour the interiors and gardens of approximately 150 historic private houses in twelve colonial and antebellum neighborhoods during the peak of the city's blooming season. Each tour focuses on a different neighborhood or street, encompassing townhouses and mansions of all different architectural styles. Our tour focused on Tradd Street, one of the original carriage ways laid out in the 1680 "Grand Model" of Charles Town. Today, it holds the greatest concentration of early 18th century houses in the city. One home was more extraordinary than the next and it was fascinating to see how these historic buildings have been preserved while they have been adapted to contemporary living. Well supervised children over the age of 6 are welcomed on the house tours. The Historic Charleston Foundation on 40 E. Bay Street has a fine gift shop, books, brochures and maps for self-paced walking tours.

Another good stop for families is the South Carolina Aquarium, located in a new complex on Charleston Harbor, also the site for the Fort Sumter Visitors Center and tours. Through interactive exhibits and a 350,000 gallon Great Ocean Tank, the Aquarium tells the story of South Carolina's diverse aquatic habitats following a trail that begins in mountain streams and travels down to piedmont rivers, coastal swamps and salt marshes into ocean waters.

There are so many outstanding restaurants in Charleston you will never be at a loss for a memorable meal. From kid-friendly barbecue at Sticky Fingers or outdoor dining at Fleet Landing on Charleston Harbor to down home southern cooking at the Hominy Grill or Jestine's Kitchen to creative, gourmet fare by renowned chefs at Peninsula Grill, Fig, Charleston Grill, Hanks Seafood Restaurant and so many more, deciding where to eat may be your hardest decision of the day.

-April 2007

Disney Update

MONSTERS, INC.
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club is open in Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom. The attraction brings Disney's animation technology to the next level with Mike Wazowski, the one-eyed hero from Monsters, Inc. acting as host, engaging audience members in the comedy routine and selecting text messaged jokes from the crowd.

FINDING NEMO
The film "Finding Nemo" comes to life in a musical stage show, "Finding NemoThe Musical" at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Featuring original songs by Tony Award-winning "Avenue Q" co-composer-creator Robert Lopez and a cappella musical "Along the Way" co-creator Kristen Anderson-Lopez, the 30-minute show immerses guests of all ages in the story of Nemo through a dazzling production that combines puppets, dancers, aerialists and animated backdrops.

The theme park's enclosed Theater in the Wild becomes an undersea environment through innovative lighting, sound, special effects and the theatrical puppetry of Michael Curry, who co-designed the detailed character puppets seen in the Broadway version of Disney's "The Lion King."

"The Seas with Nemo & Friends" pavilion (formerly The Living Seas) at Epcot continues the Nemo story. Guests enter the pavilion and board "clamobiles" for an undersea voyage in a colorful world of coral and amazing animation technology that makes Nemo appear to be swimming with real marine life inside the pavilion's 5.7-million-gallon saltwater aquarium. Inside the pavilion, "Turtle Talk with Crush" features Disney's new, interactive animation that has the laid-back sea turtle talking with the audience in live, unscripted conversations. Crush calls on guests and asks them questions about themselves and the human world in this first-of-its kind real-time animated show.

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
Guests learn cheers and dance moves, wave pom-poms and sing along to the hit songs of "High School Musical" in the "High School Musical" pep rally at MGM Studios. The show turns the whole street into a rockin' party as music fills the air.

HOTEL MAKEOVERS
Three "deluxe"-category resorts--Disney's Polynesian Resort, Contemporary Resort and Wilderness Lodge--received major refurbishments and remodeling to guest rooms in 2007. 400 guestrooms at the All-Star Music Resort were transformed into 214 suites that offer a new "value"-category option to guests. The family suites comfortably sleep up to six persons and feature a master bedroom, generously sized kitchenette, two full baths, microwave, coffeemaker and counter refrigerator, two 27" flat-screen TVs, privacy vanity drapes, pack and play cribs and custom furniture.

DISNEY TRAVEL
Disney Cruise Line repositions the Disney Magic cruise ship to the West Coast for the summer, offering seven-night cruise vacations to the Mexican Riviera.

With Disney's Magical Express, guests of Disney hotels check their bags at their hometown airport, bypass baggage claim at Orlando International Airport and board motor coaches to Walt Disney World Resort, while their bags are delivered directly to their resort room, after check-in. This year, over 90% of Disney airline partners will enable passengers leaving Orlando on domestic flights to check their luggage and receive a boarding pass before departing their Disney hotel, thus avoiding airport check-in lines.

Following the success of the Disney Cruise Line in the family vacation market, DIsney now offers Adventures by Disney, a selection of 12 guided family land vacations to destinations in Europe, Central America and the United States. Itineraries include excursions in Ireland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, England, France, Costa Rica and the United States. For information, contact your travel agent, visit www.adventuresbydisney.com or call 866-242-8740.
www.disneyworld.com
407/W-DISNEY or visit local travel agent

 June 2007

Miami Beach Area 
A Culture and Beach Combo

If you want to combine some culture with your beach vacation, then Miami Beach may be a perfect destination for your family. The beaches rival those on many islands. They are wide with fine, sugar-white sand and the Atlantic Ocean takes on the blue and green hues of the tropics. The city itself has undergone a renaissance as outdated landmark hotels have been renovated and expanded to meet today's resort needs or replaced by ultra-modern high-rise condominiums. Magnificent homes carrying multi-million dollar price tags line the Intracoastal Waterway, one more breathtaking than the other. Miami is a mosaic of cultures, sites and sounds, a lively blend of Cuban, Caribbean, South American, Jewish and European cultures.

SOUTH BEACH
Back in the 1930s and 40s, more than 800 Art Deco structures were built on the southern tip of Miami Beach. Today, the historically designated Art Deco District represents the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the world. Displaying pastel colors, neon lights and sleek, geometric lines, the Art Deco district, known as South Beach, serves as the backdrop for one of the world's most eccentric and in-vogue neighborhoods. Buildings once in disrepair have been restored and converted into restaurants, hotels, clubs and boutiques. For families, it's worth a trip in the morning while the partyers sleep and when you can clearly see the wonderful architecture and actually get a seat in one of the many outdoor cafes on Ocean Drive. A beautiful beach and oceanfront park are directly across the street.

COCONUT GROVE
Settled in 1873, early Coconut Grove was built by West Indian craftsmen from the Bahamas. Their influence is evident in the many Caribbean style houses, tropical landscaping and street names found in the neighborhood. As the area gained recognition by the upper class, many Northerners built their winter residences there. In the 1950's, Coconut Grove began to attract artists from the U.S. and Europe and the Grove soon had an international reputation as an artists' colony. Like the rest of the city, Coconut Grove has undergone a renaissance in recent years. Under a dense canopy of lush trees, the area is noted for its whimsical homes, busy marinas and many cafes, art galleries, restaurants, antique shops and fashion boutiques.

VIZCAYA MUSEUM AND GARDENS
A tour of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, the winter home of International Harvester vice president James Deering, provides a fabulous glimpse into the lifestyle of the super-wealthy in the early 1900s. Built between 1914 and 1916, Vizcaya was designed in the style of Italian Renaissance villas Deering had visited, then adapted to the subtropical climate of South Florida. Now a National Historic Landmark, the villa features more than 10 acres of formal gardens, terraces and fountains overlooking Biscayne Bay and 34 rooms of 15th through 19th century antique furnishings and decorative arts. Virtually all of the decorative elements including furniture, lighting fixtures, doors and fireplaces were purchased by Deering on shopping expeditions in Europe. Adults and older children will be amazed to see the opulent lifestyle and architecture of bygone days.

Other excursions for families include:
· Miami Metrozoo, voted one of the top ten zoos in the country for service and curriculum by Travel and Leisure magazine, is five times larger than the average U.S. zoo with 300 acres showcasing more than 1,300 animals in cageless, naturalistic environments.

· Miami Museum of Science and Space Transit Planetarium, located across from Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, features changing, hands-on science exhibitions, planetarium shows, a Wildlife Center for birds of prey and reptiles, and an exhibition displaying artifacts from the Smithsonian.

· Miami Seaquarium, one of South Florida's premier attractions, features marine life shows with Killer Whale Lolita and TV star Flipper, exhibits and attractions in a landscaped park overlooking Biscayne Bay. The Seaquarium offers a Water and Dolphin Exploration program which includes a swim with the dolphins for an additional fee (52 in. height minimum). A new children's wet/dry playground area called "Salty's Pirate Playground" consists of a two-level pirate ship located at the center of a shark-filled moat.

· Monkey Jungle, now in its 3rd generation of family ownership, is home to nearly 400 primates, most running free in a 30 acre preserve.

· Parrot Jungle Island is located along the MacArthur Causeway connecting downtown Miami and South Beach. The 18.6 acre park with over 500 species of plants and 3,000 animals features a trained bird show, Everglades habitat, Serpentarium (reptile facility), petting barn and aviaries.

· Everglades National Park
The Everglades, the only subtropical wilderness preserve in North America, lies just to the west of Miami Beach. The "river of grass" is made up of vast expanses of sawgrass prairie and hardwood hammocks, providing a sanctuary, as well as breeding and feeding ground for many species of birds. The great egret, snowy egret, great blue heron, roseate spoonbill, anhinga, endangered wood stork, bald eagle, and 170 specids of birds have been observed here. The habitat provides shelter for many threatened and endangered animals and is the only place in the world where crocodiles and alligators coexist. In fact, because of its great variety of plant and animal life, the Everglades has been designated a World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve and a Wetland of International Importance. You can learn about the area's rich diversity at the Everglades National Park main Visitors Center located at the park entrance. Exhibits, brochures, activity schedules and information on boat tours and canoe rentals are available. The Anhinga Trail at the Royal Palm Visitor Center winds through a saw grass marsh and is less than a half mile long, 30 minutes round trip. It is a wonderful trail for both children and adults to easily see a good variety of Everglades wildlife. Those with patience and a keen eye can see even more if they look carefully for the fish, alligators, turtles, and birds hidden in the water, sawgrass, and trees. December to April is the best time to visit to avoid the hordes of mosquitoes that can make outdoor activities difficult at other times of year.
Grass River Adventures takes private parties deep into the Everglades Conservation area on smaller airboats which enable them to go farther and offer longer tours than typical airboat tours. Their airboats are 14' long and can carry up to 6 passengers. A standard trip is 2 hours. Half day, full day and night rides are also offered.

Key Biscayne
Key Biscayne is just a few miles east of downtown Miami across the Rickenbacker Causeway. It is a secluded community and natural refuge encompassing only two square miles in all. Technically, one of the first islands in the Florida keys archipelago, much of the marsh, mangrove forests, dunes and beachfront have been preserved as parkland. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is located on the southern tip of Key Biscayne. The beach there is consistently ranked among the top ten beaches in the United States. The park offers biking and hiking trails and free tours of the restored 1825 lighthouse, the oldest standing structure in Miami. Crandon Beach in Crandon Park also lays claim to being named one of the best beaches in America for kids because the multiple sandbars offshore make the water shallow for a long distance and there are no riptides. Turtle walks are held annually in August or September when sea turtles hatchlings are released back into the sea. Guided canoe trips, kayak and snorkel trips, bike and beach tours can be arranged through the Eco Adventures Tour office at Crandon Park, 305-365-3018. Key Biscayne is also home to the famous Biltmore Hotel of the 1920s and is within five minutes of the Miami Seaquarium and close proximity to all the attractions of Miami Beach.

 May 2005

San Diego lures families

Against a backdrop of natural beauty, surrounded by beaches, mountains and desert, and graced with average year-round temperatures of 70 degrees, San Diego makes a great vacation destination with many unique attractions for families. It has several major regions for lodging, each offering a different perspective on the city.

Coronado Island is a seaside community with some of the most beautiful beaches in southern California. It is a low, narrow peninsula that separates San Diego Bay from the Pacific Ocean and is easily accessible from downtown San Diego by a 2.3 mile bridge or ferry service. The U.S. Navy Air Station occupies the northern tip of the Island, and the remainder is made up of miles of powdery white sand beaches, charming homes on quiet tree-lined streets, and specialty shops and restaurants in its historic downtown. The island has a long history as a resort community that began with the building of the grand Hotel del Coronado in 1888. Its developers, Elisha Babcock and Hampton Story, set out to create a resort that would be the "talk of the western world." At that time, California was separated from the rest of the country by vast unsettled territories and wealthy travelers would journey for seven days by train to stay there. The Del was one of many luxurious railroad resorts, but today it is one of the few that has survived and still flourishes as a world-class hotel. It is a living legend having hosted countless celebrities and dignitaries including fourteen U.S. presidents.

The Victorian hotel with its white clapboard and distinctive red-roofed turrets is a landmark on Coronado Island. White wicker rockers grace the front porch and a staff of bellmen in derbies and topcoats greet guests. The two-story lobby is dark with vintage paneling and is adjoined by a library on one side and two dramatic banquet rooms on the other. Their vaulted ceilings are architectural marvels, constructed of tongue and groove pine fastened without the use of any nails. The original Otis #61 elevator in the lobby is one of the first fully functioning electric elevators manufactured in America. The antique brass cage is still hand-operated by men wearing uniforms similar to those worn by the monkeys in "The Wizard of Oz." The rear of the lobby opens onto a sunny courtyard garden.

The Hotel del Coronado will be strangely familiar to fans of the classic Billy Wilder movie, "Some Like It Hot," or even to those who have seen or stayed at the Grand Floridian in Disney World. The Disney hotel is a replica of the Del, only two times larger. A three-year $55 million restoration of the hotel has been recently completed and the original Victorian building is pristine--polished and gleaming from floor to ceiling. As you walk down the freshly carpeted hallways, however, you can still feel the undulating floors beneath and can't help but feel reverence for the rich history that surrounds you. Rooms are light and airy with Victorian decor and ceiling fans. Oceanfront rooms have balconies looking over the pool, tennis, dining terraces, and out to the expansive beach beyond. The atmosphere is warm and friendly to families. In season, there are family pool activities, kids arts and crafts, and Tent City Kids Camp which offers supervised afternoon and evening programs for children ages 4-12. Additional resort amenities include a spa and fitness center, tennis courts with lessons and clinics, boat rentals and instruction, and other activities. The Sheerwater seaside restaurant offers fine dining at the hotel and features a children's menu. Downtown Coronado is just a short walk away and offers a variety of casual and fine dining.

The Loews Coronado Bay Resort is another popular destination for families. The low-rise resort occupies its own private peninsula on the San Diego Bay about four miles outside of downtown Coronado. Silver Strand State Beach on the Pacific is across the highway and is accessible by guests via an underpass or complimentary shuttle. Loews Resorts nationwide have reached out to families with their "Loews Loves Kids" program and, in addition, the Loews Coronado Bay offers a supervised kids program for ages 4-12 on holiday weekends and in summer. Half day and full day programs are available with evening programs on Fridays and Saturdays. Activities include marshmallow roasts, family cooking classes, dance lessons, ice cream socials, basketball shootouts, family snorkeling, and Dive-In Movies, where both kids and parents enjoy a family movie from a lounge chair or innertube in the pool. The resort's marina offers wave runner, sailboat, and paddle boat rentals. And if you can ditch the kids, the Gondola Company offers romantic cruises through nearby canals accompanied by a serenading gondolier. Roller blades and bicycles are also available for rent to take advantage of Coronado Island's 15-mile bike path that extends the entire length of Coronado, from the Bridge, past the Loews, to Imperial Beach. The resort's pool area features an adults only pool, whirlpool, and two long interconnected pools surrounded by lounge chairs and attractive gardens. There are two restaurants, a poolside eatery, and a small general store offering deli sandwiches, picnic lunches, coffee, sundries and snacks.

Mission Valley, another lodging region, is minutes from Old Town San Diego, Sea World, and Balboa Park. Hotel Circle Drive, located at the intersection of several major arteries to the city in the heart of Mission Valley, is a collection of moderately priced accommodations offering more than 6,000 hotel rooms. At the Handlery Resort, rooms are available surrounding a new courtyard pool or in detached motel buildings. Guests have access to an adjoining swim and tennis club with an Olympic sized heated pool and children's pool.

Mission Beach and Pacific Beach define the stereotypical southern California beach scene. Teens and college students will enjoy the young crowd and non-stop beach action. A three-mile concrete boardwalk connects Mission Beach and Pacific Beach and teems with people biking, rollerblading, skateboarding, jogging or just plain strolling. Surfers fill the water and volleyball and sun enthusiasts fill the beach. The area is densely packed with tiny beach bungalows, and eateries, shops, and clubs dot the boardwalk and surrounding blocks. The Catamaran Resort offers a unique location one block from Mission Beach and right on Mission Bay. Multi-colored parrots perch in the trees along the resort's lush garden walkways and the rooms are furnished in dark wood and tropical motifs. The heated pool is small considering the size of the resort, but water activities focus on either Mission Beach or Mission Bay where the resort offers surfboard and many boat rentals and lessons. Bayside rooms feature patios and walk-out access to a 27-mile bike path that encircles Mission Bay Park, a once marshy mud flat turned major aquatic playground.

Sea World was our first stop on the sightseeing agenda. We enjoyed Sea World's focus on education and the kids loved the opportunity to interact with the animals and view them so closely. At each exhibit, a staff member gave an introductory talk and was available to answer questions. We found the extra cost of a behind-the-scenes "turtle feeding tour" unnecessary as it didn't offer much more than that included in the regular admission fee. Feeding stations are open to purchase food at different times throughout the day for the bat rays, bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions and harbor seals. Stand-out exhibits were the Wild Arctic, Shark Encounter, and the shows, especially the Shamu Adventure, which highlighted the spectacular natural behaviors of killer whales. The Wild Arctic is an elaborate recreation of an Arctic expedition beginning with a simulated jet helicopter ride, disembarking onto a realistic arctic research station that brings you face to face with polar bears, beluga whales, walruses, arctic foxes and seals. The Shark Encounter leads visitors underwater in a 57-foot acrylic tube while sharks, rays and tropical fish swim overhead. Shamu's Happy Harbor, a playland, was a welcome addition to the park as it gave our 5-yr. old a chance to unwind and revitalize.

Legoland in California is one of only four Legolands in the world. The original is in Denmark with others in England and Germany. It is a colorful theme park designed for families with children between the ages of 2 and 12. Rides and scenery are crafted to look like Legos and throughout the park, you will find huge, real Lego masterpieces like Albert Einstein's head or a 15-ft. giraffe. Miniland USA depicts life from Washington D.C. to the California coast in detailed, animated reproductions of American landmarks and cities built from 20 million Lego bricks. The Coast Cruise takes you around the lake near MiniLand to view Lego recreations of the Wonders of the World. Many rides are "kid-powered," with the kids pedaling, driving, steering, and pulling to make them work. Our favorite ride was the Dragon, a gentle roller coaster that first winds through a medieval castle of Lego dragons, knights and wizards. The Lego Adventure was also notable, a walk-through search for keys on an imaginary archeological expedition to ancient Egypt and the Arctic. With the exception of two roller coasters, the majority of rides at Legoland appeal to preschoolers and young elementary ages. Master Model Builders can be seen at work in their headquarters at Miniland, and they are available for questions at the Lego Clubhouse, where children can build with Legos or ages 10 and up can sign up for a free Mindstorms workshop. The gift shop is a treat for Lego enthusiasts because it has the largest assortment of Legos and Lego merchandise in the country.

San Diego's Balboa Park is a vacation unto itself. Encompassing 1,200 acres, the park is a mecca of horticulture and cultural arts. Fifteen museums are housed in beautiful Spanish Baroque-style buildings constructed for two expositions held in 1915-16 and 1935-36. It is also home to the San Diego Zoo, one of the world's best zoos, featuring nearly 800 species of animals in its 10 acres. Our family appreciated the bus tour, a 40-minute guided trip that gave us a good overview of the zoo, and allowed us to return to exhibits of interest and take the walkways through climate zones not accessible by bus. The express bus allows you to hop on and off at five locations around the zoo. Hua Mei, the first surviving giant panda born in North America, is a miracle of science and represents hope for the survival of giant pandas in the world. She and her parents are on exhibit here while on loan from the Republic of China.

The San Diego Wild Animal Park, another facility of the Zoological Society of San Diego, is located 30 miles north of the city and is well worth the drive. Established 25 years ago as a large animal breeding facility for the San Diego Zoo, the 2,100 acre sanctuary is home to 2,500 animals, many from rare and endangered species. A 50-minute guided monorail tour lets you observe the wild animals as they roam free over the rolling hillsides and rocky slopes, similar to their native habitats in Africa and Asia. Walking trails through lush botanical gardens with exotic plant species lead to animal habitats in the rain forest or on the Kilamanjaro Trail. In the aviary, visitors can hand feed nectar to lorikeets, beautiful rainbow-colored parakeets. Two-Park Tickets can be purchased for both the Zoo and Wild Animal Park.

Birch Aquarium, the public education center for Scripps Institution of Oceanography is a small, but beautiful aquarium and oceanography museum on the rugged cliffs overlooking La Jolla and the coastline. The Hall of Fishes exhibits marine life from the cold-water Pacific Northwest to the tropical south Pacific. Oceanography is explained through hands-on exhibits that allow children to ride an earthquake machine, read a seismograph, explore how waves are made, and shop in the ocean supermarket, a scanner that identifies hundreds of items containing ingredients from the sea. A climb to the beach below yields wonderful tidepools to explore at low tide. Sunset Cliffs on the Pacific side of Point Loma peninsula is another exceptional spot for tidepooling. The rocky shoreline is ideal for discovering flowery anemones, shore crabs, elusive octopus, spongy deadman's fingers and many other sea creatures. Cabrillo National Monument on the top of Point Loma commemorates the European discovery of San Diego Bay in 1542 by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and also provides a spectacular 360 degree view of the area.

Old Town State Historic Park marks the first mission established in San Diego in 1769. Free walking tours begin at the Visitors Information Center. Original and restored buildings now house period and souvenir shops. The area is best known for its Mexican restaurants, giant margaritas, and strolling mariachi bands.

Ticket packages and discount tickets for all major attractions are available through the Visitors Bureau in San Diego and Coronado Island.

-June 2002

Western adventure at Tanque Verde Ranch

When the last dreary days of winter linger, there's nothing better than a trip that promises warm sun and clear blue skies. Arizona fit the bill for our family this spring. Tucson, our first stop, is renowned for its superb weather, boasting over 300 days of sunshine a year, more than any city in the U.S. The air is remarkably dry with low humidity and even though daytime temperatures can get high, the temperature drops at sunset providing cool, comfortable evenings.

Tucson lies in the Sonoran Desert, a lush desert as far as deserts go due to the eleven inches of rain the area receives on average annually.

As a result, over 1,300 kinds of plants and 300 species of animals are indigenous to the Sonoran Desert, most notable of them, the magnificent saguaro cactus. This sentinel-like cactus has come to symbolize the southwest and is native only to Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. A saguaro cactus is 50 years old before it produces its first arm and some are over 50 feet tall and over 200 years old.

Saguaro National Park, encompassing over 90,000 acres east and west of Tucson, is a preserve for the largest concentration of saguaro. Visitors Centers tell its story and both east and west sides of the park offer loop drives, hiking and bike trails, and interpretive programs.

The vast desert landscape cries out for horses, cowboys, ranches and such, and we found them all at the historic Tanque Verde Ranch just outside Tucson. Speedway Avenue, a major thoroughfare, narrows a few miles past town, then abruptly ends at the Douglas Spring trailhead for the Saguaro National Park and a small sign marks the entrance to the Tanque Verde Ranch. The setting could not be more spectacular. We were in the foothills of the Rincon Mountains, bordered by the Saguaro National Park and Coronado National Forest, and the desert lay before us dressed in its spectacular colors of spring-blossoms of magenta, orange, purple and gold burst from the cactuses.

The Tanque Verde Ranch was founded in 1868 and now serves the tourist industry as a four star resort. The main buildings retain their rustic charm with high ceilings, timber beams, and wide plank floors. Seventy-four adobe casitas in clusters of three and four are built up the desert hillside. Accommodations are comfortable, many with fireplaces, all with porches or patios and bird feeders, and, pleasantly, no TV. Ranch facilities include outdoor and indoor pools, children's outdoor wading pool, tennis courts, whirlpool, sauna, exercise room, nature center, group meeting rooms and Arizona's largest riding stable.

There are over 120 trained horses at the ranch. Morning and afternoon rides are offered daily divided into slow, scenic rides and advanced loping rides. The scenic ride is a walking ride and the loping ride is a combination of walking, trotting, and cantering. Beginning, intermediate and loping instruction is also offered as well as a two-part "Horse Sense" program that features a talk on horse psychology and live demonstrations. The instruction was excellent and we all left as better riders with a much greater understanding of horses.

All riders who want to join the loping ride, regardless of previous riding experience, must pass a lope check given by the wranglers. So began the challenge for my husband and a group of other experienced riders. While they had hoped for a stress-free vacation, passing the lope check proved to be much more difficult than they anticipated. The wranglers were tough and some seemed to revel in failing all the Easterners who thought they were cowboys. Lope checks were offered every morning and afternoon and it took the group four attempts until they were finally approved. While this was potentially a frustrating experience, the struggling lopers became a tight group who shared a great sense of humor and many riding adventures.

Miles of riding and hiking trails wind through the ranch's 640 acres and adjacent National Park. The horses are capable of steep climbs to majestic overlooks. Loping rides journey off the narrow desert trails into river beds and forests. The caution exercised by the wranglers on the lope check was not unfounded as the horses are spirited and responsive and the trails challenging. Riders can request a favorite horse if available. During peak times, the ranch does not guarantee a horse for every rider. Horses are then assigned first-come first-served.

The ranch also offers many non-riding activities including tennis lessons, tennis tournaments and mixers, guided mountain hikes, exercise hikes, trail biking, nature walks and programs, catch and release fishing, and art workshops. Upon check-in, guests receive a schedule of activities for the week.

A supervised children's program runs 8am-3:30pm and 6-8:15pm daily for ages 4-11. Summer hours are 7am-3pm with no evening program. Children are divided into Buckaroos for ages 4-6 and Wranglers for ages 7-11. Twelve-year-olds have the option of participating in the children's program or in adult lessons and rides. Buckaroo Kids have basic riding lessons in the morning and afternoon in the children's arena. Depending on the level and ability of the child, parents may be asked to assist their children during scheduled corral riding times. Since it was our 4-year-old's first experience on a horse, I walked next to her the first day, but after that, she was happy to be on her own.

Wrangler Kids have a more active riding program with daily riding lessons as well as basic and advanced rides. Children cannot go on adult rides, but parents are welcome to ride with their children. Children are not given lope tests, but may be advanced into loping lessons by the counselors. In addition to riding, the children's program offers arts and crafts, tennis lessons, summer swimming activities, games, fishing, treasure hunts and nature programs. Our 11-year-old's mission of spotting reptiles of any kind was fulfilled when he found two rattlesnakes, many lizards, horned toads and gila monsters on the trail.

The food at the ranch was delicious and abundant. Breakfast consists of a buffet of juices, fruits, yogurts, breads and cereals plus standard breakfast items ordered from a menu. Lunch is always a buffet with choice of four entrees, usually a beef, chicken, vegetarian and fish dish, fresh vegetables, soup, extensive salad bar and dessert table. The extravagant lunch is popular with Tucson residents. For dinner, the chef prepares four entrees and restaurant service is provided. An outdoor barbecue, breakfast ride and Mexican Fiesta buffet is scheduled weekly. Guests share large tables in the dining room which made meals especially enjoyable and enhanced the ranch's warm, friendly environment. Every evening after dinner, a family nature program or other event is scheduled.

A children's dining room, next to the main dining room, is supervised by a counselor for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Movies are shown and a children's menu is offered at dinner. The first night we arrived the children's room was empty, but after a day of camp, our children were eager to leave us and join their new friends in their own dining room.

Rates at Tanque Verde Ranch are all inclusive. They range from $260-$435 per day double and include meals, riding, tennis, and all ranch activities.

For more guest ranches, consult the Arizona Dude Ranch Association, www.coloradoranch.com or www.duderanch.org.

-June 2001

Smugglers' Notch offers year 'round family fun

It would be difficult to find a resort more dedicated to families than Smugglers' Notch in Vermont. In fact, if you are single or without children, the number of children occupying the village at times might even start to annoy you. (Better to visit when school is in session.) For our family, however, two adults and an eleven and four-year-old, Smugglers' Notch handily earned its title of "#1 Family Ski Resort."

The resort, situated in the Green Mountains just north of Stowe Ski Area, is a seven hour drive from northern New Jersey. Smugglers' Notch Pass, a four-mile stretch of road that conveniently connects Stowe and Smugglers' Notch Resort, is closed from mid-October through May because the narrow, winding road is too difficult to maintain. In winter, access to the resort is via Route 15 to 108 South, adding an additional thirty minutes to the trip.

Smugglers' Notch Resort is a village unto itself, nestled at the base of three mountains that comprise the ski area. Accommodations range from studio condominiums to five-bedroom townhouses. All have kitchens, living and dining rooms. Many have fireplaces, balconies, and scenic mountain or woodland views. You can walk to the village core and all activities from most lodgings. Many accommodations are slopeside offering ski-in and ski-out capabilities. A shuttle service also operates continuously every day.

All dining in the village is casual and, of course, family-friendly. The resort has two full-service restaurants, a pizzeria, an ice cream shop with deli and small, country grocery store. The Hearth and Candle Restaurant, a privately operated finer dining establishment, offers an adults-only dining room. There are other restaurants down the valley and in Jeffersonville, five miles away. Kitchens in all accommodations are also fully stocked with dishes, pots and pans and utensils for meals at home.

We were surprised to find that the ski area, while offering plenty of gentle slopes and groomed cruisers, also offers some of the most challenging terrain in the east. With a 2,610-foot vertical rise, nine lifts and sixty-seven trails, 22% of the terrain is easier, 53% more difficult, 19% most difficult and 6% for experts only. There are some beautiful glades, serious bump runs, and a gnarly triple black diamond. For a unique adventure, Snuffy's Trail at the top of the Sterling Mountain lift connects Smugglers' Notch Ski Area to Stowe. After a short traverse across a frozen pond, skiers and snowboarders can ski an intermediate trail down to Stowe's Spruce Peak.

Ski and snowboard programs are offered for adults and children starting at age 3 (children must be out of diapers). Children are grouped in camps by age and ability. Our 11-year old started out as an advanced beginner in need of some formal lessons. He had an excellent instructor who played lots of games on the mountain and whose enthusiasm was contagious. After 2 1/2 days, Brad was anxious to take us all down the mogul run he had mastered with confidence. His skiing had improved tremendously.

This was the first time on skis for our 4-year old, Kate. She eagerly packed her backpack for camp each day and by her third day, we watched as she confidently negotiated the bunny hill, stopping, starting and turning on command.

Children in camp go out to ski in the morning and afternoon. Parents are welcome to pick up their children between 2:15 and 2:45 if they would like to ski together for the rest of the afternoon or children can remain in camp until 4pm. After 2:15, a movie, live show or other entertainment is provided.

Other instruction programs include group and private alpine ski, telemark, snow blade and snowboard lessons for adults; group and private instruction for children; Mom & Me and Dad & Me private lessons on skis or snowboards; cross-country and snowshoe lessons; and a night school for boarding.

Smugglers' Notch has developed many programs for teens and has adapted the mountain for snowboarders. The ski area has two terrain parks and a 400-foot half pipe with lift service and music. Ski and snowboard fun sessions and lessons are offered daily for ages 15-17. A teen center is open for 13-18 year-olds only from 5pm-midnight nightly.

For babies six-weeks and up and non-skiers, care is provided at Alice's Wonderland, a fully certified child care center. The well-equipped facility includes separate rooms and playgrounds for three age ranges and a supervised crib room. On Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings, Alice's hosts Parents' Night Out, an optional program for ages 3-12 from 6-10pm. Reservations are required at the child care center. Programs are available on a space-available basis. Alice's will also help arrange private babysitting in the evenings in your condo.

After skiing, families can choose from many activities-- tubing, ice skating, bonfires, and swimming. The kids will, no doubt, want to visit the new Fun Zone, formerly an indoor tennis center, now a huge indoor playland with a 22-foot double inflatable slide, a 45-foot obstacle course, a bouncy house, kid climbing wall, crawl-through whale, basketball hoop, miniature golf, and loud music.

For non-skiers, the resort offers a series of art workshops, sightseeing trips, fly tying workshops and ice fishing trips.

Summer at Smugglers' Notch is an entirely different experience, but an equally beautiful time to visit the mountains. The resort is transformed into a giant family playground with eight heated pools, three children's pools, three waterslides, twelve tennis courts, and a ten-acre lake for swimming, fishing, boating, and picnicking. Mountain bikes are fun on the cross-country ski trails and also on a paved trail from Stowe Ski Area to the town of Stowe.

Activities intensify in the summer with kids' camp plus many optional programs to choose from. Daily canoe and fishing trips, golf instruction, tennis school, hikes and walks, and children's special interest programs are offered. For adults who hate to miss out on the camp experience, Big Kids' Camp is offered for ages 18 and up and includes mountain hikes, walk-hikes, interpretive nature walks, and scheduled games and activities at the pool and around the village. This year, the Resort is adding a new program in response to families' requests for more time together. Instead of day camp on Wednesday, the resort will offer a Peak of the Week Festival for the entire family. The day begins with a breakfast buffet, followed by scavenger hunts, guided nature walks, and afternoon games, crafts, and entertainment on the Village Green.

FamilyFest packages are the best value for families with children ages 3-14. In winter, the package includes lodging, full-day children's camp, and ski or snowboard equipment rental. In summer, FamilyFest packages include lodging, unlimited use of pools, waterslides, hot tubbing, evening entertainment for families and adults, and full-day camp programs for ages 3 to adult. Significant discounts are offered during June and off-season as well as for early booking. Smugglers' Notch is so confident in the quality of their programs, they offer a Family Fun Guarantee and will refund the program portion of any family member who participates in one of their programs and doesn't have fun.

-June 2001

Summaries of some of our favorites from previously featured destinations:

Cape Cod has long been a favorite destination for New England families. Its gentle lapping bay waters, vast marsh lands and misty harbors soothe the spirit. It is easy to see why people who come to know the Cape develop such a strong connection to it, especially during the serene days outside of peak season. Described as an arm, the cape is divided into the upper arm, or upper cape, encompassing Barnstable, Hyannis, Yarmouth and other towns closest to the mainland; the elbow where the pristine village of Chatham is located; and the lower cape made up of Eastham, Wellfleet, and Truro with Provincetown at the fist. While there are two bridges that cross Cape Cod Canal onto the Cape, there is only one major highway (Highway 6) that traverses the peninsula. Two smaller two-lane highways traverse the Cape north and south, each area possessing a clearly distinct personality. Route 6A to the north was originally a stagecoach route and is now a two-lane road that winds through small towns steeped in history and classic New England architecture. This north side is the "quiet side of the Cape" with grand homes of former sea captains, antique shops, art galleries, and inns. If you travel the roads just off the highway, you will discover small cottages, sleepy harbors and quiet beaches. Route 28 on the south side contains the commercial areas and malls as well as the golf centers, water parks and entertainment centers that kids love. Families will find accommodations on the Cape to suit any size and preference. They include historic inns, bed and breakfasts, resorts, motor lodges, houses, cottages and bungelos.
      Water is the theme of a Cape Cod vacation. From swimming to beachcombing, clamming to fishing, outdoor activities fill the day. The Cape Cod National Seashore extends 40 miles from Chatham to Provincetown. The Coast Guard Beach there is consistently ranked as one of the ten best beaches in the United States. The coastline stretches unspoiled for miles along the Atlantic. Visitors Centers in Eastham and Provincetown have orientation movies, exhibits, and information services. Ranger-led expeditions, hikes, history programs, and family programs are held throughout the year.
      The Cape offers at least five major cycling trails and dozens of lesser trails to enjoy. Bicycle rentals are available near trail access points. The Cape Cod Rail Trail, a former Penn-Central right-of-way, travels for 25 miles from Wellfleet on the lower Cape to Dennis mid-Cape.
      Whale watching is a major Cape Cod industry with fierce competition among fleets. Stellwagen Bank, an underwater plateau of sand and gravel located a few miles from the tip of Cape Cod, provides an outstanding habitat for sea life and plankton and attracts large numbers of fish, humpback whales, fin whales, right whales and minke whales. Excursions depart from Plymouth, Barnstable and Provincetown Harbors. Provincetown is the closest port to Stellwagen Bank. Dolphin Fleet of Provincetown is operated by the Center for Coastal Studies, a private, non-profit organization started in 1976 by scientists and citizens whose goal is education, research and conservation of whales, seabirds and coastal ecosystems. They are also authorized by the National Marine Fisheries Service to assist whales entangled in fishing gear at sea. On a fall sunset cruise, we saw dozens of humpback and minke whales and were awestruck to see a humpback breach.

Florida Keys
Far from the hustle of Orlando lies the tranquil, laid-back world of the Florida Keys, a 126-mile chain of islands that extends from the tip of Florida's mainland down to Key West, the southernmost city in the United States. The narrow highway to the Keys begins in northern Key Largo, traverses 42 bridges, and offers magnificent vistas of Florida Bay on one side and a serene Atlantic Ocean on the other. The landscape alternates between tall, flowing grasses of the salt marsh, narrow inlets and harbors, and stretches of funky souvenir stands and low-rise commercial centers. Green and white highway markers tell you where you are and how far you have come starting at Mile Marker 127 just past Florida City and ending with Mile Marker 0 in Key West.
      At MM82, Cheeca Lodge is tucked off the highway in the town of Islamorada on Upper Matecumbe Key. A small luxury resort, Cheeca Lodge offers ideal family accommodations in low-rise villas and beachfront bungalows. The resort features a main lodge, tennis courts, par-3 golf course, spa, fitness center, kids camp and is one of the few resorts in the Keys with an oceanfront beach and spectacular tropical island setting. Due to a 2008 New Year's Eve fire, the resort is currently closed. Check the website for renovation progress and a reopening date.
      As it has for centuries, life in the Keys focuses on the water. The Keys are home to some of the world's most sought after fish, from blue marlin, sailfish and dolphin offshore to bonefish, tarpon and permit in the shallow backcountry. Islamorada is known as the "sport fishing capital of the world" with more than 600 species of fish thriving in the surrounding waters of the ocean and bay and a large number of expert guides in residence to help you find them. Deep sea fishing charters, party boat trips and back country fishing charters can all be arranged. Fishing captivates the talk and attention of visitors and locals alike. Even if you are not a fisherman when you arrive, you will at least leave with a new appreciation for fish and the art of catching them.
      Catch and release fishing is encouraged for all fishermen in the Keys unless you plan on eating it. Most restaurants will happily cook your catch to your specifications or their own. There are many fine restaurants in Islamorada offering beautiful bayside or beachfront dining and superb dishes made with a delicious mix of tropical fruits and fresh, local seafood. The Islamorada Fish Company, boasting the best sunset view on the bay, is a popular place for kids around eight o'clock each evening when an employee emerges with a bucket of scraps from the kitchen and throws them into the bay to feed the nurse sharks and other fish that hang out under the pier of the open-air restaurant.
      The entire coast of the Keys was designated a National Marine Sanctuary in 1990, encompassing 2,800 square nautical miles. North America's only coral barrier reef and the third longest barrier reef in the world lies just six miles offshore. The clear, shallow waters and abundant marine life make diving and snorkeling the reefs, canyons, and shipwrecks in the Keys a favorite pastime.

Hawaii
From the tropical rainforests in Hilo and the ranch country in the north to the desolate expanses of black lava from Mouna Loa and Kilauea volcanoes, the Big Island of Hawaii, offers the most diverse terrain of all the Hawaiian Islands. The Hilton Waikoloa Village is a pristine 62-acre complex carved out of black lava rock and overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Waiulua Bay. The luxury resort situated on the Kohala coast (the sunny side) of Hawaii, features three pools with waterfalls, slides and jacuzzis, a saltwater lagoon, dolphin pool, two championship golf courses, tennis, spa, on-site restaurants and children's program. Guests travel around the crescent-shaped resort by tram, by Disney-engineered canal boats or by walkways which include a 3/4 mile Museum Walk through a large collection of Polynesian and Oriental art.
Don't-miss sights: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, an active volcano where rivers of molten lava continuously flow. From the 11-mile Crater Rim Drive encircling Kilauea Caldera, you can see sulfur banks, steaming vents, pit craters, recent lava flows and walk through a 450-foot lava tube. From a hike at the end of Chain of Craters Road, a massive cloud of steam is visible where the lava spills into the sea during the day, but at night, the cloud of steam becomes a glowing fireball. Bring a flashlight for walking across the lava flows at night. Park rangers set up telescopes focused on the fiery vents visible up the volcano on certain dates. Stop at the Visitors Center for information and current calendar of events.
Moana Loa, the largest single mountain mass in the world, rises 56,000 feet from the sea floor, and because of the extremely dark and clear night skies on the island, contains the world's largest concentration of telescopes. A Visitor Information Station, located at 9,300 ft. (note: altitude adjustment may be difficult for some visitors), is staffed by amateur astornomers and features a small exhibit area and film. Check ahead for stargazing dates.

Arizona Resorts

Known for fantastic winter weather and desert scenery, Scottsdale, Phoenix and Tucson have many self-contained resort communities offering luxurious accommodations and amenities including golf, tennis, spas, elaborate water playgrounds, and kids clubs. The outstanding Desert Museum in Tucson (see article above) and many other unique places of interest for families are nearby.
      The Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale offers the ultimate resort experience for those who desire extraordinary service and luxurious amenities. Accommodations at the 250-acre resort include guestrooms, suites, casitas, and villas. The terrace off the opulent main lobby offers a panoramic view of nine swimming pools tiered on three levels. The pools include a glistening oval pool tiled in mother-of-pearl, an edgeless pool, relaxation pool, and children's pool with a 165-ft. waterslide. The Phoenician Golf Club includes a championship 27-hole golf course, driving range, putting green, and golf shop. Clinics are offered daily and private instruction is available. The Tennis Garden features an automated practice court and 12 courts with four playing surfaces. The Center for Well-Being Spa offers comprehensive programs and ala carte services including massage and bodywork therapies, energy therapies, skin care treatments, salon and fitness services. For the kids, the Funicians Kids Club is open year 'round for ages 5-12. Teens ages 13-17 can join in the Funicians Kids Club for a full day as an official Teen Camp Counselor. Special activities are also planned for teens for the holidays, summer vacation and long weekends.
      The Wigwam Resort in the town of Litchfield Park, about 25 miles outside of Phoenix, boasts three championship 18-hole courses. The Blue and Gold courses were designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr, and the Red course designed by Robert "Red" Lawrence. Other amenities include a fitness center and a full service tennis club. Personal instruction and clinics are available as well as kids summer tennis camps. There are two swimming pools, the main pool featuring a water slide, volleyball, whirlpool and cabana poolside grill. The more intimate courtyard pool is surrounded by suites and lush gardens. Camp Pow Wow offers organized activities for ages 5-12 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. year 'round.
      Other resorts in the area with kids' programs include The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, with a 6,000 sq. ft. water recreation area; the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch, featuring a 2.5 acre water playground and family camps; the Pointe Hilton Resort at Squaw Peak with a lazy tubing river; and Hilton El Conquistador in Tucson.
      Peak season in Greater Phoenix is November through April with shoulder seasons in May and September through October. Fantastic deals on accommodations and golf can be found in abundance in summer (when the average temperature reaches a dry 100°). Rates are a fraction of peak-season rates, often reduced more than 50%, and many resorts offer summer value packages combining luxurious resort stays with outstanding golf.

Smugglers Notch Resort
Rt. 108S, Smugglers Notch, VT, 1-800-451-8752. In summer, six pools, tennis, camps, child care programs and a host of family activities in a beautiful mountain resort village. In winter, children's ski programs and child care, ski three mountain peaks, 2,610 vertical. Supersavers and value packages include children's program.

Tanque Verde Ranch
14301 E. Speedway, Tucson, AZ 85748, 800-234-DUD. See feature above. For more guest ranches, consult the Arizona Dude Ranch Association, www.coloradoranch.com, www.duderanch.org, www.dude-ranch.com

Trip Planner

Notable websites to help plan your trip

ACCOMMODATIONS WORLDWIDE

As an alternative to hotel stays, Homeaway.com features more than 95,000 vacation rental properties across 100 countries, ranging from traditional condos, homes and villas to the more exotic cabooses, teepees, castles and yurts. Search "special offers" for travel deals.

Families can find an affordable and personal vacation experience by browsing this online directory representing 27,000 B&Bs worldwide.
www.bedandbreakfast.com

Elderhostel , a non-profit educational travel organization started at the University of New Hampshire in1975, provides low-cost vacation opportunities for ages 55 and over in the U.S. and over 90 countries. Grandparent programs are open to grandparents and their grandchildren (suggested age 8-12, one child per adult). 877-426-8056

ISLANDS

Access Caribbean Hotel Association's website at www.caribbeanhotels.org for special values.

Elite Island Resorts, a collection of resorts on Antigua, St. Lucia, Tortola and Palm Island in the Grenadines, offer special values under Hot Deals on their website. 800-858-4618
www.eliteislandresorts.com

For villa rentals and distinctive hotels in the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii and Mexico, 800-449-1553
www.wimco.com.

More private villas in Caribbean island destinations can be seen at www.passportvillas.com. Each villa features 2 to 8 bedrooms, luxury living quarters, pool and staff according to your vacation desires.

The Montreal-based company, Caribbean Way, offers villa rentals for travelers that encompass entire private islands and personalized concierge services.
www.caribbeanway.com, 877-953-7400

SKIING

Planning a ski vacation? For info and packages, visit www.SkiTown.com, www.mountaindestination.com.

Moguls Mountain Travel has packaged participating airline and resort information on their website at www.moguls.com under "Vacation Deals" or call 800-666-4857.

U.S.

Discounted pre-packaged vacation deals for the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York are continuously updated on adirondacks.org, LakePlacid.com, HotNewYorkDeals.com. Getaway packages for the Lake George area in the Adirondacks are available at www.visit lakegeorge.com.

For information about whitewater rafting nationwide, Canada and South America, visit www.raftingamerica.com

INTERNATIONAL

Big Five Tours & Expeditions promotes several soft adventure programs tailored specifically for family travel. They include Family Retreat Safari (Kenya), Family Outing in Africa (Kenya), Family Fun in the Tropics (Costa Rica), Best of Japan and Galapagos Islands Discovery (Ecuador). The Galapagos Islands tour offers 13 family departures a year to coincide with school vacation periods and offers additional activities for children, minimum age 7.
800-BIG-FIVE
www.bigfive.com

African Travel Inc., based in Glendale, Calif., have been operating African safaris for 28 years and offer several family-oriented safaris to South Africa.
800-421-8907.
www.africantravelinc.com

Asia Transpacific Journeys has been crafting private custom journeys and small group trips to the Asia/Pacific region since 1987 with special family trips offered during school holidays.
800-642-2742
www.asiatranspacific.com