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10 Family-Friendly Destinations for a Holiday

Holiday packages are an ideal way to plan a getaway, as all the details are taken care of for you. When organizing special holiday packages for the family, consider some of the top family-friendly destinations there are on offer.

1. Florida

Florida is an obvious choice for families on holiday, with Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World and great beaches. It’s fun for the whole family, ensuring you get to spend plenty of memorable time together.

2. Spain

Visit the Spanish islands for a holiday break, or getaway to bustling cities like Barcelona and Madrid. With such diversity, a Spanish holiday ensures there’s always plenty to do for visitors of all ages.

3. California

California is a great theme park alternative to Florida, with Disney and Universal parks scattered around Anaheim. In between rides, relax with the family on one of this great state’s beautiful beaches.

4. New York City

There’s a reason so many people flock to New York City; it’s filled to capacity with things to do. Adults and kids alike can get lost in all of the sights here, with everything from Broadway to the Statue of Liberty.

5. Genoa

Genoa is a gem of a city in Italy, offering all the culinary delights of Italy with the beach feeling of the Riviera. Families can spend plenty of time together here, swimming about in the water then breaking for a bit of gelato in the afternoon.

6. Chicago

The windy city of Chicago is like a mini New York, giving it plenty of charm without all the hubbub. Kids in Chicago enjoy the Great American Doll headquarters, as well as the Sears Tower. For adults, catch a comedy act or try one of the fine dining establishments.

7. French Riviera

The French Riviera is a sunny paradise for any family on the go. The beautiful beaches will set adults at ease, and the sparkling waters are great for children to splash about in. In the evenings, enjoy family meals outdoors, right on the beaches.

8. London

The bustling city of London is a one stop shop for anyone looking for a holiday with family, as there’s plenty for both the adults and kids to look forward to. For the grownups, look into great nightlife and stunning museums. For the little ones, there are amazing West End shows and entertainment venues to occupy plenty of time.

9. Hawaii

It’s easy to see why so many people look to Hawaii for a holiday in the sun. The beaches themselves are enough to encourage anyone to go. The islands of Hawaii offer amazing sunsets, great dining options and plenty of local culture and history to experience.

10. Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a fantastic spot to take relatives with a thirst for history. The city boasts a treasure trove of historical palaces and fortresses, all of which can be explored for days. Plus, the city itself has plenty to lend itself toward visitors, from great dining to amazing shopping.

photo by flickrized

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Things to do, places to go

When I originally set up a weekly editorial calendar for this blog (hey, it’s a journey, not a perfectly-executed plan) I planned to look into the future on Thursdays and tell the readers about fun family-friendly events coming up in the next few weeks, around the world.

That idea’s been a total failure; I can’t seem to find time to scan calendars to pick out good events for kids. An alternative idea popped into my head recently.

I get a lot of emails from travel-related public relations folks telling me about their latest and greatest promotion or event.  Many of them, quite frankly, are not properly targeted and are obviously just scattershot announcements….the old PR “spray and pray” method of sending out mass info and hoping it sticks, only now it goes out mostly via email because that is so easy to do and its free. Never mind that improperly done, it clogs my IN box with garbage and is massively annoying.

Anyway, I’m a nice gal and want to support the travel industry in tough economic times, so here’s my plan – on Thursdays, when I have time, I’ll put up a post with short excerpts from relevant PR pitches.  The deal is, it has to be something that I think my readers will like, and I’m not copying/pasting a whole press release. Readers should know that this is PR info and not independently vetted.

Here goes:

  • (Monterey, CA) Jaw-dropping Aquarium exhibits, an organic Earthbound Farm adventure and a thrilling IMAX movie experience are all part of the family and budget friendly “Fish, Farm and Flix” package at Monterey’s Victorian Inn. Available through November 2008, the two night package starts at $379, not including taxes, a savings of up to $60 if package items were purchased separately. For reservations, please call 800-232-4141 or visit www.victorianinn.com.
  • (New England, USA) Says Mandy Grenier of Francestown, New Hampshire, “I am a mother of a two-year-old, so we are always on the go. I was always searching for a site that had area attractions for toddlers in New England and never found one with reviews on what to expect once we got there. Planning ahead; that’s the name of the game when you have a toddler! Anyway, I decided to start my own blog, One Mom’s Review.”
  • (Contest) Lands’ End would like to make planning family holiday get-togethers a whole lot easier this year by giving your readers a chance to win a great family get together for 7 nights for up to 12 people at The Resort at Paws Up in Montana! The contest kicked off September 30 and Lands’ End will accept entries at www.landsend.com/greatgettogether through noon October 30, 2008.  Prizes include a get together for 7 nights for up to 12 people at The Resort at Paws Up in Montana,  Cashmere Great Get Together package with Lands’ End’s high-quality cashmere sweaters and scarves for the family, and Fleece Great Get Together package with cozy fleece jackets and accessories for the family. Just have your readers fill out the online entry form and submit an up-to-300-word essay and photo.
  • (Philadelphia, PA) Two items:
    • Headed to the White House, a first-of-its-kind exhibition running through December 14, 2008, allows visitors to travel on the campaign trail, vote for their favorite candidate and take the Presidential Oath of Office through multimedia, interactive and theatrical displays. www.constitutioncenter.org
    • October 18 (next Saturday) is the opening of the children’s Please Touch Museum in a dramatic new home in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. The challenge for exhibition designers was to create a contemporary [hands-on] children’s museum in a building that embodies the spirit of the Victorian age. The museum space is divided into six learning-through-play environments. There is a Please Touch Museum hotel package available on gophila.com, also see www.pleasetouchmuseum.org
  • (Product) Linda of Family Travel Gear says, “I have images of my little one climbing out of her airplane seat during the flight, and causing such havoc that we all end up on the news. She is not a sitter, she is a runner. So I discovered the CARES Child aviation restraint system which is the first and only harness type Aviation Child Safety Device to be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an alternative to a car seat (which I do not want to bring along so that I can have two hands free for adventures.) CARES is an elegantly designed belt-and-buckle device that works in conjunction with the regular airplane seat belt and provides young travelers the same level of safety as a car seat.”
  • (Mystic, CT) Everyone knows about the marine animals at Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration, but did you know you can now explore and touch sea creatures from millions of years ago? They are waiting to be uncovered by pint-size paleontologists in the new interactive exhibit Dig It! Prehistoric Creatures of the Sea, opening on Friday, October 10. This first-of-its-kind, hands-on exhibit provides a unique workshop experience where kids can dig for hundreds of authentic sea fossils. The fossils range in age from 500 to 600 million years old and come from Brazil, China, Europe, Madagascar, Morocco and the United States. Every three months, the types of fossils to be discovered change, so kids can find new specimens with each visit. The exhibit is open during the Aquarium’s normal hours of operation and will remain at the Aquarium through January 2010. Admission into the exhibit is $4.99 per child and includes one fossil that the child can keep. For each additional specimen to be brought home, the cost is $2.99.
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Things to do, places to go for 22 January 2009

I want to support the travel industry in tough economic times, so on occasional Thursdays (when I have time) I’ll put up a post with short excerpts from relevant PR pitches that have come to me via email.

It has to be something that I think my readers will like, it would help if it included links, and I’m not copying/pasting a whole press release. Readers should know that this is PR info and not independently vetted by me.

Here are a few recent items that might interest you….

  • Kid-friendly Hollywood Holiday Inn – The Beverly Garland Holiday Inn is nestled on seven acres in North Hollywood, less than a mile from Universal Studios Hollywood.  The 255 room property, which has been owned and operated by Hollywood actress Beverly Garland and her family since 1972, features seven “KidSuites” that are ideal for families. In addition, the property offers discounted VIP packages with Universal Studios.
  • New York City tourism site revamped – The site NYCgo.com features a comprehensive one-stop hub of information for visitors and residents, tailored to the interests of a variety of lifestyle categories, with select information available in nine foreign languages….Additionally, the website for the first time will house a dedicated cultural calendar from the City’s Department of Cultural Affairs, featuring more than 300 event and exhibition listings submitted by cultural institutions across the five boroughs.
  • Ice Hotel in Quebec, Canada – If you are looking for a unique, entertaining and educational experience that ties together nature and the environment, you absolutely have to visit the Hôtel de Glace in Duchesnay, Jacques-Cartier region….With its towering snow archways and crystalline ice sculptures alongside inviting fireplaces, North America’s only ice hotel stands out both for its ethereal beauty and excellent service.  The ice hotel is completely redesigned each year.  January 4 to March 29, 2009.
  • Hawaii Whale Watching –  Humpback whales are being spotted in Hawaii’s warm waters as the whale watching season is in full force around the islands, which typically runs from November through May. While the whales are here, visitors can enjoy the impressive acrobatic displays of these large mammals from the sea or from the shore. Besides the various whale watching tours available, humpback whales may be spotted from just about any beach park around the state with the right timing and with some patience. Make a family day out of the activity and see how many you can find.
  • MonteLago Village Resort at Lake Las Vegas – A mere 17 miles from the bustling neon of the Vegas Strip, this incredibly child and family-friendly resort encompasses condo-style accommodations with kitchenettes (great for preparing quick snacks and/or meals for the kids without breaking the bank at restaurants every day) and multiple bedrooms, if desired. There are a plethora of outdoor activities like swimming in the year-round, kid-friendly, shallow pool (adults have one with a hot-tub, as well), boating (paddle, kayak, gondola), golfing, hiking and ice-skating in the winter (there is one casino on the property.)  Visit www.montelagovillage.com
  • Frommer’s top destinations for 2009 –
    1. Cartagena, Colombia
    2. Cape Town, South Africa
    3. Saqqara, Egypt
    4. Washington, D.C., United States
    5. Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada
    6. Civil Rights Trail from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, United States
    7. Lassen Volcano National Park, California, United States
    8. Berlin, Germany
    9. Belfast, Northern Ireland
    10. Istanbul, Turkey
    11. Cambodia (but not Angkor Wat)
    12. Waiheke Island, New Zealand
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Discovering tornadoes at the San Francisco airport

While on my way to Beijing to start the China 2.0 Tour, I came out of my arrival gate at SFO, the San Francisco CA airport, and saw a tornado.

No, not a real one, thank goodness, but a cool demonstration of tornadic activity and weather in a play area for children called the Kid’s Spot. It’s in Terminal 3, Boarding Area F, in a mostly United Airlines part of the Terminal.

One little girl who played in the tornado told me that there is a very similar device, on a larger scale, in the city at San Francisco’s Exploratorium. “It’s my favorite place, ever!” she said.

Find more things at the airport for kids and families on this page of the SFO Web site.

For my RSS readers and anyone who can’t see the video box below, click here for the URL to the video.

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Tourism experts who understand the Web: Philadelphia PA

Today I’d like to acknowledge a tourism organization that “gets it” when it comes to online presence and Web 2.0/social media savvy.  I’m talking about the fine folks who want you to visit Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Look, if your destination is crummy for family travel, I’m not recommending it no matter how great you are on blogs or on Twitter.  The good news is that I’m happy to recommend Philadelphia because it is stuffed with things for families to do. Their tourism people have designed a Web site that helps frazzled parents with easy-to-navigate tips and advice, like family-friendly Halloween events in the area and their top 10 things to do in Philly this fall.

Here’s their Weekend in Historic Philadelphia….with Kids; it’s a detailed itinerary with links, maps, a slideshow, etc. Put your travel planning brain on autopilot and just follow it!

Don’t miss SoundAboutPhilly for downloadable audio tours of unique themes/places in the city. Tours on iPods are a marvelous way to get kids (and parents) to learn something without making them stand around in guided tour groups.

Sure, lots of tourism organizations have navigable Web sites, but what I like about the Philadelphia representatives is that they are also active on Twitter (find them at https://twitter.com/visitphilly) so you can also get some expert advice and give feedback even more quickly and easily.

They also read and understand blogs, like how nice it is to comment and how important commenting can be for Web visibility, since your comment name is also a clickable link back to your Web site. Say hi to Visit Philly’s Caroline, who commented on our recent post about family-friendly Pennsylvania.

Maybe they understand blogging because they have a fab blog of their own, UWishUNU: Philly. From the Inside Out. It’s a little more adult-ish in content, but there is still plenty of advice about upcoming events, places to eat and things to do. Their “Philly Blogs” blogroll includes tons of other Philadelphia-based blogs like the Mac & Cheese food blog. Of course, UWishUNU is on Twitter as well; follow https://twitter.com/uwishunu.

I’m starting to get rather crabby about travel professionals who are hesitant to get in here and understand the interactive Web. What can they possibly be afraid of?

I had more than 800 unique visitors to the Family Travel Logue last week (and that is low – our traffic is still recovering from moving to this new URL on BootnAll) and I can’t imagine why any tourism representative wouldn’t want to reach more than 800 readers who are specifically interested in family travel. Many of my readers have been supporting and commenting on this blog since I started it in early 2006.

Note to tourism organizations and CVBs (Convention and Visitor’s Bureaus:) the way to reach the Web 2.0 world is not by spraying out press releases via email, like you’ve always done. The way to reach this world is to immerse your organization in it and figure it out, the way the Philadelphia people have done, so that bloggers like me see that you’re here, you’re authentic and you care about your city/state/region/country.

I guarantee that your enthusiasm and your presence will pique our interest, but you’d better get with the program because the longer you fiddle around and wait, the harder it will be for your message to get any traction or interest.

You’ll wake up in a year or so and wonder, “Where are my visitors? How did we get left so far behind?  Maybe we need to mail out more brochures?”

Um, no.  You need to be online, all over the Web, NOW.

Update as of this afternoon: Thanks for the terrific response and comments. Let’s give props to some who are figuring it out on Twitter:  @baltimoremd, @ArizonaTourism, @Visit_Jax (Jacksonville FL,) @fairmonthotels, @MarriottIntl, @PensacolaCVB, @ashevilletravel, @galvestonguru and then individual travel PR folks like Hawaii tourism reps @MichaelNi and @NathanKam.

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Fabulous for families: California

Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, California (courtesy nplugd on Flickr CC)

It is certainly difficult to narrow down a list of family-friendly, educational travel attractions in the massive Golden State, but I gave it a try….

Kid-friendly fun and learning in California is now posted on Education.com.

Here are four of the 21 items that I featured, to whet your family travel whistle:

  • Monterey Bay Aquarium– Located on author John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row, this world-famous aquarium submerges visitors into watery California marine habitats and offers close-up encounters with hundreds of sea creatures, enhanced by special programs and hands-on activities for kids. Bonus: drive some of the Pacific Coast Highway around scenic Big Sur while you’re there.
  • Butterflies – The migratory paths of the Monarch butterfly bring them to California from about mid-October through March. See them at state parks like Point Mugu, Leo Carillo, Malibu Lagoon State Beach and the town of Pacific Grove.
  • Walt Disney Concert Hall– The twisty, curvy Frank Gehry-designed metallic home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic appeals to kids not only with its looks, but also the Saturday morning Toyota Symphonies for Youth.
  • Love Your Food– The modern movement to “eat local” can be credited to Alice Waters and the Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley. Older kids might enjoy sampling the imaginative rotating menu (lunch in the more casual Café at Chez Panisse might be the best bet.) Another way to introduce great fresh food is to visit the San Francisco Farmer’s Market at the Ferry Building Marketplace on Tuesday and Saturday, when local restaurants bring samples and California farmers are out in force.

The other 17 recommendations are here on Education.com.

The state has long drawn adventurers (Gold Rush, anyone?) and is famously tolerant of the unusual, but that’s precisely why I love it.

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Photo of the Week: Baja, California on bikes

A Baja, California cactus dwarfs the Vogel family bikers (courtesy Nancy Sathre-Vogel)(This is a guest photo by Family Travel reader Nancy Sathre-Vogel from Family on Bikes. I’m traveling in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley and Chicago this week.)

Look at the bottom of that huge cactus down in Baja, California — that’s part of the Vogel family.

Their triple bike is dwarfed by the size of that plant, isn’t it?

Says Mom Nancy:

“This photo was taken in Baja, California as we cycled the length of the peninsula with our 8-year-old twin boys. My husband and twins rode a bicycle build for three – an enormous bike – which was totally dwarfed by the majestic cardon cactus of the area.

Now we are getting ready to take off to ride our bikes from Alaska to Argentina – YIPPEE!!! Six more weeks til we hit the road!

Dreaming of dropping out of society to travel with your kids? Follow along as we do exactly that! www.familyonbikes.org“

Follow the Vogel family adventures on their blog as well – anyone up for sending them care packages? 🙂

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What’s fun for kids in Michigan?

Yes, it's in Michigan - atop the Sleeping Bear Dunes (courtesy michael and anna at Flickr CC)An article of mine was just posted over at Education.com about must-sees in Michigan for family fun.

You’re invited to take a look (and please leave a comment there if I missed anything.)

There are all sorts of interesting places and events throughout the state, which is divided into the mitten-shaped Lower Peninsula and the more remote Upper Peninsula.

Here’s a sample:

  • Celebrate cherries – The western side of the Michigan Lower Peninsula harvests about 250 million pounds of cherries each year, so they celebrate with the National Cherry Festival every July in Traverse City. You can also tour cherry orchards on Leelanau Peninsula or find unique cherry products at Michigan’s American Spoon Foods or Cherry Republic.
  • Motown Historical Museum – Right here in Motor City (Detroit) is a museum dedicated to the groundbreaking musical artists of the Motown Record Corporation; names like Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Marvin Gaye and the Jackson 5. Founder Berry Gordy envisioned a “hit factory” just like the Lincoln-Mercury assembly line where he worked, and his dream is a linchpin of Detroit and Michigan’s legacy.
  • The Soo Locks – Sault Ste. Marie is the oldest city in Michigan and home to one of the most important maritime trade transit points in the world, the “Soo Locks” that move tons of shipping between Lake Superior and the rest of the Lakes. Ask at the Locks Visitor Center about boat tours.

For 15 other things to do with kids in Michigan, take a look at the Education.com article.

Many thanks to those who contributed from Twitter; folks like Queen of Spain, ScrapNancy, Tim Walker, Marina Feygelman, DeafMom, SoulTravelers3 and Elizabeth at Table4Five.

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Things to do, places to go 01.31.2008

I’ve been remiss in posting the Thursday look-ahead/deal roundup in accordance with my blogging editorial calendar, but good intentions are always there.

Things coming up….

**  It’s Fabulous First Friday on February 1 at the Miami Science Museum. This month’s planetarium “Live Star Show” will feature information about the Total Lunar Eclipse, which will be visible from Miami Wednesday February 20th.

**  What will happen with Punxsutawney Phil on Gobbler’s Knob in Pennsylvania? It’s Groundhog Day Feb 2nd.

**  The St. Kilda Festival in Melbourne, Australia February 2-10.  Australia’s “largest outdoor festival” is a huge beach festival with live music, tons of summer activities (since it’s the Southern Hemisphere) and Kid Zones.

**  Sample Oman’s heritage and culture at the Muscat Festival Feb 1-2.

**  It’s Candlemas, the formal end of the holiday season in Mexico, February 2nd.

**  For the Japanese, it’s “out with the demons and in with good fortune,” plus ceremonial bean-throwing, at Setsubun February 4th.

**  In London, it’s Magic Carpet Storytelling for toddlers at the National Gallery February 3rd, and the Great Spitalfields Pancake Race (for charity) on Feb 5th.

**  Oh, yes, it’s Mardi Gras on Feb 5th, with parades in New Orleans (and other cities.) Sure, you can take the kids. Really. Just stay away from Bourbon Street with them. Come to think of it, that’s always good advice….

**  On top of everything else, it’s the Year of the Rat, Chinese New Year, on and around February 7th.

Good deals and opportunities right now….

**  Whale-watching in Virginia Beach, Virginia and 2nd day free at Universal Studios Hollywood.

**  Tips and tricks if you’re thinking about sun and fun at family resorts in Cancun, Mexico, a family reunion on a cruise ship, deals for skiing, a last-minute Caribbean vacation, advance booking for popular London summer events and planning those summer holidays.

**  This is the time of year for good deals at US national parks, at Club Med all-inclusives and even for hotel/travel packages to Bali and tied to the American Girls dolls.

**  Arthur Frommer’s blog recommends the Top Picks section of the Spirit Airways Web site, and Roe Gruber’s Escapes Unlimited to Central & South American and Asia.

**  Finally, Frommer’s recommends deals to the French & Italian Riviera, Botswana, the Rivera Maya in Mexico, Hong Kong (sigh – I’d kill to go) and Cape May, New Jersey.

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Things to do, places to go 01.10.2008

I’m getting back into the weekly posting routine, including the Thursday list of upcoming events and current good travel deals. My only problem is that I’d like to have this up earlier in the day!

** On January 12th, try winter sports like snowshoeing and cross-country skiing on Winter Trails Day.

** London is hopping with the International Mime Festival starting January 12th, and the Russian Winter Festival in Trafalgar Square January 13.

** They celebrate winter in unique ways in pretty Blowing Rock, North Carolina January 24-27 (I discovered the town last summer while researching my NASCAR/North Carolina road trip article for Automotive Traveler.)

** In Canada, the kids would love the huge Quebec Winter Carnival February 1-17, just one of many great Canadian winter festivals and events.  If you’re in Europe, here are 10 ideas for a January break.

** It’s out with the evil and in with good fortune during Setsubun in Japan February 4th. Get rid of your mental and physical gomi (trash.)

** Chinese New Year is celebrated in many US cities February 7th.  It’s the Year of the Rat!

** Are there art lovers in your family?  Here’s a list of well-respected arts fairs and festivals through the year in places across the U.S.

** Florida celebrates some yummy agricultural products during January and February —  citrus, seafood, strawberries and corn — with fun local festivals.

** Current travel deals that may interest you:  13 nights in 5 Balkan countries, three-day family getaways in Illinois, great airfare to Germany (how about some castles while you’re there?) airfare plus 3 nights in Orlando FL or 6 nights in Peru.  Here’s an entire list of trip deals on Budget Travel.

** Hotel deals are available in Boston, in Chicago (tie in with visit to the Museum of Modern Ice,) in New York City and at a major resort in San Antonio (good deals at hotels all over Texas, in fact, even winter rates at Texas RV parks.)

** Finally, check out the best of the best during winter in each US state’s parks.