Archive for the ‘Children’ Category

Busch Gardens

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

Busch Gardens, Tampa, FL., is a great theme park foe all ages. There are so many interesting things to see and do at Busch Gardens, that one day is just not enough. Busch Gardens offers multi-day passes which allow you to return for another day at the park for very little money. Florida residents can attend the park one-day and receive a “fun card” which will allow free access to the park for the remainder of the calendar year.

For the roller coaster enthusiast, Busch Gardens offers 4 large-scale roller coasters, and one small scale. The newest is Sheikra, which gives riders a 70 mph, heart-pumping experience like no other. Sheikra offers three minutes of excitement on the tallest 200-ft. coaster in FL., with a 200-ft. straight down drop. Montu is another amazing steel roller coaster within Busch Gardens offering a 60 mile per hour inverted ride. Kumba is one of the world’s best roller coasters offering a full 3 seconds of weightlessness and several vertical and spiraling loops. Gwazi is the parks wooden roller coaster which offers twin tracks and 2 distinct tracks, the lion and the tiger, with the lion feeling like a continuous number of spirals and the tiger feeling more like a bobsled ride than a roller coaster. The oldest and smallest of the roller coasters is the Scorpion. This is still a great ride it’s just smaller and shorter than some of the other super coasters Busch Gardens has to offer.

There are multiple activities for toddlers including an entire play area, Land of the Dragons, which is dedicated to the little ones, with climbing nets and splash ponds, a sand box, a giant bounce house and a few rides. There are toddler friendly performances multiple times per day on the Land of the Dragons stage.

For the children, there is the brand new Jungala. This area is great for children of all ages. They can take a ride on a zip line, play tug of war with a white tiger ride the waterfall on the wild surge and climb through the tree tops on a large 3 story tree top canopy play land.

There are many different types of live performances throughout the park, which offer interesting information about Africa and African culture as well as pop culture and music.

The animal encounters at Busch Gardens are like no other. The beautiful natural habitats created for these animals seem more like you are on safari, than observing caged animals at a zoo. There are multiple up close and personal tours available where you can actually feed and touch some of these amazing African native animals.

Busch Gardens is a perfect stop for anyone touring Florida, but plan for more than one day, as there is so much to see and do.

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Fabulous St. Augustine

Monday, February 16th, 2009

When considering travel in Florida, do yourself a favor and consider St.Augustine. There is something there for everyone. Visitors enjoy multiple sightseeing adventures including it’s vast history, spooky evening ghost tours, fabulous coastal seafood, and beautiful beaches and surfing, just to name a few.

St Augustine is full of History. It is said to be the oldest city in the United States. Ponce De Leon first discovered it in the year 1513, and at that time also discovered the famous “Fountain of Youth” It was the first city to be discovered almost a half century before the English landed in Jamestown. The rich History of St. Augustine is quite interesting even for those who are not particularly interested in history.

The beauty of the city is almost breathtaking. The lush landscaping and the fabulous old architecture are certainly something to behold. The Flagler University building is spectacular. Henry Flagler (oil tycoon) built it in the late 1800’s as a wiinter resort, along with the Cordova and the Alcazar Hotels. These buildings are still standing and operating as a university, a hotel and a museum and are quite fabulous in themselves.

St. Augustine Beach is also known as Anastasia Island. This East Coast beach is breathtaking. There are many exquisite hotels on or very near the beach. The Castillo Real is one such hotel that is not to be missed. A small boutique hotel with only 60 rooms, but a true gem for any traveler.

Shopping in St. Augustine is plentiful. Again there is something for everyone. There are fine bakeries, second hand stores, clothing boutiques, cigar shops, souveneir and novelty shops and a multitude of antique stores.

While touring St. Augustine you will find many horsedrawn carriages available for hire which take passengers on a personally narrated tour, pointing out all the historical places of interest as well as some of the local hot spots. Most vacationers enjoy a day of just wandering through the streets of downtown St. Augustine. This is a really great way to just take it all in. On the downtown streets you will see a little bit of everything. There are many local street performers, artists and galleries and shops of every kind asn so many fabulous little restaurants. The Columbia Restaurant is another must see during your visit, offering amazing authentic Spanish cuisine.

St. Augustine is great destination for a romantic getaway, a girls’ getaway, a family trip, or any type of vacation.

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Posted in Children, Couples, Family, Family Vacations, Florida, Getaway, Girls getaway, Group Travel, Holiday Travel, Spa/Resort | No Comments »

Why Travel at Christmas?

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

Traveling for Christmas, in my opinion, is not always a good idea.  There are so many reasons not to travel on Christmas (or other holidays).  Christmas travel is always hectic.  No matter how you decide to travel, by car, train, bus, or plane.  Christmas time is usually, in most parts of the country, the WORST weather.  With this bad weather comes bad weather delays to contend with.  Including delays in traffic, and arrival and departure times.  These hours of endless waiting send most people into angry panic mode. This is not fun for any one.

Christmas travel is also very confusing for young children.  They will often worry about how Santa is going to find them.  Then there is the whole ordeal of packing all the gifts, and what size gifts are appropriate.

Once you’ve reached your destination, there is so much pressure to make it a memorable Christmas with the family.  Pressure to participate in many of the Holiday traditions.  Some of which you have chosen to abandon as an adult. You may be forced to attend a church you are unfamiliar with, and leave behind those you worship with weekly.

I feel that there are so many other opportunities to travel and visit with family throughout the year, that don’t involve all the pressure and formalities.  Christmas time is one of the most hectic times of year for everyone, by throwing a big trip in the middle of it I think you are asking for trouble.

I think travel should be relaxing and enjoyable for everyone involved the host and the guests.  It is very hard to relax during this type of trip.  Another consideration, is other friends and family you may like to visit while you’re in town. Some of them may be traveling as well. If they’re not, they are likely busy with their crazy Holiday schedules and it is a hard time to fit in a casual get together.

There’s nothing like waking up in your own home on Christmas morning, and enjoying the joy of your children as they casually open their gifts. Somehow being at another person’s home, or worse, a hotel, takes away the magic for the children.

Christmas-time travel is just bad timing all the way around and I think it should really be avoided.

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RV Travel

Thursday, November 20th, 2008

RV travel is a great way to see the country and spend some quality time with your family. Why not take advantage of gas prices coming down and start planning a family getaway.  Traveling by RV is less stressful than other forms of travel because you can control all of the departure and arrival times since you are not at the mercy of the airlines.  Depending on your location, you can also schedule your days to include sightseeing tours, or just go out on your own and find your own adventure.

When traveling with the family it is important to find family friendly sites to hitch up overnight.  The kids can go a little stir crazy if they don’t have some social outlet.  There are many RV parks and campgrounds that are family friendly and offer amenities for entertaining the children, and therefore attract many families. RV travel is quite the social outlet for some families. When you settle into these campgrounds, it is not uncommon to meet other families whom you form lifelong friendships with.  This is a great way for the kids to have some time to play with other kids and for the parents to swap ideas about entertainment in the area and exchange other RV travel ideas.

RV travel is also very popular with retirees. After retirement, many couples choose to sell everything they own and live in their RV’s and travel the country full time.  There are Senior RV clubs that offer social gatherings all over the U.S. and Canada for those who are full time travelers, as well as the weekend warriors. It is believed by many that RV-ing is the best way to see the country and a great way for empty nesters and retirees to reconnect with their spouses, after the hustle and bustle of raising a family and working 9-5 is behind you.

While RV-ing you may chose to “camp out” in campgrounds or off the beaten path somewhere secluded.  This decision may be easy for some that don’t like to “rough it”.  RV travel incorporates a few more conveniences than traditional camping. So many people find it fun and interesting.

You can plan a theme for your trip, like antique collecting, or touring the historic sites in the northeast, or all about the Wild West and rodeos.  There are unlimited possibilities when planning an RV excursion.  Let the road and your imagination be your guide.

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Posted in British Columbia, California, Canada, Children, Couples, Family, Family Vacations, Florida, Group Travel, Pet Travel, RV travel, Travel Tips | No Comments »

Stay-cationing

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008

Vacations are becoming more expensive every day with rising fuel costs, food costs, hotel costs, just about everything is on the rise, making it more difficult for families to afford summer vacations.  The new catch phrase is “staycation” This means you stay close to home and explore the area around you.  Staycations also emphasize what vacations are all about; quality time with your family.

Depending on your location, there are probably many one tank trips you can take with your family. Do some research and find out what’s around you, within driving distance.  Even if it involves a night in a hotel, it’s still more affordable than a plane trip and a week at a hotel, meals…etc.  On a staycation you can also enjoy local things that were always out of your budget.  Again, without  the major travel costs, you can afford these little splurges, like eating at fabulous local restaurants, and taking in local theater.

Vacations are a great tiime for families to regroup after a hectic season and get to know eachother again.  Staycation-road-trips are a good way to do this.  Reconnect with you kids and enjoy local family activities together. There are probably numerous sightseeing opportunities that are overlooked due to busy schedules. Exploring your surroundings together will create just as many memories as visiting the mouse in Florida.

Be certain, no matter what you plan for your staycation travels, that you  DO NOT just stay at home.  When you are at home with unlimited free time, it is easy to fall into the trap of completing all the little projects that don’t get done throughout the year.  Leave the house daily as if you were out of town.  The cluttered closets, the piles of laundry, the dirty grout lines will all have to wait.  Don’t let the daily chores ruin your vacation, because you chose to make it a staycation. Plan your daily activities in advance the way you would on any other vacation.

There are parks and picnics and museums and history all around you.  Enjoy your local resources and most of all enjoy some relaxation with your family.

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Tips For Travel With Kids

Friday, October 24th, 2008

Traveling  with small children is so exciting. To see the sights through their eyes is such a delight. To educate them on different foods and cultures are lessons they will keep with them forever. Traveling with youngsters can be challenging as well. You must plan ahead for the little distractions that can arise when a child is out of their comfort zone and out of their routine.

I’ve learned a lot through my travels and learned how to handle the inevitable bumps in the road that will arise when toting small children. First, don’t plan sightseeing for every single minute of every day. If you are in a new area, try to pick out the most important features that must be seen and do those first. Be sure they are interesting for the kids as well as the adults. We all know, when the little ones are bored is when they get into trouble.

Bring plenty of comforts from home. A jar of peanut butter goes a long way when traveling with kids. Some exotic locations may not have the hot dogs and nuggets that our kids are used to. Be sure you have the staple PB&J available for meals. Comfort food is important to little ones as well. Pack their favorite pillow case and a few toys too. Video games are a great distraction for car or airplane rides. A $20 investment in a new/used game will invaluable when traveling.

Include the kids in the planning. Let them see some of the activities available and let them chose which ones they are most interested in. They will be so excited about their “day”. This will truly go a long way during the entire stay. The anticipation alone is enough to make their sightseeing selection the best in their eyes.

Some families chose to travel with a babysitter. This seems to be a win-win situation for all involved. The babysitter gets to go on vacation and see and do some new and exciting things, the kids are excited to have their favorite babysitter along on the trip and the parents can have a little adult time to have a meal or see some sights that would be uninteresting to the kids. A young, trusted babysitter will not cost too much. If you give her the trip and agree on a flat rate for the entire vacation, it will not cost too much for the added peace of mind you will have.

Try to remember that when traveling with youngsters, they will be out of their element. Bringing a few comforts from home and looking at the entertainment through their eyes are key to a well planned memorable family vacation.

 

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