continued from Family Trips, p. 2
9. Caribbean Off-season
Why on earth would you take a family trip in summer to a tropical location? Answer: to experience an all-inclusive resort at bargain prices. Here's a sample of what a good all-inclusive offers:
- one price includes all meals, drinks, snacks. (In the Caribbean, a single icy fruit drink can set your back $5. How often do your kids get thirsty? You do the math.)
- games rooms, ping-pong, mini-golf
- kids' programs for different ages, often with theme dinners and day outings
- teen programs
- novelty pools, waterslides, water trampolines, etc.
- scuba for ages 12 and up
- snorkel boat trips, glass bottom boats, and other outings
- kid-friendly eats such as ice-cream stands, special buffets, etc. Also, regular buffets offer kid-pleasing choices including of course the dessert bars.
- fab food at some resorts. Superclubs resorts, for example, feature Japanese, Italian, and Mediterraean restaurants in addition to buffets. (See Starfish and Breezes Curacao.)
- and unique toFDR and Pebbles resorts: a vacation nanny throughout your stay
Summer vacationisn't necessarily the deepest-discount season at all resorts: some places raise prices in July-August after a deep price dropMay-June. But compared to other times when your kids are out of school-- Christmas and spring break-- summer's your best best for the resort experience.
Of course there is that little matter of hurricanes... but even this riskcan be minimized, and many resorts have weather guarantees. Read more .
10.NC: Earthshine Mountain Lodge- all-inclusive, and great activities
Be an apprentice pioneer at this luxury B&B in North Carolina, with 1878 farmhouse, log suites. Families can: help in the blacksmith shop, care for barnyard animals, press cider, go gem mining; travel back in time to a Cherokee village; take a natural water adventure to nearby waterfalls; take a course in "high ropes" or a treetops zip line. Kids six and up can also try the climbing wall. Price includes all meals and activities.
11. Orlando: High Season
Is this really a good idea,to go to hot humid Florida in summertime?
Yes, it's hot in the theme parks; but on the other hand, the parks are open late and the night-times light up with parades and fireworks. Disney World's Magic Kingdom, for example, stays open until 11 p.m. or midnight, ending with fireworks at Cinderella's Castle. Take a mid-day break at your resort, and return to the parks to enjoy evening and night. Or cool down during the day at Disney's terrific waterparks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Or visit Sea-World's elite sister, Discovery Cove, a Caribbean experience in the middle of Florida. Read about 10 top things to do in Orlando.
New York is always an exciting place for a family trip. Read about 10 Top Things to Do in New York, including a free outing with a Big Apple Greeter: your own private and personable New Yorker who'll show you around. Teens will also like New York Movie Tours, which introduces New York via well-known movie locations.
--back to Family Trips, p. 1: National Parks; resorts with waterparks; horse caravan holidays in Ireland; Cape Cod family resort
