Vacation Ideas for Sun-Seeking Families
(ARA) - Ready for warm weather? This winter, the travel industry makes it easy
to soak up the sun. Here are fantastic heat retreats to help you plan the right
vacation for all family members, no matter what their interests.
Affordable Adventures, Cozumel.
Rated by Money magazine as a top winter destination, Cozumel, Mexico is the place
for families searching for a getaway that’s diverse and well-priced. This cozy
island sits along the largest coral reef network in the Western Hemisphere; visitors
enjoy exceptional snorkeling, diving and swimming year-round. On land, travelers
explore ancient ruins; take jeep, ATV and horseback tours; hike through national
preserves, and more. Hotels and resorts welcome families with packages that include
dive lessons for children, snorkeling and massages. Family packages begin as low
as $115 per night per adult, and kids stay free. Visit Cozumel on the World Wide
Web, www.islacozumel.com.mx.
At Home When Away.
If you want plenty of space for family and friends, treat yourself to a villa
with Marriott Vacation Club International (MVCI). These family-friendly accommodations
have one to three bedrooms, full kitchens, separate living and dining areas, private
balconies, washer/dryers and more. MVCI resorts are located any place families
want to travel, with resorts in warm weather destinations from Florida and Hawaii
to Aruba and Costa del Sol. There are kids’ clubs and activities for all family
members: snorkeling, golf, spa and theme parks, just to name a few. Travelers
can rent spacious villas on a nightly basis. For yearly travelers, vacation ownership
can be a smart choice because of the flexibility. Owners can exchange their weeks
and travel to top destinations worldwide. For information, call (800) 845-5279
or visit www.marriottvacationclub.com.
Best Surf ‘N Turf, Panama City Beach.
On Florida’s northwest coast, Panama City Beach beckons with sugary, white sand
beaches and the emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. This classic beach
town is heralded as a Best U.S. Beach destination by The Travel Channel, Southern
Living Magazine, Dr. Beach and others. The award-winning beaches -- coupled with
lakes, waterways and bays -- offer countless opportunities for year-round water
sports, from snorkeling, surfing and diving to sailing, kayaking and fishing.
On land, there are championship golf courses, hiking and biking trails, water
parks, roller coasters and more. Winter packages start as low as $79 per night
per adult, and kids stay free at many hotels. Visit online www.thebeachloversbeach.com.
Paradise Found, Caribbean and Mexico.
Marriott and Renaissance Caribbean and Mexico Resorts welcome families with “Discovery
Adventures.” This new activities program takes children and parents on cultural
explorations of the world around them, examining shells as beach archaeologists,
experimenting with centrifugal motion as scientists, following the moon’s phases
as astronomers and more. When vacations are done, “Discovery” booklets, with space
for journal entries and scrap-booking, make invaluable keepsakes. Marriott and
Renaissance Caribbean and Mexico Resorts’ are located in Aruba, Cancun, Curacao,
Puerto Vallarta, St. Kitts and St. Thomas. Each property offers a distinctive
vacation: Swim in on-site dive centers, relax at luxurious spas, tee off on championship
golf courses, try your luck at state-of-the-art casinos, dine on world-class cuisine
and more. Check out the “Total Escape!” (R) inclusive packages, with rates starting
as low as $250 per room per night at select resorts. Call (888) PARADISE or visit
www.paradisebymarriott.com.
Hole-in-One Family Travel, Orlando.
Visit the theme parks or hit the links. Whatever your interests, you’re covered
at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate, Florida’s new luxury golf destination
resort. The Mediterranean-style, 730-room property is just a few miles from Walt
Disney World Resort. At Omni Orlando, grown-ups rejuvenate at the 10,000 square-foot,
European-style spa. Kids spend the afternoon plunging down the two-story water
slide and tubing down the 850-foot lazy river. ChampionsGate is home to the world
headquarters of the internationally acclaimed David Leadbetter Golf Academy and
two par-72, championship courses designed by golf great Greg Norman. Preview rates
through Jan. 17, 2005, include $146 per night when you stay three nights or more.
For information, visit omniorlandoresort.com or call (800) THE-OMNI.
Family Feast with Entertainment Medley.
While in Orlando, catch “Stampede of the Buffalos,” at Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede.
At what Dolly calls the “most fun place to eat in Orlando,” visitors feast on
four-course meals. Acrobatic horsemanship, original comedy, choreography and music
provide a full menu of entertainment. The all-American show has a friendly North-South
rivalry theme, with audience participation suitable for all family members. During
the holidays, Dixie Stampede transforms itself into a festive fantasyland, with
twinkling lights, snow, ice skating, old-fashioned costumes, original holiday
music, a live nativity and visits from Old St. Nick. Tickets: $46.99 plus tax
for adults; $19.99 plus tax for children. For information, call Dolly Parton’s
Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show, (407) 238-2777, or visit online, www.dixiestampede.com.
|
