Great Travel Destinations for Kids

Vacations are great time to bond with your little ones, burn out their energy and take them to explore the world as they have seen it in their text books.
There are several cities that cater to kids superbly offering them everything they need.
So get cheap airline tickets to these wonderful destinations.

New York City

New York City is great place when it comes to spending the weekend or a long vacation with kids. With plethora of things to do and see the city promises to be a complete package.

1. Explore the Mott and Canal Streets, the center of Chinatown. Area is filled with shops and restaurants and is a great place for kids having fun shopping for jade jewelry, Chinese embroidered clothes, toys, zodiac animals. To conclude the exploration you can feast on some unusual flavored ice creams at Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
2. View the skyscrapers from the Empire State Building and check-out the Dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History
3. Shop with your kid’s at the most popular toy store in New York, FAO Schwarz. The store has been a massive hit with kids in New York since 1870.
4. New Yorkers love their food and there’s food everywhere you look. Feast on hot dogs and soft New York pretzels, while walking down any street at blue and yellow Sabrett umbrellas.

San Francisco

San Francisco is an ocean city and you’re never far from the San Francisco Bay when you spending your vacation with your kids. The city once considered an adults’ playground, now has an excess of attractions for you and your little one.

1. Visit the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. The museum includes a superb aquarium, planetarium, natural history exhibits, live rainforest and living roof.
2. Ride San Francisco’s famous cable cars. From the city center, pick up the streetcars on Market Street and ride down Market to the Ferry Building to Fisherman’s Wharf.
3. Cruise out to “The Rock,” site of Alcatraz prison and home of gangsters such as Al Capone and “Machine Gun” Kelly.
4. Eat at Mo’s Gourmet Hamburgers located in North Beach, just a few blocks away from Chinatown. It’s named after one of the Three Stooges and offers burgers, featuring a seven-ounce patty and a wide selection of toppings, freshly cut fries and milkshakes.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a city of neighborhoods. So rent a car, and explore the neighborhoods as you go on a mission of unveiling the hidden treasures of each and every neighborhood.

1. Taste the adventures of Jurassic Park and Shrek at Universal Studios Hollywood which claims to be the world’s largest movie studio and theme park.
2. Get a multi day pass to visit one the happiest places on earth – The Disneyland. Your kids surely won’t let you skip that.
3. Visit the Page Museum; it’s a treasure trove, filled with skeletons of saber tooth tigers, bison, ground sloths, mastodons, eagles, California condors and over 400 Dire wolf skulls.
4. Eat at Farmers Market located close to the museum. The joint has been popular with local families since the 1930’s. There’s a wide variety of restaurants and casual eats for breakfast, lunch or dinner – hot dogs, crepes, burritos, Chinese, barbeque, hamburgers, sushi, sandwiches, fish and chips, pizza you name and they have it.

So get a travel deal to the place and do share your experience with us.

Great Offbeat Islands of America

America is full of gorgeous unexplored islands, some can only be accessed by plane or boat and others are just in the neighborhood. Some, where human are still to dwell and some where little communities are thriving.
We explore some beautiful offbeat islands of America through this post.

So it’s time you found some cheap airline tickets and take a nice weekend break or a long vacation on one of these paradises.

Kodiak Island, Alaska

Kodiak Island is a large island on the south coast of the U.S. state of Alaska, separated from the Alaska mainland by the Shelikof Strait. The island has many deep, ice-free bays that provide sheltered anchorages for boats. The Kodiak bear and the king crab are native to the island. So in case you are interested in sports fishing and wildlife watching, in particular the Kodiak bears hunting salmons for food, Kodiak Island is the perfect spot for you.

Sapelo Island, Georgia

Sapelo Island is a state-protected island located in McIntosh County, Georgia. The island is only reachable by boat, with the primary ferry coming from the Sapelo Island Visitors Center in McIntosh County. The visitors to this place would be treated to natural community, forested uplands, vast salt marshes and the complex beach and dunes systems. The Geechee communities of Hog Hammock are the natives of the land.

Orcas Island, Washington

Orcas Island is the largest of the San Juan Islands which are located in the northwestern corner of Washington state in San Juan County. Orcas is home to an eclectic community of artisans and small cottage businesses. Its diverse landscape of mountains, wooded countryside and spectacular vistas make it a popular destination for both day trips and extended vacations. Orcas Island can be reached from the mainland via a leisurely ferry ride from Anacortes or by seaplane from Seattle or Portland.

Isle Royale, Michigan

Isle Royale is an island of the Great Lakes located in the northwest of Lake Superior. The island is primarily known for hiking, fishing, boating, sailing and observing nature. Accessible only by private boat, seaplane, National Park Service ferry service from Houghton. It’s covered in wilderness trails, some of which are quite challenging with steep grades. There are numerous campgrounds many of which are only accessible by water.

Block Island, Rhode Island

The island was named by the The Nature Conservancy as one of twelve sites in its list of “The Last Great Places” in the Western Hemisphere. The island is a popular summer tourist destination and is known for its excellent bicycling, hiking, sailing, fishing and beaches. Two historic lighthouses are present on the most remote of the offshore isles between Boston and New York City.

Hope you have found a travel deal to enjoy these beautiful islands.

Images Sourced from: www.wikipedia.com

Great Night Time Adventures

Nightlife is not all about partying, dancing and clubs anymore. With adventure becoming a popular catch phrase today in terms of travel industry, even the nightlife cannot remain untouched from it.
Today we explore some of the coolest adventures that happen under the starlit sky when the sun begins to set.
So get some cheap airline tickets and make sure that you do not miss out on the fun.

Kayaking at the San Juan Islands, Washington

Specialized packages are offered to adventure lovers which include multi-day kayaking adventure in San Juan Islands.  Washington’s legendary San Juan Islands are a kayaker’s paradise blessed with gorgeous scenery and incredible wildlife, including orca whales, Dall’s porpoise, harbor seals and bald eagles.
The adventure offers you an opportunity to visit the uninhabited Posey Island, paddling the shoreline past seals and sea stars and exploring the waters of surrounding islands.

Hiking the Jungle, Belize

Black Rock Lodge an eco-resort in the Cayo District of Belize offers an approximately two hours of guided tour to explore the depths of the jungle looking for wildlife. Many of Belize’s animals are nocturnal. The guided tour aims at introducing you to the wildlife that only come out at night.

In past people have confirmed citing various nocturnal animals like tarantulas, kinkajous, snakes, owls, northern potoos, common paraques, tyras, quatimundis and more.

Orienteering: Finding your way, Minnesota

Orienteering is the skill of finding one’s way through a series of checkpoints on an unfamiliar course using a map and a compass. Typically a course is set in a wilderness area and the participants are timed as they complete it. The night orienteering allows only a map and compass as your guide, en route to finding checkpoint flags hidden in dark woods.

Ski under the stars at Keystone, Colorado

Keystone in Colorado also offers “sunset” skiing on 15 lighted trails.  So when the sun does go down and most of the people take refuge in firewood lit warm rooms you have the opportunity to explore the area under the stars.
Keystone has the largest night operations in Colorado. Here you can watch the sun set on a pair of skis while cruising down a freshly groomed A51 terrain park. It’s for you to decide when your ski day ends and when apres ski begins.

So whether you choose hiking, kayaking or orienteering all  aim at a great way to experience a destination. A true adrenaline rushing experience in the dark.

Images sourced from: www.wikipedia.com

Great Family Vacation with Dolphins

A vacation is a time to take break from the hectic schedule and stress out, soaking yourself in comfort and activities to rejuvenate yourself.
One of the best ways to beat the stress is swimming and when you have dolphins as companion you know you are in for loads of fun.
We have carefully selected some the best locations which give you the opportunity to do so.

Dolphin Plus, Key Largo

Dolphin Plus is committed to the conservation and protection of marine mammals worldwide. Dolphins Plus offers a variety of daily Dolphin Swims and a Sea Lion Swim to individuals of all ages. Unlike many other dolphin facilities that limit a swim with dolphins program to a shallow water encounter, they provide a unique opportunity to enter dolphin’s homes for a true swimming with dolphins experience. You can participate in a variety of one-on-one dolphin encounters or sea-lion interactions, under the guidance of highly trained staff.

Discovery Cove, Florida

Discovery Cove is part of the SeaWorld group of properties. The highlight of a visit to Discovery Cove is the opportunity to swim with a bottlenose dolphin during a 30-minute interactive adventure. Accompanied by a trainer, groups of six to eight guests wade into shallow water and become acquainted with their dolphin through hugs, kisses and rubdowns. Then you can enjoy the exciting dorsal fin tow ride back to shore.
To visit thee unique aquatic theme park you need to schedule your visit in advance as they only allow entry to 1000 visitors per day.

Dolphin Discovery Cayman, Grand Cayman

Located directly across from Botswain’s Beach Turtle Farm in the West Bay area of Grand Cayman, Dolphin Discovery Cayman is 10km from George Town.
It offers three programs for participants: The Royal Dolphin Swim, Dolphin Swim Adventure, and Dolphin Lover’s Swim. All participants can experience the “dolphin song” in which these gentle mammals serenade their audience with their unique clicking noises. As well, there is plenty of opportunity for free time with the dolphins where participants can swim at their own leisure in each of the swim programs.

So pack your bags and get the travel deal to experience a vacation truly up, close and personal with nature.

Image sourced from: www.wikipedia.com

Traveling with Teens: Make the most of it!

Traveling with teens is a great way to show how much you care for your loved ones. Teenagers require a great deal of care when traveling outside the confines of your home. Teens can be moody and the sudden change of place can make them anxious, angry or upset.

When you are planning for your vacation, talk to everyone and try to figure out the kind of vacation each person wants. If you are ramming them for everything what you want to enjoy, you may end up spending time alone. Give your kids a little privacy during the trip. If you are on budget, you can book an adjoining room or a private suite for them. As the kids grow older, they value their privacy more. This may seem a little extravagant, but kids will repay the favor by behaving well.

You can also allow your kid to bring a friend along, so that he/she can enjoy more. Most importantly, dedicate a day or two to things that your kids love the most. Everyone wants to make the most of their vacation, but to your teen, sleeping in might be all the vacation he or she needs. Plan activities that they won’t want to while they sleep. Stroll along a park with your spouse or take a early morning walk to watch sunrise.

Ski Resorts for an Affordable Family Vacation

Affordable Family Ski Vacation

One of the happiest trends in family travel in the last decade is how ski resorts have transformed themselves into year-round destinations. Are you amongst the savvy parents, thinking of heading out for a pocket-friendly family getaway this summer? Then, here’s a list of six mountain resorts offering big snowless fun for families this summer:

Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort

The award-winning winter resort has been making a name for itself with an impressive list of summer family adventures. You can ride an enclosed tram 11,000 feet up the side of the mountain to Hidden Peak, or take a scenic ride on the high-speed Peruvian four-person chairlift to a mineral basin where hiking trails, horseback rides, and ATV tours await. That’s not all! Children under 6 can stay in their parents’ room for free; parents can buy kids all-day passes for $19 per child weighing under 75 pounds and $32 per child weighing 75 pounds or more.

Attitash

The resort features four waterslides, horseback riding, mountain biking, and Buddy Bear’s Play Pool for preschoolers. “Slide and Ride” packages start at $55 per person and include lodging at the scenic Attitash Grand Summit Hotel and all-day passes for unlimited use of summer attractions.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort

The popular Great Escape package is back again this summer, giving families the opportunity to create their own adventure by spending “adventure bucks” any way they like. The Great Escape Package starts at $59 per person, including lodging and $30 worth of “adventure bucks” per person per day.

Crystal Mountain

This family-owned resort just unveiled several new attractions this summer, including Michigan’s only alpine slide, the Crystal Coaster. In late August, three-night packages start at $149 a night and include lodging in a one-bedroom condo, plus a family wall climb, chairlift ride, alpine slide ride, and discounts on tubing trips, golf, and sessions in the Adventure Camp for kids.

Canaan Valley Resort

This lesser-known ski resort delivers an intimate, small-town atmosphere perfect for a family getaway. The Ultimate Thriller package starts at $241 per person for a three-night stay (or about $80 per person per night).

Durango Mountain Resort

This family-focused resort goes above and beyond with summer events and outdoor adventures. The Rocky Mountain Summer Getaway package starts at $59 per person and includes lodging and half-day activities passes for the alpine slide, climbing wall, summer chairlift, mini golf, mountain biking, and hiking.

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Top 15 Water Parks in the U.S.

Water Park

Water parks have exploded in popularity. There are a fun and adventurous way to spend time with friends and family. Here’s a list of top 15 water parks to get wet this summer. Go, on have a blast!

1. Wilderness Territory Water Park Resort at Wisconsin Dells
The most popular ride in Wilderness Territory is the Hurricane. Riders experience the eye of the storm as they rapidly descend through a four-story funnel.

2. Kalahari Resort, Sandusky, Ohio
The highlight is the Swahili Swirl. In a four-person inner tube, you’ll be ejected from a steep tube slide into a 60-foot-diameter bowl; it’s a dizzying three times around before you’re sucked down the drain and dropped into a 50-foot-long landing pool.

3. Geauga Lake’s Wildwater Kingdom, Geauga Lake, Ohio
Everyone’s favorite here is the 60-foot-tall, 253-foot-long Liquid Lightning tornado slide that launches you—at speeds of up to 24 mph—from a tube slide into a giant funnel, before spitting you into the calm waters of the finishing pool.

4. Aquatica by SeaWorld, Orlando
A must experience! The key feature here is the Dolphin Plunge, 250 feet of clear underwater tubes that plunge riders into a lagoon populated by charismatic black-and-white Commerson’s dolphins.

5. Daytona Lagoon, Daytona Beach, Florida
Kids and Adults will like the Blackbeard’s Revenge. After you climb the 62-foot tower and mount an inner tube, you’ll take a 15 mph, six-story tumble down a twisting, pitch-black tunnel slide.

6. Splash Island at Cypress Gardens, Winter Haven, Florida
Enjoy the splashing waters of the towering Tikki Head—basically a massive, dressed-up bucket—dumps more than 300 gallons of water over bathers every few minutes.

7. Water World, Denver
Hop onto the inner tubes and take journey into the dark—where you’ll be confronted by large, animatronic dinosaurs, including a 15-foot T. rex.

8. Gulf Islands Water Park, Gulfport, Miss.
The most popular ride here is the Horn Island Blaster water roller coaster.

9. Water Park of America, Bloomington, Minn.
The key highlight is its mile-long indoor Whitewater Family Raft Ride, which propels riders over a river suspended 10 stories above the cars and trucks zipping along Interstate 494.

10. Splish Splash, Long Island, N.Y.
The most popular offerings pitch you into darkness to up the thrill factor: Dragon’s Den, Barrier Reef, Hollywood Stunt Driver, and the super popular Alien Invasion.

11. Mountain Creek Water Park, Vernon, N.J.
Vertigo, a fully enclosed water coaster, cannons riders around tight curves in total darkness.

12. Raging Waters, San Jose, Calif.
Key attractions here are the winding, 60-foot-long Blue Thunder/White Lightning tunnel slide, and the newest attention-grabber, Dragon’s Den.

13. Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe, Greensboro, N.C.
Wet ‘n’ Wild is well-known for its speed chutes like Daredevil Drop, with a hair-raising 76-foot plunge, and Double Barrel Blast.

14. Splashtown Water park San Antonio
Splashtown features more than 50 rides and attractions, from simple wave pools to true screamers, such as the five-story Hydras tube-slide tower.

15. Six Flags White Water, Atlanta
The signature ride is the Tornado, an intense four-person inner-tube nosedive of greater than 50 vertical feet—all while 5,000 gallons of water swirls around you.