Posts Tagged ‘California’
Dude! Spring Break! (With kids!)
Posted by meredith to Travel Meredith on
5 February 2010, with no comments so far.
FYI American television: families take spring break trips too. We’re just not going to shake our rumps or wrestle in whipped cream while we do it. (Well my kids will, if given the opportunity…)
What will your family do with your week off (besides not go to Padre or Cancun)? I’ve got my faves—none of which include a half-naked riot of intoxicated college students and outrageous hotel price jacks.
San Diego, California
Arguably the most kid-friendly city in America, any college kids here are always outnumbered by families. March marks the tail end of whale-watching season, so get an excursion in if you go. And of course, hit the other legendary San Diego staples: Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, and a little something called Legoland, California. Specific to March: The California Half-Iron Man Triathlon is March 27, and so is Kids Day at The Flower Fields (which will be in full, frangrant bloom). Deals: Amazing ones on stays and plays at SanDiego.com.
Wisconsin Dells
My husband once tried to do a college spring break at the Dells. “Very disappointing,” he said. Why? The place was not full of comely college maidens. It was full of kids. Sounds perfect for us now. In case you haven’t heard, the Dells is highly concentrated with America’s best water parks. But there’s also great skiing and tubing nearby, so sporty families will have the time of their lives in swimsuits and in skis. Deals: All kinds, at the official website.
Washington D.C.
You’ll treat your children to national history and give them the gift of democracy on a D.C. spring break. And, you might be there for the National Cherry Blossom Festival too, March 27 – April 12. All of D.C. puts their best, family-friendly foot forward these two weeks to celebrate the 3,000 cherry trees the city of Tokyo gave us back in 1912. And on Family Day (March 27) you’ll see Japanese performances, try on Japanese clothes, and make your own origami creations. The Smithsonian Kite Festival is this weekend too, so go fly a kite at the Washington Monument while you’re at it. Deals: On lodging and such at Washington D.C.’s official website.
Party on, families.
—Meredith
Tags: California, Legoland, National Cherry Blossom Festival, San Diego for families, San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, Smithsonian Kite Festival, Spring break for families, Washington D.C. for families, Wisconsin Dells
Posted in Travel Meredith | No Comments »
Half off in Napa
Posted by meredith to Travel Meredith on
16 December 2009, with no comments so far.
I say, “Half off in Napa!” You say, “Wine!”
Half off in Napa!
(Wine!)
Half off in Napa!
(Wine!)
Just thought we should do a little cheer for this deal: Condo-style accommodations from $99 a night at Vino Bello, the newest Napa luxury resort. Book by December 31 for vacations through February 4.
(Wine!)
—Meredith
Tags: California, cheap condo rental, condo deals, hotel deals, Napa Valley, vacation rental, wine country
Posted in Travel Meredith | No Comments »
Best post-holiday spa deals
Posted by meredith to Travel Meredith on
30 November 2009, with no comments so far.
Seventeen texts and two cramped thumbs later, my sister and I have finally decided on mom’s holiday gift: an after-the-holidays spa weekend.
Mom is ecstatic. Apparently this is way better than the year we bought her pots and pans.
We aren’t the only brilliant family out there. Travel + Leisure ranked the 10 Coziest U.S. Spas for escaping the worst of winter this time two years ago, and CNN had the scoop last year on five of the best spas for holiday detox. This year, I’ve got to note the deals, which are unbelievable on spa packages for “the ladies” (as Dad would say).
My picks for this year’s post-holiday getaway:
Cloister at Sea Island, Simons Island, Georgia
The Spa Essentials Package adds a massage and facial to a seaside cottage on five miles of private beach for $375 per person. (And if that website image of the horseback ride on the beach doesn’t sell you, nothing will.)
Willow Stream, The Spa at Fairmont, Scottsdale, Arizona
This Original Winter deal is simply incredible: lodging rates discounted to $199 per person per night until April 15—that’s 50 percent off the usual!
Sundara Inn and Spa, Wisconsin Dells
The Girlfriends Spa Therapy Special includes massage, pedicure, dinner, buffet, and accommodations in a private villa for $199 per person. (Plus, you’ll be deep in Dells territory, so if mommy wants to go to a giant water park afterward…)
Silverado Resort, Napa, California
Spa Girl Package includes a fireplace suite, 50-minute spa treatment, breakfast, and a complimentary wine tasting for $250 per person. Did I just say complimentary wine tasting? Yes, I did.
—Meredith
Tags: Arizona, best spas, California, Georgia, girlfriend getaway, holiday travel, Napa, post-holiday travel, spa deals, U.S. spas, Wisconsin Dells
Posted in Travel Meredith | No Comments »
Beverly Hills, like the star you are
Posted by meredith to Travel Meredith on
16 November 2009, with no comments so far.
Or maybe like the star you want to be. At any rate, why not do 90210 like the cast of Beverly Hills, 90210 did (and the cast of The Hills does) with this Themes and Dreams package: three nights at the Maison 140, a rented convertible with unlimited mileage, continental breakfast, and round trip flight from 10 U.S. cities. From $569 per person for travel by January 31, or add $50 for travel in February.
—Meredith
Tags: Beverly Hills, boutique hotel, California, travel packages
Posted in Travel Meredith | No Comments »
The last of the holiday beach deals (or: Go USA!)
Posted by meredith to Travel Meredith on
4 November 2009, with no comments so far.
We’re past that point on the calendar when you can get passports for yourself and your kids in time for a tropical holiday beach vacation, at least without biting your nails at the mailbox.
Guess that leaves us with the good ol’ U.S. of A.
Luckily, we’ve got some great beaches here in the U.S. Unfortunately, us yanks ain’t known for the “whole package,” like you find in the Caribbean. The kind of vacation where you lie in a hammock, hold out your hand, and a piña colada magically drops into it is scarce here in the states.
But I know of at least three good secrets:
Florida: Just north of Jacksonville, Amelia Island Plantation offers all-inclusive packages, including green fees and carts, meals in nine restaurants, and—I am not kidding here—video game console rentals. Calling all families with teens….
Hawaii: One of the few all-inclusives on the islands (Hawaii isn’t known for this option, though I’m lobbying for change!), the Kona Village Resorts on the fabulous Big Island offer a “Togethering” package: one bungalow at the regular rate, and the second one at half off, plus meals half off, plus, well, everything half off. This is great for large, extended families who love each other very much but are not actually interested in staying in the same room together.
California: It’s technically not all-inclusive, but Paradise Point Resort and Spa in San Diego offers something worth mentioning: complimentary breakfast every morning, plus SeaWorld (which, by the way, is within walking distance of the resort).
That’s about as American “beachy” as you get. Seriously.
—Meredith
Tags: all-inclusive, Amelia Island Plantation, Big Island, California, family travel, Family vacation, Florida, Hawaii, holiday beach deal, holiday beaching, holiday vacation, Kona Village Resorts Hawaii, Paradise Point Resort and Spa, San Diego, SeaWorld, U.S. beaches
Posted in Travel Meredith | No Comments »
Cali’s dog-friendly beaches
Posted by meredith to Travel Meredith on
12 October 2009, with no comments so far.
Ever want to grab your gorgeous dog, hop in your pickup truck, and drive out to a Cali beach to throw sticks and be at peace?
Me too. I think we should totally do it. I’ll even toss you this handy list of California’s best off-leash coastal areas. You choose:
Northern California
Fort Bragg: Redwood forests and the Noyo Harbor off-leash area, a great Northern California roll. Also check out: Samoa Dunes Recreation Area.
San Francisco Bay Area
Dillon Beach: Where beach house rentals (and surfing, and kid-friendly wildlife) are still available for the holidays! Also check out: The Golden Gate Recreation Area.
Central Coast
Carmel: Where Old Hollywood meets Old Literatti. And where dogs runs off-leash at the city beach at the end of Ocean Avenue. Also check out: The city of Santa Cruz, where dogs can be off leash at Lighthouse Field and Mitchell’s Cove beaches before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.
San Diego Area
“Dog Beach”: In the totally dog-friendly city of Del Mar, where dogs are allowed off-leash Labor Day to June 14. (It’s actually three beaches!) Also check out: Ocean Beach, at the northern end.
As always, your dog must be under your voice command and act like a good doggie citizen (don’t bite, cajole, chase, or jump on other dogs, people, or children).
And, as always, consult my good friends at Pet Friendly Travel for more U.S. off-leash beaches and other great info for those of us who travel con perros.
—Meredith
Tags: California, dog-friendly, off-leash beach, pet-friendly
Posted in Travel Meredith | No Comments »
Best picks for family-friendly ski vacations
Posted by meredith to Travel Meredith on
5 October 2009, with no comments so far.
I know what you don’t want on your family ski vacation: A bunch of drunk, screaming, college-age jerks whizzing by at 1000 miles an hour, knocking over your kids.
And I know what you do want: Skiing and snowboarding with a focus on the family.
My top picks for family-friendly ski resorts:
Brighton Ski
Salt Lake City, Utah
The locals voted it Number One for “child/family friendly terrain.” Considering they have ten resorts to choose from in Salt Lake proper, they should know. Mid-sized and easy, it’s great for the beginning snowboarder.
Best Deal: Mount Majestic Properties has slashed prices on ski in/ski out cabins and condos near Brighton.
Okemo Ski Resort for Families
Ludlow, Vermont
Family-owned Okemo was designed with the owners’ two young children in mind. It’s no surprise that the children’s programs win awards. And I absolutely love the “Kids Night Out” events. (Translation: Parents Night In.)
Deal: Book by November 1 and save 30 percent on slopeside lodging.
Whiteface Mountain
Wilmington, New York
Located within the Adirondack Forest Preserve, there’s no mountainside lodging here. You trade it for what is probably the “greenest” skiing in the U.S. So green, in fact, each kid that participates in Whiteface’s children’s programs gets a tree planted in their name. Note: You can’t ski in/ski out, but the town of Wilmington is small, lazy, and totally kid-friendly.
Deal: Stay-and-ski, third day free in Wilmington, at Ledge Rock at Whiteface.
Copper Mountain Resort
Copper Mountain, Colorado
So many to choose from in the Rockies, but I really like how Copper Mountain is arranged—easy runs and snowboarding are separate from black diamond runs, so newbie skiers won’t get plowed down. And there’s dedicated terrain just for kids.
Deal: Third night free includes Beeline Advantage (and kids under 12 ski free). (Tip: book at the quieter East Village.)
Northstar-at-Tahoe
Lake Tahoe, California
It’s the easiest of Tahoe’s resorts, which immediately says “kid-friendly.” Plus, it’s full of weird snow toys (snowbikes, snowscoots, and other things with “snow” names). There’s even an “Adventure Park” dedicated to kids activities in the village around the mountain. If, for some reason, the kids don’t take to skiing or snowboarding, Northstar is also big on tubing and ice-skating, as well as the group grilling of S’mores around giant fire pits.
Deal: Two free lift tickets when you stay in a Northstar Lodge Condo (plus free access to the recreation center and kids’ game room).
Tags: Adirondacks, Brighton Ski, California, Colorado, Copper Mountain, family-friendly skiing, Family-friendly vacation, Ludlow, New York, Northstar at Tahoe, Okemo, Salt Lake City, Utah, vermont, Whiteface Mountain, Wilmington
Posted in Travel Meredith | No Comments »
|
|
|
|
 |
| |
-
-
Planning your next vacation? Going on that next weekend getaway? Whether you’re gearing up for an adventurous family trip or a relaxing getaway with friends, when it comes to comfort and great savings to over 500 destinations, Amtrak® is the way to go.
Check out deals from Amtrak® -
Whether you're looking for family vacation ideas, family adventure travel destinations or a relaxing weekend getaway, our travel guides and featured travel destinations can help. Our experts have selected the best vacation destinations for your review — from relaxing getaways to exciting family adventures.
-
-
-
|
| |
|
|
|
