Tag: Florida

My family still hasn’t found a Fort Lauderdale hotel or Miami hotel, for that matter, that’s free. But combine these fabulous freebies with the cheap airfare being offered & you’ll have a Florida holiday even Sam Walton, of Wal-Mart fame, would condone.

NATURE
Fort Lauderdale is home to many small nature enclaves & parks, all free & all wonderful. My family’s four favorites are

1. John Lloyd Beach State Park: One of the best ways to live the cheap life luxuriously is to stay at one of those budget Fort Lauderdale hotels way off the beach, & then spend your days in this park with several miles of tranquil beach, mangrove, cafes & playgrounds. With a car entry fee (or with a yearly pass you get in free), that beats the resort fee at most ocean-front hotels any day. Showers, picnic tables & restrooms are all available.

2. Secret Woods Nature Center: Appropriately named, this teeny sanctuary is a few feet from the airport, making this perhaps the world’s most peaceful — & noisiest — butterfly garden in the world at the same time. When there is no plane flying overhead, all you can hear are Read the rest of this entry »

The Tampa Bay area has plenty of attractions besides the Super Bowl.

By Lena Katz

Most parts of the country are just catching a first glimpse of spring, but in the desert, it’s in full and glorious bloom — which means if you need a quick dose of Vitamin C, the ideal weekend getaway is a golf/spa or art/food Southern California vacation. Here’s 2009 news from the bustling town of Palm Springs and the more laid-back outlying regions of Palm Desert and Coachella Valley.

If you’re a foodie who appreciates a meal deal, definitely book your California vacation for the first half of June: Palm Springs Restaurant Week kicks off May 31st and runs through June 19th. More than 100 participating restaurants in the desert cities will offer up three-course prix-fixe menus for either or .

Foodies, also mark your calendar for Wednesdays, when the new Palm Desert Farmers Market takes place at the Visitor Center. Read the rest of this entry »

By Mary Flynn

Our Florida-based family has been on four RV trips extending as far north as Upstate New York and as far west as Arizona. After traveling thousands of miles piled in an RV, I finally feel as if I have a better handle on traveling with the kids on these trips.

When I first planned our two-week RV family vacation, I was a bit nervous about how to keep the kids entertained during the long drive. My kids get bored fast, so I wanted to be sure they had plenty of activities to occupy their time. When asked what items they wanted to bring on the trip, their first answer was friends. After explaining that this was a family vacation, we decided to go to the store and shop around.

When we arrived at the store, I was amazed to find road trip activity kits for kids of all ages. I bought several kits for ages 4-6 which were filled with fun items such as  “Old Maid,” crayons, activity books, small toys and more. After choosing games, I took the kids to with me to pick out snacks and food. T create excitement and ownership, we also asked the kids to each choose two places they wanted to visit on our selected route. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re planning a Florida vacation with your kids, chances are, your trip will include a stop at one of the state’s theme parks. And whether it’s a full-blown Disney vacation or just a family vacation that includes a side trip to Universal Orlando or Busch Gardens, you’ll definitely want to hit the high points.

Our friends at Away.com are here to help, with a list of Florida’s Top Ten Roller Coasters, as selected by people who know: the sons of a family travel writer. The list includes classic and modern rides, and all of the major theme parks, including SeaWorld, are covered. So no matter where your family vacation takes you, and whether you want to get wet, brave beetles and fireballs, or experience a 90-degree vertical drop, there’s a ride for you.

Read Florida’s Top Ten Roller Coasters.