Sandcastles at the Shore

The eco-chic Shore Hotel celebrates spring break with a unique sandcastle building package. U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition winner Raymond Karch, who has been carving sandcastles on the beaches of California for over 15 years, will teach your family the tricks of the trade on how to build an award-winning sandcastle. After presenting his building workshop, you will have free time to build your own sand masterpiece with his guidance. This activity will last for approximately three hours and includes a personal set of tools and a beach picnic. Sandcastles at the Shore travel package is available on Saturdays only from March 7 – April 18, 2015.

Family Fun by the Bay

Experience all that San Francisco has to offer with the Family Fun Package at the upscale Fairmont Heritage Place, Ghiradelli Square.  The package includes nightly accommodations, CityPass vouchers for two adult and two children, two children’s backpacks (each equipped with a water bottle), City Walks San Francisco and 50 Adventures on Foot tour cards, and five San Francisco postcards. Just stay a minimum of three-nights. Fairmont Heritage Place is a private residence club located in Ghirardelli Square on the historic San Francisco waterfront.  The property features 1-3 bedroom units, Maserati car service within 2 miles, 24-hour butlers, internet access and free breakfast.

Happy Birthday Yosemite

Camelback Waterpark

We are excited about the opening this spring of the Camelback Lodge & Indoor Waterpark in the Poconos.  The resort will include an eight-story hotel, spa and a 125,000-square-foot themed indoor adventure water park called Aquatopia.  The waterpark will showcase 7 pools, river ride, aqua-play structure, flowrider surf simulator and 13 slides including the Venus SlydeTrap – the first Aqua-Sphere-Manta slide of its kind in the World, as well as the Storm Chaser – the longest indoor watercoaster in the US.  The hotel will feature suites and 1-3 bedroom condos that sleep up to 14.  Outdoor recreational activities abound year round at the property and include skiing, snowboarding, snowtubing, zip lining, a ropes course, mountain coaster and Segway tours.  The Grand Opening Celebration promotion features $200 in discounts and deals including a $50 resort credit, $20 off a spa treatment, discounted meals, 10% of shop purchases and a $50 resort credit if you book a future stay.

Ski Vermont

Want to save on family skiing?  Mount Snow in Vermont is offering their Kids Ski and Learn Free weeks.  The package includes a standard room at the moderate Snow Lake Lodge with daily continental breakfast. For every adult lift ticket purchased, one child gets a free lift ticket.  Plus half-day morning clinics for ages 4 to 12 of any skill level.  The special family weeks in 2015 are January 19-23, February 22-27, March 1-6 and March 12-20.  A three-night stay for a family of four start at $561.  Other activities at the resort and nearby include tubing, kids club, spa, snowmobile tours, dog sledding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and sleigh rides.  Currently 74 open trails covering 540 skiable acres are open.  Photo courtesy of Mount Snow.

Summer on Mackinac Island

Save this July and August at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan.  Stay two nights and get the third night for half price, or stay one night and get the second night 25 percent off on select nights with their Family Added Value Days.  Accommodations, daily breakfast, five-course dinner, free admission to the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum and a special discount on ferryboat tickets are all part of your rate. Half-off golf for adults and free golf for children under 17 years old are also included.  Your family can also enjoy the Esther Williams pool (one of her movies was filmed at the property), kids club, lawn games, nightly movies, tennis, spa, horseback riding, biking, island carriage tours and more.

Explore Pebble Beach

Pebble Beach, on the Central California coast between Carmel and Monterrey, is an ideal family destination for golf lovers and non-golfers alike.  And children stay, play and eat free with their Pebble Beach Explorers package currently available through February 28.  Your one night at The Inn at Spanish Bay includes a scavenger hunt map, welcome children’s gift, free children’s meals at two on-site restaurants, free golf at the par-3 Peter Hay Golf Course, tennis and free horseback riding (for age 7-12 with a paying adult).  Add-ons to make your stay extra special include an afternoon round of golf or golf lessons, Monterey Bay Aquarium tickets or kayaking or paddle boarding.

Santa Express

All aboard!  The Grand Canyon Railway will once again run their Polar Express train through January 3 from Williams, AZ to the “North Pole”.  The Polar Express is a holiday-themed excursion that follows the storyline of the children’s book written by Chris Van Allsburgh.  The experience this year will begin with a new light show at the historic Williams Depot.  The train travels through the starlit countryside to the North Pole and features a special reading of The Polar Express while passengers enjoy hot chocolate and cookies.  Upon arrival at the North Pole, passengers are welcomed by Santa Claus and Elf Bernard.  Santa then boards the train for the return trip to Williams, making his way through the passenger car, greeting every child and presenting each one with a special gift.  Grand Canyon Railway also offers an overnight package featuring a one-night stay at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel and breakfast and dinner at the Grand Canyon Depot.

Nashville by Disney

Starting in 2015, Adventures by Disney will add Nashville to its roster of Long Weekend Trips, a series of three-night getaways. Highlights of the Nashville Long Weekend itinerary include a private dinner and show at the Grand Ole Opry; recording a song at the RCA/Studio B; a backstage tour of Ryman Auditorium; dinner at the Bluebird Cafe; and a ghost tour, dinner and entertainment at the Hermitage, the former estate of Andrew Jackson. Departures are available from June 4 through October 8 with a stay at the Gaylord Opryland Resort.  Other Long Weekend trips in the US include Jackson Hole/Yellowstone, New York City and San Francisco.

The Gift of Travel

Give the gift of travel this winter.  Enjoy the holiday season at the Salamander Resort & Spa in luxurious accommodations and receive a $100 gift card per room, per night! Gift cards are provided at the time of checkout which can be used towards your stay or to give to friends or family for the perfect holiday gift.  This year-round and 340-acre property resides at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the outskirts of historic Middleburg, VA.  It features 168 spacious guestrooms, a comprehensive equestrian program, spa, tennis, golf, hiking trails, gym, fitness classes, indoor and outdoor pools, zip line and hanging bridges, several dining options, cooking classes for adults and children, vineyard and more.  A variety of family activities include geocaching, star gazing, night vision goggles, animal tracking, family games, etc.  Unique to the property is equestrian yoga. A truly special experience that includes a sunrise yoga class held in the stables followed by a session of yoga poses done on horseback. Pets are also allowed and when the weather is just right, Yappy Hour (happy hour for dogs) will make all pet owners wish they had brought their furry friends.