National Park Adventures
Austin-Lehman Adventures launched three new 6-day family adventures to iconic national parks from June to August. Since most national park lodging is already sold-out for summer, these trips are an ideal way for an active family to experience our national treasures. The trips embrace the best of Yosemite, Bryce & Zion and Arches National Parks. The Yosemite Family Vacation includes hiking, rock climbing, swimming and rappelling.
In addition, Austin Lehman will donate $100/person to the Yosemite Conservancy as part of the tour operator’s Preserve a Park Program. The Bryce/Zion Family Vacation offers hiking and biking as your way to explore each amazing park while the Arches to Moab Family Vacation includes biking into Colorado National Monument’s canyons, rafting Westwater Canyon of the Colorado River and studying petroglyphs and rituals of Fremont, Anasazi and Navajo communities of hundreds of years past. Trips are rated moderately easy to moderate in regards to overall activity level. Austin-Lehman offers 12 different family trips in North America along with 12 other adventures in Central and South America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Mother’s Day Getaways
Give mom a break this Mother’s Day with a getaway for the entire family. 
The Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown, NY, is offering a Mother’s Day Family Weekend package from May 6-8 that includes traditional guestroom accommodations, breakfast and dinner for each guest, chocolate-covered strawberries upon arrival, a free glass of wine with dinner for mom, and live music and dancing on Friday and Saturday evenings. At the Grand Hotel, located on Michigan’s Mackinac Island, celebrate mom with a special package that includes accommodations for up to five guests, breakfast and dinner daily, a Friday evening welcome reception, a Grand Hotel history lecture on Saturday followed by an evening reception, a Mother’s Day Grand Luncheon buffet, free golf greens fees and a special discount on ferry boat tickets. All gratuities included.
Rocky Mountain High
Escape to The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs for Memorial Day Week-End with their 3- or 4-night family package. 
Your rate will include one hour of horseback riding or jeep tour; one hour daily of bike and paddle boat rentals; half off tickets to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and 10 percent of select spa services, golf tee times, kids club and select retail purchases. In addition, children 10 and under eat free with a paying adult in most hotel restaurants. Upgrade to a suite and save 30 percent! Similar packages are also available over other holiday week-ends including July 4th and Labor Day. Broadmoor offers an array of family activities including fly casting demonstrations, paddle boat races, day and evening children’s programming (ages 3-12), golf, tennis, spa, pools, movie theater and more.
Birthday Celebration
Starwood Hotels and Resorts lets you pay rates equal to your birth year with a unique promotion for two or three night stays. Your first night’s rate is determine by the hotel, but your next two nights equal your birth year (if you were born in 1962, you pay $62). Bring along grandma and grandpa for really low rates! Also don’t miss out also on Starwood’s global sale through April 4 for traveling through May 30 with savings of up to 30 percent at more than 800 hotels in 100 countries.
Families at the Park
The Park Hyatt Washington unde
rstands that the ultimate luxury is quality time you get to spend with your family. So they created their Families at the Park plan where you receive a second room for children 16 and under for just $75/night. You can also combine the second room discount with their Awaken at the Park package that includes breakfast for up to four. This luxury hotel is located near the Foggy Bottom metro station for easy access to the city’s great sights and entertainment. There is also an indoor pool at the beautiful spa, free bike rentals (which include lock, helmet, bottled water and a biking map) and a car service to get you around the city from Monday-Friday from 7:00-11:00am.
Escape to Hilton Head
Rent a home or villa at The Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island between March 5 and September 10 (except April 12-22) and get 15% off plus an array of added amenities and benefits. You will get $100 in resort credits that you can use for golf, food, beverages and activities. Your family will also receive a free family portrait session (with 15% off your photos), two hours of free tennis per day and free internet. In addition, children 12 and under eat for free at two of the resort’s restaurants, play golf for free on two of the courses and cruise for free on a dolphin watch excursion. And there’s more! You also get one free eco-tour activity for two at the resort or at selected area museums. Reserve early for your next family reunion as a deposit is not due until 90 days prior to arrival. This premier golf resort also offers extensive tennis programs, bike rentals, summer kids camp, pools, water sports, horseback riding, shops and plenty of dining.
Disney Magic
Purchase a minimum 4-night Magic Your Way vacation package at select Disney resorts for stays most nights through April 16, April 28-June 14, August 14-October 1 and your children ages 3-9 stay and play for free! This valuable special is available for booking through March 27; so don’t miss out. The Magic Your Way package includes accommodations and park tickets for your length of stay. Let us add air, free airport transfers, dining plans and other Disney experiences for a magical experience in Orlando. Other Disney World and Disneyland specials are also available depending on your needs, budget and dates. Contact us for more details.
Club Med Renovation
Club Med Sandpiper Bay reopened in December following a $25 million upgrade with a fresh new look, great new rooms and expanded sports facilities. The resort is now the flagship for Club Med’s premier sports programming. The 216-acre property located in Port St. Lucie, FL is the only all-inclusive resort in the U.S. The renovation features new family suites with two separate bedrooms. There is also a brand-new tennis facility, now run by the International Tennis Academy. It has six clay courts; 14 hard courts; a stadium court; new pro-ship; training facility and new clubhouse. If golf is your passion, Sandpiper Bay’s International Golf Academy offers a Tom Fazio II-designed practice facility, putting green, driving range, 18 hole course, clubhouse and pro shop. Also added are new restaurants serving gourmet cuisine from around the world and new children’s facilities for ages 4 months to teens. In late April, the resort’s new spa and fitness facility will also be complete.
Kids Fly Free to Ski
Kids Fly Free once again to Telluride, CO on American Airlines this winter. From January 5-February 16 and February 27-March 10, children ages 2-12 will fly free with an accompanying adult on American’s flights into Telluride’s Montrose Regional Airport. American offers direct flights daily from Dallas and on Saturdays from Chicago with easy connections from around the country. Tickets must be purchased 21 days in advance, with one free child ticket per purchased adult ticket. Travel to the Telluride must be on Sunday-Wednesday and from Telluride back home on Tuesday-Friday. The popular ski resort offers over 2,000 acres of skiable terrain with 18 lifts (including two high speed gondolas) and 125 trails. Plenty of accommodation options, dining and other recreation are also available for a great ski getaway!
Beverly Hills Paintbox
Luxury hotel Montage Beverly Hills recently launched Paintbox, an exclusive children’s program available to in-house guests as well as restaurant and spa customers. Paintbox is a supervised program with magic-inspired activities including special tricks and science experiences, cooking creations, Western-themed Scavenger hunts, special crafts, indoor sports-themed activities and more. Children ages 5-12 can enjoy the program daily with for a full day, morning, afternoon, evening or hourly. And if you book a 60-minute spa treatment at Spa Montage, your first two hours at Paintbox are complimentary. Through March 31, you can also enjoy a complimentary children’s tea with the purchase of an adult tea in the hotel lobby from 2:30-5:00pm. The 201 room hotel also has a unique rooftop pool and two outstanding restaurants. Note that Paintbox is also available at Montage Laguna Beach.
