Desert Delight

Palm Springs and its neighboring communities in the Sonoran Desert of southern California is one of our favorite desert destinations and a top choice for cost efficient winter and spring getaways.  Highlights include plenty of sunshine, hot springs, desert landscapes and mid-century architecture. Family-friendly resorts abound in all price ranges showcasing top notch golf, tennis, pools, waterparks, children’s programs and spas. Many of them also offer large condo style accommodations for space and comfort. Some of the other unique adventures include learning to fly at the Palm Springs Air Museum, riding the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and exploring the desert at Joshua Tree National Park. The surrounding Coachella Valley is perfect for outdoor adventures such as hiking, biking, jeep tours, horseback riding and more. Many of our families just stay in this area while others combine the trip with other parts of California.  To get a taste of this desert oasis, check outhttps://www.visitgreaterpalmsprings.com/blog/post/virtual-tour-of-greater-palm-springs/.

Canadian Rockies Splendor

The Canadian Rockies, a segment of the Rocky Mountains, is one of the most beautiful places on earth!  The region extends southeastward for about 1,000 miles from northern British Columbia and forms nearly half the 900-mile border between the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. Spectacular scenery abounds in in Banff, Jasper and Waterton Lakes National Parks on the eastern slopes in Alberta and in the Kootenay and Yoho National Parks on the western slopes in British Columbia. The region is full of majestic mountains, emerald alpine lakes, glaciers and an abundance of wildlife. The parks are easily traversed as a self drive on one of the finest highway systems in Canada or with a group tour specifically designed for families; many with outdoor adventures included. These adventures abound with biking, hiking, kayaking, white water rafting, horseback riding, fishing, hot springs, icefield exploration, rock climbing and more. Check out https://www.hellobc.com/# and https://www.travelalberta.com/us/places-to-go/canadian-rockies/ for travel inspiration.

Global CommUnity Stateside

Global CommUnity just introduced their first domestic itineraries.  The new, purposeful and self-drive itineraries of 5-7 nights are chock full of culture, adventures and age-appropriate activities.  Choose from Grand Canyon & Sedona Family Adventure; Grand Canyon, Bryce & Zion National Parksas well as San Francisco & Yosemite.  Outdoor adventures abound including float trips, kayaking, hiking, biking and star gazing.  The goal of Global CommUnity is to provide a global perspective of the world and what is being done to renew social, ecological, cultural and economic resources in each destination. Each itinerary has unique offerings allowing for cultural engagement and community give-back. 

Virtual Adventures

Austin Adventures will be hosting a series of virtual adventures for your children. These online adventures will be taught by Kasey Austin, who has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and was recently promoted to President of Austin Adventures! They are designed for children ages 6-12, but all ages are encouraged to join. The first virtual adventure is about Yellowstone National Park with other topics ranging from simple bike maintenance to a virtual zoo tour. Lessons will last anywhere between 30 minutes to one hour and are tentatively planned for each Tuesday and Thursday at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. Each lesson will have interactive elements throughout, including Q&A’s and viewer polls.  All virtual adventures will be recorded for future viewing. The first one was released on March 26.  For more information, visit www.austinadventures.com/virtual-adventures-for-kids.

Teen Departures from Austin Adventures

Active adventure tour company Austin Adventures has revealed its lineup of 2020 Teen Departures. These are scheduled group family trips with a higher minimum age that cater to families with young adults (who don’t quite meet the minimum age of 16+ for an adult trip). While Austin Adventures’ family trips are open to all children aged 7+, Teen Departures offer a quicker pace and the activities and difficulty levels are geared towards this older age group. Scheduled 2020 Teen Departures include:

San Juan Islands: Scheduled June 14-19, this tour caters
to families with teens ages 13+. Families can kayak the beautiful waters of San
Juan Island and trek to Mount Constitution, the highest point on the islands.

Yellowstone: Scheduled June 19-24, this tour caters
to families with teens ages 13+. Families can go zip-lining, whitewater
rafting, hiking and horseback riding during an action-packed family adventure.

Alaska: Scheduled July 19-24, this tour caters to families with teens ages 16+. The program is perfect for families with older teens, offering natural beauty and opportunities for adventure around every corner.

We recommend booking early for the best availability!  Contact us for more details.

Atari Hotels

Atari, the biggest name in video games in the early 1980s, is being revived as a hotel brand. The first Atari Hotels property is due to break ground later this year in Phoenix. The game-themed hotel aims to offer “fully immersive experiences for every age and gaming ability, including the latest in VR and AR (virtual and augmented reality).” It also plans to attract e-sports events, in which gamers compete in tournaments, sometimes for big prize money. Expect “nostalgic and retro meets modern” for a unique hotel experience!  Atari Hotels is exploring other markets, including Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago, Austin, Seattle, San Francisco and San Jose.

Salamander’s Resort Credits

Do you have horse lovers in your family?  The Salamander Resort offers an array of unique horse experiences for their guests (including children as young as 5) such as Equine Communication, Essential Horsemanship and Paint-a-Pony (where children learn about horse markings and breeds).  This upscale resort is located an hour west of Washington, DC and showcases a world class equestrian center.  Activities abound for the entire family including zip lining, fishing, archery, art classes, indoor pool, biking, supervised children’s program, falconry, tennis and more! Their current Stay & Play promotion provides resort credits based on how long you stay that can be used toward dining, outdoor adventures, spa and more!   Get $150 for 2-nights, $300 for 3-nights and $600 for 4-nights or more.

Cartoon Network Hotel Opening

The Cartoon Network Hotel has officially opened in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, right next to Dutch Wonderland (where hotel guests enjoy discounted admission). The themed hotel features outdoor and indoor pools, outdoor movie screenings, an arcade with virtual reality games, a full-service restaurant, a cafe with grab-and-go options and a Cartoon Network Store with exclusive souvenirs.  There are whimsically colorful spaces throughout. Themed guestrooms include a Powerpuff Girls Dream Suite and Ben 10 Dream Suite, both of which have kitchenettes and sleep six guests.

KidZania Arrives in the US

KidZania, an international company that literally puts children to work with role-playing attractions in a city designed just for children, recently opened its first U.S. location! The company now has 28 facilities in 21 countries with plans to open two additional U.S. locations in New York and Chicago soon. The newest KidZania is in Stonebriar Centre in Frisco, a Dallas suburb. Your children can role-play more than 100 authentic professions across 50 industries, including healthcare, technology, food and beverage, music and media, transportation, banking, civil service and more! The experience is designed to educate, empower and entertain children ages 6-14, bridging the gap between school and their future. 

Star Wars Hotel

An overnight stay in a galaxy is now not that far, far away.  Disney’s new Star Wars themed hotel is slated to open in 2021 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.  Called the Galactic Starcruiser, it actually borrows from various cruise ship concepts.  Rather than individual check-in, your family will board the Starcruiser together.  That’s when the immersive Star Wars storyline begins with a launch pod to transport you into space.  Your family will get the chance to wield light sabers and visit the starship’s bridge to learn about ship navigational systems. Each of the hotel windows has a view of the galaxy and changes as the storyline progresses. There are also various interactive character encounters throughout the stay which each family member can control to develop your own personalized narrative. Just like a conventional cruise, hotel stay durations are fixed at two nights.  More details to follow!