World Traveler

If you are looking to avoid the crowds that come with top tourist destinations in Florida, head to the Florida Keys. Driving the Florida Keys is a rewarding experience that allows you to view beautiful scenery and enjoy near-deserted beaches.

Driving the Florida Keys for a relaxing vacation

Go ahead and rent a car in one of the many southern hubs. Then drive away, on Highway One, moving toward one of the places Ernest Hemingway loved best. While one would think that these barrier islands would be crowded as the clear water and pristine beaches would be one of the top tourist destinations in Florida. But it’s not. And you’ll need to be prepared to relax.

Driving the Florida Keys is not something you can do quickly. Really. You can’t. There are several one-lane bridges of great length that serve to connect the Keys. You can save money, too, since much of the Florida Keys offers camping beachside. Nearby activities include kayaking and snorkeling, along with hiking and fishing charters (great fun!). You can also enjoy John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, which is an underwater park with protected reefs bursting with color and 650 species of fish.

After all the solitude and the slow pace of driving the Florida Keys, you will probably be disappointed to reach the end of your trek at Key West, one of the top tourist destinations in Florida and depressingly crowded.

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For many people, pets are a member of the family. That means that they come on family vacations as well. And if you want to bring your pet with you as you travel, that means that it becomes necessary to find pet friendly hotels. Pet friendly hotels can be found all over the U.S., although they are still relatively rare. But one place that has just opened up to family vacations that include pets is Hawaii. CNN Travel reports on pets in Hawaii:

The Kahala resort manager, Tim Lee, started the dog program there last year after helping launch a similar pet-pampering program at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles, where celebrities regularly brought their purse-sized pups.

“Even the dogs want to be pampered,” said Lee. “It’s all a matter of service.” …

At W Honolulu in Diamond Head, cats and dogs under 40 pounds are welcome. Owners pay an extra $25 a day at the W plus a $100 cleaning fee at the end of their visit.

Upon arrival, they get special water bowls, pet-size beds and goodie bags packed with a rawhide treat or chew toy.

“It makes the experience for pets just like it is for humans,” said general manager Lyle Takeuchi.

It is important to note that pet friendly hotels, though they do allow pets, often charge extra for you to bring your furry friends along. But for many travelers, the extra charge is worth it to include an important part of the family in their vacations.

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If you are looking for an excellent adventure, hiking The Narrows at Zion National Park is the way to go. This 16-mile hike takes you through some amazing slot canyon scenery. The Narrows is considered somewhat strenuous, and it will take between 8 and 12 hours. However, if conditions are muddy, or if you are less experienced, plan for about 15 hours or so. The Narrows is an all-day proposition, so get an early start!

Be warned that when you go hiking in The Narrows, you will get wet. This slot canyon was created by the flow of water, and there is still water there. You may even have to swim in some places, especially if you go in the spring. Be warned that this water is COLD. I prefer to go hiking in The Narrows in June, when the days are becoming hot in Zion National Park.

Be sure to check the weather before hiking The Narrows, as a flash flood can make things rather unpleasant and dangerous. There is no real trail through The Narrows, but it is fairly easy to navigate (follow the canyon bottom.)

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Rosie’s famous cruise for gay and lesbian families is a fun way for homosexuals and their families to enjoy a nourishing environment. However, three years ago when the cruise stopped at the Bahamas, the cruise was greeted by a protest of angry church groups protesting the gay and lesbian families. In response, the cruise company operating the tour, R Family Vacations, decided to cut Bermuda, which also has a strong church group base. MSNBC reports:

In the statement, the company said Bermuda’s prime minister had assured them they would be welcome as tourists and they had also received hundreds of supportive e-mails from people who live in the wealthy British enclave.

Still, organizers felt they could not be certain there would be no protesters greeting them upon arrival. “We feel that our cruise would be more enjoyable with an alternate itinerary to ports where we know we are welcome by everyone.�

Rosie’s gay cruise is expected to sell out this summer, with 2,000 tickets. The stop will include ports of call in Florida and on a private island instead of Bermuda.

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This week, the Washington Post has compiled some of the best travel deals around. These are great travel deals that include trips to stay at the Chesapeake Bay Resort (great family travel!) or head to a South African game reserve. But the Washington Post doesn’t stop there; great travel deals by sea are also available on cruises. Even great airfares are listed among these travel deals. Even though there are several travel deals to choose from, the Washington Post reports on my favorite package travel deal, the Greek Islands:

European Destinations has a package deal to the Greek Islands for travel in May. The Best of Greece deal to Athens, Paros Island, Santorini Island and Crete starts at about $1,355 per person double and includes round-trip air from Washington Dulles to Athens, with return from Heraklion; eight nights’ hotel in four different locations; and hydrofoil transportation between destinations. Priced separately, the deal would cost about $1,763. Book at 877-267-2247, www.europeandestinations.com.

So, no matter what you’re looking for, from family travel to a complete getaway, you can find some great travel deals by paying a visit to the Washington Post!

Find more travel deals on Family Trip Deals.

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Eco travel is becoming more popular among Americans as attitudes about the environment change. And eco travel is becoming more recognized as a fun and safe way to enjoy other cultures. From eco travel in Mexico, Africa and Asia to agritourism in the U.S., Americans are interested in having a good time, and taking care of the earth.

And, while full-out eco travel may not be possible for all of us, this interesting poll by Orbitz shows that many Americans want to be more eco friendly when they travel:

Conducted by MarketTool’s Zoomerang’s polling service, the Orbitz survey highlights that:

— More than half (65%) state it would somewhat impact their decision to
stay at a hotel if they knew the hotel was using solar or wind energy
to supplement the powering of the building.
— A strong majority (63%) state they would pay a little more to rent a
hybrid vehicle or stay at a “green” hotel.
— More than half (52%) of Americans state they would be willing to donate
a small portion of their vacation budget to help save the environment
when booking a trip.

So, as you are making your summer travel plans, you might consider eco travel as a way to better enjoy earth’s beautiful treasures without harming them.

You can find eco travel ideas at the Eco Tour Directory.

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If you are looking for a fun activity this Easter Sunday, head on over to 5th Avenue sometime between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. These are the times for the New York City Easter Parade and Easter Bonnet Festival. This august tradition is one of the many things to do in spring in New York City, and it provides a rather unorganized way to enjoy Easter Sunday.

Between 49th and 57th streets, NYC is a riot of color as people turn out for an Easter Parade that really isn’t that organized. Basically, as motorized traffic is prohibited, people walk up and down, wearing Easter bonnets and Easter outfits (even the pets get dressed up for the Easter Bonnet Festival!) and look at each other.

The New York City Easter Parade and Easter Bonnet Festival is a tradition dating back more than 150 years to the mid-1800s. One of the best places to view the festivities surrounding the Easter Parade is at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Get there early, and you can enjoy Easter Mass before the parade.

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Easter is coming up, and if you are anywhere near Chicago, it might be worth a go at Ray’s Bucktown B&B. There are a surprising amount of bed and breakfast establishments in Chicago, and Ray’s in one of the more interesting. The specialty at Ray’s Bucktown B&B in Chicago is his red potatoes. The Chicago Tribune reports on these tasty treats:

One of his secret weapons? Ray’s roasted reds, easy-to-make baked red potatoes that have been marinated in an aromatic blend of garlic, olive oil and rosemary. Reiss began serving this house specialty at “everything from client parties to poker nights to Scrabble Sundays,” speaking of the gatherings he has hosted at his home, which morphed into the bed-and-breakfast in 2005. “The reds could sit on the table all night, get cold and still taste good.”

And if you are looking for a great Easter Brunch in Chicago come Sunday, it might not be a bad idea to enjoy a stay at Ray’s Bucktown B&B.

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One of the most exciting skiing adventures you can go on is in the Vail Pass. It is wilderness area skiing at its finest. And one of the more interesting skiing trends is called hybrid skiing. While only a small percentage of skiing at the Vail Pass is hybrid skiing, it is still one of the areas of rapid growth when it comes to this type of skiing, which involves being pulled up behind a snowmobile and then left to navigate a 1,000 foot vertical drop on your own. The Aspen Times reports on hybrid skiing inthe Vail Pass:

About 60 percent of the Vail Pass users opt for non-motorized activities, and the rest get around with the help of snowmobiles or snowcats. Only about 10 percent of the motorized use is hybrid, according to Dressler.

There is something a bit more appealing, however, about being dragged behind a snowmobile up a pitch, and then carving your way down.

The New York Times also wrote an interesting story on hybrid skiing last year.

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If you applied for a U.S. Passport in the last two or three months, you know the pain of a long wait. Thanks to new regulations requiring a Passport to travel by air to any foreign country (that includes Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean!), has upped the number of Passport applications. And that means that the U.S. State Department has been too inundated to move quickly. However, thanks to some changes at State, passport processing is picking up speed, reports MSNBC:

“Passport production has hit record highs as the department works diligently to honor its mission and ensure that every citizen gets a passport in time for planned travel,� it said.

A boost in staffing and overtime and weekend hours at the 17 passport agencies has succeeded in reducing some processing delays that had threatened a huge number of overseas vacations for Americans and sparked congressional concern, [the State Department] said.

Your expedited U.S. passport (which comes with a pricey fee) should be ready in about two weeks. But the government is saying that you will still need 10 weeks if you aren’t paying the expedited fee. I’d apply at least three months before your intended trip if you do not intend to pay the fee for expedited passport processing.

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The famous Legoland park in Carlsbad California, famous for scale models and replicas made from Legos, is getting an infusion from Sin City. A new display featuring 10 Las Vegas casinos will transport Legoland visitors to the infamous Las Vegas Strip. MSNBC reports on this new destination at Legoland:

With just hours to go before the official grand opening of a $1-million-plus scale model of the famed Las Vegas Strip, builders spent Wednesday snapping and glue-gunning the final few thousand bricks into place on replicas of 10 casinos — from the smooth black Luxor pyramid to the towering 20-foot Stratosphere, complete with a tiny working roller coaster shuttling green-faced passengers up and down the central spire.

The scale model Las Vegas casinos are waist high, and they include stunning detail. Things like the bas relief on the Venetian are present. Additionally, this Legoland Las Vegas model will even include the guys that stand on the corner, passing out fliers for strippers and escorts.

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Definitely one of the coolest things to open in the last couple of weeks is the Grand Canyon Skywalk. This feature is walkway in the shape of a loop that juts out over the Grand Canyon. Yep. When you step out onto the Skywalk the only thing between you and a 4,000 foot drop is a piece of glass. The experience is both frightening and exhilarating.

The Grand Canyon Skywalk is located on the little-visited West Rim. The West Rim is on land owned by the Hualapai Tribe. Rather than choosing to build a casino, the Tribe envisioned an amazing attraction. It does cost money to walk the Skywalk, and a portion of the profits are going to the Las Vegas financier of the Grand Canyon Skywalk in exchange for allowing the Hualapai Tribe to have the attraction.

The first person to venture out onto the Grand Canyon Skywalk? Astronaut and moon landing pioneer Buzz Aldrin.

More on Grand Canyon Tours here.

See a video about the Grand Canyon Skywalk on YouTube.

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Many people think of Las Vegas as a playground for adults. However, it is possible to find family friendly activities while staying in Sin City. From the arcade in Excalibur to Ron Lee’s World of Clowns to the awesome pyrotechnics of the Mirage volcanic explosion. But if you are looking for family fun in Las Vegas that can last all day, head to the Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix.

Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix: fun for the whole family

One of the great things about the Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix (1401 N. Rainbow Road) is that there is plenty for the parents to do, as well as the kids. As you might gather, the Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix focuses mainly on go cart racing. There are go carts for various age groups, including adult Gran Prix cars for the slightly older “kids.”

But the Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix has more going for it than go carts. There is also a great giant slide, good food, an arcade and some amusement park rides.

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Yesterday marked the transatlantic maiden voyage of the Airbus A380, the largest commercial passenger airplane in the world. The maiden voyage across the Atlantic is considered one of the most important airline flights since the Concorde. The Airbus A380 is a double decker jet plane. Airbus hopes that when Americans see how efficient the plane is, they will want to buy them in order to service transoceanic flights. MSNBC reports:

Lufthansa Flight 8940 is meant to be a statement by Airbus that it can accommodate vast numbers of travelers comfortably and efficiently.

“We’re talking about an airplane that is representing aviation in the 21st century in terms of efficiency,� said Jens Bischoff, Lufthansa’s vice president for the Americas.

The specs on the Airbus A380:

• Holds 550 passengers
• 239 feet long
• Wings the size of a football field
• Holds 81,890 gallons of fuel
• Flies 560 miles per hour
• Can go 8,000 nautical miles without refueling

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Every year my husband’s aunt and uncle take their family to Cape Cod. This looks like a great family vacation opportunity, full of fun and sparkle and opportunities for great family moments. It seems strange to me that with all of the traveling I have done, that I have never been on a Cape Cod vacation. However, I expect that this will change soon. Here is what Cape Cod has to offer:

• Swimming at bay beaches that are calm enough for family fun
• Bird watching at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (also available at the Sanctuary: canoeing and hiking)
• Whale watching out on the ocean
• Sand dunes at the Cape Cod National Seashore
• Biking trails (mostly gentle) past cranberry bogs and other sights
• Clam bakes with fresh clams from the clam flats

And that’s really not all a Cape Cod family vacation has to offer. It is also only 71 miles from Boston, so if you want to take a day trip to see Beantown, that is well within the realm of possibility. There are cabins available, and many of them are in relatively secluded spots (although you will pay more for privacy).

For more on family travel, visit Family Trip Deals.

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