Where in the world can you pet a dolphin, dodge a geyser, fly high in a hot air balloon, ogle at ostriches, and tour a castle â?? all in a single day? Napa Valley, of course.California’s Napa Valley is famous for its 300+ vineyards and wineries, but there’s so much more. It’s also an exciting, family-friendly destination. The area’s beautiful scenery draws hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. If your family prefers water sports, the Napa River has cruises, boat rentals, and even kayaking for the adventurous.The Napa Valley is a short drive from San Francisco. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (formerly Marine World) is nearby in the town of Vallejo. Children (of all ages) are entranced by the marine shows featuring dolphins, seals, and killer whales. The many amusement park rides range from 11 gravity-defying roller coasters including the Boomerang â?? which goes backwards â?? to go carts, climbing walls, and toddler-friendly water play areas.Continue north and you reach the town of American Canyon, gateway to the Napa Valley. The town offers affordable lodging options and convenient access to Napa and Sonoma County vineyards. Many wineries offer special wine tasting events, behind-the-scenes tours, and dinner packages.The town of Napa is just 7 miles from American Canyon. Along with upscale shopping and dining options, the town is home to many Napa Valley tour companies. The hot air balloon tours won’t take you around the world, but do offer an exhilarating birds-eye view of the serene wine county landscape. Depending on the tour package, extras may include a champagne toast or even full gourmet breakfast after your flight.There’s plenty to do on the ground too, as you continue north. Many families head straight for the small town of Calistoga, where wineries meet geysers.The â??Little Old Faithful” geyser is a top attraction. Stand back â?? way back! â?? and watch as scalding hot water shoots over 50 feet into the air every 30 minutes or so.While the geyser is an impressive display of the area’s geothermal activity now, the Petrified Forest is a powerful reminder of the area’s violent volcanic history. Three million years ago, a massive volcanic eruption toppled a Redwood forest and covered it in a thick layer of ash. The silica-rich ash eventually turned the trees into solid stone. There’s a museum and shady trail where you can view the major tree excavations.Calistoga’s Safari West offers a different sort of trail â?? one filled with cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, and other exotic animals. It’s not just an animal park; Safari West is a 400-acre wildlife preserve dedicated to education and wildlife preservation. Visitors can take guided safari tours and even stay overnight in a luxury safari tent. Be sure to plan ahead: reservations are required for all tours.Now, any parent who managed all this in a single day would surely be ready for at least one glass of wine. The Castello di Amorosa is just the place. Set in a stunning castle, the winery offers relaxing horse-drawn vineyard tours and welcomes visiting families with a special area for kids to enjoy grape juice and coloring while parents attend an adults-only area wine tasting.Of course, nobody could adequately experience the Napa Valley in a single day. You may visit the first time just for the wine, but you’ll soon discover that Napa has something for everyone in your family to enjoy. The area’s beauty and diversity beckons to travelers of all ages, encouraging many repeat visits.
Archive for June, 2010
Family-Friendly Adventures in California’s Napa Valley
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010Myrtle Beach Resorts are a Popular Destination for Families
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010Myrtle Beach is the second most visited vacation family resort destination. The Grand Strand provides more than 100 amazing golf courses, 2000 delicious restaurants, numerous entertainment, exceptional shopping centers and exhilarating amusement parks. Come get refreshed on the 60 miles of the golden sandy beaches where the warm gentle waves of the Atlantic meet. Whether you want to relax or visit many of the different attractions, Myrtle Beach has plenty of resorts to choose from. Amenities found in the majority of Myrtle Beach Resorts include: Designer furnishing, elegant decors, full size well-equipped kitchens, outdoor and indoor pools, hot tubs, relaxing lazy river rides, exercise facilities, etc. If you?re looking for a quiet relaxing resort with extra ordinary scenic beauty, along with historic landmarks in the north end of the Grand Strand; The Prince Resort is the place you?ve been looking for. The Prince Resort is approximately 27 miles from Myrtle Beach International Airport. This Myrtle Beach resort offers many features: new luxury 1, 2, and 3 bedroom oceanfront suites, outdoor pools, lazy river, and Jacuzzis, game room, fitness room, business center, full kitchens, coffeemakers, iron and ironing boards, hairdryers, FREE high-speed Internet in all suites, 3500 Ocean Grill Oceanfront Restaurant, Cherry Grove Pier with Boardwalk Beach Cafe, ice cream shop and gift shop. There are so many more amenities they offer, the list continues. What makes this Myrtle Beach Resort different; it?s adjacent to one of the most famous Cherry Grove landmarks: the Cherry Grove Pier. This historic landmark brings over a million visitors each; it was built in the 1950s and recently been renovated. This pier is always enjoyed by guest with hours of live entertainment, fishing and watching fireworks. The great part is the Cherry Grove Pier is only footsteps from this Myrtle Beach Resort. However, this Myrtle Beach Resort is still close to everything else The Grand Strand has to offer.
Packing Tips For Budget Traveler
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010Packing properly is an important consideration for the budget traveler. Traveling on a budget means traveling light. The more unencumbered you are by junk you don’t need, the more chances you will have and the less expensive your travel will be.
For instance, while the traveler with only one bag is free to hop on the inexpensive city bus and pay as little as one dollar to get into town, if that same traveler is loaded down with three or four bulky suitcases, it is likely that an expensive taxi, and a potential fare of $50 or more, may be the only option.
This is just one example of how packing light can help you keep your travel budget under control, but there are many more examples, all borne of experience. In addition to saving money, traveling light makes sense on so many levels.
For one thing, you will enjoy your trip much more if you can just head straight out of the airport, without that long wait at the baggage claim.
Traveling light also makes getting around town, from the airport and to the hotel, much easier. Carting a lot of luggage around unnecessarily is a waste of time, money and energy, and most seasoned travelers have learned not to pack too much.
Over packing, however, is a frequent mistake for the first time or inexperienced, traveler, and we are presenting the following list of tips for keeping your packing, and your budget, under control.
- As you are laying out all the things you want to take on your trip, separate them into three different piles the essential pile, the maybe pile and the non essential pile. Then put the non essential, and half of the maybe pile, back in the closet.
- If you possibly can, try to get everything that remains into one bag that can be carried on to the airplane. If you are unsure what constitutes a carry on bag, be sure to check with the airline.
- Do not pack any items that can be purchased inexpensively once you have reached your destination. Be sure, however to pack items that may be more expensive in a tourist area. One example of this, of course, is camera film. Film is often two or three times as costly in a tourist area, so if you have extra film at home bring it along.
- Keep the amount of clothing you pack to an absolute minimum. Choose clothes that can be combined into a variety of different outfits. Keeping the clothes you pack to a minimum is especially smart if you know you will be dong a lot of shopping, and buying a lot of clothes, once you arrive at your destination. Why cart your old clothes halfway around the world if you can wear your snazzy new clothes instead?
- If your vacation is a long one, do laundry while you are away instead of bringing a suitcase full of extra clothes.
- Always pack some versatile clothes. For instance, a pair of swim trunks or shorts can double as sleeping attire. T-shirts are equally versatile and comfortable.
- Pack a collapsible bag in your suitcase. This bag can be used to carry souvenirs and other purchases on the return trip.
- Be sure that all your luggage is clearly labeled with your contact information and name. Avoid putting your street address on luggage tags, however. It is best to use a post office box or a work address.
- Always place any items you need and cannot immediately replace, such as prescription drugs, eyeglasses, and important documents, into your carryon or purse.
- Place all travel documents, maps and printed itineraries on the top of the suitcase, or in a separate zippered compartment, so they will be easy to find.
- If you have an extra pair of eyeglasses at home in a drawer, you may want to bring them along, especially if you need glasses to read signs, find your way around, etc.
- Pack them in a hard sided case and place them either in a purse or a separate compartment of the suitcase. Eyeglasses can be difficult, time consuming and expensive to replace while on vacation.
- And finally, consider packing an extra wallet, with one or two credit cards but no cash, into a separate compartment in your suitcase.
- The purpose of doing this is so you will have emergency funds in the event your regular wallet is lost or stolen. If the credit cards in the suitcase are lost or stolen, they can be cancelled immediately and you will not be liable for any fraudulent charges.