Daytona Beach, A Perfect Family Destination

Daytona Beach is a perfect family-friendly vacation destination, featuring sandy beaches stretching for more than 20 miles. Daytona Beach holds claim to the “World’s Most Famous Beach” and is devoted to the normal seaside pleasures with glitter of a fun resort. Daytona Beach is the perfect location to escape from the stresses of everyday life. You will find numerous activities for everyone in your family to keep you occupied so you will never be bored while you are soaking up some rays and taking in the breathtaking vistas of this paradise setting.

Daytona Beach has numerous attractions, but it all starts along the beach. At low tide the hard packed surface invites cycling, jogging, fishing, and vehicle traffic is permitted on 11 of the 23-mile long beach area with a posted 10 mph speed limit. At times the beach can reach up to 500 feet wide at low tide, which makes it appealing to beach goers to play a game of beach volleyball or practice sand-surf skimming at the edge of the waves. Take a ride on the Sky Lift to the end of the Daytona Beach Pier or enjoy the view from the top of the 180-foot space needle on the beach at the end of Main Street. To get a great view of beach life try parasailing and for a real adrenaline rush try the Daytona Beach Slingshot which launches riders 300 feet in the air at about 100 mph. For a more traditional beach experience consider fishing at the Pier.

The best time to travel to Daytona Beach depends on what you value most. If you prefer fewer visitors, but still great weather then consider visiting April to May and September to November. You will also find better accommodation value. If you want to be in with the crowd the peak period is May to September. The accommodation prices will be at their peak and this is also the rainy season, but typically showers will only marginally affect vacations. The off-peak period is December to April. Hotel and motel rates will be at their lowest, but the weather will be colder.

The Daytona Beach area has over 14,000 accommodations available including hotels, motels, inns, condominiums, and bed and breakfasts. Making your reservations early insures you will have your choice!

Daytona Beach makes a family fun and exciting vacation destination so much to do. Start making your plans today!

Chicago, A Great Vacation Destination

Chicago is one of the best family vacation destinations in America. The "Windy City" or "Chi-Town" as Chicago is sometimes referred to has everything a family could want from beaches, museums, both cultural and historical, educational things to see and do, excellent zoos, amusement parks, great food, shopping, nightlife, and not to mention something for every type of sports fan.

From the beauty of Lake Michigan and Grant Park to riverboat rides on the Chicago River, Chicago is a fantastic place for a family to visit. You might think that seeing the sights in one of the world's most exciting, sophisticated cities would be expensive...but you'd be wrong.

Chicago has such an astounding number of free things to do throughout the year - including many of the city's best attractions - that you could easily fill several weeks with fascinating fun which won't cost you a penny. Along the lakefront, Chicago has 33 beaches and miles of jogging and bike paths that are always free. Discover the fun for kids of every age.

Chicago is a very friendly city and is a destination you could visit over and over and always see something different. With so many things to see and do involve the entire family in planning this trip. It will be exciting and an educational experience. Chicago makes for an outstanding family vacation that you will always remember!

Visit Portland Maine For a Budget -Conscious Family Vacation

Portland is located in Maine's southern coast is the state's largest city with plenty of things to do for the budget-conscious travelers. Visitors can take boat rides off the coast for a nominal fee, see a professional baseball game at a fraction of the coast to see a major league game, and enjoy the miles of white sandy beaches , absolutely free.

Maine has a rocky coast and what better way to see it than from the water. Portland has ferry service to the six islands in Casco Bay. There are many things to see and do. You will see lobster boats, oil tankers, yachts, sea birds, seals, historic island forts and rocky ledges. If you stop at Peaks Island you can enjoy lunch, visit craft shops, rent a bicycle, kayak or just take a walk.

A popular tourist destination is the town of Old Orchard Beach, which is an ocean side city twenty minutes south of Portland. It has carnival rides, food stands, water slides, arcades and unique shops. The seven mile wide sandy beach is the main attraction and it is free. A pier shoots out into the water roughly 500 feet, which dates back to 1898.

In Portland if you want to see a great view of the city and surrounding area then you want to visit the top of the historic Eastland Park Hotel. Here at the Top of the East Lounge you can enjoy a beverage and see a panoramic view of Portland Harbor, the downtown and suburbs and the countryside.

In the Portland area there is no shortage of lighthouses. Some of the nearby lighthouses are: Portland Head Light, Two Lights Lighthouses or the Portland Breakwater Lighthouse. The Portland Head Light Lighthouse can has a museum that can be toured.

If you want to take a self-guided tour of Portland, there are four available with maps for free. The Greater Portland Landmarks organization offers paid walking tours as well. Information on these tours can be obtained for free by visiting the Greater Portland Landmarks office.

For a great place to eat is at Becky's Diner. This waterfront eatery has typical breakfast and lunch cuisine, but there is also a selection of seafood including scallops, haddock, shrimp and lobster dishes. Another excellent waterfront diner is Gilbert's Chowder House. This restaurant is famous for its five different kinds of chowder that can be ordered in a bread bowl. Fresh seafood is also on the menu.

Portland makes for a nice sightseeing family vacation on a budget. You will treasure your trip to Portland and one thing you want to make sure to do, take plenty of pictures!

Lake Tahoe - A Great Family Vacation Destination

Lake Tahoe is a great destination for your next family vacation. From exploring the outdoors to organized camps and classes, there are numerous activities for kids and their families at Lake Tahoe. And, perhaps the biggest surprise, the majority of these activities are available at little to no cost.

Lake Tahoe is an American treasure with its stunning beauty, crisp and clear air, and the sun shines roughly 80% of the time. Lake Tahoe is a large alpine lake surrounded by the high Sierra Nevada Mountains, straddling the borders of Nevada and California.

In the summer you can partake of boating and water sports, the sandy beaches, bicycling, golf, tennis, hiking, camping, ballooning, hiking, horse back riding, rock climbing, bungee jumping, para sailing and more with seemingly endless possibilities.

In the winter the area receives on average of 409" of snow, which makes Lake Tahoe one of the premier skiing destinations in America. The area includes 15 downhill resorts, 10 cross-country ski centers, and facilities for snowboarding, ice skating, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, sledding, sleigh riding and of course just playing in the snow.

Year round activities include fishing, Vegas style gambling and big name entertainment in the casinos. And, then there is the lake. Lake Tahoe is famous for its crystal clear water and enormous size. the lake measures 12 miles wide and 22 miles long and it is said that you can see a white dinner plate 75 feet below the surface. The lake's average depth is 989 feet with its deepest point being 1645 feet. Lake Tahoe contains enough water to cover the entire state of California 15 inches deep. It is the largest alpine lake in North America.

When deciding on where to stay you must decide on the North or South shores of Lake Tahoe. If you prefer gambling and entertainment then you want to go to the South Shores. It features better casinos, entertainment and lodging choices, often with better rates. if you want a more relaxing, outdoor atmosphere then head to the North Shore. You will find a better selection of high-quality resorts and vacation rentals. the West Shore is very woodsy and has the most campsites, while the East Shore is protected from development and has no commercial activity. Where ever you stay you will find plenty of water and mountain sports.

If you are looking for an outdoor retreat, then Lake Tahoe is a great place to spend your next family vacation!

Family Beach Vacation at Myrtle Beach

Play in the sand, count the waves or savor the refreshing cool breeze, Myrtle Beach makes for an enjoyable family vacation. Myrtle Beach features some of the most entertaining beach activities for the entire family.

With 60 miles of pristine beach, the Myrtle Beach area is great for relaxing in the sand and soaking up the sun. learn how to surf, go kayaking or even try scuba diving. To make your family vacation even more exciting by chartering a fishing boat.

Here are a few suggestions when visiting Myrtle Beach that you won't want to miss.

Ripley's Aquarium - An aquarium and dining complex that features restaurants, rides, shops and the 85,000 square foot Ripley's Aquarium.

Family Kingdom Amusement Park - Family Kingdom features more than 30 rides including a thrilling wooden roller coaster and South Carolina's largest Ferris wheel.

Battleship North Carolina - The Battleship North Carolina is a proud reminder of the efforts to protect the free world. Come aboard and experience first-hand the patriotic pride that carried her brave crew to victory.

Children's Museum of South Carolina - Touch, Explore, and Play while learning about your world through interactive exhibits and programs.

Wild Water & Wheels - A 16-acre water park filled with rides and slides.

And, let us not forget about the numerous golf courses Myrtle Beach is home to. If you like to golf then you will be sure to find a course to your liking.

If you are looking for a relaxing family vacation on the beach or prefer a filled schedule of attractions then Myrtle Beach is the place for you.

Make Your Next Family Vacation Silver Dollar City and Branson MO.

With numerous exciting rides and more than 40 daily live shows and a historical atmosphere it's easy to see why Silver Dollar City theme park is one of Branson's top attractions. Whether you're enjoying one of the shows, watching craft demonstrations, riding one of the thrilling roller coasters or shopping in one of the many shops, you're sure to have an exciting time.

Silver Dollar City is also host to many nationally known festivals. These would include World-Fest, National Kids' Fest, Southern Gospel Picnic Days, and National Harvest Festival. Bring the entire family out to Silver Dollar City and experience authentic Ozarks culture through endless family fun.

Here are some of the favorite shows to see.

• Horsecreek Band - This show serves up country, bluegrass and gospel tunes.
• Great American Country Nights - At the Echo Hollow amphitheater on GAC Nights enjoy country song and dance.
• Cajun Connection - The Cajun Connection plays traditional bayou music.
• Choctaw Charlie's Frontier Follies - This hilarious comedy features two big city folk that arrive in town and try to direct the evening entertainment at the local saloons.

After a show or two and your ready for some thrilling rides here are some that will get your heart pumping.

• The Wildfire - Experience twists and turns on this coaster , which reaches spedds over 60 mph.
• The GIANT Swing - Your launched out of the swing's barn at speed approaching 45 mph as you ascend over 7 stories, nearly being flipped upside down before gravity takes its course and whips you in the other direction!
• PowderKeg - Experience this coaster that features compressed air-launch technology, gravitational force and thundering speeds in excess of 60 mph
• The Flooded Mine - Float through The Flooded Mine as you attempt to clear it of runaway prisoners with arcade-style shooting.
• Other rides and attractions include Geyser Gulch, Tom Sawyer's Landing, Becky's Carousel, Fire in the Hole, Runaway Ore Cart, Steam Train, Marvel Cave Tour, WaterWorks Waterboggan, and more.

In Branson, Missouri Silver Dollar City is just one of the many attractions to plan your family vacation around. This vacation experience will be one that you will remember for many years!

Williamsburg, VA: A Family Vacation Destination Full of History and Excitement!

Are you looking for a family vacation that has a mix of history and excitement in the same location? Then Williamsburg, VA is the place!

Colonial Williamsburg is the nation's largest living history museum covering 301 acres including some 500 buildings, homes, stores and taverns that are restored to their 18th century appearances. The streets of Colonial Williamsburg are closed to traffic except for horse-drawn carriages. Take a walking or carriage tour through this area and this will give your family a feel for what it was like back in this time.

If you walk consider a trip down historic Duke of Gloucester Street. This mile long walk through Colonial Williamsburg will take you back to the 18th century, past modern shops, by beautiful gardens and end up at the Capitol Building, where Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington once debated. Stop and visit with interpreters and tradesmen demonstrating historic crafts along the way.

Also consider visiting the Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown Victory Center where the struggles, adventures and hopes of those early years are brought to life in detail through engaging exhibits and dramatic living history. See three tall-masted ships that are anchored in the James River and visit a re-created fort. At the Yorktown Victory Center you will see outdoor history interpretations, many original artifacts, and a film titled "A Time of Revolution", which all paint a picture of the times Surrounding the wars end.

Besides so much history in the area your family vacation would not be complete without visiting the theme parks. Busch Gardens Europe offers your family an opportunity to travel all over the world. Visit Germany, Italy, England, Ireland and France without having to board a flight. Experience each country's local cuisine and themed rides.

If a water park is in your plans then visit Water Country USA. This is one of the best water parks in the country. Everyone in your family will find something to enjoy. There are activity pools with slides and small rides for very age. Unlike other water parks most smaller children can ride most rides with a you if they wear a life jacket.

Of course this is by no means everything to experience on your Williamsburg family vacation. Their is golf, beaches, museums, a zoo, an aquarium and great shopping. So why wait, start your planning for your Williamsburg family vacation today!