Three Perfect Family Ski Destinations

Park City Utah

Salt Lake City International Airport offers some of the best skiing in North America within 60 miles of landing. Park City in particular offers all levels of skiing and skiers and snowboarders can combines three world-class resorts just within Park City.

Having visited there most recently I was impressed with the easy access to Park City as well as the incredible amenities the area has to offer. It is a picturesque and quaint old western town hidden high in the mountains. In addition to skiing kids can enjoy seeing Olympic park which is an interactive experience combined with a show.

The amazing and historical Stein Eriksen Lodge offers ski in - ski out equally as impressive are the new St Regis to open in November and the stunning Montage slated to open in late 2010. This town has something for everyone, it offers a relaxed local culture, great food and nightlife and affordable prices.


Telluride Colorado

This ski town might lend toward the more experienced ski family and known for its most recent expansion of ski runs. The resorts vertical drop is know one of the largest in North America at 4,425 feet.

Colorful Victorian homes, clapboard storefronts, boutiques, art galleries, bookstores, gourmet restaurants, historic buildings‚ Telluride offers something for all ages.

Along with an array of holiday festivities this December Telluride will host to the international snowboarding competition sole U.S. stop of the LG FIS Snowboard World Cup and will feature an SBX and PGS competition during what will be the second in a series of five Olympic qualification events for the two sports.


Big Sky Montana

Nestled in between Bozeman and West Yellowstone, Big Sky offers you 5,500 acres of skiable terrain and the true feeling of the wild open west. Vast wilderness areas, stunning landscapes and beautiful rivers this is a fantastic family destination and a modern Rocky Mountain ski spot.

It is a wonderful destination for beginners and experts alike as it is home to Lone Mountain Ranch named the #1 ski center in North America. Trips to Yellowstone are an added plus for some great family adventure and top it off with a wonderful sleigh ride dinner for your family winter experience!

Halloween Happenings

New York’s Carnival

It is said the New York Halloween haunted walk and Carnival is back scarier then ever this year. Suitable for kids this fun event offers creepy characters like headless horsemen, wolf men and witches lurking high on lookout hill.

Saturday, October 31, 2009 -12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.

New Orleans

Halloween on Bourbon Street:

Bourbon Street is always wild, from the weekend before, and through Halloween, it's wild even by Bourbon Street standards. Wear your favorite costume and come down to see the sights.

Hermann-Grima House Mourning Tour:

The Hermann-Grima House located at 820 St. Louis Street in the French Quarter is fun to visit any time of the year to see how the Creoles lived in early New Orleans. But from mid-October through mid-November, the historic home will be draped in black and the parlor will be set as it would have been for the funeral of one of its earliest residents.

Ghosts in the Oaks:

Ghosts in the Oaks is a fund raiser for New Orleans City Park which was severely damaged in Hurricane Katrina. The event is on October 23th, from 6:00- 9:00 p.m. in the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park and includes food and music.

For the kids there's fun at the Audubon Zoo. On October 23, 24, 25 2009 the zoo holds its annual Halloween extravaganza. There's games, a haunted house, the ghost train, and of course trick or treating.

Salem, MA

The Haunted Neighborhood at the Salem Wax Museum

Salem’s #1 rated Haunted Attraction! Savor famous Maine apple buns, kettle corn, and other treats.

Salem Witch Village – Journey led by practicing witches separating the myths and reality of witchcraft in the ancient and modern world.
Frankenstein’s Laboratory – Salem’s #1 Ranked Haunted House – inspired by the classic period of literary horror. Step into the dungeon and enter the notorious chambers of Dr. Frankenstein.
The Haunted Witch Village – Salem’s largest Haunted House – After Witches leave the Village and the darker side of our maze comes alive. Our ghouls and goblins come out to scare all who dare.
The Candlelit Ghostly Tour – A walking tour through the streets of Historic Salem’s most haunted houses. Learn the history and horror of the Witch City.
Within the Witching Hour – A live presentation of spellcasting by a real practicing witch who will take you through all the steps of creating a magical circle for you to join in releasing your own spell.

Cape May, NJ

Cape May is one of the most haunted places in America. From the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate to a bevy of B&B inns, hotels and guest houses, all with resident spirits, you'll find plenty to get your heart pumping.

PHANTOMS OF CAPE MAY TOUR
Saturday, October 17: 6pm-8pm
Enjoy a spooktacular self-guided tour of a selection of Cape May's Victorian treasures decked out in ghoulish fashion for Halloween! Includes admission to the Phantoms of the Physick Estate Tour. Includes trolley shuttle.

A RIDE WITH THE GHOSTWRITER
Friday, October 23: 7:30pm, 8:30pm
Saturday, October 24: 6pm, 7pm, 8:30pm
This 45-minute evening trolley ride takes you through the streets of Cape May's Historic District with psychic medium Craig McManus (the Ghostwriter of Exit Zero fame) providing the narration. Craig will talk about ghosts and spirits,the history of the houses where he has sensed activity and legends of ghost activity in Cape May.

MURDER MYSTERY DINNERS & LUNCHEON
Fridays & Saturdays, October 16, 23 & 24: 7pm
Sundays, October 18 & 25: 1pm
New mystery for 2009! Whodunit? Find out as a cast of likely suspects invades the dining room at the Inn of Cape May! Solve the mystery and vie for prizes as you enjoy your meal. Limited event; reservations are necessary.

Cherry Blossoms to Spring Powder

From San Francisco, to Sonoma, and to Lake Tahoe there is something for everyone this Spring Break. Family vacations are a wonderful way to reconnect with family members and old friends. As my children have become young adults and their interests have varied, we like to find destinations which appeal to all of us. This year their three universities had coinciding Spring Breaks so we took advantage of that opportunity with a trip to California.

San Francisco was a great starting place for our family of five. In Golden Gate Park's Chinese gardens, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. People were lined up for the new California Academy of Sciences in their amazing new building designed by architect Renzo Piano. It's been called the "un-museum" and it claims the be "the only place on the planet with an aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum, and 4 story rainforest all under one roof"(a green roof at that.) We stayed at the Fairmont Heritage Place, a recently opened luxury residence club within the building which housed the historic Ghirardelli chocolate factory. The 1, 2, and 3 bedroom residences are currently available for short stays through Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. Our 2 bedroom urban chic unit was 1200 square feet, opened out to an amazing terrace with sweeping views of San Francisco Bay, fire pits, and lots of outdoor seating.

Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge on the way to Sonoma, I stopped to see the new Cavallo Point resort. Nestled beneath the bridge with a Sausalito address, this oasis is the result of a sensitive restoration of a one hundred year old army base named Fort Baker. With a spa, cooking school, Michelin star restaurant, hiking trails, kayaking, and stunning views of San Francisco and the bay, this environmentally friendly resort is another great example of something for everyone.

The wine country in March is relatively quiet. The yellow mustard which grows between the vines was just finishing and the fruit and nut trees were beginning to bloom. Here we connected with old friends and our host graciously took us on a drive Sunday morning north through Napa Valley to Calistoga and then over a windy mountain road down to Santa Rosa and south through the Sonoma Valley. The vineyards on the green hills, charming towns, and great bakeries along the way to sustain ourselves made for an unforgettable drive. With no traffic this was great way to see the natural beauty of this amazing wine growing region. We stayed at our friend's home but in the past have stayed at the beautiful Carneros Inn which lies between the towns of Napa and Sonoma at the top of the ridge. Each guest room is an individual cottage designed so well that many of their guests have tried to duplicate the simple attractive décor in their homes such as the great bathrooms with clever shower with a door to the outside shower and private garden/terrace. Of course, a spa and beautiful pool are included. The fine dining at the Farm relies on local produce and the casual Boon Fly Café is famous for delicious homemade donuts.

Our drive up to Lake Tahoe from Sonoma was slowed down by one of their famous blizzards which dumped nearly two feet of snow on the mountain pass and gave us a lesson in tire chains. What could make for a better start to 5 days of skiing than 2 feet of powder followed by blue sky days? Lake Tahoe is surrounded by no less than 14 Alpine ski resorts. This time we stayed on the South Shore at the base of the gondola for Heavenly Valley at a Marriott Condo resort called Timber Lodge. Straddling the California/Nevada border, this Heavenly Valley offers the breathtaking views of the beautiful waters of Lake Tahoe. We combined 4 days at Heavenly with one day at Kirkwood which has great bowl skiing above the tree line. What it lacks in a charming base village it makes up for with great varied ski terrain and the views. On the north side of the lake, both Squaw Valley and Northstar-at-Tahoe offer great base villages. Off the road to Squaw, Alpine Meadows has been a long time locals favorite, a no-frills mountain a great varied terrain. If it's luxury you crave, the Ritz Carlton Highlands will offer ski-in ski-out lodging at Northstar when it opens this Fall and will raise the bar as the most sophisticated place to stay in the Tahoe area. The north shore also Alpine Meadows is a no frills great challenging mountain.

On the last day, we left South Lake Tahoe and drove to Kirkwood Resort for one more amazing chance to ski: blue sky, open bowls above the tree line, and inexpensive lift tickets. We loved it! Driving back to the bay area from Kirkwood took us through the beautiful gold country, acres and acres of symmetrically planted blooming nut trees, a huge wind farm, and lots of abandoned mining equipment. A beautiful drive!

So from the city to the wine country, to the ski hills of Tahoe and back through the rolling hills of the Gold country, this something for everyone trip was a break from the ordinary for us.

- Rose Wylie, T100G Travel Manager

Family Learning Vacations

Nature & Science
A child's receptiveness to science and nature is best received by the habit of discovery. I would say that also applies to us adults! Science is a sensory experience; a way of measuring the things we see, hear, touch, and smell.

Traveling with kids while having science and nature in mind is going to be a hit with your family as it is only natural that kids are inquisitive and ask a million questions. They savor and repeat facts and, of course, test your patience and knowledge as well! Science is just in kids nature. We’ve listed just a few of the most interesting wilderness, natural phenomena, zoological, discovery, and technology travel ideas below.

Deserts and Dunes

Red Rock Canyon State Park

This canyon is located where the Mojave Desert meets the Sierra Nevada. It has amazing colorful rock formations and beautiful landscapes., and it is only about 2 hours from Los Angeles.

Bonneville Salt Flats

About 15,000 years ago this area was covered by a giant freshwater lake. All that is left is a shrunken reminder called The Great Salt Lake. Just outside of Salt Lake City.

Rocky Places

Craters of the Moon National Monument

This interesting area has evidence of volcanic eruptions from over 2000 years ago. Kids will learn about the unique ecosystem that has grown up in this unusual terrain. It is just 18 miles outside of Arco, Idaho.

The Driftless Region

Located in Northern Wisconsin, the landscape here retains mysterious looking formations that were once part of a prehistoric seabed. Famous for Three Chimneys Rock and the inverted triangle shape of Monument Rock.

Cool Waterfalls

Cavern Cascade

You can take the family walking on the paths and bridges of this amazing park in the heart of upstate New York in Watkins Glen. During your visit you have the opportunity to see 19 waterfalls within a 2 mile path.

Multnomah Falls
The Columbia River Gorge is famous for its 13 waterfalls, the longest and most famous being Multnomah. It has a 620-foot cascade of water fed from underground springs.

Peaks

Denali National Park

Located in Arkansas this is the highest peak on the continent: Mount McKinley stands 20,230 feet tall, WOW! Working sleds are part of the ranger team here and to add to the fun in the summer the park hosts sled dog training demonstrations.

Shenandoah National Park
There are breathtaking views of mountains and valleys and driving through the park is just half the fun. Most famous in the park are Luray Caverns located in the central part of the park and if you are a hiking family check out Old Rag, a mere 3,268 feet!

Vietnam

Honestly, Vietnam was never on the top of my list of places to visit. However, the opportunity recently arose for my husband and I to meet our daughter there for a few days. I am so glad we did!

I planned the trip through Trails of Indochina, who provide customized travel services in Southeast Asia and are based in Vietnam. They not only met our expectations, but exceeded them in attention to detail, guides/drivers, and luxurious accommodations.

Our first three nights were at the Park Hyatt in Ho Chi Minh City, more commonly called Saigon. Located in the center of Saigon within walking distance of many tourist attractions, it is a beautiful property with large modern rooms, great restaurants and over-the-top service! I have traveled extensively, and the Park Hyatt Saigon is definitely one of my favorite city hotels.

In and around Saigon we visited many sights including the Former Presidential Palace, Thien Hau Temple, the War Remembrance Museum and the outdoor market. We drove out to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a complex tunnel system dug in 1948 for the guerrillas to hide during the French and American wars.

We then flew to Danang where we were taken to the ancient town of Hoi An. It has been declared a World Heritage Site due to its beautifully preserved town center. My daughter and I were quick to visit a local tailor to have inexpensive fine silk dresses made within a couple of hours! If you enjoy shopping for fine silks and traditional crafts, you can find them in Vietnam for a very reasonable price.

The Nam Hai Resort, located on an amazing stretch of China Beach a few miles outside of Hoi An, was our home for a couple of nights. This is an all-villa property with gourmet dining, a tropical spa beside a lagoon and three beach front swimming pools. The gorgeous villas and the very romantic setting are highly recommend for honeymooners or even for those wishing to recapture the magic with a 2nd honeymoon.

Experiencing a day with the local people was the highlight of our trip. Our day started with a bike ride through the countryside to a large garden in a farming village. We learned local techniques for farming vegetables and rice. We then took a private boat trip to visit a fishing village to learn about traditional fishing methods and tried our luck at casting a net and catching some fish—it’s hard work! One of our best meals in Vietnam was lunch prepared on the boat from the fresh vegetables and fish we gathered during the morning. It was a great day!

The scenic drive to Hue took 3 ½ hours. Its summit offers a spectacular panoramic view of the central coast. Our tour of Hue included a visit to a restored home of a descendent of the Royal Family, a cyclo ride to the Imperial Citadel, as well as a boat ride on the picturesque Perfume River. We stayed at the lovely La Residence Hotel & Spa, had a great meal in their restaurant, before returning to Saigon.

Vietnam is a fascinating country with exceptional people, scenery, and also food. Because of all this, I am already thinking ahead to our next visit to Southeast Asia!

- Wendy Studt, T100G Travel Consultant

Top cities to celebrate Independence Day with kids

The 4th of July is something American families depend on each and every summer. It is a day when families and friends come together for parades and picnics and ultimately the day’s finale, Fireworks! If you are looking for an excuse to get away and do something different with your kids, Travel100Group can create a fun and unique family itinerary in one of these exciting cities.

CHICAGO

On July 3rd, Lake Michigan will light up with what is called one of the country’s most spectacular fireworks displays, accompanied by Christopher Bell leading the Grant Park Orchestra.

Navy Pier presents a ten-minute firework show over Lake Michigan on July 4th, complete with patriotic music. Many of Chicago's hotels will supply you with a picnic basket filled with the best July 4th recipes. Another fun option is to take advantage of the several dinner cruises offered where you can enjoy the amazing display up close and on the water.

WASHINGTON D.C

What better place to celebrate our country’s independence than in our nation’s capital? Head to The National Mall where an all day event will take place. Enjoy a parade along Constitution Avenue. Take in all the monuments. Experience the cultural festivities at the Smithsonian Folk life Festival and the White House Visitor Center. Listen to “A Capitol Fourth Concert” put on by the National Symphony Orchestra. Bands, giant balloons, floats, equestrian teams, celebrities, and dignitaries all participate in the parade. It will be quite a spectacle that should not be missed.

NEW YORK CITY

A tradition in the Big Apple, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s voyage to what would become New York, the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks this year will move to the Hudson River. Anchor yourself somewhere close to the river or Roosevelt Island displays a great view, as well as music, face painting, and a food court. Long Island City holds an annual Fireworks Festival at Gantry Plaza State Park offering music, food, games, and a fantastic view of the fireworks as well.

Another fun idea is to take the kids to the top of the Empire State Building for a spectacular view of the show. There are a limited number of tickets available, however, so it is important to purchase your tickets now! A dinner and fireworks cruise is also bound to keep the children's interest as well.

LAKE TAHOE, NEVADA

The American Pyrotechnics Association rates South Shore’s spectacular 4th of July fireworks celebration as one ofthetop 5 displays in the nation and is one of the largest shows west of the Mississippi. The fireworks show is nothing less than breathtaking. Shot from a barge on the lake, the fireworks can be seen from almost anywhere. Viewers gatheron the shores, on docks, and some even venture into the lake on paddleboats to experience the fireworks from the water!

To make the evening all the more special for the kids, we can book South Shore’s two Mississippi paddle wheelers. The Tahoe Queen and the M.S. Dixie II offer a unique opportunity to view the show from the water. Board the Tahoe Queen for a Dinner Dance Cruise or the M.S. Dixie II for a Fireworks Cruise. Both feature live entertainment and fantastic views of the evening’s display.

Small American Beach Towns

Some of our clients at Travel 100 Group enjoy just a plain old fashioned American beach for their summer getaways. Envision something like this: park the car, drag a beach chair and a book to the sand, and then shuffle down the boardwalk in your flip-flops for fried clams and an icy-cold can of beer: a place with fireworks, friendly locals, and sticky scoop shops. We’ve listed some great American no frills seaside escapes, from classic fun-in-the-sun to New England colonial charm. When it comes to precious summer weekends in the sun, it pays to keep things simple.

SAUGATUCK, MICHIGAN

The sand: Dunes that will remind you of Cape Cod, and khaki beaches that mimic Malibu.

A Day in the Life: We love Saugatuck for its inspiring landscape and laid back attitude. This charming and historic, beach town is within a three-hour drive from Detroit, Chicago, Indianapolis, and Milwaukee and has long drawn those seeking a watery muse, rugged adventures, or simple beach pleasures. Beach goers can cross the bridge or, more fun, board a 1913 hand-cranked ferry that chugs from Saugatuck across the Kalamazoo. The quick and quaint ride costs just $1 and the rewards, unspoiled stretch of Oval Beach, which frequently finds itself listed as one of the world’s best. For an even less populated place to stake your umbrella, there’s the nearby Saugatuck Dunes State Park, with two miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, 200-foot-tall dunes, and 1,000 acres of hiking terrain.

Home away from Home: Silver Palate cookbook co-author Julee Rosso runs the affordable and homey, Wickwood Inns. Each of its 11 guest rooms, are based on a different theme, such as an English garden or mountain cabin.

OGUNQUIT, MAINE

The sand: Three and a half miles of white-sand beaches on a long hook of land, separated from the mainland by the mouth of the Ogunquit River.

A day in the Life: Lobster? Ach, you can find that anywhere in Maine, however there are only in a few select spots along the state’s 5,500 miles of rocky coastline will you find actual soft, bottom-inviting sand, and that’s outside the hamlet of Ogunquit. We love the great restaurants in town: blueberry pancakes at Bessie’s or for dinner Ogunquit’s acclaimed Arrows Restaurant. It goes beyond typical beach fare, serving foie gras-and-oxtail dumplings, sea salt–roasted rabbit loin, and mango bubble pudding. And, oh yeah, Maine lobster, too.

Home away from Home: We love the 19 one and two bedroom cottages at Dunes on the Waterfront: They have screened porches and Adirondack chairs just 200 yards from the main beach.

CANNON BEACH, OREGON

The sand: Four miles of Pacific Northwest beauty: towering rocks, tidal pools, forests, and waterfalls, all connected by soft stretches of sand.

A day in the Life: Picket fences, surf shops, and glassworks boutiques have helped tame Cannon Beach, a town of 1,700 artsy and outdoorsy souls 80 miles west of Portland, into a perfectly stroll-worthy seaside escape. But its wild side still rules: Born of volcanoes and still constantly smashed by the sea, the Oregon outpost overspills with fascinating formations, from the 235-foot basalt Haystack Rock and the forest-shrouded waves of Indian Beach to calmer spots at Arcadia Beach and the Tolovana Wayside. All but the most adventuresome (and wet suit–clad) will want to look, but not touch, as the tides can be deadly and the water rarely rises above 60 degrees. But you’ll find plenty of gentle warmth in the surrounding community, which celebrates Sandcastle Days in June. At the Wayfarer Restaurant & Lounge, you can feast on Dungeness crab and sip an Oregon pinot noir while gazing at Haystack and all those crashing waves.

Home away from Home: Views from the 45 rooms at the stone-and-timber Ocean Lodge are unforgettable; oh and it is pet friendly too!

MEXICO BEACH, FLORIDA

The sand: Around these three miles of confectioners’-sugar sands, you’ll see bald eagles, sea turtles, dolphins—and only a few footprints.

A day in the Life: We love this quiet secluded little beach town, just south of Destin, on the Florida Panhandle. The 1,200 residents have purposely avoided high-rises, strip malls, and theme parks like the plague, keeping their low-slung town to themselves. The focus is on small-town fun, with gumbo cook-offs, kingfish tournaments, and fireworks fundraisers. You can kill two beach birds with one stone at the souvenirs-and-seafood shop Shell Shack. If you want to get off the beach, pop into the pool bar at the El Governor motel or take a scuba dive through a sunken oil tanker just offshore.

Home away from Home: The Driftwood Inn is no frills, it has four-poster beds in its rooms and DIY barbecue grills on its back deck. If you want to play at being a local, there are separate two-bedroom Victorian houses.