ON HOLIDAY
WHY WEATHER THE WINTER OF YOUR DISCONTENT AT HOME?
THE WINTER BLUES KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE, BUT YOU CAN BEAT 'EM
WITH THE ONE-TWO PUNCH OF A FABULOUS VACATION.

Your summer vacation was a long time ago and the winter blues are here. The kids already have cabin fever and
quite frankly, so do you. Rather than hunkering down to wait for the first robin of spring, get out there and explore.
Winter travelers are often rewarded with bargains and the pleasure of uncrowded destinations—not mention the
welcomed retreat from the day-to-day doldrums of dreary winter living. Here are some of our favorite family-friendly
destinations guaranteed to chase your cares away.


Europa, Europa
Amie O’Shaughnessy, founder of Ciao Bambino, a travel company specializing in providing detailed and customized itineraries for people traveling with children to Italy and France says: “Children love to visit places they have seen in books or learned about in school. Italy is especially popular with families, so take them to the Coliseum and the Borghese Gardens in Rome, or the Leaning Tower of Pisa.” 

That covers the kids, but what about the parents? “Parents love wine country cities like Lucca, San Gimignano and Siena in Tuscany. There is a cooking school in Siena that welcomes children. It’s a great bonding as well as cultural experience for the whole family,”O’Shaughnessy adds.

For Francophiles,  O’Shaughnessy says, “Kids love the Eiffel Tower and Arch de Triomphe, but there is also an enchanting park especially for children called, Jardins des Enfants. Older kids love to tour the sewers of Paris and younger children enjoy the puppet show at Luxembourg Gardens in the center of Paris.”

For the best gelato in Italy, at Vivoli in Florence, to the upscale yet family friendly Hotel de Russie, visit Ciao Bambino at www.ciaobambino.com or call 866.802.0300.


Snow Days
Skiers traveling during the month of December will find snow piled high and lift lines and prices low. According to Heather Albritton of AAA Travel, “Big Sky, Montana, which has recently expanded, is especially popular with families and couples right now. In addition to skiing, they offer snowmobile tours, sleigh rides, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, and a terrain park for the snowboarders in your family.”

For lodging, Albritton says, “The Huntley Lodge (as in Chet Huntley, the late NBC newsman), was remodeled this season. The property offers top-of-the-line Solace Beds, outdoor pool and hot tubs, and ski in/ski out convenience.”

Albritton also recommends the two-bedroom Moonlight Cabins which, “provide an at home environment and feature private hot tubs in addition to ski in/ski out access to both Big Sky (www.bigskyresort.com) and Moonlight Basin (www.moonlightbasin.com) ski resorts.”

Steamboat Springs, Colorado offers kids fly (United, American and Northwest), rent equipment and ski for free programs for children 12 and young when accompanied by their parent or grandparent. For program details, go to Steamboat Springs  (www.steamboatsprings.com).

In addition to the usual snow sports, Steamboat Springs offers helicopter rides and a sleigh-ride dinner. Try the near-by natural hot springs, but note that children are only welcome between 1:30 – 4:30 PM (after 4:30 PM, swimming suits are optional).

All ski resorts offer on and off the snow programs for children. Some, like Lone Peak Playhouse at Big Sky, also have evening programs.

For additional information, call 800.750.5386 to be connected to an AAA Travel Agent in your area or check out AAA (www.aaa.com).


Cruise Control
Treat your family to some fun in the sun during the dead of winter by cruising the Caribbean. Mike Wall of All American Travel recommends Royal Caribbean or Carnival Cruise Lines for families. “Both do a great job of offering activities and shipboard camps for every age.” When asked why he didn’t mention the Disney Cruise Line, Hall replied, “Disney is the gold standard for family cruising, but costs two to three times more.”

Hall’s advice to first-time cruisers is, “Take a five or seven day cruise in order to get the full cruise experience.” He also had this tip on tipping, “A lot of people aren’t aware that a gratuity of $10 per person per day is mandatory.” Call 866.561.0047 for additional details or to book a cruise.

You can skip the ship and fly to the Caribbean. Carol Hoffman of  Mann Travels (www.manntravels.com) recommends the all inclusive resorts along the Yucatan Peninsula. “An all-inclusive, such as the Occidental Grand Xcaret near Playa del Carmen, or the Palace properties (there’s the Moon, Sun, Beach, and Cancun Palace Resorts), near Cancun are popular choices.

“Of the Palace properties, I recommend the Moon Place for families. Kids enjoy exploring the near-by ruins and other daily free tours. Plus the sister resort, Moon Palace Sunrise has the largest pool in Cancun,” said Hoffman.

“Eastern Caribbean travelers can’t go wrong with the Beaches resorts in Jamaica or Turks and Cacaos,” said Hoffman. “They offer a wide variety of tours and activities for the entire family, and the all-inclusive convenience allows you to really relax and have fun.”


The Mighty Mouse
Speaking of fun, what better place to ditch the winter doldrums than at the Happiest Place on Earth: Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL? According to Pam VanSyckle, owner of Kingdom Konsultant Travel Agency; “with the exception of the holiday period of December 20–31, winter is one of the most affordable times to visit the Florida theme parks.”

“Adults and children will marvel at the holiday decorations, and there are plenty of attractions, shows, and activities to appeal to every age,” said VanSyckle. “Adults will enjoy the tours, golf courses, spas and nightlife at Downtown Disney and there are plenty of educational opportunities at Disney. Epcot features pavilions from eleven counties around the world and Disney’s Animal Kingdom offers an African safari of exotic animals,” she added.

When considering a trip to Disney, VanSyckle has this advice: “Disney is for all ages, but if your young child is easily upset by large crowds, darkness, loud noises, or oversized mice (and dogs, ducks, etc), then you may wish to wait until he or she is at a more adventurous age.”

VanSyckle and her team of knowledgeable certified consultants can offer expert advice and provide free itineraries, including resort and dining reservations, packing lists and even height restrictions for the rides. For package plans and details, contact Kingdom Konsultants (www.kingdomkonsultants.com) online or at 866 KONSULT (566.7858).

—Julie Saunders

Julie Saunders is a freelance travel writer focusing on family fun destinations. In addition to contributing to The Family Groove, she pens the “Florida Fun” column for the Asheville (NC) Citizen-Times. A Disney veteran, she also writes for the print and online versions of the Unofficial Guide to WDW .  Julie can be reached at JuliesFLFun@Hotmail.com.

		WINTER TRAVEL TIPS
		Take advantage of the lack of crowds to up upgrade your accommodations, not to mention all of the time you’ll save by not waiting in lines (lift, buffet, rides, museums, etc).
		Cruisers keep in mind that departures that cross over into the New Year will require passports 90 days prior to departure (new passport regulations kick in with the New Year).
		Wintertime is value season for many destinations like Europe, cruises and theme parks.