Sunny Days Ahead
The art of the summer vacation.
by Kevin Williams

TWEENS & TEENS News May/June 2008

cience projects, book reports, sports practices, standardized tests, driving lessons, part-time jobs, extracurricular activities— and the list continues. With competition heating up as you approach the college years, and you maintain a busier calendar than ever, you tweens and teens rival adults in the need for some days away. As the end of school arrives, it’s time to escape the pressure cooker and get into summer vacation mode.

Using the summer to book a vacation that mixes family time with enough adventure to blow off steam encourages kids and parents to transition from work to play. Sure, sleeping late, watching movies and sitting by the pool are relaxing— and camp programs provide exceptional opportunities to enjoy friends, the arts and sports under the sun— but a family vacation helps bring the entire clan closer together.

The best summer vacations offer something special for everyone. The last thing you want is bored, complaining voices setting the soundtrack for your trip. However, even the busiest families need not stress about planning a balanced vacation. Family-friendly resorts in the following warm weather locales provide the perfect way to score a low-stress, high-fun trip, as well as lots of sun, surf and swimming.

FLORIDA
Along with the magic and adventure of Disney World, Florida offers some of the best pools, water slides and eco-adventures in the country. Search the Florida everglades or travel the world at Epcot— the possibilities are endless.

Summer Bay Resort in Orlando is an ideal resort for families looking to participate in water activities. The family-friendly hotel has an abundance of water sports available including, waterskiing, tubing, knee-boarding, paddle boating and canoeing on the lake. One and two-bedroom condos and villas are available and include complimentary transportation to all four Walt Disney World theme parks.

Miami Trump International Sonesta Beach Resort is known for its “Just Us Kids” program and activities. The pool complex features waterfalls, fountains, hot tubs and lush tropical foliage. Amenities include beachfront and pool-side air-conditioned cabanas, complete with full kitchens in all suites and water sports programs.

Walt Disney World Dolphin features complimentary transportation to all Walt Disney World theme parks and attractions. Special Disney benefits include enhanced Extra Magic Hours. Five heated pools, swan paddle boat rentals and sand beach volleyball offer both relaxing and active pursuits under the sun. Kids younger than age 9 eat free!

HAWAII
Incredible terrain and islands bursting with excitement make Hawaii a wonderful place to discover new cultures, push your limits with exceptional experiences and learn about the importance of biodiversity. From surfing and sunbathing to enjoying the hula and a luau, a Hawaiian vacation staves off any signs of boredom.

Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas in Maui can serve as your first dolphin swimming expedition. Riding on horseback across emerald hilltops, relishing the pool-side grill next to the koi pond and experiencing a recreation lagoon and heated swimming pool make for an unforgettable family vacation. Venture any direction and you’ll find rainforests, sugar sand beaches, lava formations and rolling farmlands.

Oahu, Hawaii Sheraton Waikiki is situated within walking distance of virtually anything and everything you could possibly want to do in Waikiki. Daily on-property and off-property activities are sure to be the highlights of every family’s visit. Two pools— the main pool and the Diamond Head pool for kids— grant endless amusement, as does the resort’s surf and sailing lessons.

CALIFORNIA
In addition to great weather and food, California’s many destinations offer amusement, culture and sites that are difficult to come by in other sunny locales.

Paradise Point Resort & Spa in San Diego features Rambling Water throughout the Island: a five-pool paradise including a lagoon and waterfall, with the neighboring sandy beach that expands more than a mile. You’ll stay active with the many water sports, like kayaking, water skiing, sailing and more.

San Diego Hotel Del Coronado truly affords convenient family fun with complimentary pool towels, chaise lounge chairs, dressing rooms, showers, lockers, kick boards and water toys. The hotel rents boogie boards, volleyballs, surfboards, wetsuits, seven-speed and single-speed cruisers, tandems, kids’ bikes, trailers and surreys.

Palm Springs Rancho Las Palmas offers a brand-new family pool area with water features that grant the ultimate kid vacation dream. There is a 425-foot lazy river, two 100-foot slides and a Jacuzzi situated on the edge of a Rancho cliff. The hotel also features a 27-hole Ted Robinson-designed golf course, a 20,000-square-foot European spa with 20 treatment rooms and 25 state-of-the-art tennis courts. In other words, there’s more than enough amenities to keep the whole family pampered and entertained.

The Anaheim Desert Palms Hotel and Suites, located at the gates of the Disneyland Resort, provides a variety of family-friendly rooms with bunk beds and full kitchens. An expansive outdoor pool and spa, video arcade and Quizno’s Sub Shop on the premises enhances any family vacation.

The Web makes it easier than ever to book these trips and customize them for your family. With sports, games, concerts, waterskiing, tubing— all active vacations mentioned can be booked online. Libraries and bookstores are also great resources, often revealing destination secrets to ensure a spectacular vacation.

Start planning the ultimate family vacation this summer. With a little insight from travel sites, resources and your parents, you’re en route to a memorable family adventure. Vacations allow you to celebrate the end of the school year, and traveling with your family is priceless.

Kevin Williams is the vice president of distribution for TravelWorm. All of these properties, among tons of others, can be booked through TravelWorm by visiting www.travelworm.com or calling the reservation line at (888)321-WORM.