We all live such hectic, pressured lives in our daily existence that it's vital to enjoy periodic family vacations away from our homes, free of our daily responsibilities.
FAMILY TRAVEL
London has loads for children to do. But instead of simply visiting the tried-and-true sights such as Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and Trafalgar Square, why not treat your kids to some hot spots popular with children who actually live in London?
TRAVELING WITH KIDS
I don't love trains. And I don't love cars. But I've come to hate planes. Not just the bad weather delays, but wretched service and deceitful business practices. Like the time some airline sold us seats that didn't exist on a connecting flight out of Detroit two days before Christmas.
AIRLINE TRAVEL
Summer means many children will be flying solo to visit a parent, see grandparents or go to camp. It's a good time to review airline policies.
Grandparents have been scooping up the little ones for brief vacations at least since we stopped having to work six days a week. But what was a travel trickle may be cresting toward a flood.
Is there any good news for family fliers? Yes, but this isn't it. Starting June 15 -- just when we're taking off on long-planned vacations -- American Airlines will charge us $15 each way for the first checked bag and $25 each way for the second checked bag on American Airlines, assuming you are flying domestically on a discounted ticket and are not a top-level frequent flier.
Familiarity breeds content this summer for cash-strapped families that want a low-mileage change of scenery. Sure, it's hot here this time of year. But if there's a pool or beach nearby, who cares? Thanks to favorable Florida resident rates, you can stay a few nights at that upscale resort. Or consider the camping trip your kids have always wanted. (Hey, some of our state parks have hot showers and cabins with air-conditioning.) Explore South Florida's backyard with some of these best bets for families...
What's not to like -- from a kid's perspective anyway. The way they see it, a cruise ship is vacation heaven, better even than a theme park.
TAKING THE KIDS
After almost 10 years of traveling around the country and to Europe with children, I have learned this: Less is more. All that stuff you hear about packing little toys for kids to unwrap on the airplane or stocking up on travel games to play in the car is, in my experience, pretty much useless. Such things will distract the kids for about 10 seconds and leave parents with more to clean up.
The timing couldn't be worse. Just as we're all planning summer getaways, gas prices go through the roof, the dollar is so weak against the British pound and the Euro that trips to Great Britain and Europe seem out of reach, and the pundits suggest the economy is going to get worse.
As much as kids know that the 3 R's define the school year, they also know that summer is all about the 4 S's. That's right: Sun, surf, sea and sand are about all kids need for a memory-making family vacation.
BUDGET TRAVEL
For most first-time RV renters, the conversation often goes like this: ``I can't afford to rent an RV.'' ``They're too large to maneuver.''
If you're heading to Theme Park Central this year, get ready to dance, splash and play tug-of-war with a Bengal tiger. But don't expect it to come cheap.
AQUATICA
Waterslides, wave pools, meandering rivers and cooling fountains -- and dolphins? Dolphins and other creatures are the newest twist on Central Florida water parks, found at Aquatica, which opened in March.
BUSCH GARDENS
Who knew that tigers like to swim? That orangutans can paint? Or that there really is a theme park area with rides just for 'tweeners?
UNIVERSAL
Krusty the Clown is opening a new ride at his namesake theme park, Krustyland, and the Simpsons are first to take the ride. Little do they know that Sideshow Bob -- pushed over the emotional edge by being shot from a cannon and nailed by cream pies -- has escaped from jail, stolen Scratchy's character suit and is loose in the park. His goal: Destroy it all.
DISNEY
You knew a Toy Story ride had to be coming. When it opens late this month, the toys will take over Andy's new Midway Games Play Set, and chaos will reign in the form of Toy Story Mania! -- a 3-D ride through the carnival. Cars are armed with spring-action shooters that let the riders rack up the points as they ''hurl'' pies, ''toss'' rings and ''launch'' eggs -- all virtual, of course. An animatronic Mr. Potato Head plays barker.
WHIRLWIND TOUR
Four theme parks. Three kids. Two adults. And one seemingly impossible assignment: to visit every Disney World resort on the same day.
BUDGET TRAVEL
Sure, you wanna save some bucks. Here are some deals that may help. Note: For Florida-resident specials, proof of residency required.
BEYOND THE PARKS
Yes, there is life beyond the major theme parks. Here are a few other things going on: At Kennedy Space Center, Shuttle Wing combines astronaut testimonials, artifacts, photos and anecdotes of otherworldly experiences. The permanent exhibit, just opened at the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, includes flight video narrated by Sally Ride, Bob Crippen, Charlie Bolden and Story Musgrave. Admission to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex includes the Shuttle Launch Experience, Kennedy Space Center Tour...
Do you scream on roller coasters? I do. In fact, my kids don't like to ride coasters with me because they say I scream so loudly I embarrass them. They were actually relieved the time I lost my voice after one particularly scary coaster ride.
The Led Zeppelin classic Whole Lotta Love throbs from the 1,200-watt sound system as the slick silver and white roller coaster nears the top of its serpentine track.
The Led Zeppelin classic Whole Lotta Love throbs from the 1,200-watt sound system as the slick silver and white roller coaster nears the top of its serpentine track.
Do you scream on roller coasters? I do. In fact, my kids don't like to ride coasters with me because they say I scream so loudly I embarrass them. They were actually relieved the time I lost my voice after one particularly scary coaster ride.
It was a good thing nobody warned me about all those hills and the cars zooming by. Because if I'd known beforehand what the ride from the bike shop in Hood River to a nearby trailhead was going to be like, I might not have tried it. Especially not with my 9-year-old son, whose biking experience consisted of a loop in a mostly flat city park where cars are banned.
MASSACHUSETTS
When I asked our 13-year-old, Allie, why she wanted to spend a spring weekend on Cape Cod, she answered, ``It's so New Englandy.''
Getting there: Spirit, JetBlue and Delta fly nonstop from Fort Lauderdale to Boston; American flies nonstop from Miami, a trip of about three hours. From there, it's 70 miles -- a drive of about an hour and 20 minutes without traffic jams -- to Hyannis, commercial center of Cape Cod.
TAKING THE KIDS
On her last morning in Florida, 9-year-old Monica Winter finds a small crab washed up on shore amid the anemones and calico scallops. She touches it with her pink-painted fingernails, then picks it up.
Lodging: Check the daily lodgings list at (www.sanibel-captiva.org, 239-472-1080). For Fort Myers, check (www.fortmyers-sanibel.com, 800-237-6444; you also can get a free 152-page guidebook through the website). For condos, check www.greatrentals.com.
Three days into the vacation, and the kids are bored with the all-day beach routine. Or are those just my kids? During a family break to Destin, a popular getaway, there are plenty of activities beyond boogie boarding and building sand cities.
