Travel blog about best family, spa, beach, hotel resorts. Popular travel vacation packages

USA: Southeast, Family Reunions &
Gatherings. Thinking of a family
reunion? We know each family has its own personality so we a have a rich
variety of suggestions with one thing in common; they are family friendly and
ready to create the best reunion ever. Anytime and any season togethering is
worth the effort, just to add to the family memories. We have discovered the
best reunion spots from Virginia Beach to Pigeon Forge and Scott Valley Ranch.

Tennessee: Pigeon Forge. In addition to being a
family friendly, beautiful place on the planet, Pigeon Forge literally has
something for everyone from 9 months to 109 years. It can be a do nothing, rock
on the porch experience or a high energy hiking, rating biking adventure. Add
nightly entertainment and terrific shopping to the list and you will need more
vacation days. The city has the right attitude about families. They have Funnel
Cakes; Krispy Kreme and Krystal Burgers as well as all night coffee stops and
mountain flavored BBQ. “Sweet!” They know that no two families are the same and
that reunions need to be fun and effortless. Reunion benefit: They have
vacation consultants and reunion coordinators to make the perfect family get
together happen in Pigeon Forge the “first time” or “the same time” next year.
They have a form at their website that makes it easy to start the process. The
“Request for Proposal” form allows them to narrow the options making it much
easier to plan your meeting, reunion, or retreat specifications. (Department of
Tourism (PFDOT) toll-free 1-800-286-7557 or www.PigeonForgeReunion.com)

South Carolina: Myrtle Beach, The Breakers Resort.
On the edge of the brilliantly blue Atlantic Ocean, an invigorating sea breeze
blows through the family friendly Breakers Resort complex located right off of
one of the best spans of beach on the Strand. It is an ideal family vacation
spot offering not just sun, sand, sea and golf but live entertainment within
minutes of the resort and plenty of terrific shopping options. The beachside
resort contains three distinct buildings from which to select: Paradise Tower,
North Tower and the original Resort Tower. Each has its own personality but all
are just footsteps from the sand and the Atlantic Ocean. Bonus points: Under
the Paradise Tower there is a 418′ lazy river that meanders both inside and
out. There are hot tubs for the sedentary and buckets that dump water on those
tubing the course of the lazy river channel. Reunion Bonus: Relaxation and
convenience go hand-in-hand from the beach and the pool, to easy parking and
trolley service laying all of Myrtle Beach at family’s fingertips. Guests may
enjoy the complimentary children’s activity program that is conducted during
the busiest vacation times. Myrtle Beach has a wonderful trolley service. Much
like Galveston or Pigeon Forge, the beach trolleys use reserved lanes and
provide connections to the most popular spots within the destination. It is in
full swing for the summer, providing visitors with flexibility and easing
stress. (Oceanfront at 21st and 27th Avenue North. Toll-free 1-800-952-4507,
(843) 444-4444 or www.breakers.com)

Georgia: Serenity Cove. Four pastoral acres on a
lake, and in the mountains, what could be finer? The resort, on the shores of
Lake Chatuge in the Blue Ridge Mountains offers families four cozy cabins with
all of the amenities of home. In addition there is the Lake House which is the
perfect central gathering place for the family reunion. Daily activities
include swimming, boating, fishing or maybe just relaxing. Reunion Benefit: During
certain times of the year it is possible to rent the whole property for a
private gathering. (834 Lower Bell Creek Road, Hiawassee, 30546. 1(706)
896-1465 or www.serenity-cove.com)

Georgia: Greyfield Inn. Secluded Cumberland Island with 18 miles of
beach (no condos, hotels or houses) is tranquil place for a family
reunion. The Inn is the only public
facility on the island that is the size of Manhattan. They provide guests with
round-trip ferry transportation from Amelia Island, Florida and three meals each
day. Breakfast is a hearty Southern style experience. Lunch is provided picnic
style to be enjoyed whenever and wherever guests choose. The evening meal,
preceded by hors d’oeuvres, is served by candlelight. Families have use of
bicycles, kayaks, beach and fishing equipment and unlimited snacks and
non-alcoholic beverages during their visit. Bonus points: They provide a
wonderful three-hour wilderness tour led by a staff naturalist in a Land-Rover
type vehicle. Reunion benefit: Best of all they offer an event coordinator to
assist families in planning their reunions. (For reservations contact the land
side office, 8 North Second Street, Box 900, Fernandina Beach, Florida.
32035-0900. 1(904) 261-6408 or www.GreyfieldInn.com)

Georgia: Brunswick and the Golden Isles. Brunswick
and the Golden Isles sit on the edge of Georgia. Brunswick a historic mainland
community anchors the four dramatically beautiful barrier islands - St. Simons
Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island. About 20 minutes
by land or sea separates the five locations within this unique vacation
cluster. Most visitors stay on one island and make excursions to the others.
The largest and most developed island is St. Simons, tethered to the smaller
Sea Island by a narrow strip of land. A laid-back vacation atmosphere prevails
in the small seaside community inviting visitors to relax and enjoy the moment.
Reunion Bonus: Each island offers its own family friendly experience and all
work together creating hundreds of exceptional ways to have They have the good
stuff for family reunions. (1-800-933-COAST (2627) or Brunswick Golden Isles
Chamber & VB at www.bgivb.com)

Arkansas: Scott Valley Resort & Guest Ranch.
This ranch is located in the Ozark Mountain Region. Sleeping places include a
variety of options from cozy to secluded. There is also “special”
lodging if your group chooses. They have 50 years of experience providing
memories for families. Activities include three golf courses in the area along
with fishing, horseback riding, canoeing, and exploring caverns. The rates
include not only all activities on the ranch but also your meals. Dining is
always a pleasure at Scott Valley Resort and Guest Ranch, where meals are
“down-home, good cookin”. It’s all you can eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Bonus points: The children will love our full playground complete with slide,
swings, rocking horse and sandbox. Of course, they have just the thing to
thrill kids from 1 to 100 - a petting zoo! Here, they will truly have a
“hands on” experience. Reunion benefit: They have a family reunion
specialist on staff to ensure that the reunion arrangements and expectations
are met with ease. They are flexible and attentive to special food or dietary
needs of guests. (Scott Valley Resort & Guest Ranch, 223 Scott Valley Trail
Mountain Home, 72653. Toll-free 1-888-855-7747, 1(870) 425-5136 or
www.scottvalley.com)

Alabama: Doublehead Resort. Offering families a
choice of 35 waterfront wood-and-stone cottages each accommodating a maximum of
10 people, the resort is ideal for gathering. Each unit contains a kitchen,
washer/dryer, TV/VCR, grill, a porch and hammock. The towering cedar lodge has
meeting rooms and a professionally staffed kitchen. Possible reunion activities
include sporting clays, pontoon boat, water sports, canoe and paddleboat
rentals, softball, swimming, hiking, tennis, playgrounds, volleyball on the
beach, and fishing. Reunion Benefit: To assist in planning they have a Reunion
Information Kit available and coordinators to assist with onsite preparations.
(Doublehead Resort. 145 County Road 314, Town Creek, 145 County Road 314, Town
Creek, 35672. 1-800-685-9267, 1(256) 685-9267 or www.Doublehead.com)

USA: Mid Atlantic, Family Reunions and Gatherings. Thinking of
getting together with your family? We have assembled an assortment
of family friendly places each geared to make creating a memorable family
reunion just happen. From the sandy beaches of Virginia Beach and historical tourism and mountain vistas, the Mid Atlantic has great potential for reunions and gathers. We have discovered
the best reunion spots to make your search easier.

Virginia: Virginia Beach. Without a doubt Virginia Beach
meets the vacation needs of all ages. The signature oceanfront boardwalk and 35
miles of additional beach provide the base for creating the perfect carefree
vacation experience. Premier sunrises introduce awesome beach days with plenty
of interesting diversions. Friendly people, great restaurants and world-class
entertainment combine with beautiful surroundings and one-of-a-kind museum
programs to make vacation memories. Reunion benefit: When it is easy to plan it
probably is going to happen. Jennifer Lynch coordinates the team that helps
make reunions in Virginia Beach happen. In addition to answering questions and
assisting with area connections, her seasoned team fills requests for
destination information by sending a Virginia Beach Tour Planner, a guidebook
containing the details about events, attractions, hotels, restaurants and all
kinds of fun things to do. (Order a Virginia Beach Tour Planner online or by
call 1-800-VA-BEACH (1-800-822-3224) or www.vbfun.com)

Virginia: Mountain Lake Hotel. Located high in the Allegheny Mountains of
southwestern Virginia, the Hotel was made famous by the film Dirty Dancing. The
area is ideal place for families who wish to enjoy, hiking, mountain biking,
fishing, boating or golf. Onsite they have a 55-room lodge as well as more than
a dozen cottages with more space is also available at the 16-room historic
hotel. Reunion benefit: Mountain Lake Hotel invites families to contact them
for help organizing a family reunion on site. (Mountain Lake Hotel, 115 Hotel
Circle Pembroke, 24136. Toll-free 1-800-346-3334 or 1(540) 626-7172 or
www.mtnlakehotel.com)

West Virginia: Harpers Ferry. With a wide array of kamping
accommodations plus a reputation for being #1 For Good Clean Fun, the Harpers
Ferry KOA is an ideal gathering place for family reunions. With a diverse
selection of facilities and activities available, their group coordinator can
help you plan a relaxing weekend or an event-filled week for kampers of all ages.
Ask about including white water rafting or tubing in your group package.
Catering services are also available to suit your needs from a continental
breakfast to a full service formal dinner. Housing options run the gambit from
20 person bunkhouses to 2 room cabins and tent sites. The banquet hall seats up
to 300 people, while both the pavilion and theatre seat 100 people – perfect
for a family gathering of epic proportions. Other great on-site activities
include an Olympic size swimming pool, a movie theatre, a Civil War museum (and
an authentic Civil War trench), theme
weekends, a pizzeria, watermelon feeds, basketball courts, volleyball courts,
arts & crafts and kids activities. (343 Campground Road, Harpers Ferry
25425. 1-800-562-9497, 1-304-535-6895 or www.harpersferrykoa.com)

Virginia: Wintergreen Resort. Escape to the Blue Ridge
Mountains and breathe a sigh of relief. Enjoy a slower pace, no official
schedules, car pools or traffic jams. Walk along quiet forest pathways, cont
stars at night, sip hot cocoa, take a sleigh ride, ski, board or just nestle up
with your child and share a good book.
Relax and engage in a peaceful mountain rhythm. Wintergreen Resort, the
perfect family mountain retreat, spans 11,000 acres along the eastern slopes of
the Blue Ridge Mountains and offers families a selection of more than 300
mountain style villas as well as spacious studio suites and vacation homes many
with fireplaces. Bonus Point: Try the state’s largest tubing park with
different levels of excitement. Created for thrill seekers, the 900-foot
“Plunge” provides a 10-lane high energy scream machine as it drops tubers more
than 100 vertical feet at a fast pace. On the tamer side “The Slide” offers fun
for the younger set. Reunion Benefit: Designed with activities everyone can
enjoy, the resort’s year-round calendar includes family campfires and
storytelling, hayrides, and craft workshops. Create a personalized gift with
watercolors or ceramics during a craft workshop. Take turns putting at our
18-hole miniature golf course. Ride horseback through the sparkling Blue Ridge
Mountains. Discovery: Staff members have the ability to organize a “Family
Olympics” competition. (Route 664 Wintergreen, VA 22958. 1-800-926-3723 or
www.wintergreen.com)

USA: Country Inns & Suites by Carlson - Family Road Trip Survival Itineraries. Country Inns & Suites by Carlson has taken the trouble out of last-minute summer vacation planning for time-crunched moms and their families by introducing its “Road Trip Survival Itineraries” which cover planning factors like distance, cost and family-friendly stops along the way.

Hit the Road Country.  The trip plans range from 2-, 4-, and 7-days. Each itinerary provides background information and driving time to historic, educational, nature and other fun-filled and budget-friendly attractions of interest to kids and parents alike. The itineraries include a mix of locally and nationally known attractions, notable family-owned restaurants and other relatively undiscovered venues known to employees of Country Inns & Suites’ 480 local properties.

The themed itineraries explore five regions of the United States.   Each itinerary features three two-day legs that can be taken separately or combined for a longer trip. 
•    Founding Fathers Country treks through North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland.
•    Binoculars Country ventures through upstate New York.
•    Streams & Shores Country winds through Wisconsin and Minnesota.
•    Peaks & Valleys Country journeys across Montana, Utah and Idaho.
•    Ocean Drive Country follows the coastline of Southern California.

Additionally, Country Inn & Suites has created a new “Mom’s Choice” designation for top attractions in each itinerary based on factors such as family fun, price and mom approval.   All venues were identified and voted upon by the company’s panel of family travel experts.

Top attractions receiving the “Mom’s Choice” rating include: The Smithsonian, Washington, D.C.; Robert H. Treman State Park, Ithaca, NY; Barnum’s Circus World Museum, Baraboo, WI, Minnehaha Falls at Minnehaha Park, Minneapolis, MN; Roaring Springs Water Park, Meridian, IN; Oceanside Pier, Port Hueneme, CA; Santa Barbara Shellfish Company, Santa Barbara, CA.  Visit ‘Hit the Road Country’ (www.countryinns.com/roadtrip) for more information.

Here’s the deal. The “Sweet Deal ” promotion provides 15 percent off each night of a stay of two or more consecutive nights in a standard room and a valuable offer from T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants - Buy One Entr?e, Get One Entr?e OR Half Off Appetizer with the purchase of an Entr?e - when staying at locations in the United States . The offer, which requires a three day advance reservation, is available now through Sept. 13, 2009 at participating hotels. Visit www.countryinns.com/summer2009 for more information.

Plan a roadtrip with Carlson. I like these guys because they make it easy to put  a family vacation plan together. In the last two years I have stayed in more than a dozen Country Inns with my family. In my opinion Country Inns & Suites makes an excellent family vacation base almost anywhere. The standards for efficiency, friendliness and cleanliness remain consistently high. You’ll find apples at the desk in the afternoon and sometimes fresh cookies. At each property there is always Read and Return a lending library for guests – both adults and children. The complimentary breakfast offering usually includes a waffle machine to make luscious fresh waffles, fresh fruit, yogurt, bagels, muffins, and cereal choices. I have never encountered a pool closed or exercise equipment broken an dthe internet connection never failed. Bonus points: One obvious advantage for families traveling with young children – the location may change but the atmosphere and floor plans are very similar so it is easier for a child to feel comfortable. The same is true if you are traveling with an elderly family member. Keeping things the same is a huge benefit to relieving the stress of travel. For kids and teens the benefit of TGI Fridays is obvious.

Stay with someone who cares. Even a simple roadtrip can be stressful so knowing what to expect at the end of a day is one way to ease the tension. Country Inns & Suites offer not just space and amenities but hospitality something often missing in the travel industry. I found a personal level of caring obvious at each of the places we stayed.  In Annapolis, MD we received an invaluable tip for a local Mexican – best food on our vacation. In North Little Rock, AR my daughter left her IPod and charger – one call and it was sent to us the same day. The daily cookies at the Country Inn in Hampton gave us energy to go out again to shop for more bargains. In Berkley, WV the helpful front desk manager found a locksmith after hours. Need to know: There is only one exception Hot Springs, Arkansas. The building looks like a Country Inn however that is where the similarity ends. The Inn did not fit the helpful, clean, efficient, caring, family friendly atmosphere that is definitely the standard for the chain. Obviously they did not get the memo but I am sure by now there has been improvement. 

About Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM. Country Inns & Suites is part of Carlson Hotels Worldwide, a leading global hotel company with more than 1,030 locations in 72 countries under the brands of Regent® Hotels & Resorts; Radisson® Hotels & Resorts; Park Plaza® Hotels & Resorts; Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM; and Park Inn®. The hotels offer many upgraded amenities including complimentary breakfast, in-room hair dryer, coffee maker, iron and ironing board, and weekday morning newspaper. The brand is known for its consistently high quality accommodations and personal, warm hospitality.

New Jersey: Short Hills, Hilton Short Hills Parkway – Shopping, Spa Time, and Top Notch Theatre. Escape from the city or into the city, either way this sophisticated   urban resort-style hotel with AAA Four-Diamond rated hospitality is the ideal family getaway base for fun.

When hectic family and business schedules make it almost impossible to getaway yet a break is definitely appealing then Hilton Short Hills Parkway may be just the ticket. Quick and easy without the hassles associated with a full family vacation, the hotel offers comfortable elegant surroundings – comfortable and elegant with kids – right, you can bring the kids. Access to Manhattan is easy and access to fun stuff in the area even easier. If shopping is your family thing just fly in to Newark head for the hotel and then it’s a two-minute walk to upscale and awesome Short Hills Mall.

Accommodations: The Hotel features 304 well appointed rooms, including 37 deluxe suites meaning plenty of options for families. The comfortable space provides feel of a private studio apartment with French doors separating bedroom and living area. Upscale in-room amenities include Hilton Serenity Collection® Suite Dreams® bed with plush-top mattress for restful, refreshing sleep.  Comfortable down comforter and pillows and indulgent 250-thread count linens snuggle the sleeper in comfort and warmth. Each suite has both wireless and wired high-speed internet access for a fee; wall mounted 32″ HD/LCD television and a pullout sofa. Stay on the Executive Level with residence-style suites featuring nightly turndown service, along with access to the Executive Lounge, where guests will enjoy continental breakfast, evening hors d’oeuvres and desserts. Nice to know: Hilton Short Hills also has initiated a more eco-friendly “smoke-free” policy throughout the hotel.

Activities: The outdoor pool is open for use by guests from Memorial Day (end of May) to Labor Day (early September), weather permitting. The indoor pool is available for children ages 16 and younger daily after 6:30pm.

Make time for spa time. There are obvious benefits to a spa onsite. Hilton Short Hills is the location of first June Jacobs branded Spa Chakra offering guests tranquility and an opportunity to become re energized through a variety of signature spa offerings. Within the 15,500 square feet space relaxation and sheer luxury synergize to create an ultimate destination spa experience with more than 60 health and beauty therapies designed to nurture your skin, body, and spiritual well-being. Need to know: Spa guests must be 16 years of age or older to use spa facilities.

Value added: Guests may enjoy the complimentary shuttle service to The Mall at Short Hills – located directly across the street. In addition to private Town Car and shuttle van service, the concierge can arrange for transportation to Newark Liberty Airport and the Summit train station. Secured underground parking is also available for guests.
 
Discovery: Plan the perfect Northern New Jersey wedding celebration, commemorate an anniversary or celebrate a graduation with the help of a dedicated staff onsite. From a grand ballroom celebration to intimate family gathering, the expert planners have the skills and resources to make it look easy. Dance amid the opulence of the Grand Ballroom or enjoy the whimsical, fairy tale setting of the breezy tented pavilion.

Here’s the deal. Check online for online for Hilton’s Best Rates Guarantee which delivers the best possible rates every time. Simply book through any Hilton Family website, Hilton Reservations & Customer Care or hotel directly and you can be assured that you will always receive the best possible rates.

Location on the planet: Hilton Short Hills Parkway (not far from Morristown) is located 20 miles from Manhattan meaning the city is only about a 45 minute train ride. Nice to know:  The hotel is 13 miles from Newark Liberty Airport (EWR). Hilton Short Hills Parkway 41 John F. Kennedy Short Hills, New Jersey 07078 or www.hiltonshorthills.com

Family fun in the area.
Shop ‘til you drop. The Mall at Short Hills has the reputation for being a top notch shopping place with the best of the best just steps from one another. Shops include: Ann Taylor, Anthropologie, Banana Republic, Betsey Johnson, Chico’s, Cartier, Coach, Diesel, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Free People, French Connection, Gap Kids, Hollister, Ilori, Jimmy Cho,  Juicy Couture, L’Occitane, Loro Piana, Lucky Brand, MAC Cosmetics, MaxMara, Oiliy, Pottery Barn Kids, Ralph Lauren, Sephora, Victoria’s Secret and the list goes on. More than 40 stores have their only New Jersey location at Short Hills.  Bonus points: To add a little zing to any shopping escapade the mall offers “Passport to Style”. To take advantage of the savings offered with the Passport to Style VIP Savings brochure visitors you need to show identification in the form of a driver’s license or passport to a Customer Service Representative at the Mall.  Passport to Style offers hundreds of dollars in savings and gifts with purchase at approximately 80 boutiques in The Mall at Short Hills. (The Mall at Short Hills 1200 Morris Tpke Short Hills, NJ 07078. (973) 376-7350 or www.shopshorthills.com)

The play’s the thing for all ages. Paper Mill Playhouse has been shadowing Broadway for decades and providing inspiring performances for all ages. It may just be one of New Jersey’s well kept secrets. Throughout the years audiences have enjoyed the stage performance of E.G. Marshall,  Robert Vaughn,  Carol Channing, Tony Randall, Ann Miller, Donna McKechnie, Anne Hathaway, Judd Hirsch, and  Ben Vereen. Bonus points: The Playhouse is very much audience attentive. Each play is supported by FREE audience enrichment activities often providing participation and creative adventures. Plus Paper Mill Children’s Theatre Series, created for ages 3 to 12, offers innovative, delightful, and educational performances throughout the year. (Paper Mill Playhouse  Brookside Drive Millburn, NJ 07041 or (973) 376-4343 or www.papermill.org)

Ride a pony or pet a goat. Sometimes sharing the simplest things is more rewarding than complicated commercial activities.Turtle Back Zoo offers plenty to be shared with tykes in tow. Located at the north end of Essex County’s 2000 acre South Mountain Reservation, the Zoo offers animal encounters and natural adventures with families in mind. Using the Zoo’s trail map hike the network of trails along ridges and valleys; pass ponds, streams and hemlock falls. See American wood bison and count prairie dogs at “Prairie Dog Hill” or listen to timber wolves and watch South African penguins in the new “Penguin Coast” exhibit. For a bit of nostalgia, checkout Carousel Park with a carved replicas of Dentzel animals from land and sea.  Bonus points:  Essex Farm within the Turtleback Zoo complex maintains a special collection of hand-raised farm animals providing the ideal hands-on farm experience for youngsters. Make memories feeding gregarious goats and petting docile bunnies. There is even the possibility of a pony ride. Nice to know: Throughout the year the Zoo conducts “family night out” providing reduced admission, dinner specials, and live music for kids and anyone else who enjoys lively tunes. (Turtle Back Zoo 560 Northfield Avenue West Orange, NJ 07052 or (973) 731-5800 or www.turtlebackzoo.org)

USA: Best Rated Fall Festivals & Corn Mazes 2009– Quick Family Roadtrip Getaways Across America. Fun, quick, and easy is the magic phrase for families; pint-sized fun is better than no fun at all whether it’s a getaway for a day or an escape for a weekend, enjoying time together and making memories matters. The FamilyTravelFiles.com and Family.TripWiser.com have been collaborating on ways to make enjoying each season with family and friends more fun. Each season we will be identifying best rated places, activities, and events with unique memory making value for families.

Spanning seven distinct USA geographic regions - Northeast, Mid Atlantic, Southeast, Heartland, Southwest, Mountains West, and Western Edge - the collection of festivals and events runs the gamut from whale watching along the Atlantic Coast and attending Shakespeare under the stars to horse archery, living history, and most American of all corn mazes and harvest festivals. This year’s lists of Best Rated Fall Festivals & Corn Mazes for Families reveal a plethora of chances to have fun with kids. Review the best for 2008 and make plans to get away before the snow flies.

America’s Heartland – At Tweite’s Pumpkin Patch in Byron Minnesota enjoy wagon rides, and a six-acre corn maze with a tire dragon. Attend the Holly Michigan Renaissance Festival and be part of the US/Canadian Highland Games and Bagpipe Blowout or participate in “The International Talk Like a Pirate Day”. 

America’s Southeast – Sip cider, paint a pumpkin and ride Tweetsie Railroad’s Ghost train in North Carolina. Build a scarecrow at Brookgreen Gardens in Myrtle Beach. Attend Tour of Southern Ghosts storytelling festival in Georgia or enjoy the energy of Dollywood’s Harvest Celebration & Southern Gospel Jubilee in Tennessee.

America’s Southwest – At Apple Annie’s Fall Pumpkin Celebration in Wilcox, AZ enjoy old-fashioned family fun picking your own pumpkins, fall vegetables and they have Arizona’s newest and largest corn maze. The annual Harvest Festival in Santa Fe includes grape stomping, dancing, grinding sorghum with burros.

America’s Northeast – Greene County, NY offers frightfully fun activities a dark maze and wolf hollow trail. The Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association invites families to enjoy cranberry harvest tours, wagon and pony rides, games, and cooking demonstrations.

America’s Mid Atlantic – Ride the Ghost Train at Northwest River Park in Virginia Beach and listen to music along the boardwalk. Not far from Valley Forge Linvilla Farm pick your own pumpkins; meet costumed characters like Dora, Elmo and Shrek. Enjoy a hay ride under the moonlight and a cup of cider at the campfire. 

America’s Mountains West – In Denver the 8.5 acre maze at the Denver Botanic Gardens has a 15-foot tall illuminated bridge, 9-foot tall stalks, and plenty of “A-maize-ing Scarecrows”.  Lattin Farms in Fallon, NV celebrates the season with a Giant Pumpkin contest, Pumpkin Tower lighting, and moonlight mazes.

America’s Western Edge - French Prairie Gardens in Oregon’s tranquil Willamette Valley has a corn maze, pumpkin patch pumpkin sling shot, kids corral, pig barrel train rides, and two 20-foot hay slides.  In California Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival celebrates with mighty pumpkin weigh-off, Great Pumpkin Parade, and a bone-chilling Haunted House.

To expand the list for the future, we encourage you to “Tell Mom” about your own family’s favorite festival or fall getaway and to browse our Festivals and Events folder for even more ideas.

At the Family.TripWiser Blog - http://blog.tripwiser.com/familytrip/- it is also possible to view the expanded list of Best Rated Fall Festivals & Corn Mazes. Parents are encouraged to add their own favorite seasonal festival; contribute photos; view comments from others, and plan great fall road trip getaways for their own families.

About Family.TripWiser.com
The Family Vacation Planning Blog at Family.TripWiser.com embraces diversity and offers a rich menu of family vacation ideas knowing that one size does not fit all when it comes to a family road trip. The family trip collection is available 24/7 making family trip planning online easy. The contemporary Family Vacation Planning Blog features a community atmosphere for family vacation planning online making it easy to get customized information based on destinations, vacation budget, things to do, and how old your kids are.  They present advice from family travel experts and include feedback from parents who have “been there and done it”.

Please tell mom!
We want to expand the list and need your help. If you have a favorite fall festivial or know of an awesome corn maze please “Tell Mom” and we will add it to the list. Make sure to include the name of the festival or event and its location on the planet as well as why you like it or what makes it worth the trip. Our next round up will inlcude  family friendly winter holidays and celebrations. We are building the list right now and would love to have your feedback. So just “Tell Mom!”.