Hot fun in the summertime! A season of excitement awaits the entire vacationing family

Ebony, May, 2005

HAD enough of ol' man winter? Want to kick the boots and the heavy coats goodbye? Between this year's Eastern blizzards and Western mudslides, Southern hurricanes and the Northern deep freeze, the winter weather has everyone looking forward to some summer fun in the sun.

African-American travelers are ready for summer vacation and it's not only students escaping final exams who want a summer break. It's long overdue for stressed-out parents, overworked adults and gallivanting retirees who are also in the mood for some summer escapism.

The first step to summer fun may be as easy as two clicks of the computer mouse. They say the early bird gets the worm, and that's especially true in vacation planning. Check Internet Web sites for information and easy travel booking, and don't forget your travel agent for bargain rates. Some airlines, like American Airlines, also offer discount vacation packages, combining air travel and hotel accommodations in one package. Getting an early start usually ensures the best deal.

There are also good deals available for the land traveler. Summer is one of Amtrak's busiest seasons. The national passenger railroad provides intercity passenger rail service to more than 500 destinations in 46 states on a 22,000-mile route system. Check out the Amtrak Web site for online deals and information.

For the best deals on sun, fun and beaches, don't forget island destinations and Florida coast resorts, especially Palm Beach County. Off-season summer rates at island destinations drop anywhere from 15 to 50 percent in comparison to winter rates. The U.S. Virgin Islands offers a number of special promotions at all three islands, St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas. You can also find special promotions to visit some of the more than 700 islands of the Bahamas.

Island music festivals attract many vacation travelers eager to add music to the sun-and-fun mix. The St. Lucia Jazz Festival, April 29-May 8, is considered by many to be the premier jazz festival in the Caribbean. Also popular is the Barbados Gospelfest, May 21-29, and the Ocho Rios Jazz Festival in Jamaica, June 12-20.

But sun, fun and water are not only island options. Inland vacationers can check out Wisconsin with its more than 15,000 lakes and 33,000 miles of rivers for water sports. Top summer festivals in the state include Summerfest, June 30-July 10, in Milwaukee, billed as the "World's Largest Music Festival," which features 13 stages of music, comedians, a children's play area and amusement park rides; and the African World Festival, August 5-7, also in Milwaukee, is an annual three-day summer festival celebrating the African Diaspora. Other popular Midwest summer festivals include Chicago's celebrated Taste of Chicago, June 24-July 4.

Beckoning eastward, the steel cities of Pennsylvania offer a multitude of historic sites, landmarks and cultural activities for the savvy summer traveler. Two well-known Philadelphia sites include the Afro-American Historical and Cultural Museum and the Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, purchased by Bishop Richard Allen in 1791 and the first African Methodist Episcopal church to be built.

Heading farther south down the Mississippi River, don't overlook the history and culture in Missouri. The Gateway Arch--St. Louis' signature attraction--turns 40 years old this year. And don't miss the 18th and Vine Historic District in Kansas City, Mo., that includes the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and a jazz museum.

For Southern cuisine, ambience and jazz, Louisiana is the place. As the song says, "Do You Know What It Means, To Miss New Orleans?" Several big festivals are on tap in the Bayou state to remind visitors. The French Quarter Festival, April 8-10, features the "world's largest jazz brunch"; the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage festival, April 22-May 1, is one of the largest jazz festivals in the world; and the Satchmo Summer Fest, August 4-7, is a tribute celebration of the legendary Louis Armstrong.

Atlanta is always a popular destination for vacationers. It includes the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, the King birth home and burial site. Popular festivals include the Atlanta Jazz Festival, May 28-30, and the National Black Arts Festival, July 15-24, a national cultural celebration recognizing the achievements of artists of African descent.

From Atlanta, Electric Slide over to the sunny Florida coast for fun in the sun. In particular, Palm Beach County boasts the "best of everything" for vacationers with more than 47 miles of white sandy beaches and more than 200 hotels and resorts from Jupiter to Boca Raton. And while in Florida, no self-respecting parent could miss the magic of Disney. This year for the very first time, the 10 Disney Theme Parks around the world are joining together for a global celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of Disneyland in Southern California. There will be special celebrations in all of the theme parks. And also for the first time this summer, Disney Cruise Line is heading to California for 12 consecutive seven-night cruise vacations to the Mexican Riviera.