For family vacation fun: add kids, sun & water

Ebony, May, 2007 by Joy T. Bennett

Everyone needs some play time--time to refresh, relax, rejuvenate, and enjoy some family time together. Summertime is that time--prime time for family fun! Here are some locations that offer exceptional family escapes for families to just pack and go! American Airlines offers special vacation package deals and Marriott Hotels has packages that include its Kids Eat Free, Family Reunion Package, Shop and Stay and other specialty offers to make family vacation planning a breeze. Now, where are those suitcases?

From suite dreams to thrilling chills Walt Disney World Resort has new attractions for vacationers. In its "Year of a Million Dreams," every day in 2007 guests can win a night's stay inside Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom Park as part of the unique Disney Dreams Giveaway. Expedition Everest, a high-speed train adventure, combines coaster-like thrills with a "snow"-capped peak nearly 200 feet high. Adventurous riders push deep into the lair of the feared yeti, guardian of the forbidden mountain. En route, they encounter torn tracks, spiral backwards through the fog into an ice cavern and dart in and out of the mountain in a high-speed adventure. Located in Disney Animal Kingdom Park, the ride is only a year old. www.disneywodd.com

Get slimed at the very first Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn hotel in Orlando. The hotel features 2- or 3-bedroom Nickelodeon-themed kid suites; daily character breakfasts and two pool complexes, one of which features a zero-depth entry pool, a 4-story interactive water tower and multiple water slides. At night families can head to the onsite mall and play games in the 3,000-square-foot arcade and/or check out nightly stage shows in Studio Nick. There's even a kids-only spa. www.nickhotel.com

Looking for a vacation with lots of fun for everyone in the family to enjoy? The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel is on the Top-10 list of U.S. travel destinations for 2007. Summer vacationers can stroll, shell and bird-watch along the 50 miles of unspoiled beaches, award-winning state parks and wildlife preserves. For visitors lucky enough to be in the area from May to October, there is an opportunity to witness 300-pound nesting sea turtles lay about 100 eggs each that will hatch, and the 2-inch-long hatchlings will make the dangerous journey from their protected underground nests to the Gulf of Mexico. The area is also popular for cyclists, canoeists and kayakers. www.FortMyersSanibel.com

San Diego is consistently recognized as one of the leading vacation destinations worldwide for families with children of all ages. In addition to 70 miles of pristine beaches and its near-perfect climate year-round, the area is known for popular family attractions, including the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, SeaWorld San Diego and LEGOLAND California, a 128-acre theme park that is the first and only theme park in the United States created by Danish toy maker, the LEGO Company. www.sandiego.org

Wisconsin features hot fun in the summertime! While the adults hit the links--Wisconsin ranks among the nation's leaders in golf with nearly 500 courses, 432 of which are open to the public--the kids can hit the water parks. Of 104 waterparks in the nation, 35 are in Wisconsin and 18 of those are in the Wisconsin Dells. Teens, 'tweens and simply the young at heart will also enjoy Wisconsin's music and art festivals, including Summerfest, June 28-July 8, 2007. "The World's Largest Music Festival" in Milwaukee is an 11-day party with 13 stages situated along Lake Michigan lakefront. www.travelwisconsin.com