Have children, will travel

Ebony, May, 1996

School is almost out and the children are cranky, listless and bored stiff.

You can't seem to focus on important projects these days and even thumbing through the newspaper requires more energy than you can spare.

There's no need to let the season i n all of its splendor pass you by. Loosen up. shed your winter wear. It's time for you and your family to take time out to enjoy the warm weather and a spectacular getaway filled with the sights, sounds and thrills of summertime fun.

But you won't have to dig too deeply into the family's piggy bank in order to afford the season's best travel buys. American and United airlines offer a number of reasonable packages to popular foreign and domestic destinations far and near. And if you consult with your travel agent well in advance and seek savings on your own, you,re bound to find worthwhile bargains on hotel accommodations, restaurants, car rentals and even amusement park and concert tickets.

You are certain to find that the possibilities are endless when it comes to entertaining your family this season. How about vacationing in the Caribbean where miles upon miles of sandy beaches provide hours of fun in the sun. The Bahamas, Jamaica, Barbados, St. Martin and the twin-island republic of Trinidad/Tobago all offer visitors a tropical setting full of the best in Caribbean traditions, food and charm.

Closer to home, summertime options abound. You can treat your family to the various activities and events in the Midwest, out East, up North and down South this season. These regions and others offer a variety of historic sites and community festivals sure to spruce up your travel calendar.

But when children are included in your vacation plans, special attention must be paid to details. From the beginning of your vacation to the end, youngsters will want to be entertained. As you shop around for the best accommodations for you and your crew, there are a few questions you may want to keep in mind: Are hotel fees, for example, reduced or free for children under a certain age? Will this particular hotel or resort offer meal packages for the length of your stay? What about the availability of on-site baby-sitting services? You may also want to inquire about available activities in and around your lodging area. By checking ahead of time, you may learn that guided tours and even watersport classes can be added to your total package for a nominal fee, giving both you and your children a fuller vacation experience.

Some airlines will allow you to take advantage of vacation spots across the globe this summer, offering special rates to numerous Caribbean destinations, including the Bahamas, Trinidad/Tobago and St. Martin. Additional packages are also available for many states, including Maryland, Michigan and Louisiana.

Do your travel plans call for a visit out East? There is a whole state's worth of sites to see and things to do in Maryland. All summer long, different cities throughout the state will host a number of festivals and events for the whole family to enjoy, including the African-American Family Funfest on May 20. This cultural extravaganza will feature lively music, dancing, games and other activities full of family fun. If you're in search of a lip-smacking good time, try the Soft Shell Spring Fair in Crisfield on May 25. The fair will include a soft shell crab cooking contest, entertainment, games and local crafts. You may also want to stop by the Seafood Feast-i-val held August 10 in Cambridge. This all-you-can-eat bonanza will include such delights as steamed crabs, homemade crab cakes, crab soup, clams and fish. Youngsters may also want to attend at least one of the state's many strawberry festivals held throughout the summer. But a trip to the Old Line State's Eastern Shore would be incomplete without a visit to such landmark sites as Baltimore's Cab Calloway jazz Institute Museum, the National Aquarium and the Great Blacks in Wax Museum.

History will come to life in a special way in Michigan this. June when the state and the country gear up to celebrate the centennial of the American automobile. The Great lakes State has lots more to offer this summer, too, including Detroit's largest ethnic festival known as African World Festival (August 16 through 18) and the Montreux Detroit Jazz Festival to be held August 31 through September 2.

Travel fun and Southern hospitality are in full bloom in the Delta states. Louisiana - the state best known for Mardi Gras, spicy Creole cuisine and the rousing rhythms of jazz, reggae and zydeco - is also brimming with other thrilling elements from the top of the state to the bottom. In Shreveport, La., the let the Good Times Roll Black Arts Festival will offer visitors a good dose of cultural charm June 16 and 17. The city of New Orleans will be the setting for Beggae Riddums June 7 through 9 and the piping-hot Louisiana Soul Food and Heritage Festival to be held in the middle of the month. In August, the African Heritage Festival International will be the main attraction for this popular vacation region, as will the Baton Rouge Blues Festival scheduled for mid-August.