Family value vacations: three great and affordable places to take the kids

Black Enterprise, July, 1996 by Tracy N. Williams, Pricilla A. Hawkins, Dari Giles

Can't decide where to go for a family vacation? Don't think you can afford one even if you knew where to go? Think again. Taking the family on vacation can be affordable if you're flexible about where and when you want to go. Here are three different family trips-from an adventure park vacation to a Caribbean stay-all priced right, if you travel at the right time of year.

DENVER

Besides its snow-capped mountains, unparalleled skiing and clean streets, Denver is gaining a reputation as a great family vacation spot.

The Black American West Museum & Heritage Center (3091 California St.; 303-292-2566) abounds with 19th century black cowboy memorabilia. Hours vary; admission is $4 for adults and under $1 for children younger than 17.

The Children's Museum (2121 Children's Museum Drive; 303-433-7444) offers an array of interactive activities, from movies to make-believe safaris. Admission costs $4 and children under two get in free. Open daily, except Monday.

Ever wonder how U.S. coins are made? Take a free tour of the Denver Mint (320 W. Colfax Ave.; 303-844-3582), which is open Monday through Friday.

Enjoy a day of family fun for less than $25 at the Denver Zoo (303-331-41 10) and the Museum of Natural History (303-322-7009). Both are open daily and located in City Park (Colorado and Montziew streets). The Denver Black Arts Festival (303-293-2559), a free three-day music and art event held in City Park, July 12-14, draws over 200,000 visitors annually. Families with adventurous spirits can raft down Colorado's Arkansas River via Echo Canyon River Expeditions (800-748-2953); tickets cost $28 for adults and $22 for children 12 and under. Less than two hours from downtown Denver, Colorado's ski resorts offer year-round activities, including summer jazz festivals, bike tours, horseback riding and hot air balloon races (Colorado Ski Country USA; 303-837-0793).

Minutes from Denver International Airport, off 1-70 and Quebec Street, are hotels for $65-plus per night, double occupancy; more centrally located downtown hotels start at $85 a night. Many offer shuttle service to mountain areas. Local buses and light-rail trains can take you to the front door of many attractions for $1 during peak hours and 50 cents off-peak. Children under five ride free. All-day passes cost $3. Call 303-299-6000 for routes and schedules.

Also get an advance copy of Denver's black entertainment guide, Soul Strollin, from the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau Information Center (225 W. Colfax Ave.; 303-892-1505).

ORLANDO

With 66 attractions, 365 hotels and motels, 100 golf courses and year-round warm weather, Orlando is one of the world's most family-focused tourist locations.

In downtown Orlando, Montsho Books (2009 W. Central Blvd.; 407-649-8881), an African American bookstore, features a Saturday storytelling hour for children (I 1:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.). Afterwards enjoy a big buffet lunch at Pinkie Lee's jazz & Southern Cuisine (380 W. Amelia St.; 407-872-7393) or Johnson's Diner (692 W. Robinson St.; 407-841-0717) for real down-home soul food.

A new five-day, multipark pass for Sea World, Universal Studios/Florida and Wet & Wild Theme Park is a great value. At $90 for adults and $73 for children (ages three to nine), the pass includes access to all three parks plus shuttle service between them. One-day passes to each range from $24 to $38 for adults and $19 to $32 for children.

The Walt Disney World Resort (Lake Buena Vista; 407-824-432 1) complex consists of three main theme parks-the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center and MGM/Studios plus five other attractions. Disney's "four-day value pass" provides entrance and free transportion parks. The cost is $137 for adults and $109 for children (ages three to nine), versus a per-day fee to each park of $41 for adults and $33 for children.

But there's more to the area than just theme parks and shopping. Within a two-hour drive of Orlando in either direction are beaches on the Atlantic Ocean to the east or the Gulf of Mexico on the west coast. And, the Kennedy Space Center (407-452-2121) with its exhibit and Space Camp (407-267-3184) are also close by.

While Orlando can be costly, save money by visiting during the off-season. The three weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, January 2nd to mid-February, and May, September and October are the best value times.

The three major hotel areas-international Drive, Highway 192 in Kissimmee and the Disney properties-are all within 30 minutes of the airport, 10 minutes of major attractions, and walking distance of shopping and eating establishments. Hotel rates range from a low of $22 per night for up to four persons at some budget motels to $250 or more per night at luxury properties.

Most hotels offer transportation to and from the airport and major attractions at little or no cost. For 75 cents the "IDRide" bus travels the five-mile stretch of attractions, hotels, shopping and restaurants from Sea World to the outlet mall on International Drive. Get on and off as often as you wish with a one-day ($2) or multiday pass ($3 to $7), available from the Orlando tourist information center.