AAA Inspectors Pick Their
Favorite Places for Family Vacations
Plan an unforgettable last
hurrah for summer
Orlando, Fla. (8/16/2010) -
Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer and, for many
Americans, the last chance for a family vacation before cooler weather
arrives. A wide array of choices in family-friendly hotels makes it easy
to find suitable accommodations, according to AAA travel experts. Young
families may prefer lodgings with children’s programs that give parents
time off to relax. Families looking for ways to spend time together may
want accommodations with swimming pools, game rooms and outdoor
activities. Families looking for adventure or something different can
choose from dude ranches, wildlife preserves and water parks.
AAA polled its professional
inspectors to name their favorite places for family getaways. Discover
the top 10 picks below and, for even more great ideas, access the
complete list of favorites on AAA’s travel blog at
AAATravelViews.com.
Crowne Plaza at Historic Union
Station, Indianapolis, Ind., AAA Three Diamond Lodging
Stay in a former railroad station in the heart of downtown Indianapolis.
For extra fun, choose one of 26 guestrooms converted from authentic
Pullman Train cars. Nearby family entertainment includes several
downtown sports arenas, White River State Park, the Indianapolis Zoo and
the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge,
Lake Buena Vista, Fla., AAA Three Diamond Lodging
For families who love wild animals, this is the place to stay. The
hotel’s balcony rooms offer around-the-clock views of animals roaming
the savannahs in the 43-acre wildlife preserve. African architecture,
interactive exhibits and year-round kids’ programs make the entire
property part of the experience.
Gaylord Texan Resort &
Convention Center on Lake Grapevine, Grapevine, Texas, AAA Four Diamond
Lodging
Through Labor Day, guests can take part in the sixth annual SummerFest
featuring four and a half acres of indoor gardens transformed into
Alice’s Wonderland Adventure. Visitors who wander in Wonderland will
encounter giant art and strolling entertainers including Alice, The
Queen of Hearts and The Hatter. Special extras include pool parties,
family dine-in movies, dessert dine-arounds, fireworks and Sunday tea.
Great Wolf Lodge, Sandusky,
Ohio, AAA Three Diamond Lodging
This resort offers weather-proof family fun with an indoor water park
featuring Fort Mackenzie, a four-story, interactive water fort. Every
evening around 8:15, kids in pajamas and slippers head to the lobby
Clock Tower to wind down with story time. Older kids enjoy the Northern
Lights Arcade.
Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay
Golf Resort, Spa and Marina, Cambridge, Md., AAA Four Diamond Lodging
This Eastern Shore resort offers families a pick of getaway experiences,
from its 18-hole championship golf course to a pampering massage at the
spa. At Camp Hyatt, kids have opportunities to make friends and learn
new skills. Additional activities include poolside movies, miniature
golf, beach volleyball and walks through the hotel’s 18-acre Blue Heron
Rookery nature preserve.
Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort &
Spa, Bernnalillo, N.M., AAA Four Diamond Lodging
Resort visitors become immersed in beautiful Southwestern décor
featuring Native American
Artwork. Children of all ages enjoy multiple swimming pools, walking
trails and horseback riding. A camp program caters to younger children.
The Rail Runner train stop in nearby Bernalillo offers service to the
cultural centers of Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
Lost Valley Ranch, Deckers,
Colo., AAA Four Diamond Lodging
The friendly owners extend a warm welcome, assigning families their own
luxurious, Western-themed cabin. Ranch counselors host programs and
activities for infants to teens to adults. Options include horseback
riding, hiking, swimming, tubing, fishing and rafting.
Moody Garden Hotel, Spa and
Convention Center, Galveston, TX, AAA Four Diamond Lodging
This modern, full-service resort offers upscale family accommodations,
dining and activities. Facilities include an aquarium, rainforest, golf
course, swimming pool, beach, an IMAX theater and 4-D theater.
Summer weekend activities
includearts and crafts, scavenger hunts,pool coin dives, abounce house,
kite flying, clown face painting, karaoke andWii competitions.
Nickelodeon Suites Resort, Lake
Buena Vista, Fla., AAA Three Diamond Lodging
This high-energy family hotel ensures kids have fun and families create
messy memories. The property features water parks, interactive pools,
poolside shows, slime, games, 4-D theater, a kid’s spa, character
breakfast and a nightly Nickelodeon show. Central Florida’s popular
theme parks are just minutes away.
Wequassett Resort and Golf Club,
East Harwich, Mass., AAA Four Diamond Lodging
This waterfront resort offers an outdoor amphitheater and pirate-themed
interactive water playground with treasure chests, fountains and a
pirate ship with slides and swinging ropes. The high-tech children’s
center features a 135-inch HD screen for Wii, PlayStation and Xbox 360
gaming. Activities include dive-in-movies, teen gaming nights and
lessons in swimming, sailing and tennis.
AAA’s professional inspectors
evaluate and rate more than 58,000 lodgings and restaurants in the
United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean using a scale of One to
Five Diamonds. Access listings of AAA Approved and Diamond Rated hotels
and restaurants in the AAA TourBook guides and at
AAA.com/Travel.
AAA has employed professional
inspectors since 1937 when the association first began field inspections
of hotels and restaurants. On average, AAA inspectors conduct more than
1,100 property evaluations annually. The average tenure is 12 years,
with the longest being 28 years. AAA inspectors work remotely and bring
significant prior industry experience to the association.
As North America’s largest
motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides nearly 52 million
members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related
services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully
tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and
security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at
AAA.com.
Disclaimer: The Google Translation that has been added to
pages within the Pendleton-Gazette was done solely as a tool to help those who
speak other languages. It is not guaranteed to be 100% full prove (accurate)
when a translation is performed because of sentence structures in languages
other than English do vary.
