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Winter Festivals Light Up the Nights

One of the best reasons for pulling out your Road Trip Planner during Winter is when your road trip includes a Winter Festival.  Enjoying the spectacle of a Winter Festival is something that appeals to people of all ages so it makes a particularly easy one to plan.  Couples, families, a group of friends…all will find the trip a highlight of their winter fun.

The following Festivals (listed alphabetically by state/province) stretch from East to West and from November through February so you're bound to find a festival close to your home for your road trip.

Calgary Winter Festival in Calgary, Alberta
Curing the February blahs - Originally conceived in February 1989 as relief to the year-long hangover Calgarians were suffering after hosting the 1988 Winter Olympic Games, this 11-day festival has grown into one of Calgary's favorite events. This celebration of everything snowy, frosty and cold, includes ice sculpture contests, human curling championships, music, clowns, winter crafts, snowboarding demonstrations and more. Most events are free and take place in various venues throughout the city. And in spite of the theme of the festival, many are held indoors or in heated tents. It is February, after all.

Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, California
Sparkling Harbor Lights - This annual Christmas event is a unique activity to add to your road trip planner.  Join nearly one million other spectators as you watch beautifully decorated yachts, boats, kayaks, and canoes sail along Newport Harbor. For around a century, the parade has begun on the second Wednesday in December and continued for five nights. People from as far as Arizona and San Francisco have been known to make the trip to partake in this holiday custom. Viewing is free, provided you can find a vantage point. Alternatively, you can enter your own boat in the parade or your business or organization can sponsor another. See website for parade route, entry forms and more

Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls, Canada
Making Light of Family Fun - Touted as Canada's largest light festival, this annual event combines incredible landscape lighting with live concerts, parades, fireworks, and a spectacular New Year's Eve celebration shown live around the world all with the Falls as a backdrop. The festival kicks off with several weekend Disney shows, making this event a perfect family outing. As well, there's the Annual Niagara Talent Showcase, Candles in the Park, and a Tribute to Elvis. All events are free November through January.

Winter Festival & Parade of Lights in Grand Junction, Colorado
This annual December parade features floats, music, holiday fun and events, and thousands of sparkling holiday lights.

Ely Winter Festival in Ely, Minnesota
This annual festival is held in February and offers ten days of fun-filled activities, including snow sculpturing, dog sled rides, snowmobile rides, exhibits, the Mukluk Ball, a variety of great food, and a craft fair.

Christmas Light Show in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Since 1956, there has been a sort of "multi-media" show at Lord & Taylor's (formerly Wanamaker's). Dancing water fountains, organ music, lights, moving figures and narrative present a Christmas story that no one can remember afterwards, though it's wonderful to watch. Children sit on the floor of the Grand Court and watch the story played out on the four-story-high velvet curtain of the Grand Court atrium. Free admission.

Newport Winter Festival in Newport, Rhode Island
Ten-day festival - Named by the American Bus Association as one of the Top 100 Events in North America so you know this would be a great activity to add to your road trip planner.  The Newport Winter Festival offers 10 days of fun, food, music and entertainment for the whole family. The festival features horse-drawn hayrides, sand sculptures, a chili and pizza cook-off, scavenger hunt, an ice sculpting competition, a children's fair and the Annual Frosty 5K Run.  Musical entertainment includes swing, pop and blues bands, as well as the United States Air Force Band, Liberty. Activities are held at various venues throughout the city.

Winter Festival of Lights in Wheeling, West Virginia
Lasting from November to January, this event has grown into the nation's largest holiday light show and it attracts over a million visitors per year. This festival of lights covers more than 300 acres over a six mile drive throughout the resort and includes over 50 displays and over one million lights.

So go ahead, bundle up the baby, put ear-muffs on your little ones, pull your teenagers from their iPods and your partner from his/her laptop and with your Road Trip Planner in hand, prepare to light up the night with some winter festival fun.

USA: Best Rated Fall Festivals & Corn Mazes

QUICK FAMILY ROAD TRIP GETAWAYS WITH HIGH FUN FACTOR. 

Looking for the fun stuff this fall?  TheFamilyTravelFiles.com and TripWiser.com have been collaborating on ways to make each season more fun.  Each fall, winter, spring, and summer, they will be identifying best rated places, activities, and events with unique family vacation value. The first in the series includes Best for Families - Fall Festivals & Corn Mazes – Quick Family Road Trip Getaways Across America.

Best Fall Festivals & Corn Mazes – Quick Family Road Trip Getaways Across America. Fun, quick, and easy is the magic phrase for families; pint-sized fun is better than no fun at all, whether it’s a getaway for a day or an escape for a weekend.  What matters is enjoying time together and making memories. 

Spanning seven distinct USA geographic regions: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Heartland, Southwest, Mountains West, and Western Edge, the collection of festivals and events spans the gamut from whale watching along the Atlantic Coast and attending Shakespeare Under The Stars to horse archery, living history, and most American of all, corn mazes and harvest festivals.  This year’s lists of Best Fall Festivals & Corn Mazes for Families reveal a plethora of opportunities to have fun with kids.  Review the best for 2008 and make plans to get away before the snow flies.

The expanded list of family friendly Fall Festivals & Corn Mazes may be viewed at www.theFamilyTravelFiles.com by clicking on the special folder dedicated to Events and Festivals or selecting a region of the country and viewing the e-zine features. To expand the list for the future, parents are encouraged to “Tell Mom” about their own favorite family festival.

At the Family.TripWiser Blog at http://blog.tripwiser.com/familytrip/ , it is possible to view the expanded list of Fall Festivals & Corn Mazes where readers can add their own favorite seasonal festival, contribute photos, view comments from others and  plan great fall road trip getaways for their families.

About FamilyTravelFiles.com

FamilyTravelFiles.com is one of America's top-rated online family travel resources offering more than 1000 pages of timely family vacation ideas. The user-friendly website specializes in displaying family vacation experiences, road trip getaways, destination information, ideas and advice about family travel. Unique lifestyle focus folders contain articles and vacation ideas highlighting Family Tours, Reunions, Beaches, Soft Adventures, Mountain Tops, Cruises, Theme Parks, Snow Places, Green Spots, City Takes, and Secret Places.

About Family.TripWiser.com

The Family Vacation Planning Blog at Family.TripWiser.com embraces diversity and offers a rich menu of family vacation ideas knowing that one size does not fit all when it comes to a family road trip. The family trip collection is open 24/7, making online family trip planning easy. The contemporary Family Vacation Planning Blog features a community atmosphere for family vacation online planning, making it easy to get customized information based on destinations, things to do, vacation budget and your kids' ages.  They present advice from family travel experts and include feedback from parents sharing their first-hand experiences.

Contact

Lisa A Duac, Publisher, (813) 968-4799 or publisher@theFamilyTravelFiles.com

David Reichman, Founder & CEO, (650)353-5016 or editor@tripwiser.com

Plan a Family Trip: Northeast Corn Mazes

USA: Northeast, Best Corn Mazes and Fall Festivals for Families 2008. From Pennsylvania and Vermont to Rhode Island and New York, the idea is simple, enjoy the season. Select the perfect pumpkin, time travel, preview a film, or hike a mountain trail. We've managed to obtain a bird's eye view of Vermont's Apple Barn Maze to give you a sense of the season.  Play flashlight tag or chase the kids through the corn stalks; ride on a wagon full of hay or bob for apples, make time for fun.

New York: Greene County, Massacre Mansion - Haunted House (10/17/2008 – 10/31/2008).  Located between the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains two hours north of New York City, Greene County has embraced family vacationers for more than a century.  Take a frightful guided tour in the scariest haunted house in the Catskills.  Explore the house, dark maze and wolf hollow trail.  (Blackthorne Resort, 348 Sunside Rd., East Durham.  (518) 634-2541 or www.blackthorneresort.com) Bonus point: Checkout the Mountaintop Pumpkin Festival (October 18 (rain date 19) featuring dozens of quality craft and gift vendors, hay rides, and pumpkin painting.  Bear Creek Restaurant & Recreational Park, (518) 263-3839 or www.bearcreekrestaurant.com For more getaway options go to www.discovergreene.com

Vermont: Danville, the Great Maze. (8/1/2008- 10/19/2008) The maze and farm adventure includes a flower garden, perplexing puzzles, 50' of bridges, trails and paths plus Miney's Korny Kid Korn Maze - a smaller version of the maze.  There is also barnyard golf - definitely something different and the Barnyard Nature Center where farm life experiences become a reality and visitors enjoy the animal petting area, pedal tractors, and good old fashioned fun comes easy. The maze includes not just corn alley ways but also 100' of underground tunnels. On selected nights you can even enjoy the maze with Starlight Maze nights.  Bonus points: For a more thrilling experience older kids will enjoy “Dead North”.  This year’s haunt will include wagon rides, a ½ mile walk of terror through a haunted cornfield and buildings including animatronics, special effects and three new buildings. There is also an ultimate laser tag with 2-acre playing fields which will open this year and is fun for the whole family, 9 to 90. (The Great Vermont Corn MAZE, 3260 Tampico Road, Danville, VT 05828. 1(802) 748–1399 or www.vermontcornmaze.com)

New York: Critz Farms Harvest Celebration . (9/15/2008-10/21/2008) From a petting zoo with more than twenty animals to pony rides for tykes this is a family adventure for all generations. They have a 10-acre corn maze as well as a hay bale maze. On Sunday afternoons there is live musical entertainment to compliment the country gourmet café. Wagons loaded with hay take visitors to the pumpkin field. Special events include a children's pedal tractor-pull, a haunted barn for little monsters and magic shows. The Kiddie Corral children's play area has a 45-foot wooden train. Bonus points: This farm also has a cut-your-own Christmas tree family adventure and they mail fresh wreaths almost anywhere. (Critz Farms 3232 Rippleton Road, Cazenovia, NY 13035. Toll-free 1-800-442-3225 or www.critzfarms.com)

Maine: Oguinquit, OgunquitFest (10/24/2008 – 10/26/2008). The fifth annual OgunquitFest is a marvelously fun weekend festival with a scarecrow contest, a kids’ carnival, pumpkin decorating, a spooky scavenger hunt, costume parade, ghost stories galore, ghost tours, a Monster Mall market place and more. There’s even a nine-hole Graveyard Golf course along the beach for the grown kids. (All through the town of Ogunquit. 1(07) 646-2939 or www.ogunquit.com)

Massachusetts: Wareham, 5th Annual Cranberry Harvest Celebration (10/11/2008 – 10/12/2008). The Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association invites families to enjoy “two big days for a little berry” at the 5th annual Cranberry Harvest Celebration this Fall. Festival activities will include cranberry harvest tours, wagon and pony rides, games and crafts for kids, juried crafters and artisans, musical performances, cooking demonstrations, helicopter rides and more. Bonus: Children under 6 are admitted free, but the ticket price is only $2 per person. (A.D. Makepeace Company Headquarters at Tihonet Village, 158 Tihonet Road, Wareham. 1(508) 322-4000, 1(508) 759-1041 or www.cranberries.org/festival/festival.html)

New Hampshire: Hampton Falls, Harvest Festival (09/06/2008 – 10/26/2008). Now in its 34th year, the Applecrest Farm Harvest Festival is memorable and guaranteed to please the young and the young-at-heart. Starting the first weekend in September, the festival features free live folk and bluegrass music, “pick-your-own” apple and pumpkins, horse-drawn orchard hayrides, a children’s petting zoo, face painting, a pie eating contest, apple pie and ice cream, old-fashioned hot cider donut, make-your-own scarecrow and the world famous corn roast. (133 Exeter Road – along Route 88, Hampton Falls 03844. 1(603) 926-3721 or www.applecrest.com)

Information compiled from theFamilyTravelFiles.com database as of July 2008. Images provided by Adams Farm in Vermont and Emma Krumbies in Minnesota. Sometimes things change, so please confirm details before making plans. Copyright 2008.

USA: Southeast, Corn Mazes and Fall Festivals for Families

USA: Southeast, Corn Mazes and Fall Festivals for Families. From Virginia to Georgia and Tennessee to Arkansas, farms, villages and towns are creating seasonal festivals that frame natural works of art. Clever and fun, corn is not just for breakfast anymore. Perhaps the ultimate integration of eco tourism and mainstream entertainment, each corn maze location provides uniquely themed entertainment. Carve a pumpkin or stuff a scarecrow; ride on a wagon full of hay or bob for apples, make time for fun.

Tennessee: Pigeon Forge, 12th Annual Pigeon Forge Harvest Festival (9/12/2008 – 10/31/2008). The splendid colors of fall in the mountains are the stage for this easy-paced celebration of autumn. This time of year is when the weather's perfect and the activities are endless. Shopping is at its best with pre-season sales and bargains. The Rotary Club Crafts Festival features dozens of talented artists so stroll through craft shows and sidewalk sales or stop by to see the displays set up all over town, where local business owners have pitched in to create unique fall displays. Discovery: Cades Cove has Harvest Hayrides, perfect for families.  Bonus points: Dollywood Harvest Celebration & Southern Gospel Jubilee™ is part of the festival. (1-800-251-9100 or 1 (865) 429-7350 or www.mypigeonforge.com)

Georgia: Stone Mountain, Georgia Mountain Fall Festival (10/10/2008 – 10/19/2008). Enjoy all-American fun for the whole family in Georgia’s “country music capital” Hiawassee. The opening day of the festival features a flower festival with subsequent days of craft displays, exhibits, and rides for the children. Every night the air will be replete with country and gospel music and the sounds of cloggers dancing will keep everyone’s feet a-tapping. Bonus Points: You can also attend the Georgia’s Official State Fiddler’s Convention. (1311 Music Hall Road, Hiawassee. 1 (706) 896-4191 or www.georgia-mountain-fair.com)

Georgia: Atlanta, 22nd Annual Tour of Southern Ghosts (10/15/2008 - 10/31/2008). Listen closely to the grand tradition of storytelling at Stone Mountain. Visitors are invited to join six professional storytellers, in 19th century costumes, spinning their tales of famous (and not-so-famous) Southern ghosts along candle-and lantern-lit paths on the antebellum plantation grounds at Stone Mountain Park. The Tour of Southern Ghosts is a storytelling festival celebrating the spirit, folklore and merriment of the Halloween season. Relive the romance, horror and humor of the 18th century during the 45-minute, family-oriented tours. Bonus Points: The stories are not too scary for young children. (Stone Mountain Park. 1 (770) 469-1105 www.artstation.org)

South Carolina: Myrtle Beach, Brookgreen's Harvest Home Weekend Festival. (10/18/2008 – 10/19/2008) Two day festival now in its eighth year, Brookgreen's Harvest Home Weekend Festival tops the fall season with entertainment and activities the whole family will enjoy. It includes a scarecrow building contest, pumpkin painting and live entertainment.  (1931 Brookgreen Drive, Murrells Inlet. 1-800-849-1931 or www.brookgreen.org)

North Carolina: Blowing Rock, Ghost Train Halloween Festival (10/03/2008 – 11/01/2008). This is safe, scary fun for the whole family. You can visit the new haunted house, 3-D Maze and Black Hole. Kids will enjoy the trick-or-treating and Halloween shows.   (Tweetsie Railroad is located on US 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock, 28605. 1 (828) 264-9061 or www.tweetsie.com)

North Carolina: Asheville, Field to Table Festival (09/19/2008 – 10/28/2008). If you love farmer’s markets, family recipes and backyard gardens come to Biltmore for this festival! The beautiful grounds at Biltmore are only one reason to go. This festival provides all the estate restaurants with fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs and meat from their own farm as well as from local farmers. Enjoy daily demonstrations, panel discussions, artisan demonstrations, and guided tours. Plus with all the outdoor activities Biltmore offers everyone in your family will be satisfied. (1 Approach Road, Asheville, 28803. 1-800-411-3812 or 1(828)225-1333 or www.biltmore.com)

Alabama: Springville, Homestead Hollow Harvest Festival (10/03/2008 – 10/05/2008). The Homestead Hollow Harvest Festival will showcase unique, one-of-a-kind hand-made crafts, pioneer demonstrations of the old time days (such as wood carving, ironwork, blacksmithing, smoke-house cooking, gardening, quilting, whiskey making at an original working still), and tours of historic cabins built by early settlers. Children’s activities will include: pony rides, wagon rides, moon walk, and rock climbing. Also on site is a wonderful petting zoo that’s a festival favorite. Bonus: The Homestead Hollow General Store is open and has home-made fried pies and other great regional items. (Homestead Hollow, Springville 35146. 1(205) 467-2002, 1(205) 467-3681 or www.homesteadhollow.com)

Louisiana: Denham Springs, Antique Village Fall Festival (10/04/2008). Families are invited to stroll down Range Avenue in Historic Downtown Denham Springs and enjoy food, antiques, music, crafts arts, family entertainment and more. Attractions include the opportunity to see a blacksmith perform his art and the Odyssey Dancer do a youth dance tribute to popular Disney tunes. Musical performances will include a local jazz combo and local gospel singers on stage at the Train Depot. (228 N. Ranger Avenue, Denham Springs 70726. www.denhamspringsaantiquedistrict.com)

Information compiled from theFamilyTravelFiles.com database as of July 2008. Sometimes things change, so please confirm details before making plans. Images provided by respective venues. Copyright 2008.

Western USA Family Corn Mazes and Fall Festivals

USA: Western Edge, Best Corn Mazes and Fall Festivals for Families 2008. From San Diego to Seattle seasonal festivals make the weekend awesome. Mazes provide unique signatures as the lunar calendar ends the calendar year. Escape and run through a corn maze and tap your feet to a banjo; make a wreath of heater; sample local honey; carve a pumpkin or stuff a scarecrow; ride on a wagon full of hay or bob for apples, make time for fun. We’ve selected some of the best for your review and consideration. Forget the lawn. The laundry will wait. Take the kids and go.

Oregon: St. Paul, French Prairie Gardens and Fall Harvest Festival (9/27/08-10/31/08). Located in the tranquil Willamette Valley, French Prairie Gardens (image to the left) maintains a delightful farm produce market from April to Thanksgiving. It is the place to get a luscious fruit shake or eat simply scrumptious Umpqua Ice Cream. The 500 - acre farm grows fruits, vegetables and grass seed. Wander through the two-acre pick-your-own Pumpkin Patch. See bunnies, sheep, chickens, and visit the Kids Corral or the Two Acre Corn Maze. Watch the secret lives of chickens from the chicken coop with observation window. Investigate the Tonka toddler dirt play area or participate in the Toddler Hay Maze and Toddler Tricycle Races.  Bonus points:  Farmer John and Farmer Eric host the Pigtucky Derby. During the crazy weekend there will be hayrides, hay maze, two-acre corn maze, farm animal display, a obstacle course, pumpkin sling shot, kids corral, pig barrel train rides, and two 20-foot hay slides. (French Prairie Gardens, 17673 French Prairie Rd, St. Paul, OR, 97137. (503) 633-8445 or www.fpgardens.com)

California: Half Moon Bay:   Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival (10/18/2008 – 10/19/2008). The world’s biggest pumpkin can be found each year in the World Pumpkin Capital – Half Moon Bay, California. This year’s festival will feature a fantastic lineup: rustic pumpkin patches, harvest-inspired crafts, home-style foods, expert pumpkin carvers, three stages of entertainment, the Great Pumpkin Parade, and a bone-chilling Haunted House. Not to be missed: Also worth checking out will be the titanic weigh-off of champion pumpkins, and the pie-eating (for 11 and under and 12 and older) and costume contests. Bonus points: Hundreds of costumed children and adults march in the Great Pumpkin Parade. It is the ultimate old-fashioned parade featuring the winner of the mighty pumpkin weigh-off as well as marching bands and classic cars. (Main Street, Half Moon Bay. 650-726-9652 or www.miramarevents.com/pumpkinfest)

California: Julian, Fall Harvest Days. (9/6/2008 – 10/18/2008).  Pick apples, stomp grapes, decorate pumpkins, taste apple butter. Special events on weekends make this celebration of harvests in the charming town of Julian worth the hour drive from San Diego. There are a series of festivals and other special events taking place every week, Visitors to Julian will enjoy autumn foliage, art shows, entertainment, apple cider, pie and more in the scenic and historic mining town of Julian. Special events include: grape stomping, historic comedy skits every Sunday, guided hikes, and small music and art festivals.  Not to be missed:  Every Sunday, weather permitting see Julian Doves & Desperados and their historic comedy skits. (Julian. 1 (760) 765-1857 or www.julianca.com)

California: Fort Bragg, Paul Bunyan Days (8/29/08-9/01/08). Fall in Northern California’s Mendocino County brings bright days, crisp nights, turning leaves, and some of the most exciting food festivals and events of the year – all in the intimate atmosphere that prevails after peak season is over. This year’s theme is “Clowning Around with Paul & Babe” and features the traditional logging show, parade and barbecue. Bonus points: Take part in the “Cutting Edge” Forest Expo - a free event to help the public learn about important changes taking place in forestry and logging practices. (Fort Bragg, Paul Bunyan Days (707) 964-3356 or www.paulbunyandays.com )    

California: Ukiah, Pumpkinfest (10/18/08 – 10/19/08). This year’s Ukiah Country Pumpkinfest blends a harvest and music festival into the Halloween holiday.  Along with a variety of delicious foods, the streets of downtown Ukiah will be filled with craft vendors, fine arts exhibits, and " Scarecrow City ". Enjoy live music, a country fiddle contest.  Try your luck at a pie-eating contest or show off your green thumb by entering the great pumpkin weigh-off! Bonus points: The celebration includes the ever-popular children's carnival including many games and amusements. (Pumpkinfest (707) 463-6712, (707) 463-6231 or www.cityofukiah.com)

Washington: Walla Walla, Fall Harvest Festival (9/20/2008- 9/21/2008). Visitors at Fort Walla Walla may observe numerous pioneer crafts and skills, classic cars and trucks, and Living History programs. Many exhibitors offer handiwork for sale, re-creating the old-time harvest get-together atmosphere. This family-oriented festival includes games for kids, vendors selling pioneer-style crafts and food and treats. (755 Myra Road, Walla Walla, 99362. 1(509) 525-7703 or www.fortwallawallamuseum.org)

Washington: Port Angeles, Forest Storytelling Festival (10/17/2008 – 10/19/2008). Spend the weekend listening to wonderful story tellers from around the world, join in workshops and enter to win local gifts through a drawing. Program begins Friday evening at 7:30 with a Story Concert. Saturday starts with morning workshops, leading into Day Programs and an Evening Concert. Sunday has a free program, Stories to Inspire. Peninsula College, Little Theatre and Campus, Port Angeles. 1 (360) 417-5031 or www.dancingleaves.com/storypeople)

Information compiled from theFamilyTravelFiles.com database as of July 2008.Sometimes things change, so please confirm details before making plans. Images provided by respective venues. Copyright 2008.

USA: Mid Atlantic, Corn Mazes and Harvest Festivals

All along through the Mid Atlantic, Fall is the season to have fun together. Sometimes with a pumpkin patch and sometimes haunted on weekend nights, mazes provide unique signatures as the lunar calendar ends the calendar year. Taste sweet apple butter or corncob jelly; carve a pumpkin or stuff a scarecrow; play flashlight tag or chase the kids through the corn stalks; ride on a wagon full of hay or bob for apples; walk through a sleeping giant. The season has family fun written all over it. Forget the lawn; the laundry will wait. Take the kids and go.

Virginia: Mount Vernon, 18th-Century Craft Fair (9/13/2008 – 9/14/2008). This year marks the 13th anniversary of 18th-Century Craft Fair featuring dozens of America’s finest craftspeople and family fun. Colonial-attired artisans demonstrate 18th-century crafts such as stone cutting, gunsmithing and soap-making. Also for sale will be traditional wares like baskets, woodcarvings, tin and ironwork, leatherworkings, weavings and furniture. Bonus Points: Spirit Cruises and Potomac Riverboat Company will be offering free sightseeing cruises.(3200 George Washington Memorial Parkway, Mount Vernon. 1 (703) 780-2000, 799-8697 (TDD) or www.mountvernon.org)

Virginia: Williamsburg, Fall Harvest Festival and Haunted Wagon Ride (10/18/2008). The Fall Harvest Festival and Haunted Wagon Ride are hosted at James River State Park near colonial Williamsburg. Families will enjoy the fresh food, live music and good old-fashioned fun for the whole family. Wagon rides go from the festival site to the beautiful Tye River Overlook. Festival activities include: face painting, herbal butter tasting, apple pressing, apple bobbing, cornhusk doll making and more. Bonus: Around sunset the harvest bonfire will be lit and the haunted wagon rides will commence. (James River State Park, 751 Park Road, Gladstone 24553. 1(434) 933-4355 or www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/jam.shtml)

Virginia: Virginia Beach, Suffolk 31st Annual Peanut Fest (10/09/2008 – 10/12/2008). Experience the phenomenon that is the Peanut Fest; this family-friendly event honors Suffolk, Virginia’s agricultural heritage and its love of peanuts, the city’s official favorite legume. The Suffolk Peanut Fest is known for its fun family activities, concerts, amusement rides, contests and competitions, a demolition derby, a truck and tractor pull, fireworks and more. (1410 Airport Road, Suffolk 23434. 1(757) 539-6751 www.suffolkfest.org)

Virginia: Virginia Beach, Ghost Train at Northwest River Park (10/16/2008 – 10/25/2008). From Thursday through Sunday in late October, visitors are invited to brave the haunted train that runs through the haunted woods of Northwest River Park. The ride is not for the faint of heart as the train is sure to encounter ghosts, ghouls and long-leggedy-beasties as it winds through the haunts along the train route.(Northwest River Park, 1733 Indian Creek Road, Chesapeake, 23322. 1(757) 421-7151 or www.CityofChesapeake.net/parks)

Virginia: Irvington, Irvington Grape Stomp (08/20/2008). White Fences Vineyards started the Irvington Stomp to celebrate the annual grape harvest and to bring together old friends, new friends and neighbors in small-town Irvington, Virginia. This year the Irvington Stomp festivities surround Labor Day weekend August 30, 2008. In addition, there will be a two-acre corn maze, farm animals and exhibits, a kite show by the Wings Over Washington Kite Club, face painting, a petting zoo and much more. Food and beverages will be sold, including homemade ice cream from The Local. (1 White Fences Drive Irvington, Virginia  22480. 1(804) 438-5559 or www.irvingtonstomp.com)

Maryland: Annapolis, October Pumpkin Patch (10/04/2008 – 10/25/2008). Families are invited to enjoy a day at the farm this October. There’s a free hayride out to the pumpkin patch to search for the perfect Halloween pumpkin, as well as a petting zoo, freshly harvested apples and Fall produce and seasonal festivities. (Kent Ford Farm, 135 Eastern Lane at the southern end of Kent Point, Stevensville. 1(410) 643-1650 or www.kentfordfarm.com) 

New Jersey: Collingswood, Theatre District Festival and Fall Festival (10/25/2008). Collingswood offers families an exciting twist on the Fall festival experience this autumn. Families are invited to come and experience performances by local and regional dance troupes and theatre groups as well as fun games and contests for kids. Other activities include pumpkin carving, scarecrow making and hayrides and the haunted hayride at night! (1(856) 858-0980, 1(856) 858-9275 or www.collingswood.com/entertainment/theater-district-festival-and-fall-festival)

Pennsylvania: Kennett Square, Marlborough Valley Corn Maze. (09/14/2008  -  10/28/2008) Eight and a half aces of corn stalks make maze fun. Activities include hay jump, corn box, petting zoo, 20-minute hayride, larger goat walk, corn cannon, and pick your own pumpkin for only 25 cents a pound. Food choices include bar-B-Q, cotton candy, ice cream, hot cider, hot chocolate, coffee, and cold drinks. Families always enjoy the horse drawn hay ride. Bonus points: A flashlight maze and a haunted maze is available. VIP pass includes ice cream, beverage, and no lines. For the brave of heart there is also the Terror Hollow haunted hayride. (Marlborough Valley Corn Maize 1081 Wawaset (Rd 842) Kennett Square Pa 19348. 1(610) 347-1314 or www.mvmaze.com)

Pennsylvania: Landsdale, Merrymead aMAZEing Cornfield. (10/01/2008- 10/30/2008) Visit one of Pennsylvania’s century farms meaning it has been in the same family for more than 100 years. Masters of wholesome family fun, each fall Merrymead presents a five-acre cornfield maze complete with a pumpkin path and a 70-foot cornstalk tunnel. Sip apple cider, enjoy hand-dipped ice cream, paint pumpkins, taste luscious baked goods, pick your own pumpkin, take a hayride, dig in a sand box, ride a wagon train. Bonus points: Take your own flashlight and navigate the maze new Moonlight Maze.  (Merrymead Farm 2222 S. Valley Forge Rd. Lansdale, PA 19446 610-584-4410 www.merrymead.com)

Pennsylvania: Media, Pumpkinland and Hay Rides . (09/6/2007 - 11/9/2008) At Linvilla Farm not far from Valley Forge doing and tasting is all part of the fun. Pick your own pumpkins in the fall. Taste just off the vine tomatoes or husk your very own sweet corn. See horses, chickens and pigs; meet costumed characters like Dora, Elmo and Shrek. During September and October each year Pumpkinland remains a popular fall tradition for families with young children. Each weekend enjoy a 15-18 minute hay ride under the moonlight and a cup of cider at the campfire after the hay ride. There will also be live music, pony and train rides, face painting and much, much more! Bonus points:  The Farm Market in the octagonal barn is not-to-be-missed for jams, jellies, pies and ice cream sundaes. (Linvilla Farm & Orchard 137 W. Knowlton Rd. Media, PA 19063 610-876-7116 www.linvilla.com)

West Virginia: Martinsburg, 29th Annual Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival (10/16/2008 – 10/29/2008). The Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival celebrates the rich agricultural heritage in Berkeley County, highlighting the role of the apple in the growth of the region. The four-day festival in the scenic eastern panhandle of West Virginia is a wonderful fall celebration with pie-baking contests, a Friday Night in the Park sports breakfast, a parade and more. (Martinsburg, WV 25402. 1(304) 263-5000 or www.msahf.com)

Information compiled from theFamilyTravelFiles.com database as of July 2008. Sometimes things change, so please confirm details before making plans. Images provided by respective venues. Copyright 2008.

Plan a Family Trip: Southwest Corn Mazes

USA: Southwest, Best Corn Mazes and Fall Festivals for Families 2008. From country traditions in Texas and New Mexico to luscious apples in Arizona the season is in full swing.  Corny or not mazes are made for families and mean fun. Sometimes with a pumpkin patch and sometimes haunted on weekend nights, mazes provide unique signatures as the lunar calendar ends the calendar year. Taste sweet apple butter or corncob jelly; carve a pumpkin or stuff a scarecrow; play flashlight tag or chase the kids through the corn stalks; ride on a wagon full of hay or bob for apples, the season looks promising.

Texas: Brookshire, Texas Maze at Dewberry Farm (09/27/2008 – 11/30/2008). Dewberry Farm shares its love of seasonal corn mazes with a series of family friendly events including duck races, goat walks, pumpkin picking, pumpkin carving, a barrel train, hay rides, a sunflower patch and corn cannons. Toast marshmallows, yodel a cowboy tune or play your harmonica. On Saturday nights take a hayride through Pumpkin Hollow to see carved pumpkins glowing in the twilight. See the Dewberry Farm honey bees at work. Learn about their honey making process and how pollination plays an important role in farming. Bonus points: Do the MAIZE on a Saturday nights and feel how eerie corn stalks can be. (Seven miles north of Brookshire on FM 362. 1 (281) 934-3276 or www.texasmaze.com)

Texas: Houston, 42nd Annual Original Greek Festival (10/2/2008 – 10/5/2008). Be Greek for a day at the annual Greek Festival in Houston, Texas. Highlights of the festival include cathedral tours, displays of religious icons/artifacts, Greek folk dancing and delicious Greek specialties prepared from recipes handed down generation to generation for more than a century. Attendees can also purchase Greek food to take home at the Agora Greek Food Store and buy videos, CDs, and tapes of Greek music, dancing and culture to help keep the “OPA!” spirit alive all year long. Bonus points: This year the festival grounds several activities specifically for children have grown in number and include an Athenian playground and the Annunciation Orthodox School Exhibit. (Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral complex, 3511 Yoakum Boulevard, Houston. 1 (713) 526-5377 or www.greekfestival.org)

Texas: San Antonio, Devine Acres Pumpkin Extravaganza (10/04/008 – 10/26/2008). Located outside of San Antonio, Devine Acres is the host of an annual Pumpkin Extravaganza featuring scenic hayrides, catch-n-release fishing, a barrel train ride, duck races, hay bale & rope mazes, scarecrow dressing, a petting zoo and many more Autumn-appropriate activities. Also on-site is a new mining sluice next to the old watering hole which invites visitors to go gemstone mining and maybe even take home a new treasure. (944 FM 2200 West, Devine 78016. 1(830) 665-9730 or www.devineacres.com)

Oklahoma: Gore, 40th Annual Fin & Feather Fall Festival (09/26/2008 – 09/28/2008). Each September, Fin & Feather Resort hosts the annual Fall Festival, one of the most popular arts and crafts shows in the state. In 2007, thousands of attendees flocked to see the more than 200 exhibitors during the three day festival. In addition to the multitude of arts and crafts vendors, families will enjoy the Fall-themed food and fun. (Route 1 - Fin and Feather Resort is located approximately 8 miles north of Gore on Highway 100 on the right hand side of the road. 1(918) 487-5148 or www.finandfeatherresort.com/fallfestival.html)

New Mexico: Las Cruces, Ghosts of the Past (10/23/2008-10/25/2008) Take an evening stroll around the Ranch Heritage Museum and meet a ghost or two. During this annual living history event visitors are taken on a guided tour of the museum where they will encounter various characters from New Mexico’s past. This special three-night event also includes music, refreshments and children's activities. Bonus points: The 47-acre museum contains real stories about real people. The interactive museum, which has welcomed visitors from all over the world, brings to life the 3,000-year history of farming and ranching in New Mexico. (Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces. www.frhm.org)

New Mexico: Santa Fe, Harvest Festival (10/04/2008 – 10/05/2008). This very popular community event features harvest activities including crushing grapes for wine by foot; listen to music and enjoy dancing, grinding sorghum with burros and stringing colorful chile ristras. Visitors can buy traditional crafts from artists, try dipping candles, see soap making and taste warm bread and bizcochitos from the horno. (334 Los Pinos Road, Santa Fe, 87507. (505) 471-2261 or www.golondrinas.org)

Arizona: Wilcox, Apple Annie’s Fall Pumpkin Celebration (09/27/2008– 10/26/2008). You’ll find Apple Annie’s in the Sulphur Springs Valley of southeastern Arizona. The 4300’ elevation means warm days and cool nights a situation which is ideal for fruit and vegetable growing. The Orchard is known for tree-ripened apples, peaches, pears and Asian pears as well as farm-fresh vegetables, including sweet corn, tomatoes, squash, chilies and pumpkins. During their annual fall celebration enjoy old-fashioned family fun picking your own pumpkins, fall vegetables. Taste freshly pressed apple cider and pick-your-own apples. Pumpkins of all sizes are ready for adoption from their huge pumpkin patch. For a small fee enjoy a hayride to the pumpkin patch and children's play area (Children 2 and younger are free.) Need to know: Don't forget to bring a jacket because fall days can be comfortably cool in Willcox. Bonus Points: Don’t miss Arizona’s newest and largest corn maze. There are three levels of difficulty so it is perfect for the whole family! (6405 W. Williams Road, Willcox, 85643. 1 (520) 384-2084 or www.appleannies.com)

Arizona: Oracle, 9th Annual Fiesta de las Calabazas (10/25/008). The Fiesta de las Calabazas is a great pumpkin and harvest festival which promotes eco-tourism and heritage tourism while fostering awareness of the natural environment and showcasing the cultural and artistic diversity of the communities of Oracle, San Manuel and Mammoth, Arizona. The Fiesta is, above all, a celebration of art music, diversity and the process of creation – of crops of talents and of people. Check out the live music and positive community message of the Fiesta de las Calabazas this Fall. (Oracle State Park, 3820 Wildlife Drive, Oracle 85623. www.calabazas.org)

Information compiled from theFamilyTravelFiles.com database as of July 2008. Sometimes things change, so please confirm details before making plans. Images provided by respective venues. Copyright 2008.

Family Trip Ideas: Heartland Corn Mazes

USA: Heartland, Best Corn Mazes and Fall Festivals for Families 2008. From Wisconsin to Minnesota and Iowa to Indiana the idea is simple, enjoy the season. Sometimes with a pumpkin patch and sometimes haunted on weekend nights, mazes provide unique signatures as the lunar calendar ends the calendar year. Taste sweet apple butter or corncob jelly; carve a pumpkin or stuff a scarecrow; ride on a wagon full of hay or bob for apples; pretend at a RenFest; enjoy a film in Chicago. Make time for fun with your kids.

Minnesota: Rochester, Tweite's Fall Harvest Festival and Corn Maze (09/20/2008 to 10/26/2008). Located 12 minutes West of Rochester off of US Hwy 14 Tweite's has been planting memories and harvesting fun for the past 19 years. We offer quality family enjoyment for the young and young-at-heart. Each weekend enjoy 10 acres of amusements including live entertainment. Enjoy wagon rides, an Enchanted Forest, the western town called Dodge City, Harvest Town with a back forty play area, more than 24,000 square-feet of permanent mazes including a six-acre corn maze, a tire dragon and the Indiana Bones Dino Dig. Bonus points: Many areas are interactive. Check out our remodeled dairy barn loaded with tasty treats like our homemade caramel apples, cotton candy and kettle korn, just to name a few. Gate fee charged. (Tweite's Pumpkin Patch 1821 Frontier Rd SW Byron, MN 55920. (507) 365-8035 or www.tweite.com)

Minnesota: Belle Plaine, 24th Annual Emma Krumbee's Scarecrow Festival (09/13/2008 -10/31/2008). During the fall, the 45-acre orchard is alive with activity. Starting in September, the Apple Jubilee event celebrates the harvest season. From mid-September through October, the orchard is filled with more than one hundred unique handcrafted scarecrows during the Great Scarecrow Festival. There are pony, wagon rides and camel rides. Find the perfect jack-o-lantern in the Great Pumpkin Patch. Try out the all-terrain farm trikes, visit the Giant Hay Stack Jump and expanded petting zoo. Count bees in the bee observatory, walk amid the Tombstone Forest. Sample Fizzy's Ice Cream, caramel apples and pumpkin pie. Bonus points: June through October, pick your own hydroponic strawberries suspended in the air. U-Pick Apples open daily, Mid-August through October. (Emma Krumbee's Restaurant, Belle Plaine 56011. (952) 873-3006 www.emmakrumbees.com)

Illinois: Chicago International Children's Film Festival (10/23/2008-11/2/2008). For a city event this one is splendid. CICFF is celebrating it 25th anniversary this year! It is the largest competitive festival of children's films in the United States and is hailed as the Cannes for Kids; the festival presents the very best in non-violent multicultural films for children ages 3 to 13. At every screening, a panel of kids cast their votes for the Best of the Fest Award as well as other awards and prizes for excellence. There will be post-screening discussions with more than 100 directors, producers, and actors in attendance. Bonus points:  This year's festival will feature 200 animated and live action films from 40 countries. (1 (773) 281-9075 or www.cicff.org)

Ohio: Lebanon, Pumpkin Patch Express (09/27/2008 – 11/02/2008). Every autumn the Lebanon Mason Monroe (LM&M) Railroad runs a special Pumpkin Patch Express through Warrant County to Schappacher Farm in Mason, where special homemade snacks are for sale. Ticket price includes a petting zoo, pumpkin pie and admittance to a corn maze on a real working farm. Need to know: Trains sell out quickly and a limited number of tickets are available on event days on a first-come-first served basis, so advance ticket purchase is recommended. (Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad, 127 S. Mechanic Street, Lebanon 45036. 1(513) 933-8022 or www.lebanonrr.com)

Wisconsin: Sturgeon Bay, Schopf's Corn Maze and Cookie's Pirate Adventure (08/20/2008 - 10/31/2008). This year checkout Dairy View Farm and enjoy the season Door County's famous "Cookie" the Cow. With three separate mazes rolled up into one, the 2007 maze has a trail for everyone; the Orange Maze route runs for two miles, the Black Maze runs for two and a half miles, and the Green Maze comes in at 3.3 miles of winding trail. Also within the maze are three optional games based on finding hidden maze stations - a great game for the whole family to play together. Uniquely shaped paper punches await the players at each of the destination points and participants are expected to find all of the stations and punch as proof. The season ends with a special Halloween Maze event. Bonus points: Make time for a free, working dairy farm tour. Watch milking operations, milk "Cookie" the cow and then stop at the ice cream shop and browse the flavors. Staff note: We visited Cookie when the maze was very young but it looked quite promising. It is a neat place with fun people and terrific ice cream. (5169 County I, Sturgeon Bay, 54235. 1 (920) 743-9779 or www.dairyview.com)

Iowa: St. Urbandale, Corn Harvest (10/04/2008 - 10/05/2008). The smell of apple butter wafts through the air in the 1875 town of Walnut Hill as you sample some of the bountiful harvest Iowa has produced. At the farm sites, learn about the history of corn with hands-on activities and a horse-drawn wagon ride into the fields to watch demonstrations of the machinery used to harvest corn from 1910 to the 1950. Learn the correct techniques for hand-picking corn beside a horse-drawn wagon, pitching the husked ears of corn against a bang-board and into the wagon bed. Corn is more than food. Learn about modern varieties and uses of corn in cars, airplanes, and other staples of 21st-Century life. Stop by the Visitor Center to sample products produced by Iowa companies. Bonus points: On the 4th you can attend an authentic barn dance where you can learn traditional dances while enjoying the live Flying Pig Fiddle and Banjo band. (Living History Farms, 2600 111th St. Urbandale, 50322. or 1(515)278-5286 or www.lhf.org)

Indiana: Hobart, County Line Orchard Fall Harvest Festival and Corn Maze (08/30/2008 - 10/31/2008). Enjoy the season with orchard tours and you-pick apples and pumpkins, Kid's Farm and petting zoo, 8-acre corn maze, bee barn and picnic area. See working bees at observation hives in the orchard, baby chicks hatching everyday and goats up in the trees and Peter Pumpkin Eater getting his teeth cleaned after munching on pumpkins. The Little Kid's Barnyard has miniature tractors, tools, wheelbarrows, and even a kid-sized barn and a Moo Choo just for little kids. Bonus points: Past the apple trees near the MAiZE, begins the Trio of Fears not for the faint-hearted. It all begins at the end of a long wagon ride sits a rustic shack at the edge of the woods. There awaits the gatekeeper, who sets you on a dimly lit path through the trees. The way is narrow and uneven, and haunted things abound. You'll have to crawl through one part, and feel your way through pitch-black passages and experience Nocturnia the haunted barn. (County Line Orchard & The Barn: 200 County Line Rd., Hobart (219) 947-4477 or www.countylineorchard.com)

Michigan: Michigan Renaissance Festival (08/16/2008 - 09/29/2008). Discover an enchanted realm of wizards and warriors amongst gourmet treats and unforgettable entertainment. Wander past eight lively stages and street theater featuring jugglers, magicians, fire eaters, and specialty acts. Check out live armored contact jousting three times daily, human chess matches, minstrels, maidens faire, peasants, fools, and royalty. Bonus points: The festival also has special theme weekends like Highland Weekend, featuring the US/Canadian Highland Games and Bagpipe Blowout as well as International Talk Like a Pirate Day, which is recommended for grandparents and children. There is also a "Sweet Endings" Chocolate Festival. See the website for more details. (12500 Dixie Highway, Holly, 48442. 1-800-779-4910 or www.michrenfest.com)

Minnesota: Minneapolis, Sever's Corn Maze (9/20/2008 - 11/2/2008). Sever's Corn Maze and Fall Festival delights maze-goers with a fun and challenging 14-acre corn maze. Again this year, Sever's Corn Maze and Fall Festival will boast the world's largest straw bale maze-1/3 of an acre in size; a huge, exotic petting zoo with animals from around the world including lemurs and camels, kangaroos, etc. There will also be pumpkin slinger; a corn pit, hay rides; pig races; camel rides; live music; and much more. Bonus points: There is a discount coupon at their website. (Just south of the Twin Cities next to Canterbury Park, Shakopee 1 (952) 974-5000 or www.severscornmaze.com)

Minnesota: Shakopee, Minnesota Renaissance Festival (08/16/2008 - 09/28/2008). Discover an enchanted realm of wizards and warriors amongst gourmet treats and unforgettable entertainment. Wander past eight lively stages and street theater featuring jugglers, magicians, fire eaters, and specialty acts. Check out live armored contact jousting three times daily, human chess matches, minstrels, maidens faire, peasants, fools, and royalty. Bonus points: You can also enjoy special theme weekends including ones dedicated to Scottish and Irish culture as well as a special Italian Carnivale weekend! (12364 Chestnut Blvd, Shakopee. 1-800-779-4910 or www.renaissancefest.com)

Nebraska: Denton, Benson Farms MAiZE (9/26/2008 - 10/31/2008). Imagine green and gold cornstalks towering 12 feet high set in a deliberately confusing pattern by an agro-artist, it's a challenge to master. Camp fires and mini mazes are only part of what you'll find at Benson Farms - there's also a pumpkin patch, a corn box, a hay jump, hay rides, and a corn tunnel which is really a maze tunnel constructed from corn that's great for those with a penchant for exploration. Bonus points: On Friday and Saturday night you can enjoy Fright Nights. Recommended for ages 12 and up you can take a walk through a spooky, haunted maze. This event is very popular so expect to stand in line. (6000 SW 140th Street, Denton. 1 (402) 795-3276 or www.bensonfarms.com)

Ohio: Germantown, Tom Eby Farm Maze (08/30/2008-11/02/2008). A rural wonder, the 8-acre natural puzzle game features three miles of paths to navigate. The challenge- to find 12 puzzle pieces located throughout the maze. The American flag flies proudly over the Victory Bridge at the end of the hunt. For night owls, the site is open after dark. Bonus points: As a bonus the maze complex has a unique hands-on area with toys and musical instruments made of homegrown hard-shelled gourds. You might also enjoy Tom's Pumpkin Cannon. (Tom Eby Farm 8295 Farmersville-W. Carrollton Rd. Germantown, 45327. 1(937) 866-2777 or www.tomsmaze.com)

More Resources

Haunted Wisconsin. For families in or near Wisconsin this is a delightful resource for Halloween happenings. The innovative site provides up-to-date information on commercial haunted houses, corn mazes, spooky trails, pumpkin patch locations, and fun for the season. (Go to www.hauntedwisconsin.com)

Maze Play. This directory with listings across the United States and Canada is easy to navigate; each listing provides the essentials to make a corn adventure happen. Just reviewing the listing is entertaining. Maze themes include the Green Bay Packers at Schoph farms in Wisconsin to Indian themes at Uncle Shucks in Georgia. (Go to www.Mazeplay.com)

Corn Field Maze. A delightful resource for maze locations and information, including location maps for USA, Canada, Italy Mexico, and England. (Go to www.cornfieldmaze.com)

Information compiled from theFamilyTravelFiles.com database as of July 2008. Sometimes things change, so please confirm details before making plans. Images provided by respective venues. Copyright 2008.

Florida: Kissimmee, Fun, Learning, and More Fun

Central Florida family vacation activities are dominated by Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld. But as family vacation learning becomes more and more popular combining theme park action with learning experiences is becoming easier.  In Kissimmee it is possible for families to practice golf; join a tennis clinic; learn to fish; enjoy an art tour or take flight.

Checkout our suggestions for learning while having fun in Kissimmee. 

Learn to swing, chip, and putt. Anyone with a set of golf clubs knows that the sport of golf is a journey marked by miles of fairways, roughs, sand traps, always leading to a challenge on the green; almost anyone can benefit from a lesson or two. Parents wishing to build on a family golf tradition have two options in the Kissimmee area - Tee to Green Golf School at Kissimmee Golf club and The Golf Academy at Celebration Golf Club.

At Tee to Green make use of the skills, energy, and patience of a staff that love golf and take advantage of any opportunity to share their passion. They talk about gloves and posture, shoes and balance. The clinic atmosphere is family friendly; most importantly they analyze each golfer with success in mind. Learning points: Tee to Green conducts 1/2 day schools which include afternoon of practice or 18 holes of golf. They also have one- three- and five-day programs year-round which combine video analysis, one-on-one teaching, practice drills and playing.  Beginners receive instruction in the game’s fundamentals, including etiquette, rules, scoring, posture, and insider tips. Students learn special golf exercises, how select the ideal club, how to develop swing power, how to chip, and focus a putt. Cost of learning: A series of five lessons begins at $150 and junior rates (for ages 6 - 17) are available upon request.

The Golf Academy at Celebration Golf Club has created several options so that students experience all aspects of the game in an efficient, encouraging atmosphere. Learning points: The structure and outline of each golf school is tailored to the individual or in the case of families to each individual within the family.  For example Golf “101” for new golfers includes game fundamentals, grip, swing, posture and techniques for the short game as well as club selection, pitching, lobbing, and putting. Lessons focus on course management skills and how to lower scores. Golf Academy pros analyze individual golf swings using a state of the art video/launch monitor. The Golf “101” program series also includes advanced player levels so every family member will have the right fit. During the summer months there are junior golf camps and Saturday junior golf clinics and they offer private lessons for junior golfers throughout the year. Each lesson maximizes one-on-one time utilizing the practice facility and exclusive three-hole Celebration Junior Course. Cost of learning: Private lessons begin at $95 per hour and private lessons for children younger than 12 cost $35 per 1/2 hour. Golf “101” lesson packages begin at $269 per student.

Learn to swing, serve, and score. Tennis is more fun with a partner – true? And when your partner is your child the opportunities for fun are endless but growing a tennis player takes time and lessons. Victory Tennis, located at Star Island Resort & Club in Kissimmee conducts private and group lessons for all ages and abilities. All lessons are pay-as-you-go with no contracts or commitments so for vacationers it’s easy to set up sessions as part of a vacation plan. In fact if you are undecided about lessons it makes sense to take advantage of their free tennis clinic held each Tuesday 8AM to 9AM or 6PM to 9PM - all ages (yup kids included) and abilities welcome. The evening focuses on basic techniques taught with drills and games so everyone can have fun while learning and improving. It’s easy and the coaches at Victory Tennis love to share their passion for the sport so the atmosphere is lively and energizing. Learning points: Victory’s staff can create a series of sessions so that each family member feels at home on the court. For advanced players they offer instruction on the finer points of hand-eye coordination, balance, footwork and game strategy in addition to match play and/or use of ball machine. For little tykes Quickstart Tennis - designed by the United States Professional Tennis Association - is an option. Geared to ages 3 through 10 the program includes lessons and play designed to move children quickly through the transitional stages to full-court tennis while having fun. Cost of learning: Private lessons start at $40.00 per hour with discounted prices for children. Friday afternoon Pee Wee Tennis for ages 3-12 costs $10.00 per hour.

Learn to cast, hook, and catch fish. Lake Tohopekaliga in Kissimmee is an impressive body of water and geared to a variety of “green” activities perhaps the best of which is fishing. It’s the spot to catch largemouth bass, crappie, specks, bluegill, shellcrackers, catfish, and pickerel. For anyone with an appreciation of Mother Nature’s quirky sense of humor fishing is fun and makes a terrific day adventure with kids. If freshwater fishing sounds fun but you know absolutely nothing about, Captain Rick Brothers has the perfect outing ideal for families wishing to learn the art of fishing together. Learn how to read the lake; what signs of nature mean fish are at hand; what bait works best for which fish; how to cast; learn not to rock the boat, and learn how to catch a fish in Florida. Located at Big Toho Marina in Lakefront Park near the historic downtown, the The Miss Toho is 24 foot tri-toon, USCG Registered vessel licensed to carry 14 persons, of which six may fish on each trip. Bring your own equipment or use the rods, reels and tackle is provided. Bonus points: None anglers ride free. Cost of learning: Florida freshwater fishing licenses are required for those 16 years or older. Rates for bass fishing in Kissimmee on Lake Toho for 2 anglers ½ day $250, ¾ day $350, full day $450, add $50 per additional angler. Bait is extra.

Learn about Da Vinci, Monet, Degas, Van Gogh and More. Stay at the Mona Lisa Suite Hotel and enjoy time with the masters. Any parent with a passion for art will love the Mona Lisa. The gallery like ambiance of this new hotel includes oversized interpretations of well-known masters' artwork meticulously recreated by professional artists in China. The paintings are showcased on each floor throughout the hotel. Each contemporary room features a hand-painted artist interpretation of a master work and the property's namesake, Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa adorns the hotel lobby. The hotel staff will provide information on the different interpretations and are happy to give a personal tour to guests who are interested in learning more about the artwork and the masters who originally created the masterpieces. The new 240-room Mona Lisa Suite Hotel is an all-suite, luxury hotel located in Celebration, a unique and charming master-planned community within the Metro Orlando area. Cost of learning: The artwork of the Mona Lisa Suite Hotel is complimentary to anyone who visits.  Room rates span $229 to $525 per night/double occupancy.

Learn to fly the legendary "Pilot-Maker". In Kissimmee it is possible to actually take the controls of a restored World War II fighter trainer – the T-6 Texan – even with no prior flying experience. What you will need to know the pros at Warbird Adventures will teach you – but not in a simulator. The aircraft used is the T-6 TEXAN also known as the SNJ or Harvard because more than 70% of the Allied pilots received their fighter training in the aircraft. Learning points: After the standard briefing participants are invited to take the controls in the front seat and just follow instructions. The flying adventure can be whatever you want based on your aptitude for the cockpit – thrilling, erratic, and aerobatic or a smooth, straight, and level. If you purchase and schedule two or three flights together, you can go up and fly in formation as well. They’ll show you how it's done! Formation flying really adds to the experience and there is no extra charge for this as long as you schedule your flights together. Cost of learning: Prices span from $220 for a 15-minute basic flight to $500 for a 30-minute flight which also includes aerobatics, still photos, and your own DVD proof. For a 60-minute session with aerobatics, still photos, and DVD the cost is $745. 

In addition to theme park thrills, Kissimmee offers visitors plenty of unforgettable “real Florida” learning experiences to make any family vacation or holiday getaway super. Create your own family learning vacation in Central Florida – the choices are many from clinics and classes to excursions and adventures. From golf and tennis to fishing and flying it’s about having fun and learning together. Imagine watching alligators, skimming to marsh on an airboat, seeing a working cattle ranch, taking a sunset cruise, horseback riding and feeding goats. To discover more about Kissimmee’s learning and fun vacation choices log on to www.ChooseKissimmee.com

Planning Details
Scenic/Eco Lake Tours/Fishing Charters, Inc. (407) 908-5688 or www.fishingchartersinc.com
Mona Lisa Suite Hotel 225 Celebration Place Celebration, Orlando, Florida 34747. Toll-free 1-866.404.MONA (6662) or www.monalisasuitehotel.com

Warbird Adventures, Inc. 233 N. Hoagland Blvd. Kissimmee, FL, 34741. (407) 870-7366 or www.warbirdadventures.com/t-6_page.htm

Victory Tennis at Star Island 5000 Avenue of the Stars Kissimmee, FL 34746. Further tennis program information, you may contact John at (407) 997-5155 or www.star-island.com/victorytennis.html

Kissimmee Golf Club 3103 Florida Coach Dr. Kissimmee, FL 34741. Pro Shop (407) 847-2816, (407) 847-2816 or www.teetogreengolfschool.com or www.kissgolfclub.com

Celebration Golf Academy at Celebration Golf Club 701 Golf Park Drive Celebration, Florida 34747. 407.566.GOLF ext. 4 or www.celebrationgolfacademy.com

Content created by FamilyTravelFiles and images provided by Kissimmee/St. Cloud CVB. Copyright 2008.

Florida: Kissimmee, A Mother/Daughter Girlfriend Getaway - – Shopping, Spa Time, and a Fun Night Out

For moms and daughters who  want  to share one-on-one time away from the crazy schedules of home Kissimmee is an easy place to enjoy down time together. From golf and tennis to antiquing, and chilling by the pool the options are many. At the core of any mother/daughter bonding time – shopping, a spa, and a fun night out doing girl stuff.

Eat chocolate; drink wine; share a malt; shop for bargains; practice yoga; enjoy a massage; share secrets, and have fun together – no boys allowed.

Unique shopping opportunities meant to be shared. Kissimmee has a place to fit every shopping personality from souvenir and outlet bargain hunters to trendy fashionistas. From one-of-a-kind boutiques and nostalgic shops to air conditioned mega malls and outlet centers, the options for a unique shopping adventure are endless.

Start anywhere along Main Street in Old Town.  The tree-lined streets offers more than 75 specialty shops. From resort wear to sports apparel, jewelry to shoes and old-fashioned collectibles, you'll find some specialty items here that you won't find anywhere else. The atmosphere in Old Town is right out of “Happy Days”- vintage cars on the weekends, sock-hop music and friendly people. At Good Luck Rice Company visitors can have their names written on a tiny single grain of rice and made into a rice necklace – a definite keepsake.  Girls of all ages will love the Marilyn Monroe, I Love Lucy, and Beatles collectibles at Wound 'n Around, the perfect puppets at Sunny and Company and the awesome bead collection at Black Market Minerals. Other must-do activities include: having an old-time portrait taken, learning how to pull taffy, and visiting a petrified rock forest.

If antiques and vintage items are your thing, then the historic downtown streets of Kissimmee and St. Cloud will not disappoint. One spot that is not-to-be-missed is Lanier’s Historic Marketplace in Downtown Kissimmee, a clever place showcasing antiques, decorating accessories, tempting jewelry and interesting gifts. They always have friendly conversation waiting and a fresh pot of coffee brewing. For bargains Kissimmee’s open-air shopping complex, The Loop and Loop West, have Belk, JC Penney, Old Navy, Kohl’s Department Store, Pier 1 Imports, Ross, PetCo, Claire’s, Michael’s, Kirkland’s and Bed, Bath & Beyond plus many restaurants with outdoor dining.

Market Street at Celebration is the place for children’s clothing, paint-your-own-pottery and exclusive, collectible pieces plus delightful cafés and restaurants along the downtown lakefront area. Also in the area Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores, Orlando Premium Outlets, The Mall at Millenia, and The Florida Mall so a shopping agenda is easy to create.  Bonus points: The Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores provides a free scheduled shopping shuttle to and from 55 participating area hotels and special scheduled free VIP group shuttle service is also available.

Being pampered together is simply the best. Sometimes even better than shopping, a day at the spa can be the ideal way to enjoy mother/daughter time. Sit side by side and experience a luxurious foot soak, stress relieving facial, or hand massage.  Massageworks just off Main Street in Historic Downtown Kissimmee has several unique ways for guests to relax and be revived. Located in restored 1900's schoolhouse the updated atmosphere has warm and relaxing Mediterranean-style. This spunky day spa has five private treatment rooms - serene and softly lit with candlelight. If you are undecided the best bet is the “Mini Spa Retreat” a sampling of services which includes a 30-minute introductory facial, a 30-minute aroma relaxation massage followed by a soothing dry sauna. Cost is $105 and an upgrade to one hour each is only $140. They also offer a “Detox Facial” ideal for drawing out impurities during a unique detoxification process.  Bonus points: The Studio of Movement onsite doubles as a yoga studio by night. Classes blend stretching, postures, Pranayama, mantra, music, meditation and relaxation. Drop-ins are welcomed and no previous experience in Yoga is required.  Just say Namaste!

Stay in and still get pampered. After a busy day of shopping nothing compares to a gentle relaxing massage that soothes away stresses and body fatigue. Luckily, if you are in Kissimmee, A-Team Massage will provide a custom massage in your vacation location any day of the week – a recipe for pure bliss. Select from their menu of wonderful services including Swedish, aromatherapy, relaxation, deep tissue, and therapeutic massages then relax in the comfort of your vacation base. Spa treatments include soothing hot paraffin wax for hands and feet along with educational manicures and pedicures.  Prices for 24-hour advanced scheduling begin at $95.00 for a 60-minute massage and an aroma experience (lavender/eucalyptus for tranquility or peppermint for rejuvenation) is only $20 more.

For a quirky evening consider the haunted side of town. The Haunted Grimm House of Old Town features live actors, special effects, and two floors with more than 20 rooms of scary stuff presented with a sense of humor. In Historic Downtown Kissimmee it is possible to take hair-raising ninety-minute tour into the spirit realm with guides from Kissimmee Ghost Tours as they spin tales of murder, unexplained phenomena, and mystery.

Share a fairy tale together. Horses, knights in shining armor, conflicts, love stories, surreal lighting, and no dinner dishes – sounds like a fairy tale evening for sure. Arabian Nights Dinner Theater in Kissimmee has created a surreal dining experience – like stepping into the pages of Scheherazade. With the use of surreal lighting techniques, magical costumes, engaging music, and beautiful horses, skilled riders create a show which is both dreamlike and enchanting. Daughter’s note: My mom and I celebrated her birthday within the magic of Arabian Nights complex. It was a blast. We arrived early enough to go behind the scenes. The early entry option allows visitors to wander within the arena; meet the actor/riders; and walk back stage; see the holding stalls; talk with the trainers; to where the horses stay.  The opportunity was worth the extra cost and effort because during the show we felt connected to several of the riders and their horses making the experience even better. Add to that a surprisingly top quality dinner served with speed and efficiency - our evening was truly perfect and we have a framed photo to prove it. Bonus points: Before the show it is possible to take photos with both the actors and the horses in the arena and back stage – a really cool opportunity.

Who doesn’t want to have dinner in a castle? Medieval Times Theater with its fairy tale atmosphere offers a perfect escape from reality. The movie set castle just off Irlo Bronson Highway successfully transitions from reality into an ethereal event. Mom’s note: I have been there with my daughter to celebrate her birthday in princess-like style. We arrived early enough to browse the medieval village where several crafts folks were demonstrating typical crafts of the 11th Century, and then it was off to the entrance line for a photo take and to enjoy the chaotic atmosphere of the Hall of Arms. Wearing our golden (cardboard) crowns we found our way into the theater. The feast was served; the lights dim, and using stroboscopic and pyrotechnic effects a story of six knights in shining armor was told with tournament jousts and other tests of skill. Swords clashed and everyone in the audience cheered for their favorite knight – good old fashioned fun. Bonus points: During the evening it is possible to purchase the photo taken at the entrance. Maybe a little odd but it makes a nice souvenir.

Kissimmee offers plenty of terrific mother/daughter girlfriend activities to share. Create your getaway in Central Florida – the choices are many from spa time and yoga classes to shopping and dining out. To discover more fun vacation choices, call toll-free 1-800-333-KISS or log on to www.FloridaKiss.com

Planning Details
MassageWorks 405 Church St. Kissimmee, FL 34741. (407) 932-0300 or www.massageworksdayspa.com

A-Team Massage (321) 251-8267 or a-teammassage.com

Arabian Nights 3081 Arabian Nights Blvd. Kissimmee, FL 34747. (407) 239-9223 or www.Arabian-Nights.com

Medieval Times Dinner Theater1W. Irlo Bronson Hwy. Kissimmee, Florida 34746. Toll-free 1- 888-WE-JOUST or 1-888-935-6878 or www.medievaltimes.com/home.aspx

Content created by FamilyTravelFiles and images provided by Kissimmee CVB. Copyright 2008.