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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.

Fun and Exciting Summer Things To Do In Yellowstone National Park

The list of summer things to do in Yellowstone National Park makes it one of the best weekend getaways this season.  The national park is visited by millions of visitors during holidays because of its magnificent beauty as well as the wide variety of summer and winter activities it offers.

Yellowstone National Park stretches across Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, that has an intact ecosystem with a diverse and numerous wildlife. Within the park is a collection of some of the most extraordinary geysers, hot springs and the world-famous Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. It is home to various animals such as elk, buffalo, bison, grizzly bears and wolves.

Kick off your summer by going out to experience the hundreds of geysers and hot springs in Yellowstone National Park. The Old Faithful geyser erupts more frequently than any of the big geysers in the park, which is one of the reasons why it is the most popular geyser in the world. Check out the very colorful Grand Canyon of Yellowstone where you can drive around. Hiking the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is even more rewarding as you get to see breathtaking vantage points of the canyon and the waterfalls. The Canyon Village visitor center for any inquiries and tips you might need before the hike. The Canyon also has an evening program that will educate its visitors with a narration of Yellowstone's natural and cultural history.

Get your cameras ready for wildlife sighting as you wander around Hayden Valley, which is part of the Yellowstone River and sits between Yellowstone Lake and Upper Falls. It is a natural prairie with plenty of opportunity to see the animals that reside in the park. Find yourself a comfortable spot along the Yellowstone River and explore the history of the Fishing Bridge area as well as the polka-dotted cutthroat trout.

Yellowstone National Park is rich with a lot of amazing gifts of nature. Visit the Mud Volcano where you can view colorful and interesting mudpots and hot springs. You can also have the opportunity to find out the explosive past and future of Yellowstone. There is also the Morning Glory Pool that resembles the morning glory flower, and is arguably the most beautiful pool in all of Yellowstone. Then, discover Yellowstone's geographic past and learn about its present through the colorful hues of the Mammoth Hot Springs. In the evening, an illustrated lecture on Yellowstone's history takes place at the Mammoth Campground amphitheater. Other things you can find in the park worth noting are the Fountain Paint Pot and the Biscuit Basin.

All the above mentioned activities can be explored by joining the Ranger-led programs if it makes you more comfortable discovering the park with a guide rather than on your own. No matter how you choose to go around, though, you are certainly going to marvel over everything there is in the park while fishing, hiking, camping and viewing exhibits and films. Yellowstone National Park is definitely filled with adventurous summer things to do that defines an amazing vacation.

Myrtle Beach, Family Vacation Ideas

From beach combing and surf walking to heart stopping shows, living history and more golf than one family vacation will hold, the vacation possibilities are endless. Myrtle Beach is family friendly.  Known for great golf and awesome entertainment, the area also offers an array of day adventures to create the perfect family vacation. You’ll find sun soaked beach days, shopping bargains, scrumptious seafood, kid-friendly golf and plenty of entertainment to fill the nights. Our idea menu includes the good stuff. Let the fun begin.

Castle a spell. MagiQuest is a new family vacation experience that utilizes patented technology to create a magical experience for participants. It all begins with a personalized  “magic wand” to enjoy during the interactive adventure and  keep for the future. Participants of all ages are quickly trained as “Magi,” (short for magical beings). The training results in skills that when used correctly set off lightning bolts, control music, open treasure chests and perform heroic deeds. The fun involves role-playing, teamwork, skill and imagination. Even Harry Potter would approve.

Play in the Sun. Myrtle Beach’s Family Kingdom Amusement Park has over 30 rides including an all-wooden roller coaster, the Swamp Fox, a long flume, Go-Kart tracks, bumper cars, a historical carousel, and the largest Ferris wheel in the state. Admittance to the park is free, and the rides are pay as you go – so family’s can do as much or as little as they want. For a great way to cool off families should try the nearby Ocean Front Water Park, Myrtle Beach’s only water park actually on the ocean. With three wet-and-wild water flumes, one with a 185-foot drop, two exhilarating speed slides and many other water-themed rides and attractions the water park is the ideal way to beat the heat.

Count the animals. Low Country History & Wildlife Preserve is part of the tranquil Brookgreen Gardens. The options for families are unique to the area. From bouncing along in an oversized jeep to gliding along in a 48-passenger pontoon boat, the experience will be one-of-a-kind.  The all-natural exhibit showcases the history from the time of the early Native American residents. The Low Country habitats feature non-releasable animals and include a waterfowl aviary built over a tidal swamp, river otter and alligator habitats along a creek. Bonus points: Interpreters onsite provide a variety of ways for visitors to interact with nature and its inhabitants.

The wheels [on the bikes] go round and round. Burn off some energy, let the kids pedal and relax or skate along the Strand. Bicycles-n-Gear is Myrtle Beach’s premier cycling shop since 1988 has plenty of options for families. Located inside of the Sports Corner they carry only top-of-the-line bicycles, inline skates and everything you need to enjoy South Carolina’s Grand Strand on non-motorized wheels.

Create KidsArt at the beach. Easy to enjoy, family friendly and welcoming best describe The Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum located footsteps from the beach. They provide ongoing discovery programs for young children as well as families. The ambience created by the former beach house turned art museum is peaceful and inspiring. The contemporary galleries do not overwhelm instead offering an energizing tribute to art and living. Bonus points: Second Saturdays at the Art Museum offers a chance for children to explore their creativity through a variety of arts and themes. Fun stuff includes faux stained glass, photo journals, strip quilts, wearable art and sand candles.

Walk through the water. Believe it or not, Ripley’s has an amazing aquarium at Broadway at the Beach. It showcases some of the worlds' most curious as well as awesome aquatic life. Interactive and inviting the displays invite questions and provoke thought. Touch a horseshoe crab; pet a manta ray; crawl through a tunnel or watch a diver feed the fish; it is fun for all ages. New for 2006, Mars - the Search for Life.  Explore the surface of Mars, Create a sandstorm and drive a Mars Rover in the exceptional hands-on exhibition that probes the question "Is there life on Mars"? Bonus points: Throughout the year they offer special camps for children.

Kids golf for free. The Myrtle Beach area has an organized program that provides young golfers, when playing with a paying companion, to play at no cost. Select a golf package and ask about the free golfing with children.  The whole family can take advantage of these specials. Individual rounds or multi-course rounds are all priced to provide “Kids Play Free” every afternoon with a paid adult golfer. The rule is one junior for each paid adult and the deal may be combined with special golf packages making the option quite attractive. Discovery: Myrtle Beach is a First Tee community. Better yet, for those who enjoy the short game, Myrtle Beach area has nearly 50 mini golf locations so, having fun golfing does not have to be serious.

Explore together. If your holiday includes young children then a visit to the Children's Museum is a perfect fit. Located near Broadway at the Beach, the spunky space encourages little ones to touch, explore and play. Need to know: The Myrtle Beach website has a special section dedicated to kids. It includes coloring pages and word games.

To see the bigger picture, make vacation plans and take advantage of website online discounts go to www.visitmyrtlebeach.com

Here is the deal. No family vacation in Myrtle Beach is complete without a few deals. From the Myrtle Beach website print coupons to redeem on your vacation. Fun deals: Participating in the Amusements/Water Parks category: Broadway at the Beach, Brookgreen Gardens, Family Kingdom Amusement Park Grand Prix Family Thrill Park, MagiQuest, Myrtle Waves Water Park, NASCAR, Speedpark, Pavilion Amusement Park. U-Save Auto Rental and Planet Hollywood are on the list. Golf deals: For golfing you will find discounts provided by Cane Patch Par 3 Golf & Driving Range, Captain Hook's Adventure Golf, Dragon's Lair Fantasy Golf, Jungle Safari Mini Golf, Jurassic Golf, Midway Par 3 at South Beach Resort, Myrtle Beach National, Shipwreck Island Adventure Golf. Shopping deals: Find deals for shopping at Barefoot Landing, Bass Pro Shops, Coastal Grand Mall and Colonial Mall. Entertainment deals: Take advantage of discounts at Alabama Theatre, Carolina Opry, Legends In Concert, Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament and Palace Theatre. Get out on the water with Downwind Sails and Ocean Watersports. Find the deals at Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.  1200 N. Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, 29577 or www.visitmyrtlebeach.com

Planning Details
MagiQuest. 1185 Celebrity Circle, 29577. 1(843) 913-9408, 1-866-353-6244 or www.magiquest.com

Family Kingdom Amusement Park and Ocean Front Water Park. 300 South Ocean Blvd, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577. 1 (843) 626-3447 or www.family-kingdom.com

Low Country History & Wildlife Preserve Brookgreen Gardens. 1931 Brookgreen Gardens Dr. Pawleys Island, 29585. 1(843) 235-6000 or  www.brookgreen.org 

Bicycles-N-Gear. 515 C Hwy. 501 Myrtle Beach, SC 29577. 1 (843) 626-2453 or www.bikesngear.com

The Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum. 3100 South Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, 29577. 1(843) 238-2510 or www.myrtlebeachartmuseum.org/kidsart.htm 

Ripley's Aquarium. 1110 Celebrity Circle, Myrtle Beach, 29577. 1(843) 916-0888, 1-800-734-8888 or www.ripleysaquarium.com 

Children's Museum of South Carolina. 2501 North Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29577. 1(843) 946-9469 or www.cmsckids.org

Content created by FamilyTravelFiles.com and images provided by South Carolina Division of Tourism. Copyright 2008.

Cheap Weekend Getaway to Philadelphia

Love flowers?  Why not head to Philadelphia for the annual Philadelphia Flower Show for a cheap weekend getaway. The flower show runs for an entire week. This year it was scheduled to take place on March 2nd until March 9th.

The 2008 Philadelphia Flower Show takes place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. It is the oldest flower and garden show in the United States, and is said to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world. Admissions to this flower show ranges from $24 to $28 for adults and $13 to $17 for children.  Bonus:  A family or group package is also available for only $21.50. The exhibits all throughout the duration of the event teach spectators how to beautify their gardens with the usual as well as exotic plants. Apt to the event's theme this year, Jazz It Up!, the Pennsylvania Convention Center is decorated with large floating piano keys and musical notes. You are sure to enjoy yourselves in this cheap weekend getaway once you enter the Rhythm Rooms Jazz Club. The center is literally an indoor garden with a series of vines all around, floral chandeliers, palm trees and more.

Aside from the abundance of flowers and other plants, there is one more essential factor in this event that is present all week: music! In the parade, traditional street dancing from the Big Easy occurs. Other local musical acts are Big Sam, Hoppin' Jam Orchestra and UCC Brass Band. These acts all perform at the Bourbon Street Stage. If the street gets too crowded for you, you do not have to worry about not being able to enjoy some music for this cheap weekend getaway. Head to the Legends Stage where homegrown talents such as Sam Ruttenberg, Denise Bruckno, and the Crosstown Brass Quintet perform classical and contemporary jazz genres.

The Philadelphia Flower Show's Competitive Class division exhibits thousands of plants, collections and flower arrangements for hundreds of different categories. This competition is judged by hundreds of judges coming from all over the United States. On this cheap weekend getaway, you get to witness the announcement of winners and the awarding ceremonies during the Philadelphia Flower Show's last day on Sunday, March 9th.

This show is a haven for those people blessed with the green thumb, or those who are interested to learn some gardening. Special attractions at the show include lectures on flower arrangement, growing orchids, container gardening, landscaping, techniques on how to repel pests and more. Other things you might find interesting at the show are gardening information from experts, culinary artistry and shopping. At the shops, you will find unique gardening books and other reading materials that will help you "jazz up" your lawn.

Conclude your weekend getaway with a visit to the Marketplace. Enjoy good buys and good deals from over 150 quality vendors. At the Marketplace, you will find sculptures, gardening tools, plants, bonsai, orchids, artworks, garden decors and furniture, jewelry, handicrafts, birdhouses, glassware and more.

The experience at the Philadelphia Flower Show not only is a fun trip. It is also very informative, especially for those who love gardening and those who want to learn. With all the exhibits, the lectures and the great deals on tools and plants, this cheap weekend getaway offers long term rewards in terms of gardening.

Guided Alaska Family Vacation

The best way to fully grasp the things you hear and read about the hypnotizing beauty of Alaska is to have an Alaska family vacation yourself. A state so big and full of wonderful sights and sounds, it will take an entire lifetime to discover everything that Alaska contributes to the world. Taking a guided Alaska vacation with a reputable company like All Alaska Tours provides you more than just a handful once-in-a-lifetime experiences as there are so many things to explore in Alaska that you can rarely find anywhere else in the world - fjords, glaciers, flight-seeing and flight-fishing, sled dog races, grizzly bears, orcas and moose.

Listening to stories and looking into the itineraries of travelers who have visited Alaska would only give you an idea of what Alaska really is, and would make you yearn to be able to describe it using your own words as seen by your own eyes. So you plan your Alaska family vacation as carefully as possible, making sure the only thing you worry about when you get there is to absorb and enjoy everything. Going to unfamiliar places can be quite stressful and dreadful. That is why there is nothing more relieving than knowing that there are two friendly long time Alaskans, Bob and Carolyn of All Alaska Tours, to show you around the place they know by heart. With sets of fun-filled activities included in their itineraries, discovering Alaska with Bob and Carolyn will guarantee you a family vacation that will certainly be carved in your memory and your children's as well.

Get ready to know Alaska the way you should through this 11 days-10 nights itinerary that All Alaska Tours prepared for you. Well-experienced in handling group tours, Bob and Carolyn will let you enjoy Alaska as if it were your family's playground with activities that will allow you to discover the natural world, participate in outdoor activities, meet new people - locals and fellow travelers alike, and, most of all, have a fun Alaska vacation with your family.

All Alaska Tours promises that your family vacation to Alaska starts as soon as you step foot on Alaskan soil, Anchorage, to be precise as they take care of your transfer from the airport to the very reputable Hotel Alyeska in Girdwood. The Hotel Alyeska has amenities you would want any hotel to have and more. More being the aerial tram ride, which is something the children would really want to do, and the Seven Glaciers Restaurant that sits a good 2,300 feet above the Hotel Alyeska on a mountain ridge accessible only through, you guessed it, the aerial tram!

The entirety of this Alaska family vacation offers you everything but the ordinary. You get to experience not the usual relaxation as you share tables with fellow Alaska adventurers for meals, gold panning at the Crow Creek gold mine where you keep all the gold you find, cruising through Prince William Sound via the Alaska Ferry, island hopping to Cordova that brims with wildlife and a very hospitable lodge affiliated with All Alaska Tours, informative glacier excursions where a naturalist specifically points out the effects of global warming to the glaciers, park visits to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Denali National Park and a dog race popularly known as the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.

The tour is tailored with an easy schedule to allow you to enjoy this vacation to Alaska stress-free and more alone-time with your family compared to any other tours in the world. You get to enjoy outdoor activities such as sea kayaking, biking or just walking around and exploring the vicinity on your own. There are still some more activities not included in the tour that you might want to do with your family that Bob and Carolyn will be most happy to organize for you like bear viewing and guided salmon fishing. In addition to that, if you wish to spice up your Alaska family vacation with something cultural and historical, your tour guides will not only organize a walking tour for you, but also lead the tour to the accessible shops, restaurants and trail systems in Anchorage, and also a visit to the Anchorage Museum of History and Art.

As warm the welcome was, so is the farewell. Allow Bob and Carolyn to indulge your family and the rest of your Alaska vacation group with a very sumptuous farewell dinner. Take this opportunity to take in all of Alaska that you have seen and experienced during your stay. More importantly, reflect on how your relationship with, not only your family but your fellow travelers and tour guides as well, flourished into a new level of friendship. Still with enough time to spare before your flight the next day, you have a choice to conclude your Alaska family vacation to explore Anchorage by yourselves or with one last activity with your tour guides.

Discovering Alaska with the help of All Alaska Tours will definitely make your family vacation such a breeze. Your memories of this Alaska family vacation will not only be filled with all things Alaska, but also with the new friends who shared the experience with you.