South America Travel

GORP - South America Resources United States Canada Europe Top Adventures Message Boards Wallpapers Travel Screensavers Slide Show -- Contests Search: Locations US States Around the Globe City Weekends Regional Guides Parks & Preserves Discussion Boards Winter Olympics 2006 Classic World Hikes Best Winter Parks Off-Beach Caribbean Ski Guide 2005-06 from Outside Online -- DESTINATIONS South America Essential South America World of the Ancient Indians Peru Top 20 Chile Top 20 Argentina Top 20 Brazil Top 20 Best of Patagonia Machu Picchu Features by Country Select Country Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador Galapagos Paraguay Peru Uruguay Venezuela _________________ Features by Activity Select Activity Paddling Hiking Biking Fishing Climbing _________________ Highlights & Resources Go Places Stone and Air Ancient cultures of the Andes. Ecuador's Outer Limits Climbing through the clouds on Mount Chimborazo. Manu Biosphere Reserve No less than 925 bird species. Do Things Running the Amazon The ultimate paddle. North Face of Aguja Poincenot A Patagonian first ascent. Peacock Bass of the Rio Negro Fishing blackwater for a colorful catch. Community Ask questions, get ideas, and give advice on the South America discussion boards . Travel Expert Tap the brain of GORP's trailblazing travel expert, Rob Sangster _default.adp -- RELATED TRIPS [South America Trips] Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Ecuador Paraguay Peru Venezuela Ski Guide 2005-06 Top North American Resorts // Best Family Skiing // Top Resorts for Beginners // Top Resorts for Experts // Best for Nightlife // Best Snowboarding // Lack of Crowds // Top Scenic Resorts // See All Resorts OUTDOOR GEAR REVIEWS [From Outside magazine] Tents // Sleeping Bags // Backpacks // Hiking Boots // Hydration Systems // Camp Stoves // Road Bikes // Mountain Bikes // Kayaks // Running Shoes // Jackets // Soft Shells // Luggage // Sunglasses // Cameras // Binoculars // Audio Players // GPS Devices [from GORP.com] GORP's full gear guide THE GEAR GUY Is there one boot to hike and climb the Americas? How can I take my two-year-old cross-country skiing? ( Outside ) What runners will keep me upright on muddy trails? ( Outside ) SEARCH THE GEAR GUY (Example: hiking boots, backpacks, tents, skis) [+] Advanced Search BUY GEAR FROM REI.com Hiking Gear Cycling Gear Paddling Gear Snow Sports Gear Alpine Ski Gear Cross Country Skiing Gear Snowboarding Gear Snowshoeing Gear Luggage & Travel Gear Women's Specific Gear Shop all Men's Outerwear Shop all Women's Outerwear Shop all Kid's Outerwear All Gear on Sale REI.com [+] Hot Topics Why do you care? 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Austria Travel Photos Austria

Austria (attitude Travel) Advice, Photos and Resources for Independent Travel Home > Austria attitude Travel Questions on Highlights of Travel Advice Background on Getting to Getting around Where to stay in Where to go in Culture Shock! Journals from Photos of Books about Resources for Maps of Language of Websites about Austria Belgium Bosnia Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Italy Japan Latvia Lithuania Malaysia Montenegro Morocco Netherlands Norway Poland Russia Serbia Singapore Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Thailand Turkey Uzbekistan Austria Home Considering Austria Austria Travel Photos Austria Bookshop Getting to Austria Consular Travel Advice UK US AUS CAN Travelling in Austria Alpine Europe attitude Travel Austria is a resource for independent travellers in Austria and a space for travellers to share original writing & photos Article Index Your questions! Travel Centre Bookshop Salzburg (more travel photos...) Salzburg (more travel photos...) attitudetravel.com SiteSearch Austria Profile Country Profile UK Foreign Office Austria Briefing The Economist Austria Profile BBC News Study of Austria US Library of Congress Background Notes US State Dept The Austrian Tirol region lies at the heart of the Alps. But Austria's heart beats to the north-east on the Danube, in the ancien regime city of Vienna. More maps... The imperial city is a popular choice of destination on backpacker travel itineraries alongside Amsterdam, Rome and Barcelona. But the Austrian capital has a fickle appeal. With cake shops instead of sports bars and mid-range pensions instead of easygoing hostels, Vienna feels very different from Prague or Budapest.While some fall in love with the seat of the Habsburg emperors, others find the city stuffy, a little dull and tiresomely expensive. That said, the Austrian capital's cultural treasures are undeniably impressive.And Vienna is certainly a good transport hub with easy connections to the Slovakian capital, Bratislava, in less than an hour and Budapest in Hungary and Brno in the Czech Republic only a little more distant. Independent Guides Click this icon to read a review of the website Link to us on your site: Open source Austria travel guide Click above for details Travel Services Ski Insurance from InsureandGo Car Hire Austria from carhire.co.uk Find cheap plane tickets on Yahoo! Travel Free Ranking and URL submission at siteranking.com Additional Resources New Article © New Author, New Place, New Month New article... [ article continues... ] Travel Articles on Austria New Article Article by New Author © 1997-2003 attitude Travel A r o u n i n m e d i a publication Professional Guides Click this icon to read a review of the website Vienna Hotels E-Partners E-Vienna Hotels proposes more than 30 properties. High quality pictures, descriptions & reviews... Austria | Belgium | Bosnia & Herzegovina | Bulgaria | Croatia | Czech Republic | Denmark | Estonia | Finland | France Georgia | Germany | Greece | Hungary | Italy | Japan | Latvia | Lithuania | Malaysia | Morocco | Netherlands | Norway | Poland Russia | Serbia & Montenegro | Singapore | Slovenia | Spain | Sweden | Switzerland | Thailand | Turkey | Uzbekistan home | free backgrounds | bookshop | travel centre | features | travellers' cafe

European Vacation? By Kent

Where Will You Spend Your European Vacation? Web EzineArticles.com Submit Articles Watch the Video -- Members Login Benefits Recent Articles Expert Authors Experts By Location Read Endorsements Editorial Guidelines Author TOS Terms of Service Ezines / Email Alerts Manage Subscriptions EzineArticles RSS Blog Forums About Us What's New Contact Us Affiliates Link To Us Privacy Policy Site Map Search All Options Search Article IDs Search Article Titles Search Articles Search Expert Authors Search Article Keywords Search Article Summary Advanced Search Power Search Email Address: Your Name: Got an Ezine Marketing or Email Newsletter Question? AskChrisKnight.com HOME :: Travel-and-Leisure / Vacation-Rentals Where Will You Spend Your European Vacation? By Kent Krueger Article Word Count: 377 [ View Summary ] Comments (0) European vacations are once again popular choices among the traveling crowd. Fears of traveling overseas have subsided and global tensions have cooled. A European vacation has much to offer but in particular, it offers an opportunity to learn more about the culture and the rich history of these interesting and glamorous people. Planning your European vacation need not be difficult. Once you determine the length of your vacation, the fun part is deciding where to spend your time. Compared with other continents, Europe is compact, and crossing borders into other countries is relatively easy provided you remember to bring a valid passport! Each country has its own draw, which can complicate your European vacation itinerary. For example, you can head to Italy where you can retrace the steps of the Ancient Romans. You can enjoy an exhilarating ski vacation in Australia or Switzerland. You can travel through the streets of England for a fun-filled evening of pub-hopping. You might travel to one of the many Greek isles where you can sit back in an ancient arena and experience an open-air performance. For a truly unique memory, nothing beats a tour of the magnificent castles that dot the German countryside. You can even spend your time doing nothing except taking in the sights and sounds of the cosmopolitan French Riviera. When packing for your European vacation, be sure to bring along a converter or adapter for your electrical items, a camera, a money bag, some Euros, and as mentioned previously, your passport. Bring along an empty duffle bag or collapsible suitcase so that youll have room to bring back all your goodies. Even if you dont plan to shop while on vacation, you will. Its an irresistible experience. Finally, bring along an appetite, because in Europe, youll experience some of the finest cuisine ever. Kent Krueger has been involved in the Travel industry for over 3 years. He has helped advise many people in the travel industry and independent corporations on travel ideas, cost savings and successfully marketing personally owned vacation rentals. Kent is the President of The Rental Network, which owns and operates two websites which have more helpful information to both rental owners and vacationers alike. You can visit them at http://www.rentals2remember.com and http://www.evaca.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kent_Krueger Additional EzineArticles from the Travel-and-Leisure:Vacation-Rentals Category: Fly Fishing Vacations Top Spots Around The World Strengthening Familial Ties: Have An Annual Family Vacation Vacation Rentals In Beautiful Texas Car Rental Safety During Traveling Hawaii Whale-Watching Think About Taking A Tour To African safari - Serengeti National Park Beware Barcelona Spain Our Visit To Door Peninsula Winery in Door County Wisconsin Booking In Advance Can Take The Headache Out Of Finding Your Cottage Mexico: Travel to The Land of Mystery Choosing the Best Accommodations for Your Orlando Vacation Why Stay in an Orlando Vacation Home? Beachfront Villas, Yachts; All-Inclusive Packages Make Great Caribbean Vacations San Antonio, Texas: Perfect For A Family Vacation Step One to Your Perfect Golf Vacation Disney Area Vacation Attractions Read This Article if You Are Tired of the Snow and Ice Storms 5 Solid Reasons to Buy a Vacation Beach House Now Keep 100% Of Your Rent By Listing Your Vacation Rental By Owner Stop Paying Standard Hotel Rates Through The Web What is Home Exchange? Costa Rica Fishing - A Great Time For Your Whole Family Mountain Cabin Rentals Staying in Discount Hotels Visit Orlando, Miami, Daytona, Naples, or Key West on Your Florida Vacation Planning Orlando Vacations, Right Down to the Sunblock Tahoe Vacations Prepare for the Fun Do You Want Just Another Vacation - Or An Adventure! Abigail's: No Ghosts Here! Mexico and Renting a House Part II Use Travel to Mend a Broken Heart - The Caribbean, Hawaii or Mexico Will Do! 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travel insurance policies and

UK Travel and Holiday Insurance in an Instant UK instant online travel and holiday insurance cover All required policy cover details and emergency telephone numbers will be on the insurance documents you receive online and via email. Read about our various travel insurance policies and find the right one for you and your family Find a complete index to our travel insurance products by clicking on the bold text above. With the information on these pages, you can make better use of our comparison and booking software, and obtain the right cover . . . at the right price. We believe travel insurance should be affordable, solid, and effective. So, these pages offer the cheapest good quality insurance in the UK. Please feel free to click on the link above and read for yourself. If you are already comfortable with the process of taking travel insurance, then simply click on one of the quotation buttons in the blue panels at the top of this page. Contacting your Emergency Services Provider? Please Note : If you bought one of our policies prior to 1st January 2004 then your emergency contact details are as follows. For emergency contact details for policies purchased after this date then click here 24 HOURS MEDICAL EMERGENCY SERVICE OPERATED BY MEDI-CALL LIMITED We try to make any claims procedures as easy as possible, but by reading a few of the rules below you can make any possible holiday claim you may need to make a lot easier. IMPORTANT - please quote Essential Travel and Scheme Number shown on the first page of your Certificate and Your Certificate Schedule Number. Medi-Call Limited provides immediate help in the event of Your illness or injury arising outside the UK (United Kingdom) - they provide 24 hour multi-lingual emergency service 365 days a year and can be contacted by telephone, telex or fax. UK Insurance Emergency Telephone Numbers Should a serious medical problem arise You must contact Medi-Call Limited immediately. (+44) 1273 321976 Fax: UK (+44) 1273 731261 Responsibility You are responsible in advising Your attending doctor to seek prior approval for any treatment except in extreme circumstances where a request for prior approval would delay surgery in a life threatening situation or medical crisis. Failure to contact Medi-Call Ltd may limit the benefits payable, or in certain circumstances, insurance cover will not be provided. When You call upon the services of Medi-Call Ltd it is a condition of the service that First Assist shall solely be responsible for all decisions on the most suitable and reasonable solution to any medical problem. The service includes, where necessary: 1. Multi-lingual assistance with hospitals and doctors 2. Repatriation arrangements and necessary escorts by a medical attendant 3. Travel arrangements for other members of Your party or next-of-kin 4. On arrival in the United Kingdom, an ambulance service to hospital or home. Please note: We are not responsible for the availability, quality or results of any medical treatment received by You. Ho To Make a Travel Insurance Claim from policies bought BEFORE 1st January 2004 All claims other than Medical Emergency Assistance must be made direct to: CLAIMS SETTLEMENT AGENCIES 308-314 LONDON ROAD HADLEIGH ESSEX SS7 2DD Telephone 01702 553443 Fax 01702 553231 They will send You a travel insurance claim form which You will need to complete and return to them with Your Certificate Schedule and any other documents requested. All Claims must be submitted within 31 days. Claims Agency For all claims we use Claims Settlement Agencies Limited who have been settling claims since 1990 and is our preferred Loss Adjusters and also handles certain insurance claims for other insurers such as AXA. They are experienced in handling and maintaining large corporate accounts in particular Air Miles. They currently have 25 staff who are processing approximately 25,000 claims per year . Emergency contact details for policies bought after 1st January 2004 Emergency Medical Assistance. It is important that in the event that you need to contact the medical emergency you must quote Optimum and your policy number ET/AON (followed by your number) Travelsolve Assistance provides immediate help in the event of an insured persons illness or injury arising outside the United Kingdom, they provide 24 hour multi-lingual emergency service 365 days a year and can be contacted by telephone or fax. Emergency Numbers are : UK: +44 (0) 1733 457593 FAX: +44 (0) 1733 502293 When an insured person calls upon the services of Travelsolve Assistance it is condition of service that Travelsolve Assistance shall be responsible for all decisions on the most suitable and reasonable solution to any medical problem. The service includes, where necessary: 1. Multi-lingual assistance with hospitals and doctors. 2. Repatriation arrangements by escort by a medical attendant. 3. Travel arrangements for other members of your party or immediate relative. 4. On arrival in the United Kingdom, an ambulance service to hospital or home. NOTE: FAILURE TO CONTACT THE ASSISTANCE COMPANY MAY RESULT IN A CLAIM BEING INVALID. Making A Claim on policies bought ON or AFTER 1st January 2004 If you need to make a claim please obtain a claim form by telephoning or writing to our claims handlers. Please note that for your claim to be considered you must register this within 28 days of returning from you trip. When contacting the claims company please insure that you quote Optimum and your policy number that will start ET/AON (followed by your policy number) At Instant Holiday Insurance we use Claims International Limited ( CIL ) who are the market leaders and are the leading specialist in there field. They have a large portfolio which includes travel and medical related claims handling, policy administration services and fulfillment services, financial protection and credit card enhancement and other related claims handling products. From 1992, CIL has been a wholly owned subsidiary of the Lindsey Morden Group of companies and as such forms part of a global network of claims handling companies, including Cunningham Lindsey, the UK's largest loss Adjuster. CIL has managed and administered over 140,000 claims per annum and has strong working relationships with major Insurers and Intermediaries as well as Lloyds Underwriters and other insurance based clients. In the event if having to make a claim on your travel insurance policy please use the contact details below: Claims International Ltd 14th Floor Leon House 201-204 High Street Croydon CR9 1ER TEL: 0208 680 5142 FAX: 0208 760 0298 info@cilint.com Once you have contact the relevant department, please return your claims form, with your original policy documents, and please insure you have photocopies or any paper work that is requested from the claims company. Tips for Travellers Abroad. Always take out Travel Insurance well in advance of travelling. The travel insurance policy will cover you for any medical expenses that you incur should you be involved in an accident or become ill and require hospitalisation . Sometimes medical costs can be astronomic and without sufficient insurance cover you could end up in serious trouble. Apart from medical expenses the policy should also cover things like; legal expenses,cancellation & curtailment, loss of money, baggage, passport, etc. and personal liability. Make sure you are covered for any activity that you intend to undertake so that you and your equipment are covered while participating, e.g. skiing, scuba diving etc. Make sure you have a signed, valid passport (and visas, if required). Also, before you go, make sure you fill in the emergency contact information page of your passport! Read the Foreign & Commonwealth Office Information Sheets (and Public Announcements or Travel Warnings, if applicable) for the countries you plan to visit. Familiarise yourself with any local laws and customs of the countries to which you are travelling and avoid violating them whilst on holiday, deal only with authorised agents when you exchange money or purchase art or antiques. Remember, while you are in a foreign country on holiday, you are subject to its laws. Make two copies of your passport identification page. This will facilitate replacement if your passport is lost or stolen. Leave one copy at home with friends or relatives. Carry the other with you in a separate place from your passport. Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency. Never leave your luggage unattended in public areas. Do not accept packages from strangers. If you plan to stay abroad for more than two months, upon arrival you should notify by phone or register in person with the British Embassy in the country you are travelling to. This will facilitate communication in case someone contacts the embassy looking for you. To avoid being a target of crime, try not to wear conspicuous clothing and expensive jewellery and do not carry excessive amounts of money or unnecessary credit cards. Finally, if you do get into trouble, contact the nearest British Embassy. Travel Insurance Policies for UK Residents in Brief With instant online quote and immediate certificate & policy cover. Travel insurance in an instance without any hassle and with totally safe online transaction from start to finish. Covering backpackers and student cover as well as wintersport for ski and snowboarders and more as well as multi & single trip policies, annual and seasonal cover for resort workers who maybe in a ski resort or holiday complex for a matter of months and need adequate cover but do not want to pay the normal travel and holiday insurance rates. Online Travel Insurance Booking Procuedures Explained in Brief You will be presented with an instant online holiday insurance quote for your selected insurance package which could be for Europe or Worldwide or ski wintersport cover for example and for your selected dates of travel. You can then either select that policy or choose an annual policy which is also returned, this is usually slightly more but obviously it covers you for a full year and not just a single trip. You then enter your details with your credit card details being last of all. You can print off your travel insurance policy and cover details online immediately. You will receive your insurance certificate also via email and regular post. site map | ski-insurance | travel sites | uk-travel-links | worldwide-travel-links | home UK Airport Hotels | Uk Airport Lounges | Short Breaks other insurance sites which also offer great rates uk income protection insurance | uk mortgage insurance | uk home insurance | uk online finance

Family Vacations - ideas

Florida Family Vacations - ideas for best Florida family vacations  You are here: About > Travel > Travel with Kids > More Beach Vacations > Florida Family Vacations - ideas for best Florida family vacations Travel Travel with Kids Essentials Family Vacation Ideas Winter and Spring Break All-Inclusive Resorts Ten Latest Family Travel Deals Family Resorts: top places; photos Articles & Resources Family Travel: What's Hot Top Vacation Spots VT, ME, NH, CT, MA, NY, PA Mexico Family Vacations Caribbean Vacations More Beach Vacations Florida Family Vacations Resorts with Water Park More Family Resorts Fun Places for Kids Disney Vacations Family Cruises Babies;Teens;Single Parents Lots More Destinations Family Travel TIPS, GAMES Buyer's Guide TAKE ALONG: Christmas books Christmas flicks Activity Kits more CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Travel with Kids newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Travel with Kids Florida Family Vacations Florida is a magnet for families, with its double whammy of theme parks and popular beaches; but beyond the best-known spots, other great Florida family vacations await. Below are a number of ideas and reviews (moving roughly clockwise around the state). Florida Family Vacations: Amelia Island Amelia Island --in the northeast near Jacksonville-- has lovelybeaches, a historic fort complete with actors who play period characters, aquaint town with historic sections, delicious sea-food, and two fineresorts that welcome families. The AmeliaIsland Plantation covers 1350 acres, has Kids' Camps for several ages, a daily "family -play" time with poolside activities. More Florida Family Vacations Top 10 Things to do in Orlando Top Tips for Visiting Walt Disney World Florida Resorts Florida Family Vacations overview Florida Vacations deals: Orlando Islands of Adventure - Universal Orlando -fun theme park The Ritz-Carleton hasa kids' program, fine dining, kiddie pool, indoor pool, and lovely beach where shallow lagoons are great for tots. Both properties have golf, fitness centers, etc. The Ritz makes a special point of celebrating holidays such as Thanksgiving, and July 4th. Space Coast 45 minutes from Orlando is 72 miles of shore known as Florida's Space Coast : the place where the moon launches blasted away from earth, and site of the shuttle launches today. Big draw here is the Kennedy Space Center , and beautiful beaches. Less known are the eco-tours: this area has saltwater estuaries, marshes, and 250 sq. miles of wildlife refuges. Orlando/CentralFlorida Family Vacations Top 10 Things to Do in Orlando How much more fun can one city take? Here's our picks for fun in Orlando, from character meals to Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, Seuss Landing to Sea-World's elite sister, Discovery Cove (a Caribbean experience in the middle of Florida.) Thinkingof visiting the mecca of family holidays, Walt Disney World?? Have a look at BeforeYou Book Lodgings first. See also WaltDisney World Resorts :Five top picks, from the luxury at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge (right), to the budget-lovers' favorite, All Star Sports Resort. Top Tips for Visiting Walt Disney World South Florida Family Vacations Club Med: Sandpiper A rare a ll-inclusive within the US, this Club Med is on the St. Lucie River, two hours from Miami or Orlandoairports, one hour from West Palm Beach. Club Med Sandpiper has a great ambiance and outstanding kids programs: a Baby Club with separate groups for different ages and stages, and excellent clubs for older kids also. Activities include waterskiing, wakeboarding, trapeze, inline skating, golf. Guests can also take optional excursions to Walt Disney World, Kennedy Space Center, etc. Sonesta Key Biscayne Beach Afamily-friendly resort at Key Biscayne, right on Miami's doorstep . Miamioffers lots of fun with kids. CheecaLodge and Spa I n the Florida Keys, Cheeca offers: snorkeling overNorth America's only natural coral reef; "snuba", a wayto dive 20 feet down without scuba gear, ok for kids as young as eight; saltwater lagoon stockedwith fish Camp Cheeca for ages 6-12, is "an award-winningmarine education/environmental awareness program". FlamingoLodge: Everglades National Park The place to stay, if you're visiting the Everglades: the only resort inthis wonderful National Park is unpretentious but comfortable, with screened-inpool and barbeque, and nearby family-friendly restaurants. Close to manyactivities. Read more about visiting the Everglades. SanibelIsland Off the west coast and near the bottom of the Florida peninsula are Sanibel Island and Captiva Island: two beautiful islands for nature lovers.No beach pollution; visitors find miles and miles of beachesperfect for kids because of the gentle waves and shallow shoreline. The islands arefamous for shelling, too. For families, the SanibelHarbor Resort and Spa is a top-rated 80-acre oceanfront resort thatoverlooks Sanibel and Captiva islands; it's noted for a Victorian style with big verandas and wicker rockers on the porch. Kids Club for ages 5-12. The Sanibel Inn has 8 acres of tropical garden, free educational activities for all ages(such as Shell Safari, or Dolphin Watch), and "nature-themed discoveryprograms" for children ages 3-12. Read more about Sanibel Island and other places to stay. South Seas Resort, Captiva Island "Paddle a kayak into a mangrove forest in search of sea turtles and hawks". Rent a boat; bike, jog; at the beach, have fun with body boards, banana boats, inner tubes. Go fishing. Rent a Hobie, or a canoe; try parasailing. Such is the life at the South Seas, which has Fun Factory kids' programs, and teen and family activities. Florida Family Vacations:Tampa Bay Area St. Pete / Clearwater Beach Dubbed "Orlando's Beach", this affordable west coast area two hours from Orlando has nature outings, cultural gems, and miles of top-rated beaches. Read about local attractions such as the (free) Seacoast Seabird Sanctuary; fun outings such as dolphin-spotting, shelling, and Captain Memo's Pirate Cruise; and three resorts that welcome families: The Radisson Sand Key an all-suite resort near Sand Key Park, Clearwater Beach. the Sheraton Sand Key - right on Sand Key Beach, where sea turtles nest the TradeWinds Island Resorts on St. Pete Beach. The family-friendly TradeWinds Grand has a giant inflatable slide and meandering little river you can navigate in a paddleboat. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay This 335-acre theme park has four thrill-ride roller coasters, three water-rides, lovely landscaped grounds, attractive African theming, and opportunities to view elephants, rhinos, giraffes, etc. A fun, pretty park that's manageable to do in one day. Swim with Manatees: Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge 75 miles north of St. Petersburg is one of the best places to see-- and even swim with-- these large gentle creatures in a natural habitat. (November to May are the best months.) More West Coast ColonyBeach Resort Thisisland resort on Longboat Key is just off the coast of Sarasota (central westcoast), south of the Tampa Bay area. (You can drive right to the property.)Children's programs, for ages 3-6 and 6-12; teen programs; tennis; lots of watersports. Bluewater Bay Resort, Niceville, Florida Locatedon the "Emerald Coast" in Northwest Florida, and voted "One of America's Top 10 Family Resorts" by Family Circle. 36 holes of golf, marine, biking and hiking trails, 4 pools, playgrounds. Northwest Florida Vacations Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort This giant 2400-acre resort has a beach side on the Emerald Coast (Gulf of Mexico) and also a bay side, with many activities: kids' sailing, kids' tennis, kayaking, putting course, Jolee Island Nature Park with pirate-ship playground, and a Kidzone with programs for ages 4-6 and 7-12. Watersports include body-surfing and Boogie boards (complimentary). Kids might also enjoy the Junior Golf Academy, with excellent instructors. Best way to get around this huge giant resort is on bikes. The centre of gravity of this huge resort is the picture-perfect Village of Baytowne Wharf. Read a review of Sandestin at TWKids, and see many photos too. Wakulla Spring In a state park in the "Panhandle" near Tallahassee is one of the largest and deepest freshwater springs in the world. Swim or snorkel in the natural pool above the spring; see alligators on a river boat tour; or do a glassbottom boat ride; dine and/or stay at a historic lodge; take nature hikes. And from About's Guide for Florida for Visitors, covering the whole state: Florida Summer Fun from A to Z 26 suggestions, from Astronaut Encounters to Zip Up Your Saddlebags (- horsey fun in Ocala.) You'll be surprised at the variety. From Teresa Plowright , Your Guide to Travel with Kids . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Advertisement Most Popular Charades -How To Play Charades Family Vacation Spots The Atlantis Resort Great Places to See Santa Disney Christmas Magic Kingdom What's Hot Grand Floridian Chinese New Year - 2006 Poconos Great Wolf Lodge photo Dog Friendly Hotels, inns, lodges -- find dog-friendly vacat... Kwanzaa Related Topics Florida for Visitors New England for Visitors Theme Parks Hotels / Resorts / Inns Parenting of K-6 Children        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Grand Floridian Chinese New Year - 2006 Poconos Great Wolf Lodge photo Dog Friendly Hotels, inns, lodges -- find dog-friendly vacat... Kwanzaa Headlines Bunch of family travel deals Latest deals added include a January Travel Special at the... First Nights! "First Night" events celebrate New Year's with family-friendly festivities-- and... Top Family Travel Trends in 2005 It's that time of year... to pause the mad dash... Bookmark the NORAD Tracks Santa site! It's not a family trip, but it's certainly a trip...