Austria Travel

iExplore Community: Austria Tourism, Things To Do In Austria, Austria Travel Keyword Search: -- Home Trip Finder Travel Guides Community Special Offers Store My iExplore Journals & Reviews | Travel Photos | Get Answers | Find a Travel Buddy | Earn Rewards advertisement Community Join the iExplore Community for FREE! Search for Travel Reviews Search for Travel Photos Write Reviews & Post Photos Find a Travel Buddy Ask a Question Log In: Email Address: Password: Not a member yet? Join now for free! What is the iExplore Community? First-hand travel reviews and photos from everyday travelers like you. Members Spotlight Jim Rosenberg writes: "Along the hundreds of miles of Great Lakes shoreline, the community of Manitowoc is a lesser-known d"... read more Drever writes: "Fading back into the mists of time their passing marked by monuments unique in Europe, the prehistor"... read more Search in Travel Reviews Travel Photos Members All Sections Advanced Search Austria > Austria Photos Search You are searching for photos from Austria Search Photos Austria Results 1 through 10 of 38 are displayed. 1 2 3 4 Destination: Austria Member: stevepage Journal: Mountaineering in the Kaiser Alps, Austria Photo Title: Kaiser Alps Review Type: Review Name: Mountaineering in the Kaiser Alps, Austria Destination: Austria Member: stevepage Journal: Mountaineering in the Kaiser Alps, Austria Photo Title: Kaiser Alps Review Type: Review Name: Mountaineering in the Kaiser Alps, Austria Destination: Austria Member: stevepage Journal: Mountaineering in the Kaiser Alps, Austria Photo Title: Kaiser Alps Review Type: Other Review Name: Gruttenhutte Destination: Austria Member: katiemustard Journal: Austria - A backpackers Journey Photo Title: Statue Review Type: Review Name: Austria - A backpackers Journey Destination: Austria Member: katiemustard Journal: Austria - A backpackers Journey Photo Title: Cathedral Review Type: Review Name: Austria - A backpackers Journey Destination: Austria Member: katiemustard Journal: Austria - A backpackers Journey Photo Title: Reflection Review Type: Review Name: Austria - A backpackers Journey Destination: Austria Member: katiemustard Journal: Austria - A backpackers Journey Photo Title: Windows Review Type: Review Name: Austria - A backpackers Journey Destination: Austria Member: katiemustard Journal: Austria - A backpackers Journey Photo Title: Hallstatt Review Type: Review Name: Neither Here nor There Destination: Austria Member: katiemustard Journal: Austria - A backpackers Journey Photo Title: Hallstatt Lake Review Type: Review Name: Neither Here nor There Destination: Austria Member: katiemustard Journal: Austria - A backpackers Journey Photo Title: Lugano Switzerland Review Type: Review Name: Neither Here nor There 1 2 3 4 Most Recent Austria Journals Wachau Cycling the Danube Bikeway The Salzkammergut Sit by the Lakes in Sunny Austria! My Austria Journal advertisement Austria Photos About Us Advertise Site Map Privacy Policy Travel Agents Contact Us iExplore has not reviewed the content found on this community page and does not endorse the information found therein.Please refer to our terms of use . Why iExplore? | Advertise | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Travel Agents --

Golf Vacation

Sedona, Arizona, Sedona Golf Resort, Arizona Golf Courses Online Tee Times | Players Club | Short Game Clinics | About SunCor | Email Club | Employment Opportunities | Contact Us Our Properties: SunRidge Canyon Fountain Hills, AZ Sedona Golf Resort Sedona, AZ StoneRidge Prescott Valley, AZ Palm Valley Goodyear, AZ Club West Phoenix, AZ Sanctuary Scottsdale, AZ Coral Canyon Washington, UT No other Sedona golf course provides a better combination of jaw-dropping splendor and exceptional challenge than the acclaimed Sedona Golf Resort. Located in the heart of one of the most captivating regions of the Southwest, the thrilling 6,646-yard, par - 71 course is widely considered among the world's most unforgettable golf experiences. Winding around the famed red rocks of Sedona, each hole provides a unique adventure. No wonder this championship Sedona golf course receives a continuous four-star rating from Golf Digest. What's more, Sedona Golf Resort's 18 holes of unparalleled enjoyment are only a short drive from Phoenix or Flagstaff. Discover your personal red rock retreat at the Sedona Golf Resort community. This well planned Sedona golf course offers you many attractive accommodation choices nearby, including Golden Heritage Homes, Hilton Sedona Resort and Sunterra's Ridge Timeshares. Also nearby is The Ridge Spa & Racquet Club, which offers first-class amenities for fitness and relaxation all year round. Famous cowboys saddled up long before anyone teed up at the Sedona Golf Resort. The 18 holes of unequalled championship golf are located where many Western movies of the 1930s and 1940s were filmed. The Sedona Golf Resort is also a museum of sorts. Between the 1st and 18th hole you can still see the remains of the handmade red rock wall from Sedona's original homesteads. Make The Sedona Golf Resort the next Sedona golf course you play! Come experience the splendor of this amazing Sedona golf course for yourself. Please call for more information (928) 284-9355 or (877) 733-9885. Home | Site Map Online Tee Times | Course Up Close | Promotions & Partners | Events | Instruction | Clubs | Contact Us Links | Programs | Tournaments | Weddings & Banquets Events | StoneRidge Destination | Sedona Destination | Sanctuary Destination | PalmValley Destination | CoralCanyon Destination 2005 - SunCor Development Company All Rights Reserved. Web Site by Sitewire Marketspace Solutions, LLC --

Switzerland Travel Guide @

Switzerland Travel Guide @ TravelNotes.org Car Hire Cruises Flights Hotels Tours Vacations About Travel Notes™ Destinations Budget Travel Feedback Search Travel Forums Travel Writers Africa Asia Caribbean Europe Middle East North America South America Oceania Switzerland Switzerland Travel Guide @ TravelNotes.org Around Switzerland , Basle , Bern , Geneva , Hotels in Switzerland , Languages in Switzerland , Luzern , Map of Switzerland , Swiss Alps , Swiss Tourism , Swiss Tours , Swiss Travel Agents , Switzerland Directories , Travel in Switzerland , Zrich . Round The World Flights - Free TravelNotes e-mail Flag of Switzerland Switzerland is also called La Suisse in French; Schweiz in German; and Svizzera in Italian. Local Currency Convert your currency into Swiss francs. Buy a Map of Switzerland Countries neighbouring Switzerland are: Italy , France , Germany , Austria and Liechtenstein . National Anthem of Switzerland. Food Travel Fiction Health Kids Bios Humor Mags Software Gifts Tech Business Other Your Ad Here Travel Notes Mailing List News Headlines World News Directory of newspapers and news sources from around the world. Hotel City Search : Hotels in Switzerland Find and Book a Hotel in Austria Hotels in Switzerlad by City : Bern , Geneva , Lugano , Zurich . Popular Destinations in Switzerlan d : Crans-Montana , Davos Klosters , Lake Lugano , Les Quatre Valles , St. Moritz , Zermatt . Languages in Switzerland There are four national languages in Switzerland, and English isn't one of them. German -- or a Swiss dialect of it (Schwyzerttsch) -- is the most widely spoken. French is the spoken language of the Romand cantons: Geneva, Vaud, Neuchtel, Fribourg, Jura, and the western part of Valais. Italian is mainly reserved for the southern canton of Ticino, but is still heard in the major cities. The fourth national language, Romansh , is spoken by less than 1 per cent of the people -- mainly in the mountainous canton of Graubnden (or Grisons, in French). Around Switzerland Geneva and Zurich are important cities in Switzerland, but Bern is the capital. Bern The capital of Switzerland , also spelt Berne, is on the Aare River towards the west of the country. A bear is the emblem of Berne, and the bear pit -- maintained since 1513 -- is a popular tourist attraction. Bern was founded in 1191 and still has a medieval feel to it. Bern Tourismus : Bern is quieter than Zurich or Geneva, but there's still more to the capital than a bear pit and the houses of parliament. Geneva Situated on Lac Leman, or Lake Geneva, the city is in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, right on the border with France . Ville de Geneve : Geneva is widely recognised as the city of peace and major international negotiations. The Red Cross was set up here, and Geneva also hosts the UN European headquarters, the World Health Organisation, and the High Commission for Refugees. Zrich Zurich : Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the financial capital of the country. The Swiss stock exchange is here, and the elegant shops in Bahnhofstrasse still smell of money. Hotel Alexander, Zurich : Centrally located, three-star hotel in Zurich's Niederdorfstrasse, 5 minutes from Zurich main station. The best deal in town. Zuri Cam : See the Limmatquai from the top of Hotel Central in Zurich. Swiss Alps As one of the most mountainous countries in Europe, Switzerland has plenty of Alpine resorts and mountain peaks to choose from. Tourist Mountains : The Matterhorn is in the Valais, above Zermatt, while the Jungfrau and the Eiger are in the Bernese Oberland, near Interlaken. The Eiger is notorious for its fearsome North Face. Gimmelwald : Not to be confused with Grindlewald, Gimmelwald is a tiny, timeless, sleepy village at the far end of the Lauterbrunnen valley, accessible by train and car from Interlaken. Gimmelwald.com : Alex visited Gimmelwald during his four country tour of Europe, fell in love with the place, bought the domain name and created this wonderful tribute. Meet the people through Alex's eyes and find out how to get to this little part of Alpine paradise. Interlaken Tourism : Situated between Lakes Brienz and Thun, in the Bernese Oberland, Interlaken is a popular resort all year round. You can even see the Jungfrau peak from the town. Grindelwald Grindelwald is an Alpine village in the Bernese Oberland. Its world-famous attractions include the Eiger, the Jungfraujoch and the longest glacier in the Alps - protected by the UNESCO Natural World Heritage. Hotel Kreuz & Post : Located in the centre of Grindlewald (near the train station, sport complex and main shopping district) the Hotel Kreuz andPost offers tastefully equipped rooms, junior suites and panorama suites with bath/shower/WC, radio, telephone, minibar, colour TV and hair dryer. All south facing rooms come with a balcony and magnificent view. Luzern (Lucerne) Luzern : The old wooden bridge was destroyed by fire a while back, but has been beautifully restored. Basle (Ble) Note the different names for the city: German -- Basel French -- Ble English -- Basle Italian -- Basilea Basel Tourismus : Often overlooked by visitors to Switzerland, Basle is on the border with Germany and France and is an important cultural centre. Travel in Switzerland By Car -- There are no tolls on the motorways in Switzerland, although you will need to buy a vignette to stick in the windscreen if you drive your own car in the country. These are available at service-stations and at the border -- Switzerland is not in the European Union. If you hire a car in Switzerland, there will already be one in the windscreen. By Train : Travel by rail is very convenient in Switzerland, and the trains -- cog-railways -- take passengers up some of the steepest, snowiest slopes; even in winter. If a train doesn't go there, to Saas Fe for example, then yellow PTT busses will. You can catch them from from post-offices in the smallest villages and near train station in the larger towns. By Boat -- There are also many lakes in Switzerland and you can travel between the towns on a boat. On Lake Contstance, Bodensee in German, you can go across the lake, from Romanshorn, to Germany or Austria . If you're in Lausanne, an interesting day trip is across Lake Geneva to Evian, France -- don't lose all your money in the casino though. Swiss Tourism Swiss Castles : The castles are sorted by canton, although the descriptions and further information are written in French. At least you can view the photographs. Swiss Club International : Summer camps in Switzerland for 12-18 year olds; learning and cultural enrichment through travel and direct involvement in a great variety of fun activities. Switzerland Tourism : Choose the country you're travelling from. Organised Tours in Switzerland Alps by Motorbike : Beach's Alpine adventure takes in the mountains of Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland and France. You may not hear the cow bells through the helmet, but the scenery is breathtaking. Bosenberg Motorcycle Excursions : Scheduled 12-day tours on 3 Alpine routes start at Frankfurt/Main, Germany. Tours are for discriminating motorcyclists where the destination is almost as important as the ride itself and are described in a 16-page full-colour brochure. 3% discount to Travel Notes members . Switzerland Directories Swiss Telephone Book : You can search the whole of Switzerland if you think that someone has moved. Swiss Travel Agents Last Minute Travel : If you're in Switzerland and want to get away for a week or two, these are some of the travel options on offer. Searches the major Swiss tour operators and seems to power the flight search engine that the others use. Esco : Provides holiday packages around the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, and Caribbean. Founded in 1953 and based in Basel. Helvetic Tours : Part of the Kuoni Group -- available in French and German. Hotelplan : Founded in 1935, you'll usually find a Hotelplan office near some of the larger Migros chains. Imholz : Book last minute holidays, flying out of Zurich or Geneva, or choose to tour one of Europe's other major cities. Kuoni : Founded by Alfred Kuoni in 1906, the holding company is headquartered in Zurich and has subsidiaries around the world. In 2001, Kuoni won the World Travel Award as best Tour Operator for the 4th time in a row. Passepartout : RBM's flight ticketing specialists. RBM : Based in Zurich with a nice selection of catalogues. Reisen Netto : The premise of this new brand is to lists prices that are truly all-included prices (no airport taxes and other surcharges although you'll have to pay your own bar bill) -- launched in 2002, by Kuoni. Vgele Reisen : Founded in 1988 as a sister firm of the Charles Vgele clothing retailer, soon to be swallowed up by TUI along with Imholz -- for Kuoni to come along and buy a 49% stake in the group. The Vgele catalogue does have a few more exotic destinations to choose from, than the average sun and sand package holiday company. Europe Travel Forum : From Albania to Vatican City, Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, Europe is culturally eclectic and full of lavish history. Join us in the travel forums if you have a question about Europe or would like to share your experiences about travelling or living in Europe. The Internet TravelNotes.org Switzerland Travel Guide Flight Tickets : Save money on Round The World flight tickets. Travel News : Get the inside scoop with the latest travel features and tips. Past Articles . Airlines & Airports : This travel article points you to airlines and the three letter airport codes with links to their websites. Cyber Cafes : The Internet Caf Guide. Weather Outlook Car Hire Cruises Flights Hostels Tours Vacations Destinations Budget Travel Feedback Meta-Travel Travel Forums Travel Writers Africa Asia Caribbean Europe Middle East North America South America Oceania Travel Directory : Europe : Switzerland Travel Guide -- Submit to Travel Notes | Advertise on TravelNotes.org | Favourite Destinations | Magun'sCompass | Travel Articles | Writers | | Airlines | Airports | Car Hire | Cruises | Flights | Hotels | Online Reservations | Vacation Rentals | | Casinos | Olympics | World Cup | General Disclaimer | Meta-Travel | Search Resources | | TravelNotes is a Trademark of TravelNotes.org | Travel Notes Blog | Add URL | Add to Favorites The URL for this page is: http://www.travelnotes.org/Europe/switzerland.htm

Switzerland Travel Deals Switzerland

Switzerland tourism - Switzerland vacation reviews - Switzerland vacations - TripAdvisor Switzerland vacations - Switzerland tourism Sign in • Sign up Home > Europe > Switzerland > Switzerland Tourism Switzerland tourism: Overview Hotels Flights Attractions Deals Forums Maps, etc. All Switzerland reviews Search (e.g., Boston hotels, Las Vegas, Paris art museum) Switzerland Switzerland Overview All Switzerland Reviews Switzerland Hotels Flights to Switzerland Switzerland Deals Switzerland Attractions Switzerland Forums Switzerland Maps Switzerland Discount Hotels Switzerland Vacation Packages e-mail this page to a friend Popular cities Aargau Hotels Adelboden Hotels Appenzell Hotels Ascona Hotels Basel Hotels Bern Hotels Bernese Oberland Hotels Crans-Montana Hotels Davos Hotels Fribourg Hotels Geneva Hotels Grindelwald Hotels Grisons Hotels Gstaad Hotels Interlaken Hotels Lausanne Hotels Locarno Hotels Lucerne Hotels Lugano Hotels Montreux Hotels Saas-Fee Hotels St. Gallen Hotels St. Moritz Hotels Swiss Alps Hotels Ticino Hotels Valais Hotels Vaud Hotels Wengen Hotels Zermatt Hotels Zurich Hotels Read more Switzerland tourism Switzerland vacations - Switzerland tourism Sponsored links * Switzerland Travel Deals Switzerland : Book Best Available Room. ClassicVacations.com Call 800-921-2680 to find your luxury travel specialist Switzerland : Book Now - Pay on Checkout! Venere.com Buying Direct Means Lower Prices. Hotels, B&Bs, Apartments and More. Switzerland : Vacation Planning Experts. ClassicVacations.com Call 800-921-2650 to find your luxury travel specialist 300 Hotels in Switzerland www.bookings.ch Book a hotel in Switzerland online. Great rates. No reservation costs! All results: View all 5,871 Switzerland travel deals Where do you want to go today? Find all the best web-based write-ups and deals on your chosen destination. View map of Switzerland and choose your destination >> View all Switzerland hotels Switzerland Hotel Recommendations Other Destinations Find a great hotel based on web-wide popularity and coverage. Top-Rated hotels: Coeur des Alpes , Zermatt, Valais, Swiss Alps Widder Hotel , Zurich Chalet Fontana , Murren, Bernese Oberland, Swiss Alps Caprice Hotel , Wengen, Bernese Oberland, Swiss Alps Victoria Jungfrau Hotel , Interlaken, Bernese Oberland, Swiss Alps Rugenpark Hotel / B&B Interlaken , Interlaken, Bernese Oberland, Swiss Alps Badrutt's Palace Hotel , St. Moritz, Grisons, Swiss Alps Hotel Adler , Zurich Hotel Zum Storchen - a Summit Hotel , Zurich Hotel Eden au Lac , Zurich View all Switzerland hotels Find top hotels by destination: Select your destination Basel Bern Bernese Oberland Davos Geneva Interlaken Lausanne Lucerne Lugano St. Moritz Swiss Alps Valais Zermatt Zurich Popular Switzerland Destinations Check out these popular places: Basel Bern Bernese Oberland Davos Geneva Interlaken Lausanne Lucerne Lugano St. Moritz Swiss Alps Valais Zermatt Zurich Switzerland Attractions Top Switzerland Attractions: Museum of Art (Kunsthaus Zurich) , Zurich Cathedrale de St-Pierre , Geneva Chateau de Chillon , Montreux, Vaud Little Carouge (Carougka) , Geneva International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum (Musee International de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge) , Geneva Great Church (Grossmunster) , Zurich Church of Our Lady (Fraumunster) , Zurich Jungfrau , Grindelwald, Bernese Oberland, Swiss Alps The Jungfraujoch Experience , Interlaken, Bernese Oberland, Swiss Alps Munster (Cathedral) , Basel Click above or search for more attractions in your destination: Select your destination Basel Bern Bernese Oberland Davos Geneva Interlaken Lausanne Lucerne Lugano St. Moritz Swiss Alps Valais Zermatt Zurich Switzerland Articles and Guidebooks SmartDeals From tips & tricks to rants & raves. Read the best sources and the most up-to-date reviews... "Overview of Switzerland," Frommer's "Swiss values: majestic views, challenging slopes," Nov 13, 2005 , Boston.com / Boston Globe "Going To: Bern," Jun 26, 2005 , New York Times (free registration required) "In Zurich, More Than Steeple Chasing," Jun 19, 2005 , Washington Post (free registration required) Read all Switzerland reviews Find a great Switzerland hotel deal! SmartDeals show you the best rates on the best hotels. Victoria Jungfrau Hotel Average price: $1552 Victoria Jungfrau Hotel - Book best available room - ClassicVacations.com More reviews, deals Hotel Zum Storchen - a Summit Hotel Average price: $421 Hotel Zum Storchen - a Summit Hotel - Book Now! - Venere.com More reviews, deals Hotel Adler Average price: $176 Hotel Adler - Great Rates - Otel.com More reviews, deals View all SmartDeals TripAdvisor Switzerland Traveler Forums Travelers like you give candid advice on hotels and much more. Join the Discussion March Train Tour (3 replies, 3:52 pm, today) Holiday Wishes (6 replies, 9:16 am, yesterday) Tips for a trip to Switzerland in July (7 replies, 4:35 am, Dec 26, 2005) Read all Switzerland discussions Post a new Switzerland topic Share Your Travel Savvy skiing in late March in Switzerland (no replies, 4:41 pm, yesterday) 4 Day trip to Switzerland in Middle of March (no replies, 1:10 pm, yesterday) Zurich and Genava (no replies, 10:31 pm, Dec 13, 2005) Browse all Switzerland discussions Free alerts on Switzerland Subscribe to our TripWatch newsletter: Weekly alert to new reviews and deals Personal watch list is customizable to add other cities, hotels or attractions Plus getaway ideas from your hometown ( new feature, limited coverage ) Let Us Watch Switzerland for You E-mail: About TripAdvisor TripAdvisor provides unbiased reviews, articles, recommendations and opinions on Switzerland vacations. Recommendations for hotels, resorts, inns, vacations, travel packages, travel guides and lots more! Visit TripAdvisor in another language: About Us | Membership | Site Map | Become an Affiliate | Top Cities | Hotel Reservations | Hotel Deals | Links | TripAdvisor Gear Popular Hotels: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , by city TripAdvisor Recommends: Las Vegas hotels , London hotels , Paris hotels , Rome hotels , New York City hotels , Chicago hotels , Orlando hotels © 2005 TripAdvisor, Inc. All rights reserved. TripAdvisor Terms of Use and Privacy Policy . * TripAdvisor, Inc. is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site... ( more ) TripAdvisor, Inc. is not responsible for content on external web sites.

Family Vacation Ideas Winter

family vacations - family travel deals & family vacation ideas  You are here: About > Travel > Travel with Kids 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 From Teresa Plowright , Your Guide to Travel with Kids . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Bunch of family travel deals Latest deals added include a January Travel Special at the one-of-a kind Atlantis Bahamas (with 14-acre "waterscape", shark lagoons, subterranean giant aquariums with Atlantis theme, lazy river, and waterslides-- not to mention spa, dining, and casino.) Also: Alaska Airlines Vacations has announced the return of its Kids Fly Free to Disneyland deal: a great promotion that both Alaska and United Airlines repeat every year for travel after New Year's. Alaska's travel dates extend through most of June. Check out these promotions and more of the Ten Latest Travel Deals : then check back frequently, as new deals get slotted in. Wednesday December 28, 2005 | permalink First Nights! "First Night" events celebrate New Year's with family-friendly festivities-- and as if that weren't good enough, they're low-cost, too. Read more about First Night events , and find celebrations in many cities. Wednesday December 28, 2005 | permalink Top Family Travel Trends in 2005 It's that time of year... to pause the mad dash of daily life, and try to figure out, how the heck did all those months go by so fast, and what the heck did it all mean? Family Travel Trend Number 1: Splish, Splash Our pick for biggest family vacation trend for 2005 is Big Splashes at Family Resorts : a whole bunch of resorts opened private water parks for their guests this year -- such as Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn (aka NickHotel), pictured right, in Orlando, which added not one but two water parks. Trend Two: new major players on the family vacation scene In this flurry of water play in 2005, one can see some major new players muscling their way up and out of the local scene. Great Wolf Lodge , for example -- one of the main resorts in waterpark super-town, Wisconsin Dells-- leads the pack in expanding beyond the Dells: its new Great Wolf Poconos resort (left) joins properties in Niagara Falls, Virginia, Sandusky Ohio, and more. Meanwhile, The Atlantis was already a behemoth in the Bahamas, with it's amazing 14-acre "waterscape". Now, it's not only expanding there -- with an upscale new Tower and a major new waterpark area -- its also about to replicate. The Atlantis The Palms Dubai is being built half-way around the globe, with 50-acre waterscape, a Ziggurat Temple with eight waterslides, 2-kilometer river ride, and much more. These brand-building resort openings make one wonder: what about NickHotel ? Can a concept this good be confined to one place? Trend Three: So who's your animated character? NickHotel is a good illustration of another trend, with its celebrity residents SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, the RugRats, and other animated characters from Nickelodeon tv. Animated characters have of course long been a feature at the Disney theme parks,but these days, they're popping up in more and more places. SpongeBob has done guest appearances at a number resorts. Elmo and Cookie Monster hang out at Beaches Resorts , thanks to a multi-year deal with Sesame Street. So will we see bidding wars, among resorts desperate for cartoon mascots? Stay tuned, in 2006... The big(gest) picture There were of course many more Grand Openings etc. in 2005 -- see Family Travel Newsmakers for a few. All the above paints a picture of a burgeoning time for family travel. Families are traveling more together, a trend that grew after 9-11. Also, it's so easy to "bring the kids" when virtually every resort has a kids' club, and some take kids' programs to soaring heights. But perhaps the most important travel story of 2005 is an invisible one: no news is good news, as, thankfully, another year of travel has proceeded peacefully with no trauma of terrorist attacks. Yet 2005 did see destruction: the tsunami and hurricane season battered many tourist zones, not only causing immediate damage but reminding everyone how important tourism is for local welfare. So please remember these areas as we open up the old hearts and wallets, in the last days of 2005. See also: Family Travel News-makers in 2005 2005: Big Splashes -- new indoor and outdoor water parks at Family Resorts Sunday December 25, 2005 | permalink Bookmark the NORAD Tracks Santa site! It's not a family trip, but it's certainly a trip that fascinates families... Every year, the official NORAD site gives a bit of magic to millions of kids: they can watch Santa's flight tracked by an official aerospace agency. Make sure you have the website-- and the right plug-ins-- all lined up for the big night. See: Track Santa on Christmas Eve at the NORAD web site . Saturday December 24, 2005 | permalink Christmas at Hershey - & Holiday Season countdown Three hours from NYC, 1.5 hours from Baltimore, "Chocolate Town USA" has several attractions, most notably Hersheypark and a historic hotel. In December, Hersheypark turns into Christmas Candyland. Even better, Hershey PA has a bunch of holiday getaway packages. Read about Christmas at Hershey . And lots more, in the Holiday Season Countdown: Gift ideas for traveling kids : baby gifts, stuffies, Leapfrog Leapster, activity kits, and more Ten Holiday Packages : "Home for the Holidays" package in Vermont with Christmas trimmings, including your own tree to decorate in your room; The Polar Express train in New Hampshire; 12 Days of Christmas at Sea Island... new : Holiday Package in the White Mountains, NH Disney Christmas: special events at Disney World include Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights; Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party; Holidays Around the World and Candlelight Processional... and that's not all. more Holiday Season in Orlando : it's the uber -destination for families, and the fun keeps escalating many more Holiday Season events in many cities Christmas Eve: on the big night, don't forget to track Santa's flight! Every year, the official NORAD site gives a bit of magic to millions of kids: they can watch Santa's flight tracked by an official aerospace agency. Make sure you have the website-- and the right plug-ins-- lined up and ready to go, to Track Santa's Flight on Christmas Eve. Kwanzaa : many cities have Kwanzaa celebrations , from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 New Year's Eve: finally, wrap up the year with a First Night : family-friendly and affordable New Year's Eve celebrations, staged in many cities. Read more... Saturday December 17, 2005 | permalink 2005: Big Splashes -- new indoor and outdoor water parks at Family Resorts Looking back at the year that was: in 2005 a trend become a tidal wave as multiple family resorts made major splashes with on-site water parks for their guests. For example: Sunset Beach Resort & Spa -- a value-priced all-inclusive in Jamaica-- opened the Pirate's Paradise water-park, above. Click to read about new water parks at Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn, Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos, Six Flags Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Waterpark, Sunset Beach Resort in Jamaica; and a major planned waterpark at the Atlantis Resort. See also: Family Travel Trends in 2005 Family Travel Newsmakers in 2005 Wednesday December 14, 2005 | permalink Visit an Ice Hotel It's like the essence of winter: so ethereally beautiful, so crystal cold, so melted by spring. There are two Ice Hotels, one in Sweden, one in Quebec. Far more people do tours than stay overnight; but those who do stay sleep in warm mummy-bags on top of reindeer skins on top of sculpted-ice beds: is this cool, or what? 28 degrees cool... read about the Ice Hotel in Sweden and Quebec take a photo tour of a past Ice Hotel in Quebec Note : check out a Happy Frosty Holidays promotion at the Quebec Ice Hotel Saturday December 10, 2005 | permalink Family Vacation Idea: Marien Coral by Hilton Coral by Hilton is a brand of the giant Hilton chain that should pique the interest of families: these four resorts in the Dominican Republic are all-inclusive, have kids clubs and are family-friendly, and offer a good price point. See photos of the Marien Coral by Hilton , and a profile for families , too. See more resorts in the Dominican Republic See also these other recent resort profiles: NEW: Natura Park Eco-Resort , DR: in Punta Cana, Bavara Beach area Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman : Ambassadors of the Environment Kids Program created by jean-Michel Cousteau Great Wolf Poconos : brand new; rustic chic and indoor waterpark Six Flags Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Waterpark : also brand new, and the first hotel with indoor waterpark in NY state Hilton Los Cabos : sheltered cove for swimming (a plus in Los Cabos) Riu Ocho Rios : brand-new all-inclusive in Jamaica Dreams Los Cabos : all-inclusive in the popular Los Cabos area in Baja, western Mexico Grace Bay Club : luxury resort in Turks & Caicos; suites, kids program Monday December 05, 2005 | permalink Family Vacation Idea: Ski Utah Think Utah's out of the way? Think again: hop a direct flight (on an economy airline like Southwest) to Salt Lake City. Just an hour after you land you can be airborne again: on a ski lift. Solitude has a "village" that's great for families, with outdoor pools, game room, mini-movie theater. And there's six other resorts less than an hour from the airport. Click above for Solitude, or read about Alta terrific skiers-only ski resort , or other Salt Lake City skiing . More Ski Resorts: Colorado, Vermont, etc. Saturday December 03, 2005 | permalink "Snowland" at Great Wolf Lodge Great Wolf Lodge is one of the top resorts with indoor waterparks in that top town for indoor waterworks, Wisconsin Dells; and Great Wolf Lodge is leading the pack in building new properties in other states. Latest opening is in the Great Wolf Lodge Poconos , pictured right: with great-looking rustic chic, all-suite guestrooms, and a 78,000 sq. ft waterpark. As if the waterpark wasn't enough fun, Great Wolf Lodge has launched a new holiday tradition: from Dec. 2 to Dec. 31, "Snowland" will transform the resort's Grand Lobby with snowflakes, icicles, and indoor snow (though guests can still sit by the fire and sip hot choc.) Snowland also means many themed holiday events... Other Great Wolf Lodges -- in Sandusky OH, Wisconsin Dells, and more-- have Snowland too. Read more... Monday November 28, 2005 | permalink Display Latest Headlines | | | Read Archives powered by Movable Type 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...