Family Beach Vacations - Tips and Deals

Has your child ever come home from summer camp, beaming with that glow of excitement and wonder at all they had seen and done? Have you ever wished that you could have been there with them to watch them make new friends and see them learn and master new skills? Now you can!

Founded in 1994, Camp Common Ground has created a unique family camp summer experience for adults and children of all ages grounded in the principles of respect, inclusiveness, and cooperation. Our focus is bringing families of diverse backgrounds and cultures together through activities that promote healthy lifestyles, creativity, and family cohesiveness.

Camp Common Ground welcomes families of all shapes and sizes. Through their family camp summer programs, they strive to help build strong families and long-lasting relationships among campers, break down cultural and economic barriers, and foster and model conflict resolution skills within community and families.

Camp Common Ground's week-long family camp summer programs feature delicious vegetarian food and fabulous programming in a unique community setting, nestled in the beautiful green mountain state of Vermont. They offer separate morning programs for adults and kids and multi-age afternoons and evenings.

Their family camp summertime facilities offer many opportunities for outdoor recreation: baseball, soccer, volleyball, group games, hiking trails, swimming holes, and bird watching, to name just a few. In addition, yoga, art, music, dance and more await you at their unique family camp during Vermont's warm summer months.

Campers can chose to either pitch their own tent in a scenic area, or, for an additional fee, stay in a private cabin or in a room in one of the houses on our 700-acre property. For more information, visit our

You may be thinking, "All this sounds great for parents of younger children, but I have a teenager*". they have dedicated an entire week just for families with teenagers.

For more information visit: Common Ground Center

July 6, 2005 - Michigan Beaches Awash in Sun, Sand and Fun

For millions of Americans, warm, sandy beaches are the ultimate stress busters. Toddlers, college students and plenty of "seasoned" beach lovers wouldn't vacation without them. After all, they don't call it "a day at the beach" for nothing.

Spend just a few glorious minutes on a Michigan beach and it becomes easy to understand why poems, love songs, novels, operas and even menus, are written in tribute to the beach experience. And, with more freshwater coastline than any other state, finding a comfortable Michigan waterfront respite is as easy as Pioneer (County Park, Muskegon.)

If you are in Michigan, you are no more than 85 miles from a Great Lakes shoreline. Those looking to make the most of their summer beach opportunities should probably begin early and start in the south. From the Indiana border to the Straits of Mackinac, the Lake Michigan shoreline lures millions each year, with many fantastic public beaches and incredible sand dunes.

In the southwest, Saugatuck and South Haven are consistently rated among the best beach towns by national travel publications, but sandy opportunities in nearby

Bangor, Breedsville, Covert, Douglas, Junction and Lacota offer very stiff competition. Great restaurants, wineries and shopping offer fun and convenient, post-beach pursuits.

Ottawa and Muskegon Counties are home to some very popular sun and sand hotspots. The Grand Haven State Park beach is spacious, providing amazing Lake Michigan vistas and located just a short boardwalk away from charming downtown Grand Haven.

Holland's beaches are ideal for lounging, swimming or hiking. And, for the adventurous, jet skis, parasailing, and dinner cruises aboard a local fishing charters beckon.

True to its name, Oceana County is awash in great beaches. The Claybanks Township Park beach is perfect for those who enjoy an unspoiled, natural beach setting. Equally spectacular is the Whiskey Creek Public Access Beach, attracting those who prefer a more intimate, out of the way beach trip.

Heading north from Oceana County to Petoskey and beyond, fantastic beaches continue to be plentiful and accessible. Michigan State Parks are home to numerous great beaches, but be sure to check out great county and city parks with beaches.

Ludington offers some distinctive choices. The city park beach near downtown is perfect for families. Head north out of town on M-15 and just about everything on your left will be an accessible beach opportunity. With an outstanding marina and the cross-lake steamship ferry U.S.S. Badger nearby, diversions are plentiful, in case anyone wants to leave the beach.

The beach at the Petoskey State Park offers unparalleled beach access; onsite camping and lodging opportunities; and stunning views of little Traverse Bay. Great shopping, fishing, boating and restaurants are nearby in Petoskey and Harbor Springs.

The Aloha State Park in Cheboygan is among the many pleasant beaches in the Straits area. It's ideal for family swimming, with plentiful campsites nearby.

"Our beaches are precious commodities," said Dave Lorenz, vice president of Travel Michigan, the state's tourism agency. "I love being near the water all year, but Michigan beaches in the summertime are unbeatable. It's good for the spirit."

The Sunrise Side beaches of Lake Huron tend to be a little more rocky and secluded; perfect folks who like to buck the status quo. After all, half the fun is getting there. Tawas Point State Park and Port Crescent State Park are particularly popular for beach families, with affordable lodging, boating and restaurants in close proximity.

For those who like their sand arranged vertically, the dunes of Lake Michigan are an unmatched delight.

The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore comprises a 35-mile stretch of coastline, as well as North and South Manitou Islands. Tremendous dune formations, evolving from an ancient glacial "footprint", provide an incredible vista from atop and a cool interaction with Lake Michigan below. For adventurous visitors, the full three-mile dune climb affords a solid aerobic workout and a great case for an extra slice of cherry pie at dessert. Several shorter climbs are available for less experienced climbers.

The Saugatuck Dunes State Park offers 1,000 acres of land with 2.5 miles of fairly secluded Lake Michigan shoreline. Its dunes are over 200 feet tall, but the park's grand terrain varies from steep slopes to rolling hills. The inviting beach and 300-acre natural area make it a favorite spot for bird watching, swimming and hiking.

Michigan's motor vehicle heritage is celebrated with gusto at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes near Mears, the only place in the state where you can drive a vehicle on the dunes. Visitors may bring their own or rent a dune buggy or Jeep on site. Located between Lake Michigan and Silver Lake, these dunes are home to water recreation of nearly every kind.

The Warren Dunes State Park near Sawyer beckons from the southwest, with 3 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and nearly 2,000 acres of natural splendor. The Chicago skyline is revealed on clear days, but only from atop the Tower Hill dune. Swimming, hiking and hang gliding are among the favorite activities.

For additional information on Michigan's tourist offerings visit the state's official tourism web site at www.michigan.org.

July 10, 2005 - Bermuda Resort Family Package

9 Beaches, Bermuda's newest resort is spread over 18 private waterfront acres on the western-most tip of Bermuda, has a new six-day "Flip-Flops for Families" package for 6-Days/5-Nights for two adults, 1 child and
is available June 10 - October 31, 2005

The family package includes daily breakfast for two adults and one child, three-day Bermuda Travel Passes which let you take the bus and/or take the ferry to go virtually anywhere on Bermuda using its excellent public transportation , one picnic lunch, free flip-flops for the family, A parents' night out for four hours (they provide someone to sit with your child while you adults venture out and enjoy yourselves) and a half-hour swim with dolphins experience.

For further details, visit www.9beaches.com

Find more hotels in Bermuda for a family vacation.

July 12, 2005 - Sanibel Island - A Great Florida Vacation Spot

Have you ever... dreamed of being on a tropical island, your toes in the soft white sand, an expansive beach, swaying coconut palms, lush tropical foliage, and beautiful crystal blue water.

Imagine watching the pelicans and herons fish for their dinner, collecting the treasures from the sea, pastel colored seashells, while the sandpipers scurry along the surfs' edge.

All this just a short ride from Ft. Myers International Airport, Florida

Sanibel Island has everything one could wish for....excellent restaurants, accommodations, golfing, tennis, fishing, boating, shopping, flowers, wind surfing, bike paths, canoes, galleries, theatrical productions, children's activities, home of the renowned J.N. "DING Darling" National Wildlife Refuge & Birds Sanctuary and much, much more.

Visitors wishing to holiday on the Island, will find a number of high quality, well appointed condos, all of which can be rented directly from their owners. Many have private swimming pools ,outside barbeques, hot tubs , children's activities and are either beach front or sea view.

A new web based service www.sanibelgoldrentals.com has been specially designed to introduce and match Sanibel visitors with the many privately owned Condos on the Island. There are over 60 Sanibel condo resorts listed on the site with photos, full descriptions, prices and availability.

Bill Stillman President of Sanibel Gold Rentals lives in England, and has been visiting Sanibel with his family for over 10 years.

"We have traveled all over Europe and the USA and were recommended to visit Sanibel whilst on a trip to Florida in 1995.We immediately felt at home, and our 3 children made friends immediately. 10 years later we still go back every Christmas and meet up with the friends and families who also return every year. Having met nearly everyone on the island, including condo owners, restaurant owners and even boat captains, we are now able to help others find accommodation and services on Sanibel by offering a comprehensive internet site and even a 24 hour telephone help line. All of our guests who visit the Island will be welcomed with a Champagne and Food Basket, together with a Full information pack and hep service.

July 18, 2005 - Space Mountain ready at Disneyland

Disneyland's 50-year anniversary celebrations are in the midst of an 18-month run that started in May and will be marked by various events and openings throughout.

July 15 is the day that one of the original ride favourites at Disney-land will reopen after an extensive redesign and updating. The treasured and feared Space Mountain has a new launch tunnel, a close encounter with a meteorite, redesigned rockets and a new onboard audio soundtrack.

The actual date of Disney-land's 50th birthday is July 17, but May 5 was chosen as the official celebration date because 05/05/05 is a good numbers play on the 50th anniversary, says Disney.

July 21, 2005 - Best Florida Beach?

In the reknown Dr. Beach annual ranking of the best beaches in the US, Fort De Soto Park's North Beach, located near St. Petersburg on Florida's central west coast took the top spot, while Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin was number four.

The eighth spot went to Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne near Miami. Florida tied Hawaii for the highest number of rankings, with each state having three beaches on the 2005 list.

Find out more about Florida Family Vacations

July 31, 2005 - Top Canadian Attractions

To help families get ideas for family holidays, the regional editors of Where Magazine have announced their annual selection of the "Top Ten Attractions" for summer travel Canada in 2005.

They are:

Algonquin Theatre * Huntsville: new cultural centre in the heart of Muskoka's lake country;

Atlantic Film Festival * Halifax: 25th anniversary celebration with summer-long outdoor screenings;

Bears on Broadway *Winnipeg: new outdoor display of artistic polar bear statues;

Butchart Gardens National Historic Site * Victoria: new National Historic Site designation;

Canadian War Museum * Ottawa: new museum saluting Canada's war contributions;

Life & Times of the Motorcycle * Edmonton: new exhibition of more than 150 motorcycles and displays;

Lougheed House * Calgary: newly restored 1891 heritage home of Alberta Senator James Lougheed;

Olympic Spirit * Toronto: new Olympic-themed attraction featuring interactive displays;

Sunshine Meadows * Banff: new guided tours of Rocky Mountain high alpine meadow;

Van Dusen Botanical Garden * Vancouver: 30th anniversary celebration.

Learn more about travel in Canada at Fly From Canada