Santa Spotted at Smoky Mountains Waterpark Playing in Wave Pool

With all of the festivities leading up to the holidays, some PR friends in Tennessee told us that the always-elusive Santa was spotted this week at Wilderness at the Smokies resort in Sevierville, enjoying some RnR before his big seasonal rush.

Dave McGregor, general manager at Wilderness at the Smokies, said he could not confirm nor deny the special visitors, but eyewitnesses claim they recognized Mr. and Mrs. Claus the minute the couple arrived and quietly headed for the Wild WaterDome, the resort’s five-acre indoor waterpark. Inside, The Claus’s couldn’t get enough of the wave pool, the Surf Rider, the indoor/outdoor hot tubs or the countless waterslides.

Santa Visits Wilderness at the Smokies 2010 from patrick murphy-racey on Vimeo.

With holiday and winter specials and promotions, guests at Wilderness at the Smokies resort can save big on their family getaways right now.

If you stay 2 nights between Dec. 17-Dec. 25th, the 3rd night is free,which means a 33% savings. Military families who are fortunate enough to have holiday time together receive a special discount of 10% off the already discounted rate, valid for active or retired servicemen or women and their immediate families. (Identification will be required at check-in.)  On New Year’s Eve, the waterpark will stay open until midnight and a free New Year’s Eve Party will be open exclusively for hotel guests. 

Wilderness At The Smokies Resort (877/325-9453) is located at 1424 Old Knoxville Highway, Sevierville TN 37876, just minutes from Interstate 40 in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. With two outdoor waterparks, an indoor waterpark with a wave pool and surf rider, hot tubs, and countless waterslides and attractions, the year-round resort has something for all ages who want to have active fun together.

For more information about Wilderness at the Smokies, visit www.WildernessAtTheSmokies.com.

Huge Menorah Opens Chanukah Season Dec. 1st in New York City

The "World's Largest Chanukah Menorah" will once again be proudly standing at New York's most fashionable plaza, Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, by Central Park, between the Plaza and the Pierre Hotels.


Specially designed by renowned artist Yaacov Agam, the contemporary sculpture was inspired by a drawing by Maimonides of the original Menorah in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem.  It was created for the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who personally approved its form.


"The Rebbe sent me a special letter thanking me," notes Agam, "emphasizing that 'where ever there is light there is shadow.'"

As in years past, the first Chanukah candle will be lit on Wednesday December 1st, the first night of the Jewish Chanukah holiday, and the 8 nights of ceremonial lighting will continue at 5:30pm through December 8th.

Over the years, the menorah has been lit by New York City Mayors Abraham Beame, Ed Koch, David Dinkins, Rudolph Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg; Governors Mario Cuomo, George Pataki and David Paterson; United States Senators Jacob Javits and Charles Schumer, as well as many other dignitaries.

The  32-foot high, gold colored, 4,000-pound steel sculpture has been certified by Guinness World Records as the World's Largest. Each arm holds genuine oil lamps whose flames are protected from the Central Park winds by specially designed glass chimneys.

Nightly lightings are carried out with the help of a Con Edison "cherry-picker" crane as well as two lifts that lift the lighters to the "Menorah Heights." 

On Sunday evening, December 5th, a special Chanukah celebration will include live music, singing and dancing, "Chanukah Gelt" for the children and hot "latkes" (potato pancakes), the traditional food of Chanukah, will be distributed to everyone.

LEGO Sales Going On for Thanksgiving Weekend

It's that time of year for LEGO specials -- just in time for the holidays!. From November 26-29th all shoppers will receive free shipping on orders of $49 or more, and orders of $149 or more will also qualify for 10% off!

There is no special code to remember, as the offer is applied at checkout for qualifying orders.

Using this picture link, you'll be able to check the LEGO Deals site and see the other specials they are having.

In honor of Black Friday and the post-Thanksgiving weekend, each day there are discounts of 20% to 50% on LEGOs and DUPLOs in select styles.

Sorry, we can't tell you which models go on sale when, and we'll be too busy cooking, eating and cleaning up -- then dieting -- to keep updating this blog during the long weekend.

Hope you score a great deal!

Overnight with Canada's Great Hockey Teams from CDN$91/Night

Throughout the NHL season, families interested in a weekend hockey getaway can see their favorite Canadian teams while staying at one of the many properties offered through Hotels.ca.  The travel website belongs to Expedia and offers thousands of hotels around the world and a call center (800-224-6835), but of course, being Canadian, markets to local hockey fans who are in abundance.

That's where you can get in on some of their good deals, priced in Canadian dollars.  Here are their suggetions for value getaways:

In Vancouver, Rogers Arena is where the Vancouver Canucks call home.  Located just a short distance away from Rogers Arena, fans can call The Georgian Court Hotel home for the weekend.  This European-style hotel boasts 180 guestrooms with plenty of amenities that fans can enjoy.  Over the weekend, travelers can also go and explore the BC Sports Hall of Fame Museum that is short distance away from the hotel. Of course, the FTF Guide to Vancouver for Families has lots more suggestions for fun things to do in this beautiful city.  Room rates start at CDN$134 a night for a two-bedded double room.

The Scotiabank Saddledome, home of the Calgary Flames, is just a few minutes away from The Fairmont Palliser.  This four-star property, named after Captain John Palliser, is located in downtown Calgary where guests can not only stay in beautifully decorated rooms, but can take the skywalk from the hotel over to the Calgary Tower where they can enjoy views of the city. Calgary is a great jumping off point for exploring Banff National Park and the surrounding area in British Columbia. Double room rates start at CDN$149 a night.

Fans of the Edmonton Oilers are normally found cheering on their favorite players during games held at Rexall Place.  While in Edmonton, visitors can take in some of FTF's recommended Edmonton family attractions, and plan to stay at The Sutton Place Hotel. It's a very elegant place with sister hotels in Vancouver and elsewhere, where the 313 guestrooms with custom-made wood furnishings are bright and spacious.  The hotel is located next to the Edmonton City Centre mall and is also a short distance away from Rexall Place. A bit out of town is the wild Edmonton Mall, one of the world's largest, and a sight you will not want to miss.  Sutton Place double room rates start at as low as CDN$91 a night.

There are many more properties on the Deals page at Hotels.ca.  For updated NHL team schedule information, so you can plan your visit, go the National Hockey League site.

Holiday Escape to Pacific Mexico, Tropical Luxury All-inclusive from $295/N

It’s already November and we can feel the push for the holiday season to begin.  With all the cooking, decorating, shopping and entertaining that is bound to be in the near future, wouldn’t it be nice to get away for a bit?

If you are looking for a holiday vacation in a tropical location, we have the perfect package deal for you.

Velas Vallarta is an all-inclusive ocean-front resort in sunny Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  Right now the resort is offering a Christmas and New Year’s package for a family-friendly vacation at an affordable cost.

The entire family will constantly have something to do on this holiday getaway.  The Velas Vallarta Kids Club operates from 10am to 5pm and entertains kids with treasure hunts, water balloon fights, Christmas activities and more.  All together, your family can enjoy dance lessons, casino nights and a Christmas circus.

If you get bored at the resort, downtown Puerto Vallarta has cafes, art galleries and shopping, surely something for everyone.

The package includes luxury accommodations, a la carte gourmet meals, premium beverages, fitness center, nighttime entertainment and much more.  Reservations can be made for travel between December 18 and January 2.  The package starts at $295 USD per person based on double occupancy and you must stay at least 5 nights.  Call 866/847-4609 or visit www.velasvallarta.com.

Casa Velas, a boutique hotel and ocean club, is offering the same deal.  An 18-hole golf course, fitness center, beauty salon, spa and fine dining are all perks of this luxury adults-only hotel.  So if you are planning a romantic holiday trip without the kids, check out www.hotelcasavelas.com.

Beat Thanksgiving with a Bargain Whistler BC Escape

You saw the Olympics, now see Whistler in British Columbia for yourself.

Thanks to its ideal location in the Coastal snowbelt, some of Canada’s deepest snow blankets the region’s old-growth forests and surrounding mountain peaks – early in the season and often. 

On November 13, 2010, the Whistler Olympic Park reopens to the public with 90 kilometers of recreational cross-country ski trails, followed a week later by the legendary bobsleigh and skeleton tracks. Early skiers and riders who are ready commit to a family vacation can book their visit by November 15th, and take 20% off lodging rates through the end of the season.



In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the same day as the United States' Columbus Day in October. If you visit in late November, there's no pressure to serve turkey or entertain the masses. It's true; you can beat the annual Thanksgiving workload in a fun and guilt-free way.

The company Lodging Ovation has developed three luxury condos slopeside:  Legends, First Track Lodge, and Evolution, all at the base of the Creekside Gondola on Whistler Mountain. There is a total of 275 suites ranging in size from one to four bedrooms, attractively furnished in an upscale yet homey style. Positioned for ski-in, ski-out downhill skiing and riding, they’re a good value base from which to explore over 7,000 hectares of wilderness.

One-bedroom suite rates at Lodging Ovations start at $119 per night for Whistler Olympic Park's opening weekend, and as mentioned, those who book early get 20% off all bookings at any of the hotels, where nightly rates start at $159 before discount.  This price doesn’t include lift tickets and kids’ rates vary, but it’s a good value.

Keep in mind that some restrictions may apply, so visit www.lodgingovations.com for more information.

GOGO Packaged Vacations Have Great Disneyland Offers

To promote the World of Color, a new nighttime lights and dancing fountains spectacular at Disneyland's Paradise Bay, GOGO Vacations is offering families some special rates at the on-site Disneyland Hotels.

Paradise Bay is located in Disney's California Adventure Park, and the choreographed water and fire, lights and music, projected images of favorite Disney and Pixar characters is quite a high-tech feat overlaid on nearly 1,200 fountains. The only one of the Disney hotels in the California Adventure themepark (Disneyland is the other, adjacent themepark in Anaheim, California) is the Grand Californian, the most deluxe of the lot.

These packages include discount hotel rates and savings on the Disneyland Park Hopper Tickets you will need to visit both parks.  If you buy a 2-Day Disneyland Park Hopper Ticket, however, you get 2 days free so that you can use the entry tickets on day of arrival and day of departure. 

All three Disneyland hotels offer early access to the attractions for guests, special treats and great theming.
The GOGO vacation offers are valid for travel from now till December 30, 2010, but they must be booked by November 30, 2010.  By the way, you won't need a rental car as there is free transportation to both parks from all three hotels.

Special package rates from GOGO are priced per adult, based on double occupancy accommodations and do not include airfare or meals.  Rates start at:

** Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel from 515 for 3 nights.
** Disneyland Hotel from 529 for 3 nights.
** Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa from 615 for 3 nights.

Note that many conditions apply, and this offer is subject to restrictions and change without notice. Families can contact their local travel agency, call 888/567-0600 or visit www.gogowwv.com 

Google Mobile Tools Make Travel Easier

Emerging from the Lincoln Tunnel to find that the southbound New Jersey Turnpike was closed could have meant that we'd miss the opening of Jon Stewart's Rally for Sanity. But Google Navigate wasn't going to let that happen.

While my husband swerved off the nearest exit looking for his own detour, the slightly Asian sounding femme behind Google Navigate, an application running on my Motorola Droid2 phone, calmly said, "Turn left 300 yards."

"No," my husband firmly responded, "I think I can get to the turnpike over there..." 

"Turn left 100 yards," she calmly insisted, doing more with her soothing tone than this wife could ever do with hers -- convince my husband that she was right.  And she was -- Ms. Goonavi, that is. She got us onto the NJT heading to Washington DC in just two quick turns on unmarked streets through a quiet residential neighborhood.  A miracle indeed.

Tech Tools for the Traveler
In the interest of full disclosure, I'm a boomer mom who's not interested in new technology if the learning curve is too steep -- I just don't have the time or desire to supplant a lifetime of effectiveInc analog travel tools that have taken me happily around the world. Yet I was happy to test out some of the applications that Google Mobile has made available to smartphone users because their products are usually well designed and useful.

The products that Google's Mobile Division brought to my attention are Voice Search and Voice Action which allow the user to speak commands into the device and have it respond; Maps for Mobile with Google Navigate as a GPS system; the full featured Google Translate tool; and Google Goggles which is an image recognition tool. All work to their fullest capacity on the many smartphones that use an Android operating system, but many of the features are available free of charge to iPhone and Blackberry RIM smartphones with the free Google Mobile Apps download.
Google's Voice Search & Voice Action

Not to be confused with Google Talk, which is the company's free internet phone service a la Skype, Voice Search and Voice Action are applications that are built into many Google mobile services because they enable speech to drive the functionality. 

For the traveler, speaking the address into a smartphone to activate navigation tools means you can avoid looking for reading glasses to type in a destination or study a tiny digital map. After we arrived in Washington, I spoke another address -- the funky Eastern Market green market and crafts fair -- into the system and the phone directed us out loud on a mini-walking tour through the beautiful lanes of Capitol Hill. 

Voice Search is also great for quick info, like "What is the weather in San Francisco?" Spoken search keywords give you a Search Engine Results Page (SERP) with enough detail about temperature, wind and forecast that you don't need to click on any results unless you want to learn more. According to Google spokesperson Nadja Blagojevic, "At the moment, you can search with your voice in English, Japanese, Mandarin, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Polish, Czech and Turkish."

The "Action" part of Voice Search also syncs with downloads like the music program Pandora. If, for example, you're driving and want to hear Kid Rock you can "ask" the smartphone to pump that type of music through the handset or your bluetooth-connected speakers.

Google Navigate Incorporates Maps & Voice Action  Soon after his comeuppance by Ms. Goonavi, my husband turned on the proprietary navigation system built into the dashboard of our borrowed Audi SUV to "double check" Goonavi's directions and found them in sync all the way.

This navigation tool is truly fabulous.  It took me 7 minutes to figure out how to reprogram the route on the Audi GPS, in comparison to clicking on the Navigate icon on my phone, clicking on microphone icon, and asking it to guide us to 8th Street NE in Washington DC. She seemed to understand me perfectly and I actually preferred Goonavi's brief instructions and quiet demeanor, to the Audi's -- a strident voice that insisted on reminding us every 5 miles to stay on the same highway we were on.  Now I dream of being able to download Snoop Dogg or another mellow companion to read me traffic directions if I'm soloing a road trip.

My skeptical husband preferred Goonavi's familiar Google Maps display, and loved that you could ask her to use other Google search tools simultaneously.  Google Navigate easily overlays a Street View approach to the road, or a Local Places view with pushpins for restaurants, gas stations and more when you add the "Layers" filter to your results. While Navigate works beautifully for drivers and pedestrians, it may one day serve the similar needs of bicyclists and those using public transportation.
Google Translate

If you know that feeling of needing a toilet and trying to figure out if baño, toilette, tuvalet, WC or some other word will get you there, then Google Translater is a wonderful tool. Not if you're in a rush however. The rather clunky user interface makes it difficult to swtich between languages and hard to maneuver between typed questions and spoken ones.  Useful is the "search history" function so if you really need a john now you can scroll down through the list of recently translated terms and pull it up quickly.

However, the accuracy and clarity of the written and spoken translations fill one with wonder. After you input a question using the keypad or voice, the result -- translated into your choice of 50 languages -- is displayed in type on your screen and can, with many languges, be spoken aloud. Testing and listening to Spanish, French and Italian was easy for me, and a friend fluent in Chinese corroborated how accurate the pinyin (phonetic display of translation) and characters were.  Google Translate is not yet capable of speaking Chinese but that will come soon.

Google Goggles is a Visual Search ToolGoggles, the company's image recognition tool, is the least satisfying of these travel tools to play with. Billed as a Place Finder because of its ability to scan a photograph taken with your smartphone, Goggles scans the image and compares it to the millions of images in its database, to deliver a search results page about the structure you've photographed.

As a Google Mobile spokesperson explained in our interview, Goggle will not identify whether that high style Mom is carrying a Kate Spade or a Vuitton handbag, because those are objects, like animals, that mutate their shape with use.  Instead, you might photograph an arch with prancing horses in Berlin and learn that you've happened upon the city's famous Brandenberg Gate, or shoot the Eiffel Tower and be able to learn about Gustav Eiffel's engineering background through the relevant search results that appear. 

I tested out a few items, having the most luck with a larger-than-life barcode displayed on the window of my local Whole Foods.  As soon as Goggle was done scanning it, my smartphone displayed a long URL that I clicked on, which led me to an old-fashioned circular or weekly magazine that highlighted which Whole Foods products were currently on sale.

In contrast, when I photographed the U.S. Capitol at a distance, it matched the image to a WikiMedia link for the Presidentail Inauguration which featured a similar image of the Capitol with many people in the foreground. Another attempt at a closeup shot just made the phone crash.

Problems in Paradise
Therein lies another tale of problems and technical woes. As with anything new, there is bound to be a gap between a user's abilities, the smartphone's capabilities and a travelers expectations.  Efforts to download the map and navigation tools on a Blackberry were frustrating and inconclusive, because we could not get the Voice Action tools to recite driving directions.

A friend downloading the Google Mobile app on her iPhone found it went very smoothly and was thrilled to know she could study Spanish on her way to work.

Privacy paranoids should note that EULA for Googles warns users that their images become the property of Google, in essence as training tools to refine Goggles' image recognition skills.  However, their spokesperson noted that users can choose to store the images on Google servers by enabling "Search History," or choose to use Goggles more anonymously with Search History turned off.

Bottom line:  Download these apps from Google Mobile well before you need them, practice so you know what they're capable of, and then take them with you and enjoy. They are truly wonderful advances in mobile technology.

By Kyle McCarthy, FamilyTravelForum.com

Kelly Slater - A Great Life in Surfing

Quiksilver's Kelly Slater made history November 7, 2010, by clinching a historic and unprecedented 10th ASP World Title, then going on to win the Rip Curl Pro Search Puerto Rico.

He showed the huge crowd "the most comprehensive and dominant performance the sporting world has ever witnessed," according to his sponsor, Quiksilver, who released this historic video footage of his career to commemorate the victory.

Kelly is the first surfer to achieve 10 ASP World Titles, an accomplishment spanning two decades of an astounding career during which he dominated competitive surfing. When Slater won his first ASP World Title in 1992, he was the youngest surfer to do so.  When he won the $100,000 prize this year, he was the oldest to do so.

In an interview after his 10th World Title and Puerto Rico win, Slater noted, "My goal it to put this all away and just follow hurricanes, big storms and all the best swells around the world. I can't think of anything I'd rather do than surf."

He added that one day he planned to have a wife and kids and would no longer be able to live the life of a "selfish pro surfer." Hopefully, he can reconcile these two passions, and continue to stun the world.  In that spirit, we hope you enjoy the clips of his past accomplishments as much as we do.

Where Can You Find These Awesome Waves?
For the surfer-fans among you, here are the production notes that accompanies the video, so you know where everything was shot.  Shotlist beginning in the year:

2008
World title trophy
Contest action and victory shots at:
Gold Coast Australia
Bells Beach Australia
Tavarua, Fiji
Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa
10 point ride and switch stance ride Bali, Indonesia
Trestles California
Pipeline, Hawaii
9th World title victory shots in Mundaka, Spain

2007
freesurf and lifestyle shots from Young Guns 3 film

2006
8th world title victory, action and freesurf shots from Mundaka, Spain

2005
free surf action from Backdoor Pipeline
7th world title victory celebration in Brazil
freesurf action from Young Gun 2 film
"Letting Go" and "Beer" waves from Billabong Pro Tahiti

2004
Freesurfing in Kelly Slater and the Young Guns film

2003
Interview in Australia
Saying "I love you" Andy Irons moments before the Pipeline Masters final

2002
10 point ride at Quiksilver Pro Fiji
Action and podium shot from Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau win

2001 –
Freesurf action from Indonesia
Lifestyle shots from Hawaii

1999
Interview on the Crossing boat –

1998
Footage from Thicker Than Water. Signing autographs in California. Winning his 6th world title at Pipeline.

1996
freesurfing at G-land in Indonesia

1994
Freesurfing in Indonesia from Surfers of Fortune movie

1993
Freesurfing in Australia from 110/240 movie

1992
Pipeline Masters and 1st world title win.
Contest surfing and interview in France from 110/240 movie.

1991
Freesurfing in Mexico and Barbados from Mondo Extreme Experiment movie

1985
Freesurf and lifestyle shots from North Carolina

Aloha, Mahalo, Keiki -- That's All We Can Say in Hawaiian

Hawaii is one of our favorite family destinations and when we get news from resorts way out west, their emails usually start with "Aloha," a greeting, and finish with "Mahalo," or thanks for taking the time to read this.

In between, there's often a mention of "Keiki" as it means 'children' in Hawaiian, and of course that's why they write to us.

Now, in a fun new offering at Maui’s Ka’anapali Beach Hotel -- already known as “Hawaii’s Most Hawaiian Hotel” for its commitment to cultural authenticity -- guests can study Hawaiian.

Aloha - the resort has begun offering complimentary Hawaiian language classes as part of their already extensive cultural offerings for guests.

For the rest of the fall 2010, classes will begin every Friday at 2pm.  (Check their website for future scheduled classes.)  Families with kids of all ages will have the opportunity to take part in the interactive one-hour class where they will learn some basic Hawaiian language skills, including the following:

· The 12 letters of the Hawaiian alphabet – 5 vowels and 12 consonants
· The importance and use of 2 diacritical marks that affect the pronunciation and meaning of a word

o Verbal exercises using the ‘okina and kahakō

· How to pronounce words that have diphthongs – 2 vowels that make one sound

· Vocabulary words of everyday things, parts of the body

· Useful phrases and holiday greetings

· Tidbits of Hawaiian cultural practices

Don't worry -- the beach is beautiful, pools are great, and the food is fine, too. If the language and its unique pronounciation gets too much for the family, you can always try ukulele lessions, hula shows, lei making and much more.

And there's also the rest of beautiful Maui to explore!

New Guided Family Tours from Trafalgar Make Europe & Asia Affordable

After 60 years, Trafalgar Tours has become expert at leading touring vacations that include, as they say, "First Class hotel accommodations, luxury transportation by motor coach, rail or cruise ship, outstanding cuisine, daily sightseeing and optional excursions with expert local guides, and the personal concierge services of the most professional and knowledgeable Tour Directors in the travel industry."

For the coming 2010-2011 they have put that expertise at the service of families with special new programs to destinations in Europe, Britain, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South America and China.  With the release of the new 2011 brochures, Trafalgar is also offering an airfare deal that can't be beat: book and pay in full by December 30, 2010 (maybe a family Christmas or Channukah present?) on 2011 Europe departures and the second traveler flies for $299.  Here are three of our picks for families with their descriptions:

Family Experiences -
Trafalgar has done all the research and planning, so you can simply choose from an amazing collection of family vacations to Britain, Europe, the Americas and South Africa. You will experience a myriad of memorable destinations, magical countries and enchanting cities, all featuring specially designed activities for families of all ages. Travel with other families and make new friends. Each destination is rich in vibrant culture, history and tradition and Trafalgar guides will bring it all to life.

At Leisure -
Traveling with teens who may become resentful of all the organized activities and tour bus time? "At Leisure"" is an innovative new style of vacation that combines the very best of expertly-planned, guided vacations with the freedom and flexibility of independent travel. Highlights include average stays of 2-3 nights in each destination (up to 6 nights in some!), late starts (no earlier than 9am) on travel days, and more in-depth sightseeing. If you have always dreamed of taking a journey of discovery through Europe but don't have the time to plan and arrange it all, At Leisure vacations are your perfect solution.

CostSaver -
Trafalgar is also offering a CostSaver vacation with less frills and optional tours, but it does not mean you have to forego quality. Each vacation is carefully designed to include plenty of free time to explore each destination, while still having Trafalgar's professional and experienced Tour Directors and Drivers with you throughout your journey. You'll enjoy the best of all worlds -- all the advantages of an expertly-planned, guided vacation and the freedom to join excursions (at great rates) or explore on your own, and at a price that's considerably less than you'd pay if traveling on your own.

Group tours are not for every family, but they can be a very economical and secure way to sample new destinations and foreign cultures that you might not want to tackle alone with young children. They're especially well suited to single parents and grandparents who want to travel with their grandchildren, without the parental layer in between. 

In our experience, the group dynamic also means you have a "village" traveling with you to help out with the kids, and lots of elders who want them to have a good time. Trafalgar's reputation is stellar, so check them out. 

For more information and reservations, see your travel agent or call Trafalgar at 866/544-4434 or visit http://www.trafalgartours.com/.