Orange is the New Cool - New York’s OC

Orange has become the new cool, as Orange County announces the 2020 opening of a LEGOLAND New York themepark.

Rendering of LEGOLAND New York, with announced opening of 2020.

The 170-acre LEGOLAND New York resort is expected to attract approximately two million visitors annually to Goshen, a small town in the foothills of the Catskills – a region that has undergone a lot of development in recent years.

According to Empire State Development President, CEO, and Commissioner Howard Zemsky, “LEGOLAND New York’s commitment to community partnership – including donating a portion of its revenue to the community, strong educational opportunities… and workforce training – make this project a win-win for Orange County.”

LEGOLAND New York, which will receive approximately $25 million in support from the Regional Economic Development Council, the Upstate Revitalization Initiative and New York State for projects such as off-site road infrastructure improvements and traffic mitigation measures on already busy Route 17, is forecast to create 800 construction jobs and 1,300 full-time, part-time, and seasonal jobs during its anticipated April 1 to November 1 season.

Merlin Entertainments plc, owner of the LEGOLAND franchise, now operates more than 100 attractions – including LEGOLAND themeparks in California, Florida, United Kingdom, Germany, Malaysia, Denmark, Dubai and Japan – and 15 hotels and six holiday villages in 24 countries. At the October 25, 2017 announcement ceremony Merlin CEO Nick Varney said, “We have spent a lot of time building relationships in the community, listening and responding to concerns, and we are looking forward to building a themepark that will enhance the community and be a tremendous neighbor…I can pledge to you that LEGOLAND New York will be a trusted and valued member of this community.”

As part of the development deal, every year, LEGOLAND New York will host two “Community Days” and donate 50% of the park’s ticket sale revenue to the Town of Goshen. All Goshen residents will be offered a 50% discount on standard one-day themepark tickets as well.

According to Merlin Entertainments, the Goshen themepark anticipates generating $283 million in sales tax and hotel occupancy tax for Orange County over the period of 30 years. Additionally, they estimate that the Town of Goshen would receive about $71 million in revenue from the host community fee, plus its share of PILOT payments and tax payments.

The park’s management will also provide educational program for ages 2-12, including year-round programs focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) education. They plan to partner with local schools and colleges to train and employ students interested in careers in hospitality, business, and mechanical engineering and offer special programs and discounted tickets to area schools, including all school districts within Orange County.

Until LEGOLAND opens, The OC can claim that Orange is the New Black in Halloween events.

The Corn Estate in Orange County, New York is open this Halloween.

The county’s many scare parks and haunted farms are said to make this part of the Hudson Valley home to some of the most terrifying Halloween attractions in the country, attracting thousands of people each year from Philadelphia to Boston – perhaps, all future LEGOLAND customers.

So, grab your grown ones and check out the outdoor and indoor frights of Terror Dome in Newburgh; or catch the live performers and special effects wizardry at the Forest of Fear in Sterling Forest, 600 Route 17A in Tuxedo.

There’s more: the Pure Terror Scream Park in Monroe holds the Guinness World Record for the longest haunted attraction in the world. Fright Nights at Pierson’s Farm has both big boy and little kid thrills, with a non-haunted petting zoo and baby corn maze as well as a haunted graveyard.

And the Corn Estate Haunted House really puts on a family show the last weekend of October and Halloween night, in Cornwall on Hudson.  Check attraction websites for annual schedules and special pricing and have yourself a scare!

For more information on now and upcoming Orange County attractions, lodging, and events, visit OrangeTourism.org and iloveny.com

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What We Learned at IPW

 Or, One Big Welcome from the Travel Industry

Between June 2- June 7, 2017, more than 6,300 international travel buyers, American sellers and international media representing 70 countries met in Washington DC at IPW. The travel convention, formerly known as International Pow Wow in a nod to the world’s affection for America’s cowboy and Indian mythology, is one of the industry’s largest gatherings; the place to sell the “See the USA” message to foreign tour operators, agents and media.  

Media Marketplace encouraged global media to meet with U.S. destinations.

As hosts U.S. Travel and Brand USA repeatedly remarked, at no time in IPW’s 49-year history is it so important for foreigners to feel welcomed in the nation’s capital. 

Travel Media More Diverse than Ever

Media were invited to IPW’s opening brunch at the Newseum, a fascinating museum celebrating the 24-hour news cycle, classic print journalism and freedom of the press. 

The booming hiphop of Rare Essence highlighted the diversity of international media voices – who was bouncing, who networked, who sought earplugs -- as much as the universality of music, underscoring the IPW theme of “One Big Welcome.”

Media had one-on-one appointments with destinations at IPW's Media Day

The Value of USA’s Self Promotion

Chris Thompson talked to delegates as president & CEO of Brand USA, the country’s public-private marketing organization whose funding is now in question. His numbers spoke loudly about the value of travel promotion, because Brand USA is already active in the 40 markets that include 90% of all inbound travel to the USA. In the past 4 years, they have seen an increase of more than 4.3 million visitors who spent an additional $14 billion in the U.S., representing an estimated $30 billion in economic impact and 51,000 more jobs. 

Brand USA’s upcoming promotions include a new website that focuses on easing trip planning and a new film about US culture and music, “American Treasures,” hosted by performer Aloe Blacc. Shooting in IMAX, it follows the success of the award-winning "National Parks Adventure," currently showing in 400 markets around the world. Videos about different regions narrated by locals and tagged with #visittheusa are also being produced for social channels. Additionally, we learn that 2017 is a year of US-India Travel and Tourism Partnership, to boost visitation from a country which last year sent the US 1.3 million visitors valued at $11.8 billion.

The Trump Administration’s View of Travel

IPW delegates volunteered with Tourism Cares in a clean up dasy at the National Mall.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross addressed a skeptical crowd at lunch. “On behalf of President Trump,” he said, “I am glad to extend one big welcome to you.” While acknowledging that inbound tourism was dropping, he noted that the high cost of the US dollar was presenting a challenge for many in the audience and suggested that travel sellers promote “some low cost, lesser known but not less interesting destinations” to foreign visitors.  

“This administration recognizes the power of travel as an enabling platform for business, a gateway to education, and a bridge to bring people together,” he said.

After several references to the importance of security, he closed with, “America is open for business, America is open for travel and open to the millions of international visitors who wish us well.”

E-TurboNews reported that Roger Dow praised Secretary Ross’ comments, saying, “In honesty, a number of people probably walked into the room with misgivings about this administration’s views on international visitors, but I’m certain they walked out encouraged that the U.S. government grasps the immense value of inbound travelers.” 

What Effect is the Trump Effect Having?

After several discussions of the IPW message of welcoming the world, and of the US Travel Association’s efforts at keeping America’s doors open to travelers, Roger Dow, USTA Chairman, shared the latest travel research. Surprisingly, it showed that foreign travel to the US is stronger than expected. 

According to the USTA’s Travel Trends Index, April 2017 saw international travel up by 4% over the same month in 2016. 

According to Dow, USTA research indicates that the average international visitor arrives in the United States after 56.9 days of planning, indicating that April 2017 numbers would be the earliest indicator of world travelers' reaction to the administration’s January and February 2017 travel bans. 

Hopefully, April’s inbound tourism results are the beginning of a positive trend. Given all the unwelcoming rhetoric coming from the president, perhaps the industry's “One Big Welcome” message is working, after all. 

Lonely Planet Founders, Hard at Work, Receive Lifetime Achievement Award

Tony Wheeler and Maureen Wheeler, founders of the widely-known Lonely Planet Publications have received the 13th UNWTO Lifetime Achievement Award from the United Nation's World Tourism Organization. The prize, given to individuals with visionary leadership and significant contributions to  the global tourism sector, is richly deserved.

Maureen and Tony Wheeler, founders of Lonely Planet; photo c. UNWTO

According to the UNWTO blog, a trek along Asia’s ‘hippie trail’ in 1972 led Tony and Maureen Wheeler to establish Lonely Planet Publications. Over the following four decades, they produced hundreds of guidebooks which have now sold well over 100 million copies in English as well as in numerous other languages.

Lonely Planet also ventured into many other travel areas including a television series and an award-winning travel website. The New York Times described Tony as ‘the trailblazing patron saint of the world’s backpackers and adventure travelers.’

We've always appreciated Maureen Wheeler's pioneering spirit, as evidenced in the Lonely Planet Travel With Children (Lonely Planet Travel With Children) series which she began.

Since the sale of Lonely Planet, Tony and Maureen have been involved in numerous other activities, many of them with a travel connection.

The foundation they first established within Lonely Planet now works with more than 50 projects in the developing world, principally in Southeast Asia and East Africa, mainly in education and health.

Additionally, the Tony & Maureen Wheeler Chair of Entrepreneurship at London Business School is held by Professor Rajesh Chandy, whose work concentrates on entrepreneurship in the developing world.

In Melbourne, Australia the creation of the Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing & Ideas played a key role in the city’s recognition as a UNESCO City of Literature. Maureen is the Chairperson of the annual Melbourne Arts Festival and the Principal Patron of Opera Australia’s production of "Wagner’s Ring Cycle" in Melbourne in 2013 and 2016. Tony is a director of Global Heritage Fund, which works to protect and develop archaeological sites in the developing world.

Tony’s interest in our world’s more unusual travel destinations led him to write Lonely Planet’s Bad Lands and later Dark Lands.

He is currently working on a new book on The Islands of Australia – there are more than 8,000 of them – for the National Library of Australia and on Lonely Planet’s forthcoming Epic Drives of the World.

We can't wait to see what else they undertake in the lifetime left to them.

Blog post source:  UNWTO

Bucket List Roadtrips for Harry Potter and Star Wars Fans

With brutal winter storms expected across the Midwest over the upcoming Christmas holiday, we know many families will want to curl up in front of their big screen TV and catch up on favorite movies or... hit the cineplex and see something new.

For you couch potatoes, we share this delightful infographic produced by AttractionTix.com which details some of the actual places that these great movies and TV shows were filmed, to inspire you to future family travels!

Happy Holidays, safe travels!


View full infographic (via AttractionTix).

8 Tips to Turn Airport Security Into the Best Part of Your Vacation

On your way to the airport with a Samsung Galaxy Note7 in your pocket? If so, you need our travel tips on better packing and ever-changing security rules. Everyone needs them, because making the airport experience less painful means smoother travels, especially during the frantic holiday season.

Travel light and keep smiling, the best airport advice we have.

1. Research what the FAA considers Hazardous.

FAA forbidden hazardous materials include the rubber cement (banned) your kids will use to make glitter Christmas cards for grandma, the old camping stove (banned) you’re cooking the goose on, the aerosol spray starch (banned) for ironing your holiday outfits. But not the aerosol sunblock (approved) your teen bought for his Cancun tan. Go figure.

2. Research the TSA Rules and Remain Flexible.

The TSA Prohibited Items list is totally different than the FAA’s and ever-changing, so you’ll have to check it, too. Kids can carry their scooters aboard, but drones will be disapproved – even from checked luggage -- if their lithium ion battery is 100Wh (watt-hour rating) or more. At present, pies, cakes and turkeys are okay to carry on, but cranberry sauce, dips, jams, and gravy must be checked.

Note that at many airports, there are slow security lanes for families and infrequent travelers, where extra screening is available for infant formula, baby essentials and medications. For questions about other special needs, call TSA Passenger Cares (855/787-2227).

3. Don't giftwrap things.

With security level alerts changing all the time, your day will come when airport personnel want to hand inspect your belongings. During the holidays, several airports including Heathrow (London), La Guardia (New York), and San Diego International provide giftwrap after security, either free of charge or to benefit charity.  Or, carry decorative folding gift bags with you.

4. Pack lightly.

Study up on how to fit everything in with “How to Pack for Any Trip” (Lonely Planet, 2016.) Funny illustrations show how to best fold garments, with packing tips for every type of traveler, every climate and myriad situations.

Avoid packing hassles altogether with clothing full of pockets from Scottevest.com; their men’s Off The Grid Jacket ($215) has 29 pockets to hold your laptop or iPad, an RFID-blocking pocket for a passport or other smart ID and space to fold in clothes. And, with the increase in extended stay hotel brands, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham and other hotels now have on-site laundry facilities so you don't need to pack as much. That's true on cruise ships, too.

5. Carry on luggage.

In 2016, six checked bags were lost for every 1,000 passengers –- a number that’s declining thanks to self-checking bag kiosks, but a holiday nightmare nonetheless.

Buy yourself and the kids new rollaboards. Even the youngest children are able to carry their weight with Buddy Balls ($19.95), soft and cuddly stuffed teddy bear animals with a secret zippered pocket for storing toddler essentials. It also folds into itself to become a soft-sided ball that little ones can safely play with in a hotel.

6. Don’t bother locking checked luggage.

The TSA, Customs and Border Patrol, and any foreign customs officer will open whatever they want to inspect. Yes, things to get stolen, even when you check your bags at a hotel concierge because your room isn’t ready. Buy travel insurance to cover loss of any belongings.

7. If you do have to check more than one bag, ship your luggage.

Services like SendMyBag.com and the SHYP app can be much cheaper than paying a second bag fee.

8. And smile.

It's contagious.

Meet the Finalists: World Responsible Tourism Awards 2016

As many of us recover from a busy Halloween, the travel industry is gathering at the annual World Travel Market in London, a meeting and sales venue that influences where tour operators and media will send clients in the year ahead.

Since there's a global gathering of travel industry represented at WTM, it's also the time when a lot of other organizations present studies, innovations, and awards to garner the attention of the assembled.

Today, Responsible Travel has announced the 13 finalists in the 2016 World Responsible Tourism Awards, sponsored by Belize, with a strong focus on innovation.

We know you'll be interested in learning a bit about all the of them, and how they rose to these achievements. 

This video from their 2013 ceremony gives you a good sense of what these companies have accomplished in their work.

Innovation has Fueled Responsibility

Included among a particularly innovative list this year, according to their press release, is one of India’s largest hotel chains making the employment of people with disabilities and socially excluded groups a core part of its business model; an tour operator democratizing tourism by pioneering the ‘Buy one, Give one’ concept in travel; one of the world’s most iconic hotels with a successful program to rescue, rehabilitate and re-release adult sea turtles; and a tourism business offering migrant-led city tours to foster greater understanding between locals, tourists and migrant groups.

The 13 finalists will await the awards ceremony Tuesday, November 8th -- the tenth anniversary of World Responsible Tourism Day -- to discover who will be crowned the 2016 overall winner.

Justin Francis, founder of the World Responsible Tourism Awards and CEO of Responsible Travel, praised the progress made in the industry towards responsible travel. “In the early years of the Awards we saw the same people coming back year on year - now every judging day we have things we don’t know about, in sectors of the tourism industry we haven’t seen before, in places we haven’t seen before.

“This year we have seen levels of innovation that have surpassed our expectations, led by some truly entrepreneurial businesses. These are organisations which are using tourism as a counter to contemporary social problems, or translating ideas from other social businesses into the travel sector - they are pushing the boundaries of what responsible business can achieve”.

The full list of World Responsible Tourism Award 2016 finalists:

• !Xaus Lodge, South Africa
• Burj Al Arab Aquarium, United Arab Emirates
• Bushman’s Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Wellness Resort, South Africa
• East African Safari & Touring Company, Tanzania
• Elevate Destinations, USA
• Friends International – Childsafe Movement, Cambodia
• Lemon Tree Hotels, India
• Misool Eco Resort, Indonesia
• Sam Veasna Centre, Cambodia
• Sapa O’Chau, Vietnam
• Tren Ecuador, Ecuador
• Viaggi Solidali, Italy
• World Cetacean Alliance

We hope you'll check out their efforts, their goals and their accomplishments, and consider traveling with them for your next family adventure.

New Travel Survey says 79% will Trade Privacy for Shorter Security Lines

A July 2016 travel survey conducted by ExpertFlyer.com reveals that the majority (81%) of travelers believe taking a vacation is very important. 

Interestingly, the survey was conducted among about 1,200 travelers who had already downloaded the ExpertFlyer.com app, which provides seat alerts, flight deals and other travel tools -- typically to frequent business travelers.

Like most travelers, these road warriors claim that exposure to beauty, culture, and new people are the biggest benefits of traveling during vacations. 

So how much time does it take for frequent travelers to plan a trip full of beautiful new experiences? 

According to ExpertFlyer.com, 51% of those polled said they spend a minimum of 2-3 hours over multiple days hunting down airfare deals. 

Nearly one-third of survey respondents spent in excess of 4 hours over multiple days to find the cheapest flight. 

That doesn't mean that frequent travelers like to waste time.

We were surprised to learn that 79% of this tech-savvy travel bunch said they would relinquish some privacy to expedite security checkpoints.

With autumn vacations, long weekend holidays and the Thanksgiving travel rush on the horizon, we can all expect to encounter more delays and hassles with airport security. Would you give up more of your personally identifiable  information to speed the way?

Here's an infographic with more of their findings.

ExpertFlyer Infographic: Infographic (PRNewsFoto/ExpertFlyer.com)

What do you think of the findings? Share your thoughts in the comments field below.

10 Mountain Resorts for Summer Savings

“I came for the winter and stayed for the summer.” I hear it all the time when I visit North America’s top ski resorts. Mountain townies swear by the cool temperatures, clean air and natural beauty of an environment that changes from the stark white of long winters to the lush greenery of all too brief summers. 

Since travelers find lodging and activity rates at 30% to 50% off the peak winter season at these resorts, summer is a great time to try out the mountain lifestyle yourself.  Here are my 10 picks in alphabetical order, and why I chose them from the 51 summer vacation ideas we put together.

 

Jazz Aspen Snowmass Festival, c. Jason Dewey, AspenChamber.org

ASPEN, COLORADO

Aspen, founded in 1880 on the site of a huge silver lode, is the pinnacle of chic mountain resorts, the place where you can join the 1% and play in the fresh air, hike, fish, mountain bike and enjoy the arts. Since 1949, the summertime Aspen Music Festival has brought in more than 300 classical music events (many orchestras are comprised of top students, and there are workshop classes for kids as well.) There are lots of galleries in this pretty Western town, and arts workshops at the celebrated Anderson Ranch for all ages and skill levels – everything from bookmaking to ceramics to furniture making. There’s music at outdoor cafes, lectures and open air concerts; even the produce displayed at the weekly farmer’s market is an aesthetic treasure. Take advantage of the free RFTA transportation between Aspen and Snowmass (6 miles away and itself a famous family ski resort) – especially if you have kids in tow – because there’s another 90 miles of hiking and biking trails, fly-fishing, Class V white-water rafting and kayaking, free Thursday night concerts and special weekend performances. Note that early bookers can score a bargain at the 50 local lodges, where half off winter prices start at $129 per night; rates at Snowmass and outside Aspen village are even more reasonable.

Downtown Breckenridge, photo c. Bob Winsett

BRECKENRIDGE, COLORADO

Like Aspen, Breckenridge is an authentic Old West town – founded by gold prospectors in 1859 -- that just happens to have world-class slopes looming above Main Street. Given the young population, success of the Vail Resorts-owned mountain, casual boutiques, and farm to fork eateries, summer in Breck is a non-stop party. The town is comprised of low rise condos, fun dining like Giampietro’s where calzones compete with a video game arcade, ice cream shops, craft breweries like Broken Compass, and health food markets. There’s local hiking, fly fishing (Breckenridge Outfitters beat out 524 other shops to become the Orvis Shop of the Year); cooking classes at Colorado Mountain College, and an on-mountain Summer Fun Park with zip lines, a coaster, and Segway tours. The Breckenridge Ski Resort kids summer camp for ages 5-13 runs June 10 - August 19, 2016; Meta Yoga teaches yoga asanas on standup paddleboards all summer long. The Breck Rec Center, where visiting families pay only $38 for four day passes, has a climbing wall, great pool and waterslide, ball courts, classes and much more. New and casual define the entertainment scene:  the Light + Sound + Water multimedia festival and Bike Week take place in June; the Street Arts Festival is over July 4^th weekend, there’s the Breckenridge International Festival of Arts in August, and Labor Day brings Rubber Duck Races, more arts, and the Sidewalk Sale Days where summer athletes shed their well-used gear. Best yet, free electric buses loop around town, making cars a luxury rather than a necessity. From July 4- October 1, the large Beaver Run Resort on Peak 9 lets you save 25% off when you stay 3 or 4 nights; some restrictions apply.  Checkout the many deals on Adventure Pass activity booklets and  BreckConnection.com is packed with local insight from the passionate townies.

Omni Mt. Washington Hotel at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire

BRETTON WOODS, NEW HAMPSHIRE

The rugged trails of the Presidential Range -- especially Mt. Washington, the tallest peak in the Northeast – have lured hikers since the 1800s. Tucked into the dense forest is Bretton Woods, a ski area and mountain resort that has welcomed presidents and dignitaries since its 1902 opening. Today, the Omni Mount Washington Resort maintains that classy mountain experience, with fine service and formal dining awaiting those who hike, fish, mountain bike on the BMX trails, join a guided Polaris Ranger Mountain Tour, golf on the original Donald Ross course, or play on the landscaped grounds. Alternatively, shop in local antique stores, indulge in the new Spa, or partake of afternoon tea and watch brown bears cross the lawn. Saturday afternoons, drop by the hotel’s Prohibition “Tea” Party and learn more about the history of the 19^th Amendment; read up on the 1944 Bretton Woods conference and learn how the World Bank was founded. At night there’s live cabaret after supper. Lincoln, New Hampshire, a half hour’s drive in the Western White Mountains, is the place for souvenirs, zip lines, water parks, mini golf and homemade ice cream; pick up a free Basecamp Card for discounts at local attractions. To save on lodging, book the Omni Bretton Arms Inn where a two-night stay earns 15% off the best available rates plus free breakfast. There are also many BnBs and small motels. 

Outdoor dining in view of the Tetons, from Deck @Piste Restaurant, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING

For more than 50 years, a red gondola flying over the Tetons has symbolized the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and some of the best skiing in the world. In summer, the same aerial tram takes mountain bikes, paragliders, rock climbers and hikers up to Rendevous Mountain for unforgettable 360-degree views of the 50 mile-long Jackson Hole valley, Teton Mountain range, Snake River and Grand Teton National Park. Several lifts serve the slopes for hiking, on-mountain dining and sightseeing in Teton Village, the resort base about 12 miles from Jackson. Sunday afternoons, there’s free music near the playground and pop-jet fountain.  Active visitors will want a Grand Adventure Park Pass ($79) to access the aerial tram, ropes course, bike park, bungee, climbing wall, and the Drop Tower’s 30 and 60-foot high platforms (reached by multiple auto-belay and freefall drop options). July 28-30, enroll in Eric Orto’s Mountain Running Academy and train for the Rendevous Hill Climb in August. This is one of the few mountain towns where summer is busier than winter and prices rise. Make a day trip to Yellowstone, and check out the galleries, saloons, Elk Refuge and log cabin lodges around sleepy Jackson for value, and discover that authentic Wild West feel the area is known for.

Swimming in Mirror Lake, Lake Placid, photo: C. Roost

LAKE PLACID, NEW YORK

Although Lake Placid is best known for hosting the Winter Olympics at Whiteface Mountain (1932 and 1980), summer is the best time to visit. The bustling commercial Main Street circles Mirror Lake in a village surrounded by waterways and the old growth evergreens of stunning Adirondack Park, established by New York State in 1892 and greater in size than Yellowstone, Everglades, Glacier, and Grand Canyon National Parks combined. Get out of town to explore hundreds of hiking trails, ranging from the mild Cobble Hill to the challenging hikes across the 46 High Peaks. Beyond the Cascade Lakes lie the granite walls that draw rock climbers. Dozens of lakes (Lake Placid is actually just north) including Tupper (site of the Tinman Triathlon each June, followed by the Lake Placid Ironman) and Saranac (site of many luxurious Adirondack style estates) are used for canoeing, SUP and whitewater rafting. Golf is popular everywhere, as is fly-fishing on the West Branch of the Ausable River. The whole region is thick with small farm towns, local museums, antique shops selling plaid blankets and plush bears, coffee bars and outdoors outfitters, making Cycle Adirondacks, a weeklong, fully supported bike tour (August 20-27), a great way to see everything. Prefer to relax on a hotel porch in your Adirondack chair? Check out the seasonal specials and pick between free nights or activity packages.

Yoga and Standup Paddleboarding for the ultimate Lake Tahoe workout; photo Chris Bartowski, Tahoe North.

LAKE TAHOE, SQUAW VALLEY

The largest alpine lake in North America, Lake Tahoe Is nestled in the Sierra Madre Mountains on the California / Nevada border. Most of the action is along the north shore, North Lake Tahoe, at 12 mountain resorts, more than 20 beaches and 126 miles of singletrack biking trails, many above 8, 700 feet. The largest resort, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, also called Olympic Valley since hosting the 1960 Winter Olympics, is easily accessed from the Reno, Nevada Airport or Sacramento. In fact, the mountain resort famous for its powder skiing and freestyle snowboarding, skate skiing and kiting, has contributed an athlete to every Winter Olympics since 1964. Repeat visitors head to the many small lakefront communities to enjoy weekend athletic events, races and festivals such as Memorial Days “Made in Tahoe” festival celebrating local artisans, to “Tough Mudder” for bikers, the weeklong “Alpenglow Mountain” exhibit of the latest in outdoor gear, and Wanderlust, combining Zen yoga, wellness and music. Other events celebrate boats, beer and dogs; there’s scheduled SUP classes and yoga on paddleboards, swimming in the crystalline green waters, serene places to kayak, boat rentals, fly-fishing, and an Ironman triathlon. In addition to the supervised Squaw Kids club for ages 5-13, families can partake of yoga in Squaw Village each Wednesday and blues concerts on Tuesday, among the many free Tahoe events. First-timers should take advantage of the facilities and bargain accommodations found in the base villages of North Lake Tahoe’s 12 mountain resorts. The pedestrian-only, purpose built Village in Squaw Valley, for example, offers condo studios starting from $160 per night up to three bedroom suites and posh hotels, like the Resort at Squaw Creek or the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe at nearby Northstar California. mountain resort. That’s the launchpad for nightly Tahoe Star Tours, a guided viewing of five planets seen with Celestron telescopes using astro imaging technology – a unique opportunity in an environment free of light pollution.

Ride a Bobsled in summer at Utah Olympic Park; courtesy Park City Chamber

PARK CITY, UTAH 

Park City is home to the newly combined Canyons and Park City Mountain Resorts, now the largest skiable acreage in the U.S. Summer, however, kicks off June 18 on Main Street in this historic Western town, when every restaurant sets it tables outdoors so that 1,500 can celebrate the season’s bounty with locally sourced, gourmet cuisine at the Savor the Summit festival. In addition to 400 miles of trails maintained for hiking and mountain biking, visitors come to fly over a curved mountain track at 60 mph on the Utah Olympic Park’s signature feature, the Comet Bobsled ride – trained pilot included. Park City lodging ranges from the Sundance crowd’s glamor hotels to bargain condos in town that rent for 40% less than in ski season. Don’t miss the weekly Park Silly Sunday Market where live bands and costumed street buskers entertain chefs, food vendors, craftsmen and tourists. The St. Regis Big Stars Bright Nights concert series featuring Emmylou Harris and Jewel this summer, takes place outdoors at Deer Valley’s amphitheater, where picnics are welcome.

Ziplining at Stowe, Vermont. Photo: Greg Petrics, c. Spruce Peak Realty

STOWE, VERMONT

Stowe is a Vermont favorite for its hip, picturesque town and topnotch ski resort blanketing Spruce Peak and Mt. Mansfield (the highest in the Green Mountains). Hike spectacular views off the unpaved Mt. Mansfield Auto Toll Road, as others have done for the past 150 years. With successful ski, snowboard and leaf peeping seasons, the Stowe Mountain Resort has invested $80 million dollars in summer. Welcome to the Adventure Center and Stowe Rocks climbing gym which add a ZipTour (served by the Skyride Gondola) and a very fun TreeTop Adventure Course (divided into six ability levels) to the activities available at the kids camp, open daily except Sunday for ages 3 to 12. Around town there’s the posh Stoweflake Spa, and small crafts places, markets, pubs and local eateries. Within a 20-minue drive on picture-perfect New England lanes is little Waterbury, home to antiques shops, the Vermont Annex cheddar cheese and maple products store, and small BnBs. Head over to the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory for 20-minute tours and tastings that are well worth the stop, and pay your respects at the Flavor Graveyard where unsuccessful flavors have been laid to rest. Bikers use the lifts at nearby Sugarbush; hikers of all abilities enjoy the scenic 5.3-mile Stowe Recreation Path where there’s room for biking and in-line skating. The region has golf at an altitude of 1,800 feet and minigolf, tennis, an Alpine slide and more to keep everyone busy.

Le Fete de la Musique, Mont Tremblant, Quebec. Photo courtesy Tremblant.ca

TREMBLANT, QUEBEC

May is start of summer at Tremblant, the stylish resort at the foot of Mont-Tremblant voted #1 Ski Resort in Eastern North America by Ski magazine readers for 18 years in a row. Low rise townhouses with 1,900 units, chic bistros and patisseries, outfitters, an indoor pool complex and casino circle Place Saint-Bernard, the heart of this French Canadian pedestrian village built to serve the ski resort. Outdoor barbecues, live music, and friendly bilingual counselors toting campers to the lake for swim class are typical summer scenes; when it rains, visitors head to Mission Liberte, an escape game with three themed rooms. Tremblant draws weekend crowds to its Gourmand food and wine celebration, Ironman race, Wanderlust concerts and International Blues Festival. From July 22-31, Rythmes Tremblant brings in live rock, country, disco and Latino music. Because it’s located just 90 minutes from Montreal, you’ll save on Tremblant hotels booked weekdays and, if you buy before June 21, take 30% off lodgings, plus unlimited free access to the scenic gondola, at participating establishments. Canada prices have fallen 30% against the American dollar so Tremblant is currently a great value. Another bonus: resort guests will be able to observe the Perseid meteor shower August 12-13 from the village gondola.

Stopping for ice cream at Whistler. Photo c. Mike Crane, Tourism Whistler

WHISTLER, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Canada’s Olympic mountain provides the trails, slopes and gear for hiking, mountain biking, zip lining, canoeing, fishing, and golf on one of four championship courses (pick between greens designed by Robert Cupp, Robert Trent Jones Jr., Jack Nicklaus or Arnold Palmer). What visitors love about Whistler is the cobblestoned car-free, base village packed with comfortable condos and luxury hotels, hip bars and elegant shops. Not sure where to dine, join a Whistler Tasting Tour for stops at four popular eateries. Spa Scandinave combines traditional sweat lodges with frozen plunge pools to kickstart your circulation, likely not needed after your float plane trip, bungee jump, jet boat ride, tree trek or side by side ATV jaunt. Families love the safety of the Peak 2 Peak Gondola for bear-spotting, plus sweeping views of the resort’s lakes and sand beaches. Count on live music nightly, a weekly Farmers Market, and huge events that range from Tough Mudder (June) to Ironman Canada (July) and Cranxworx (August) for freestyle mountain bikers. Take kids to the arts workshops and multimedia performances during Children’s Festival, July 8 – 10. Through October, visitors who stay four nights can save 40% on their condo or hotel (more if they commit to some activities and buy in advance) so, with the 30% discount Americans already enjoy thanks to the strong dollar, this place is an adventurers’ bargain.

Avoid These Places if Your Kids Get Restless in Cars

I just heard that a friend told his family not to join him on an all-expenses-paid trip to Madrid, because he'd read that the traffic was bad... and knew his son hated to sit in a car seat.

An Infographic on global traffic congeston from the 2015 TomTom Traffic Index

Today's parents have too much information. As much as technology might liberate someone to try a risky adventure, it also limits them because they're so keen on avoiding hassles. Trust me, Madrid is worth a little traffic time... even a lot of traffic time. Thanks to TomTom, the source for technology services and GPS systems, here is some information that may prove useful to all travelers.

From their 2016 annual report detailing 295 cities in 38 countries on six continents with the most traffic congestion, we learn that in 2015, Mexico City had the worst traffic in the world.

Top 5 Worst Cities for Traffic (and Car Seat Tantrums)

Drivers in the Mexican capital of Mexico City can expect to spend, says TomTom, 59% extra travel time stuck in traffic any time of day, and up to 103% in the evening peak periods. Compared with cities where there is a free flow, or uncongested, situation, drivers and passengers in Mexico City will spend an estimated 219 hours of extra travel time in their vehicles over the course of 280 working days each year.

Next in the top 5 most-trafficked cities, measured by what percentage of extra travel time is needed:
2. Bangkok (57%)
3. Istanbul (50%)
4. Rio de Janeiro (47%)
5. Moscow (44%)

Traffic Congestion is Up, Globally

In its 5th year of publishing the Traffic Index, TomTom worked with 14 trillion data points accumulated over the past eight years. Interestingly, although traffic congestion is up by 13% globally since 2008, in 2015, North America’s traffic congestion rose by 17%, and Europe's by 2%. TomTom analysts say this may be attributed to Southern European countries such as Italy (-7%) and Spain (-13%) where there has been a marked drop in traffic congestion in the past eight years.

Ranking of the most congested cities globally in 2015 (Overall daily congestion level – extra travel time – population over 800,000):

6 Bucharest (43%)
7 Salvador (43%)
8 Recife (43%)
9 Chengdu (41%)
10 Los Angeles (41%)

Traffic Congestion in Europe

Ranking of the most congested cities in Europe in 2015 (Overall daily congestion level – extra travel time – population over 800,000). Please note that Madrid is not mentioned in this list!

1 Moscow (44%)
2 Bucharest (43%) 3 Saint Petersburg (40%)
4 Warsaw (38%)
5 Rome (38%)
6 London (38%)
7 Marseille (38%)
8 Manchester (37%)
9 Athens (36%)
10 Paris (36%)

Traffic Congestion in North America

Ranking of the most congested cities in North America in 2015 (Overall daily congestion level – extra travel time – population over 800,000):

1 Mexico City (59%)
2 Los Angeles (41%)
3 San Francisco (36%)
4 Vancouver (34%)
5 New York (33%)
6 Seattle (31%)
7 San Jose (30%)
8 Honolulu (29%)
9 Toronto (28%)
10 Miami (28%)

Don't Let Kids Get Stuck in a Car Seat!

Ralf-Peter Schaefer, VP TomTom Traffic, says: “We really want everybody to think about how they can lower the amount of time they waste in traffic every day – and to realize that we all need to play a part."

"If even just five per cent of us changed our travel plans," he adds, "we’d improve travel times on our major highways by up to thirty per cent (according to a recent study). Collectively, we can all work together to beat traffic congestion.”

Schaefer would like to see road authorities and local governments using TomTom’s traffic data to better manage traffic flow during the rush hour. Businesses can use it to plan smarter working hours to avoid rush hour, and drivers can use the real-time traffic information and smart routing to avoid congested roads.

Think your commute is worse than ever?

Discover where your home city traffic ranks, get helpful advice on beating traffic congestion, and review ‘Profile Cities’ who are working to improve mobility, at the the TomTom Traffic Index.

It's Virtually Here! The 1st VR Roller Coaster

Six Flags Over Georgia, which calls itself the "Thrill Capital of the South," is debuting the New Revolution Virtual Reality Coaster, said to be North America’s first VR roller coaster, this spring. As we've seen, virtual reality is all over the family travel news scene.

The park is also catering to its large family clientele with the more gentle Bugs Bunny Boomtown, featuring seven new family attractions that all ages can enjoy together.

Computer rendering of New Revolution VR Coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia 

VR Ride Takes Park Guests for Big Thrills

According to their press announcement, park-goers wearing wireless Samsung Gear VR powered by Oculus will be "transported into a futuristic battle to save planet Earth from an alien invasion" on the New Revolution VR Coaster.

Each guest will be immersed in the experience of being a co-pilot of their own virtual fighter jets on one of the park’s most popular roller coasters, which means flying straight up a skyscraper wall, then down a 95 degree pitch, then doing wild maneuvers in between office buildings.

Sound like your kind of thing? New Revolution VR Coaster opens March 19.

New Theme Park Area for Young Kids

For younger thrill-seekers and their families, Six Flags Over Georgia is set to debut seven attractions in the all-new Bugs Bunny Boomtown. Expect to see Daffy Duck Bucket Blasters, a wild and crazy family water battle; Speedy Gonzales Speed Boats, where guests will be screaming “Andale Andale” on six speed boats; Bugs Bunny High Seas Adventure, a chance to fly through the air on a junior sea-worthy quest and much more.

Daffy Duck Bucket Blasters allows families to splash others in buckets!

Six Flags Over Georgia also announced the world’s first DC SUPER Friends family-themed section will open later this spring, featuring five new attractions.

This season, Six Flags Over Georgia will be open on weekends through May 15 and daily April 2 through 10 for Spring Break. During summer, daily operation begins on May 21.

It's also the time of year for lots of news from all 18 Six Flags parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada. Note that season pass holders also include admission to Six Flags White Water in Marietta, available online at www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia.

Millennials Say Flip Flops Are Travel Essential

Will our fascination with Millennials, the younger generation about to take over the leisure travel industry, ever cease? We're guilty too: the topic for the 2016 TMS Family Travel Summit is "Millennials, The New Family Traveler."

 Flip-flops are more likely to be found in Millennial luggage, than Essential Papers -- boomer travelers' preference. Image courtesy of VectorGoods.com

The 4th annual, to-the-trade think tank style event taking place in South Walton, Florida April 17-19, aims to explore the travel habits and aspirations of those turning 18-34 this year, and how those patterns change when they become parents.

We have been looking at a lot of travel studies so this one, from AARP, caught our eye. Since, as they say, my parents used to pay 25 cents for a movie and didn't have seat belts, the matures, seniors and boomers at AARP decided to explore how the travel habits of their cohort differed from those of Generation X (now 34-54 years old), as well as Millennials.

Their findings, from "Travel Research: 2016 Travel Trends," are contained in a fun infographic below.  A quick summary:

• Millennials, the most widely traveled generation that ever existed, are more likely to travel internationally in 2016 than boomers (13% vs. 5%)

• Millennials, who can hardly afford their own living space at home, are more likely to stay in an AirBnB or a VRBO rental than boomers when traveling  (22% vs. 9%)

• Millennials, who pursue adventure tethered to cellphones that help them navigate, communicate and extricate, are more likely than boomers to post to social media while traveling (80% vs. 33%).

AARP 2016 Travel Trends Genenerations Infographic

Let us know your thoughts on this, and what your own kids may be teaching you about their demographic.

Charlie Brown Makes Holidays Bigger and Brighter This Year

Is it my imagination or are the holiday light displays more Insta-worthy this year: bigger, brighter? The Halal food truck near our office is decked out with neon tracers, and we're seeing decor fever on every street corner.

In New York City, we are treated to over-the-top store windows all year long, but I'm not sure any can beat the Peanuts characters who are occupying Macy's.

Broadway side windows of Macy's Herald Square decked out with huge Peants characters. 

Bravo! to Macy's Herald Square, who began their holiday windows in the 1870's and have kept up the magic, as have many of the public holiday lights around the country, ever since.

At Macy's, the famous Charlie Brown and friends are showcased in each of the six Broadway at 34th Street windows through January 4, 2016. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” Macy's-style follows the plot of the animated film. Each of the windows is capped by a larger-than-life version of one of the Peanuts characters peering out over Broadway Plaza, and tells a story that you'll have to read aloud to little ones. Bundle up, it's worth it.

Window 1 at Macy's Herald Square, New York City c. Peanuts

For example, in Window 1:
"Christmas time is here, 
Happiness and cheer, 
Fun for all that children call 
Their favorite time of year."
Charlie Brown: "I just don’t understand Christmas, I guess. I might be getting presents and sending Christmas cards and decorating trees and all that."

According to Roya Sullivan, Macy’s National Director of Window Presentation who worked a year on this project, “This year’s Christmas windows celebrate Charles Schulz’s 50th anniversary of 'A Charlie Brown Christmas.' We are proud to have maintained the integrity of the original animated television special while also acknowledging today's tech-savvy child with the addition of highly technological and interactive elements.” The interactivity comes after the last window, when visitors can upload their favorite Peanuts character to their smartphone, which then appears in the window. 

Charlie Brown is upset that Snoopy has entered a "Best Holiday Decorations" contest. c. USPS 2015

Friends + Snoopy, an aviator by avocation, are also helping the Post Office deliver mail this season. That gives us high hopes for getting Christmas cards out on time.

We thank the U.S. Postal Service for the new line of Peanuts stamps, but did you realize that they have more than a billion Holiday-themed stamps in stock from previous years?

Charlie and Linus fret about the holiday season. c. USPS, 2015

Our postal service went ahead and printed 800 million more this year, so forget those e-cards. Use up stamps and keep postage rates low by ordering at usps.com/shop or by calling 800/782-6724.

And please share with us your own favorite memories of Peanuts and special holiday traditions.