Taking the Kids: Still time for summer fun

It’s not too late for a summer getaway. It doesn’t matter if you didn’t have time to plan one sooner. Whether you’ve just got a few days or longer, you and your family can still get out and enjoy this summer.

With our partners at Family Travel Forum and Little Family Adventure we put together 51 Great Ideas for your Best Family Summer Vacation. Even though summer is half over, there are still plenty of great options – even some bargains, especially if you plan strategically.

Consider a city getaway over a weekend when business travelers are gone. Try mid-week at beach or mountain destinations. Look for deals. Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels offers rates starting at $89 for teachers this summer. (Book through Aug. 15 for stays through Sept. 2, 2024, based on availability.)

There are even deals on tony Nantucket Island off the coast of Massachusetts. The Cottages at the Boat Basin have reopened after a multi-million-dollar renovation on the former historic whaling wharves. The Cottages at The Boat Basin is part of the island’s White Elephant Resorts, offering Summer for Less, featuring savings of up to 25 percent off on three-night stays.

Look for a place where you can learn something new. The Twin Fin Hotel, a surf-centric hotel set along Waikiki’s shoreline, has newly partnered with world-famous surfer Jamie O’Brien to launch the Jamie O’Brien School of Surf Waikiki, offering private and group surf lessons for all levels. Guests also have access to watercraft and beach rentals such as surfboards, SUP, chairs, and coolers. (Summer rates start at $206.)

Located in the center of Snowmass’ base village lies Limelight Snowmass, the perfect home base for families seeking a last-minute Colorado adventure. The hotel has just launched a new Family Adventure Offer; book at least three-nights and get a $400 credit to enjoy the Lost Forest, with ziplining, ropes courses, the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster, miles of hiking trails, a high-mountain fishing pond, disc golf, paintballing, and more.

Opt for Chicago’s Royal Sonesta for a city family adventure on the river and get a $50 dining credit while kids get a special welcome gift.

The Lakehouse Resort in San Diego has introduced a Guitar Concierge complete with complimentary guitars and a curated list of songs to play while making (complimentary) s’mores by the fire pit.

Explore Mexico City’s top attractions while staying steps from the historic Parque Mexico at Andaz Mexico City, now offering 20 percent off. Have you always wanted to take a Chocolate Master Class?

The iconic Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa in Lake Placid is celebrating its centennial over Labor Day weekend with special lodging packages, activities, music and wine tasting.

It’s not too late for a bucket list trip, like to Alaska. Princess Cruises is celebrating its 55th anniversary in Alaska with the sailing of seven ships making 158 departures, including its newest ship, the Discovery Princess. Alaska Native-owned Alaskan Dream Cruises is offering a new, eight-day itinerary, “Ice of the Inside Passage” focusing on seven different glaciers. Opt to explore by RV. (Whether you are traveling Alaska by land or sea, get the Alaska Tour Services MyAlaskaGuide app, which is a good resource with facts and insights about each region.)

Alternate expensive activities with free festivals, concerts, hikes, and bike rides. In New Mexico, the 12 Weeks of Taos is a line-up of free activities for visitors and locals from July 4 to Sept. 22. Free weekend activities will include outdoor yoga on the plaza, movie screenings, photo scavenger hunts, live music, fly fishing tutorials, and more.

If you are flying, look for packages that include hotels and rental cars. The Caribbean and Mexico can always be a good bargain bet in summer. Divi & Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusives are touting 20 percent off packages for travel through Sept. 30, 2024.

But as Hurricane Beryl, the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, showed us, weather as a result of climate change and exceptionally warm ocean temperatures is more unpredictable than ever.

That’s why wherever you go, it’s wise to invest in travel insurance, particularly an annual plan. An annual (or multi-trip) travel insurance plan protects all your trips – long or short, international, or domestic, planned, or spontaneous – for 365 days. These plans are a good bet because they typically are cheaper (and definitely easier) than insuring each trip separately, especially when the trips are expensive.

For low-cost international flights, Icelandic airline PLAY offers daily convenient flights from the East Coast (Boston, Baltimore/Washington D.C., and New York) to more than 33 popular European destinations. JetBlue now flies to London, Paris and Amsterdam, Dublin and Edinburgh through NYC and Boston, promising “the most legroom in coach.” Other budget airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet also offer affordable options for traveling within Europe.

How about London? Visit London touts 25 free don’t miss free sites and attractions. Free museums include the fantastic Imperial War Museum, British Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, National Gallery, and the Museum of London. Take a free stroll through Hyde Park. Window-shop at markets, including Old Spitalfields, Camden Market and Portobello Road for souvenirs. Borough Market is known for terrific but cheap eats. Besides eateries and artisans, Covent Garden Market features a roster of street performers.

Plus, there are many budget places to stay, including American brands like the hotel Indigo (IHG), Canopy by Hilton, Travelodge London City, Holiday Inn London-West and many more. The UK’s first residents club, the Other House South Kensington, has just opened, offering apartment-like accommodations with hotel services and a private members’ club starting at $250 per night.

Does a grown son or daughter suddenly have time to travel with you? I met several mother-daughter duos on the adult-only (18+) Virgin Voyages cruise which also have attractive deals. Backroads now has an entire list of trips designed for parents to share with young adults in their lives. All you need to do is show up!

That’s true on a river raft trip too. Sure, there is teamwork involved but the amiable guides provide the boats, cook, and even entertain the kids. OARS has been a trusted name in river running and adventure travel for 55 years and has many family-friendly guided adventures for those of all ages, including kids as young as four, as well as just for adults, as we discovered on Idaho’s Main Salmon River. I’d love to take one of OARS Wilderness Gourmet trips.

Enjoy!

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(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow TakingTheKids on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. The fourth edition of The Kid’s Guide to New York City and the third edition of The Kid’s Guide to Washington D.C. are the latest in a series of 14 books for kid travelers published by Eileen.)