The newest lodge to be built in the grandeur of the Giant Sequoias is the Wuksachi Lodge. Families will find great accommodations, delicious food in the restaurant, and a playground of outdoor adventures in the majesty of Sequoia National Park.
Photo courtesy of Wuksachi Lodge
The location of this lodge is ideal with majestic views of High Sierra peaks and surrounded by a conifer forest just waiting to be explored on many trails. Large groves of giant sequoia trees, including the “world’s largest tree”: The General Sherman, are within a 10 minute drive. It is located in the heart of Sequoia National Park at 6-7,000 feet elevation, just east of the Central Valley of California. The Wuksachi Lodge is the optimum year-round lodging choice amid campgrounds and a few cabins nearby.
Photo courtesy of Wuksachi Lodge
Don’t assume that visiting a mountainous national park requires camping out in the sticks, when you could enjoy the luxury of a full-service hotel at the Wuksachi Lodge. The main lobby is crafted with cedar and local stone, and offers the only spot in Sequoia National Park with free Wi-Fi, or pretty much any cell service. A full-service restaurant serves delicious meals with special “to go orders” for your family hike. A gift shop, cross-country ski shop and a special event facility are housed in the main lobby. Rooms are stocked with everything you would expect from a great hotel such as a private bath, TVs, telephones, refrigerators, hair dryers, central heat and daily maid service.
Photo courtesy of Wuksachi Lodge
Whether you visit in the winter when the trails are covered with snow and the sledding is the best at Wolverton, or the beautiful summer when you can hike to Tokopah Falls amid the wildflowers, you can enjoy a family-friendly stay at the Wuksachi Lodge
Photo courtesy of Wuksachi Lodge
Resources:
Read my full review of Wuksachi Lodge | Top Picks for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Best Family Activities in Sequoia National Park | Best Kid Friendly Hikes in Sequoia National Park
Best Family Activities in the Grant Grove Area of Kings Canyon National Park
The Steal: Win a 2-night vacation package at Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia National Park, California
Details:
One very lucky winner will receive:
2 night stay for a family of 4 (valid Sun.-Thurs. only; expiration May 7, 2013)
One breakfast buffet
HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:
In an effort to make it easier to enter, we are now using Rafflecopter. Simply click on the link below and follow the directions. The more you do, the more entries you will receive!
Have you ever driven through a Bahamian pine forest? Better question, did you know there was such thing as a Bahamian pine forest? Tall, spindly Caribbean pines, bare except for the limbs full of pine needles which hang at the treetops, are doing their best to once again cover the majority of Grand Bahama Island. 40 years ago, Illinois Lumber Company decided to clear cut the entire island, a shining example of the eco-insensitivity of the time. Some stands have been reduced to a collection of tree carcasses standing as reminders of the tidal surge from Hurricane Wilma but most are doing a great job of reclaiming the island’s skyline.
These days, places like Lucayan National Park are prime examples or pristine habitats and incredible beauty. The park features all six of the island’s ecosystems, including beaches, forest, mangroves, and caverns. Just a few steps from the parking lot, a path takes visitors to a series of stairs which lead down to flooded caverns where bats peacefully roost above the entrance to part of one of the largest underwater cave system in the world. Scuba diving opportunities inside the cave are possible by special permit but most of us are left to ponder what mystery lies beyond the cavernous opening.
A boardwalk takes visitors on a short walk over the crystal clear waters of the mangroves which are teeming with tropical fish. Visitors should keep their eyes peeled for the resident family of raccoons which love to snatch all sorts of aquatic goodies from the water. On my trip to the park, I couldn’t help but be jealous of the kayakers gliding quietly through this unspoiled environment. Viewing the mangroves from above on the boardwalk was certainly a treat but peacefully paddling through an environment that is foreign to most of us seems like an ideal way to explore the ecosystem.
Once across the boardwalk, the Caribbean pines and mangroves give way to a seemingly never-ending stretch of sugary white sand lapped by the clear blue shallows of the Atlantic. Gold Rock Beach is paradise by anyone’s standards. The producers of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise found the locale to be so enchanting that they filmed much of the franchise in this very spot. That’s right ladies, Johnny Depp walked, swam, and sweated all over this West Indies jewel. Swooning aside, Gold Rock Beach is the perfect place to bring a picnic and spend the day. The water is knee deep for at least 100 yards (depending on the tide) and waves are nothing more than a ripple, making it an ideal place for young children to play. Best of all, the beach is long enough for everyone to have their own quiet slice of heaven.
Looking for a place to call home base while in the Bahamas? Check out the Grand Lucayan Resort.
Sharlene Earnshaw is the Editor in Chief of Trekaroo.
Imagine sitting on a lounge chair with your toes dangling in the powdery white sand. Envision yourself sipping on some rum-based cocktail that a fellow vacationer recommended from the beachfront bar while your kids are having the time of their lives jumping off the water trampoline, splashing in the gentle surf, or digging their way to China. Warmed up by the West Indies sunshine? Move over to one of the swimming pools and hang out by the infinity edge, pinching yourself as you take in the incredible ocean view. Tempted to get active and enjoy the Atlantic? Take the ten second stroll over to the rental stand and try your hand at jet skiing, banana boating, or paragliding. Ready for “The Grand Life” yet?
This hammock sits empty, waiting for you!
When many people think of the Bahamas, they think of the Disney-like environment common at the mega resorts near Nassau or see the islands simply as a port stop on a Caribbean Cruise. Recently, I discovered a slice of the Bahamas that fits with the laid back and kid-friendly vibe my family loves. Just a 45 minute hop from Miami, Grand Bahama Island is a great weekend getaway for South Easterners, Spring Break destination for families looking to avoid the Spring Break crowd, or a week long island getaway any time of year. Grand Lucayan Resort offers all the comforts, opportunities, and security of a large resort while keeping the causal island atmosphere that so many of us daydream about after a long week of running our kids to a dozen activities all over town.
Fun fact: It took just ask long to fly to Grand Bahama Island as it takes me to fly to Hawaii. Who knew West Coast residents could reach the West Indies so quick?
The Grand Life
From the moment guests step foot in the open air plantation-style lobby and are greeted by a smiling Bahamian happy to take their luggage, they are happy to embrace the “grand life” motto. The resort assumed this new slogan after dropping its old name, Our Lucayan, for one that more fully reflected the island it calls home. Set on 7.5 acres of pristine beachfront, the resort is ideal for water-loving families who enjoy activities such as swimming (in the four pools or beautiful Atlantic Ocean), parasailing, banana boating, jet skiing, or bouncing on the water trampoline. It is equally perfect for parents that just want to sit on a lounge chair in the sand with a cocktail in hand and the sounds of a steel drum band as their soundtrack as they watch their kids jump the gentle waves.
Rooms are clean and Caribbean-inspired, ranging from standard 400 square foot island view rooms to expansive1600 square foot 2-bedroom suites (like the one Johnny Depp stayed in during the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean), but there is so much to do on-property that you won’t find yourself spending much time indoors. Parents looking for some time to enjoy the spa, play tennis, or have a quiet meal with their spouse will be thrilled to know that the resort does have an onsite kids club, Camp Lucaya, for children ages 3-12. At the club kids will swim (there is a wading pool and a pool with a slide), play games, and make crafts for only $10 a day!!! Families interested in enjoying onsite activities together will be thrilled to know that several complimentary organized activities are offered everyday such as yoga, hula hoop contests, bingo, poolside trivia, croquet, scavenger hunts, and volleyball pick-up games.
Location. Location. Location
One of the best things about this resort is its location. It sits on a long stretch of white sand in the heart of the little village of Lucaya. The Lucayan Marketplace is directly across the street and is the perfect place to go souvenir shopping (people keep asking me where I got my new bag. I beam when I get to tell them the Bahamas), pick up duty free items, and check out some eclectic little restaurants (who knew a Greek/Bahamian restaurant even existed?).
UNEXSO, a company specializing in reef dives, shark dives, and dolphin experiences, is also located just across the street. UNEXSO is a great place to have your first or fifth experience because they offer such a wide variety of dolphin encounter opportunities. Families with young or timid children and those not keen on the idea of actually swimming in the water with dolphins will love the Dolphin Close Encounter where guests can step onto a submerged platform (holding their young children if need be) and pet, kiss, and splash with a dolphin. Those looking for a more immersive adventure will the Open Ocean Experience. It is the only program of its kind in the world and allows participants to swim with trained dolphins in an open ocean environment. All experiences include a 15 minute boat ride and the opportunity to let the sea spray hit your face as pinch yourself to remind you that this, in fact,is your reality.
Disclosure: The author attended a press trip to Grand Bahama Island. All opinions are her own.
Sharlene Earnshaw is the Editor in Chief of Trekaroo.
Photo via Flickr user Funky Chicken
When planning a vacation, one of the first things my family does after deciding on our vacation destination is book lodging. For most of us, this comes in the form of a hotel. However, in some areas such as the Jersey Shore where I live, vacation rental homes are more plentiful than hotels.
If your family is like mine, you may be a little gun shy about jumping into a vacation rental. We just have so many questions and don’t know where to start. There is some comfort in the familiar and staying in hotels brands that we trust. All the unknowns involved in renting a home for the first time make it a scary prospect! To answer some of my questions and quell some of my worries I began to ask around. This led me to Chris Fotache, owner of Jersey Shore Vacation Rentals. While his site specializes in finding rental properties in our area his advice is great for wherever you may seek a vacation home.
Taking the Plunge
I let Chris know I was among the uninitiated when it comes to home rentals and asked him what he could tell me to ease my first-timer fears. Chris believes it comes down to availability and management. In some areas, such as here at the shore, there are no resort-style hotels and rental homes are more plentiful than motel or hotel rooms. Rental homes offer families a larger variety of lodging options and as well as the comforts of home. Just like staying at a new hotel for the first time, you may not know what exactly you are getting until you get there, but unlike a hotel which is working with hundreds of customers at one time, a vacation home owner only has one customer to consider at a time, you.
Benefits of a Rental Property vs. a Hotel Room
The most obvious benefit of staying in a home instead of a hotel room is the additional room. Chris points out there are more benefits than just additional living space. For an extended stay, a rental home may be more cost effective than a hotel stay for the same period of time, especially if your group is large enough to require more than one hotel room. Another benefit is that it is a great way to reconnect or bond with your family and friends. What better way to spend time together than sharing a home?
Photo via Flickr User Sizemoresr
Finding the Perfect Home for Your Family
So now I’m wondering how I go about finding the perfect rental home for my family. Chris points out that you need to start by finding the best location for your needs. Is the purpose of your visit to be family-friendly or are you looking for nightlife? Are you looking for pristine beaches or a spot in the woods? Once you find the region that fits into the type of vacation you are looking for then it is time to look at the home itself. You should look at the size of the house in order to find something appropriate for the size of your family or the group that you will be traveling with. You will also want to note location of the home in relation to local attractions such as restaurants and activities. Chris recommends some highly reputable sites to begin your search and browse hundreds of vacation rentals. Some of the largest websites are HomeAway or VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner). Sites with more of a local focus such as Jersey Shore Vacation Rentals offer home listings as well as regional information such as event listings and beach information.
What to Watch For
Again, as a newbie to the rental arena, I want to know what to avoid and what to watch for. Chris recommends staying with specialized sites with well-known reputations. These sites take steps to ensure that scams aren’t offered to help protect the renter. Sites like Craigslist are becoming popular resources, especially for last-minute deals, but you should be extra cautious using sites like these as you are more likely to encounter scams.
It isn’t easy to spot a scam so renters need to pay attention to the ad itself (is the ad clear and professionally written?) and to the behavior of the home owner. Red flags include avoiding phone calls and requesting wire transfers or other unusual payment arrangements.
Realtor vs Home Owner
I asked Chris if there was a benefit of renting a home through a realtor vs. going through the home owner directly. He pointed out that a large percentage of owners rent out directly without the help of a realtor so you may miss out on some great properties by only going to a realtor. Home owners have to pay a commission to a realtor so you may be able to find better prices when working directly with the owner. However, to make sure you are finding the best home for your family or group, keep your options open and browse both realtor websites and rentals-by-owner websites like those listed above.
When to Book
My next question for Chris was how far ahead should a family be prepared to book a rental property? He stated that the best homes (as far as location and price) are often booked a year in advance and often by the same family who like to rent the same house every year. Here at the shore, winter time seems to be when most of the properties are booked. The longer you wait, the less likely you are to find a nice home with a good price. The closer you get to high season, the more likely that the homes left are over-priced or furthest away from a prime location.
Bargain Hunting
I asked for tips on scoring a deal and while the resulting answer was what I was expecting, I was hoping for a potential surprise tip. Chris points out most home owners that are renting out are unlikely to negotiate. If they are in a high rental area, they know that they will most likely rent out their property for the entire season and what they can get in terms of price for the property. Occasionally you may be able to snag a last minute deal as a result of a late cancellation and you can often get better rates if you are renting for multiple weeks or an entire season instead of just one week. Off-season rates are usually lower as well.
I’m glad I had the chance to talk with Chris and get some good advice. I’d love to hear some more tips from our Trekaroo families as well!
Related:
- Budget Travel: Tips for Planning to Eat in While on Vacation
- Family Travel Tips for Roaming on a Budget
- Budget Travel: Family Vacation on a Shoestring
- Budget Travel: Tips for Saving on Lodging as a Family
- Home Exchanges – The Backdoor to Family Travel on a Budget
- Last Minute Hotel Deals
Beth Keklak is Trekaroo’s Destination Guroo for New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | UT|VA | WA
Does your child love gadgets and technology? Have a budding inventor or scientist on your hands? A visit to a fantastic science and technology museum can inspire great scientific and scholastic achievement in even the non-motivated student. We poured through 1,150 reviews on our site and put together this handy guide to the top science & technology museums across the country, as voted by your trusted and experienced Trekaroo users. Get your inner Einstein on!
10. McWane Science Center*
Birmingham, AL
Photo by: Flickr/Ralph and Jenny
Although not massive in size, McWane Science Center has an all-5 star rating here on Trekaroo. Families rave that the museum offers plenty of hands on activities for kids of every age, from tiny tikes all the way to talkative teens. The center boasts an aquarium (with a shark and ray touch tank), plenty of dinosaurs, and four levels of interactive science fun.
The Center’s overnight activities are a hit; check the calendar for details.
9. California Academy of Sciences
San Francisco, CA
Photo by: Flickr/sarah_ackerman
Located in the beautiful Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, our #9 museum, the California Academy of Sciences, offers a ton of science for the whole family. A dome enclosed 4-story rainforest (the largest in the world!) seems to be the highlight for many, while a digital planetarium, aquarium and natural history museum within the museum round off the experience. The building itself is of note: the structure is one of the greenest museums on the planet boasting a 2 ½ acre living roof, solar canopy, water reclamation system and unique insulation made of recycled blue jeans.
A spirit of sustainability is in the air: receive $3 off admission by walking/biking to the museum.
8. Pacific Science Center*
Seattle, WA
Photo by: Trekaroo/3dorrs
The Pacific Science Center’s 50 years of discovery makes it the original Science & Tech museum in the US. In addition to an ever-changing array of exhibits like Wellbody’s Academy of Health & Wellness which opens late 2012 and teaches kids (and adults) through hands on displays and experiments the correlation of rest, exercise, hygiene, and diet on the physical body, the museum also offers tons of permanent interactive experiments on energy, health, insects, animals and local Puget sound scientific research.
June 2012 will usher in Seattle’s first ever Science Festival marking the 50th anniversary of the Seattle World’s Fair.
7. Maryland Science Center*
Baltimore, MD
Photo by: Trekaroo/MaggieMyst
The dream child of a group of science lovers from the year 1797, the Maryland Science Center is full of both past, present and future exhibits. Dinosaur Mysteries displays 13-full-sized dinos and proudly calls itself a hands-on area, you can literally touch dinosaur eggs, pick up real fossils and more! In Newton’s Alley, visitors learn through hands on experiments in mechanics, magnetism, light, and sound. The Kids Room is the perfect spot for over 50 interactive activities designed just for kids under 8.
Math Midway opens May 2012: a three-ring circus themed math extravaganza!
6. Center of Science & Industry (COSI)*
Columbus, OH
Photo by: Flickr/RJ Bailey
Live (and explosive) science shows, hands on workshops and a slew of activities places COSI on our list (Parents Magazine’s #1 slot!). The museum has something for everyone with permanent exhibits that allow you to take apart and reassemble gadgets, simulate space capsule lands, and test out the change in technology from 1898 to present. The museum is the only Science & Tech museum to host a working TV studio giving budding media kids the chance to direct their own show, use green screens and more!
On a budget? Visit on Friday Family Night where its $9.95 for all ages 2 and up (last Friday of the month, 5:00pm to 9:00pm).
5. Oregon Museum of Science & Industry*
Portland, OR
Photo by: Trekaroo/bayareababyblog
The #5 museum, OMSI, is situated on the Willamette River in Portland, and is loved by Trekaroo users. Five exhibition halls, eight science labs, a planetarium, OMNIMAX giant theater AND the USS Blueback submarine make this west coaster a great hit for the entire family. Although it costs a bit on top of your general ticket, don’t miss the submarine tour: climb in the quarters, touch a torpedo, and imagine life under the sea. Down Periscope!
OMSI also hosts a fantastically interactive online science exploration site. Check it out!
4. Montshire
Norwich, VT
Photo by: Montshire Museum
With both an indoor museum and amazingly sprawling 100-acre outdoor grounds (bigger than Disneyland!), Montshire Museum is the perfect place to mix science and outdoor enthusiasm. The outdoor Science Park uses the outdoors as a “living laboratory” ripe for experiments. The Planet Walk takes visitors on a 2-mile scale model journey from the Sun to Pluto (which happens to be a dwarf planet now!) Indoors, maneuver weather simulators, and test the qualities of light.
Montshire Museum may sound familiar to loyal Trekaroo users; it was just named part of the Top 10 Vermont.
3. Museum of Science and Industry*
Chicago, IL
Photo by: Flickr/mhowry
Chicagoland’s Museum of Science and Industry, the largest science center in the entire western hemisphere, is full of more than 35,000 artifacts including the U-505 Submarine, the only German U-boat captured during WWII. Popular exhibits include the Coal Mine, a working replica of one of Illinois’ many mines; ToyMaker 3000, an interactive, robot-powered toy factory; and Science Storm, where guests can control a 40-foot tornado! Live science experiences put your kids in the action giving them the chance to dissect a cow’s eye, diagnose and treat patients as a doctor, and develop and manufacture real products in the Fab Lab.
Based on the popular TV series, Mythbusters: The Explosive Exhibit runs through September 3, 2012.
2. Franklin Institute*
Philadelphia, PA
Photo by: Flickr/bardagabbard
Everyone on Trekaroo loves the Franklin Institute! The museum’s giant heart exhibit, renovated in 2004, 50 years after its installment, features a crawl through heart and arteries, massive EKG machine, simulated open-heart surgery and more. An interactive Space Command exhibit teaches space exploration history and gives visitors the perspective of an astronaut at the space station. Older visitors can ride the sky bike, pedaling a weighted bicycle across a tiny wire hung 28’ feet in the air—talk about trusting the laws of gravity and physics!
From May 12th- October 14th, pay a visit to ancient faith and traditions while observing the Dead Sea Scrolls.
1. TECHNOLOGY: The Tech Museum of Innovation*
San Jose, CA
- Photo by: Flickr/jurvestson
The top Technology museum on Trekaroo is The Tech, where their mission is to inspire the innovator in everyone. Appropriately located in the technology drenched Silicon Valley, the museum offers tons of hands on exhibits in almost every area of current technology.
1. NATURAL HISTORY: American Museum of Natural History
Manhattan, NY
- Photo by: Flickr/jan dembowski
Made famous on the big screen by the film The Night at the Museum, the American Museum of Natural History is amazing! Trekaroo families note that seeing everything in the museum could take days! From the iconic T-Rex skeleton and fossil friends to the hall of human origins and the detailed dioramas, this museum has it all.
1. PLANETARIUM: Griffith Park Observatory
- Photo by: Flickr/Schlusselbein2007
The number one stand-alone planetarium in the US sits amid the beautiful Griffith Park at the top of Mt. Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA. Touch a meteorite, view the solar telescope, attend a planetarium show, compare planets and even look for some of Hollywood’s very own stars (or at least the nearby Hollywood sign!)
1. OVERALL: Exploratorium*
San Francisco, CA
Photo by: Flickr/davitydave
Trekaroo user PacMaMa says it well, “The Exploratorium brings out the curious child in everyone.” Recognized by many as the original hands-on science exploratory center, the Exploratorium continues to offer an amazing and vast array of interactive experiences in almost every field of science and art. In fact, more than 400 completely interactive exhibits on seeing, the mind, traits of life, matter, and sound fill the space. Visitors over seven can experience the tactile dome, a pitch black investigation relying completely on a heightened sense of touch for guidance. A variety of self-guided tours are offered to ensure your budding scientist hits the most appropriate and appealing exhibits.
The museum has announced a relocation set for spring 2013, more than tripling its current size. The current location will close January 2013, so be sure to check the website for project updates.
We couldn’t let these awesome museums go unnoticed; they are some of the best in the country and missed the Top 10 cut by the narrowest of margins. Here are Trekaroo’s honorable mention science & tech museums:
Museum of Life and Science,* Durham, NC
Museum of Science,* Cambridge, MA
California Science Center,* Los Angeles, CA
SciPort: Louisiana Science Center,* Shreveport, LA
Discovery Science Center,* Santa Ana, CA
Carnegie Science Center,* Pittsburgh, PA
Discovery Place,*Charlotte, NC
Visiting Washington, D.C.? The 2nd annual USA Science & Engineering Festival is being held right now! The grand finale takes place April 28th-29th at Walter E. Washington Convention Center. It’s FREE and sure to inspire the scientist in every kid!
*The museums with an asterisk currently participate in the ASTC Passport Program; your local membership also gives you access to these and more than 300 museums across the US.
Related:
Places for Kids to Have Fun with Science and Technology in:
San Francisco Bay Area California | Connecticut | New Hampshire | New York | Maine | Massachusetts | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | Vermont | Utah
Katie Bodell is Trekaroo’s Assistant Editor, a wife, & a mom to three sweet California girls.
Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC| FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR| PA| TN | TX | UT | VA | WA
