East meets West
Summer family travel
By Linda McClain, CTA
Summer is officially here! Have you made plans for a family vacation? With gas prices at an extraordinary high, are you wondering if a road trip will be your best bet? The Capital Region is positioned with a versatile advantage for road trips. If you want to get up and go, here are some destinations that are all within a few hours drive:
• Take in the beauty of the Finger Lake Region of New York. Sample regional wine and visit a vineyard.
• Spend time in Lake Placid, once home to Winter Olympic Games. If you love the great outdoors, it’s easy to find things to do if you in this region. Take in the extreme or watch it. Each July, the Ironman triathlon takes place here (www.ironmanusa.com). Also visit this link to learn about unique opportunities for your child. Youth triathlon clinics and multi-sport adventure camps are available for children ages 7-15. Advance registration required.
• Visit the nearby Berkshires of Massachusetts or the historic charm of Boston, on the east coast.
• Stretch your driving time to the scenic beaches of Maine and the best lobster, ever. Don’t miss the L.L. Bean factory outlet store in Freeport.
• Discover the beauty and tranquility of the mountain and lake regions of New Hampshire
• Find perfection and confection (Ben & Jerry’s) of Vermont Don’t miss the Teddy Bear Factory in Shelberne.
• Drive north to Montreal, Quebec, gastronomic capital of the world. Remember to bring proof of US citizenship for each member of the family.
• Visit Mystic Seaport, Connecticut. Enjoy the aquarium and charming scenery or try your luck at Foxwoods, nearby.
Traveling with infants and toddlers
How better to sharpen your organizational skills? If you are taking a road trip, you will need to decide the essential from the unessential. With this age group, it seems you can never have enough clothes, diapers, wipes and age appropriate foods.
However, the benefit of traveling with little ones is well worth the effort. They make charming and adorable companions. This seems to be one of the only stages of childhood in which everything a parent does, is the perfect answer to their command. If it’s sandcastles and the shore or a visit to a city aquarium or zoo, expect your little one to fill your hours with personal pride and appreciation.
Driving with school-aged children?
Create a family travel theme this summer
A good example of this is mixing history with the beach.
• Travel to Cape Cod to visit Hyannis Port, home of the Kennedy compound. Include scenic stops like Nantucket island, with its’ charming lighthouses and cobblestone streets.
• Ferry over to Provincetown. Quaint cottages and architecture are just part of the allure that is evident here. Once a famous whaling port, it is now home to many writers, artists and celebrities. Heading back from the Cape, visit Plymouth Rock. Board a reproduction of the Mayflower, where your children will learn about the 65 day journey from England to the Plymouth, Massachusetts coast. You can also see ways the original pilgrims lived at Plymouth Plantation.
Williamsburg, Virginia
Discover the largest outdoor living history museum in our country. In a village that simulates the Jamestown Settlement and its’ people, see what it was like to live in the 16th century. Character actors recreate necessary day to day tasks that were faced during times of settlement. Watch the art of brick-making and many other fascinating hand crafted accomplishments. A traditional fife and drum parade take part in the daily activities during the busy tourist season. Visit a colonist’s fort and a Powhatan village, like the one Pocahontas would have lived in as a child.
After all the living history lessons, consider an extra day or two for Busch Gardens in Williamsburg. From the thrilling roller coaster to wet water rides, there is something here for every member of the family.
Or take flight. California, here I come!
Begin with diverse and dynamic San Francisco. Hop a cable car, explore Fisherman’s Wharf and take in some retail therapy. Day trips of great contrast range from the nearby island prison of Alcatraz to the beauty of giant redwoods in Muir Woods. Whether you want to eat or play, explore museums or just enjoy the multicultural environment, San Francisco is a great way to discover California your way.
Where do I go from here?
• Cross the Sierra Nevada mountains to Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
• Drive to Yosemite National Park for scenic splendor.
• Your family can hike and take in a host of activities without the interruption of cell phones and deadlines.
• Don’t miss 17-mile drive. Considered one of the best coastline highways in the world, your family is sure to remember its breathtaking scenery.
• See the Monterey Peninsula, known for its crashing surf and dramatic cliffs. Both beautiful and charming, Monterey was the original capital of California.
• Drive the Big Sur Coast, a 90-mile stretch with stunning coastal and mountain scenery.
• Visit the famous Hearst Castle, positioned on a mountaintop in San Simeon.
• Return to San Francisco for your flight home to Albany or continue the drive south to San Diego.
• An abundance of family fun awaits you! San Diego has a perfect blend of weather conditions and family activities can keep you on the go. The world famous San Diego Zoo will give you more than a day’s worth of discoveries.
Take the kids to Seaworld and Legoland for unlimited hours of fun.
• Stroll along one of the area beaches. Find yourself at La Jolla cove at sunset to view an amazing sunset.
• Visit Old Town. Many historic buildings here include a blacksmith shop and the oldest school in San Diego.
• Take in the shopping at Seaport Village or Horton Plaza.
• Bike or jog along one of Mission Bay Park’s many trails.
If you’ve decided that a vacation on the coast is on your agenda, I hope you will benefit from the ideas I’ve shared with you this month. Whether you travel East or West, have a safe and happy journey!
East Coast websites:
www.fingerlakes.org
www.lakeplacid.com
www.ironmanusa.com
www.vermontvacation.com
www.vermontteddybear.com
www.tourism-montreal.org
www.visitmaine.com
www.visitnh.gov
www.mass-vacation.com
www.mysticseaport.org
www.visitwilliamsburg.com
www.buschgardens.com
West Coast websites:
www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com
www.visitinglaketahoe.com
www.yosemitepark.com
www.pebblebeach.com
www.montereyinfo.org
www.bigsurcalifornia.org
www.hearst-castle.org
www.sandiego.org
Linda McClain, CTA, is owner of Capital Region based Linda McClain Travel Services “From The Islands To The Highlands, No Dream Is Too Far From Here!” For more information call 372.7657 or visit www.lindamcclaintravel.com.