Vacations Blog

Seattle Space Needle

Photo by Paul Shultz

I would never suggest that you visit an airport with your children just for fun.  However, if you are stranded at an airport on your way home from holiday travel, let it be known that some of them have incredibly cool features that will help you kill the time and burn off the kids’ energy so they will pass out on the airplane.  Just don’t let them visit the ubiquitous airport candy store.

My holiday gift to you is a list, below, of links to the major US airlines and their hub airports.  Chances are, if you are traveling across the country, you may have to set foot in one of them, and you may even have to spend many of your precious hours there.  To all of our delight, I am sure, the city editors of Being Savvy, a guide for parents of preschoolers, have found interesting ways to kill time with children of all ages at many of these airports.

Do not be intimidated by the links.  Find your airline, then find the airport you where you will be sleeping changing planes.

Alaska Airlines: Alaska Airlines (AS) uses Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) where Being Savvy helps you locate the children’s play area, Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Portland International Airport (PDX).

Music scape at the American Airlines terminal at Dallas/Ft. Worth

American Airlines: Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) – (check out the terminal’s many cool larger-than-life sculptures), Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) (check out Being Savvy’s guide to O’Hare), Lambert-Saint Louis International Airport (STL), Miami International Airport (MIA).

Continental Airlines:  Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE).

Delta Air Lines:  Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) (here’s Being Savvy’s guide ),Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) with fully equipped children’s play areas on three concourses, Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

Frontier Airlines:  Denver International Airport (DEN) where Being Savvy found five fun frolics.  Until December 31st, 2008, kids under 12 fly, ski, and stay free in Aspen.

Jet Blue :  John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Boston’s Logan International Airport (BOS) where Being Savvy visits the Kidport – Also, if you get a chance, show the older kids Logan’s 9/11 memorial.

The Kidport at Logan

Midwest Airlines:  Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) and Kansas City International Airport (MCI).

Northwest Airlines:  Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) where Being Savvy locates the family services and hits you with family travel tips, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Memphis International Airport (MEM).

Southwest Airlines:  technically does not have hubs, but has main activities at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Chicago Midway Airport (MDW), Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL), Las Vegas’s McCarran International Airport (LAS), Houston Hobby Airport (HOU), and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).

Spirit Airlines:  calls their hubs “bases” which are at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) where Being Savvy finds you kid-friendly activities, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).

United Airlines (UA) uses Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), San Francisco International Airport (SFO) with its in-house aquarium!, Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) – (check out the Being Savvy layover lifesaver ), Denver International Airport (DEN), and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

US Airways (US) uses Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Charlotte/Douglas International Airport (CLT), and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).

[Photos courtesy of Dallas Ft. Worth International Airport and Logan International Airport]

When you say Tucson and holiday lights in the same breath it is understood that you are talking about Winterhaven (in Tucson, anyway).

For 58 years the Tucson neighborhood of Winterhaven has lit up.  Literally.   Thousands of visitors walk, drive, or ride haywagons pulled by horses through streets lined with festive lighting.

It’s quite amazing, really.

There is no admission, however, there are opportunities available to make donations to the Tucson Community Food Bank.

The festival runs through the 27th of December, but just like Frosty the Snowman, it will be back next year.  And every year after.

Photos by Whit Honea

Ice Skating in Walnut Creek

When was the last time you went ice skating?  If you’re like most Californians it’s probably been awhile. Well if you happen to find yourself in the vicinity of Walnut Creek, CA any time between now and January 29, 2009, be sure to check out Walnut Creek on Ice.

Located in Walnut Creek’s Civic Park , WCOI offers skate rentals, gift certificates, skating lessons and field trip specials. Looking for an out of the ordinary idea for a birthday or corporate party?  Walnut Creek on Ice offers private rink rentals and the ability to customize everything from music to catering.

We visited the rink last year and the wife and kids had a blast. Granted, my wife is an ex-professional ice skater and relishes any chance to hit the ice, while the boy just relishes any chance to move quickly on a slippery surface. I, on the other hand, am a danger to myself and others so after the obligatory lap or two I’ll typically grab some hot chocolate and find an out of the way corner to read my book.

The rink is open 7 days a week. Hours of operation are 10 am – 10 pm Monday – Thursday; 11 pm Friday and Saturday, and 11 am – 8 pm on Sundays. Cost is $15 per skater for a 1.5 hour session. Price includes skate rental.  If you go during the “off-peak” hours (*Monday through Thursday, AND Friday until 5pm with the exception of Holiday Weeks (Nov. 24 – Nov. 30 & Dec. 22 – Jan. 1) the cost is just $11 per skater.

Still not convinced? Maybe you’re thinking “Well, it sounds nice but maybe it’s really a dump.” Well put those fears to rest with a quick gaze through the WCOI webcam. Seriously now, doesn’t that look like fun? What are you waiting for, let’s hit the ice!

Photos by Lisa Romano

‘Twas the night before Christmas,

When all through the house

Not a creature was stirring,

Not even a mouse.

Clement Clarke Moore Park in Manhattan

Each Christmas season, families gather at a Tenth Avenue park in Manhattan to read the familiar poem that begins with these lines.  The park is named for Clement Clark Moore, who wrote A Visit from Saint Nicholas in 1822. For holiday visitors to New York City, this is a great location to get off the beaten path and away from crowds any time of the year, but still take in some local history with a holiday theme.

The park is located in an area that was once a farm purchased by Moore’s grandfather in 1750 and named Chelsea after the Royal Chelsea Hospital for veterans in London. Although the farm was long ago divided and sold, Chelsea is still the name of this area on Manhattan’s west side south of midtown and north of Greenwich Village. It’s easily reached by subway, by cab, or by foot in this city where locals are known for walking anywhere and everywhere.

In 1965, New York City purchased the site of the present park with plans to build a playground for area residents.  The playground opened in 1968, and was named for Clement Clarke Moore one year later.  Like so many other parks and playgrounds throughout New York City, improvements were made in the 1990s to the park fences, surfaces, landscaping, and play equipment. Although the park may be a regular destination for local residents, it’s open to any visitors daily from dawn to dusk and—despite stories of rude New Yorkers—most families are always welcoming to travelers looking to get away from more crowded tourist destinations.

Clement Clarke Moore Park is located on Tenth Avenue and West 22nd Street in Manhattan. The Clement Clarke Moore Homestead in Queens, another park named for Moore, was the site of an estate first acquired by Moore’s great-great-grandfather in 1652.