The Pub at the Bernerhof Inn

There’s lots of snow on the ground in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and the ski resorts and cross-country ski centers of the Mount Washington Valley are offering some great vacation activities and travel packages.

Cranmore Mountain Resort in North Conway not only offers traditional downhill skiing, but also a mountain coaster, tubing park, and family fitness center.  If you are looking to stay overnight in the area, the Bartlett Inn, a family and pet-friendly inn, is offering a special package for $99 per night for a family of four.  The package includes free tubing tickets, afternoon hot apple cider/hot cocoa/cookies, as well as a daily country breakfast.
If you’d prefer to ride the mountain coaster, the North Colony Motel is offering a motel room package for families.  The package includes four mountain coaster three-ride tickets for $187.00-$253.00 including tax, depending on dates through March 30, 2011.

Downhill skiers will enjoy the package available at the newly reopened Bernerhof Inn.  The package includes a one-night stay in the best available room at the Bernerhof, welcome glass of sparkling cider, wine or locally crafted beer, two Attitash lift tickets, home cooked breakfast, afternoon tea and refreshments each day, plus other amenities.  The packages starts at $202 for non-holiday Sunday – Thursday, and $272 Friday-Saturday (excluding school vacation week, when rates may be higher).

Photo credit: The Bernerhof Inn

Strolls are free along Daytona Beach. What else is?

Did you head to Daytona Beach with little more than your swimsuit and sunscreen? That’s all well and good when it’s hot and the Atlantic Ocean offers the perfect respite from the Florida humidity. But what about when you unpack your bags and find that it’s too dang cold to take off your shoes, much less your clothes?

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A Penguin at the Mystic Aquarium

Winter school vacation is coming up in just one week here in New England.  Even if you haven’t made plans to get away, you can still experience new places and activities by taking quick day trips, or an overnight road trip.  One of my favorite overnight road trip locals is Mystic, Connecticut, which is a short drive from both New York City and Boston.

This winter vacation, Mystic has a variety of activities for kids of all ages.  Here are a few suggestions:

• Fun kids’ activities are taking place all week at Mystic Seaport.  For kids that love boats, the famous Morgan is currently out of the water as it’s being renovated.
• The Mystic Aquarium, once of the nicest aquariums in the area, is offering a new exhibit, National Geographic Crittercam: The World Through Animal Eyes.
• For Dino-lovers, the Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art is offering free drop-in dinosaur camp all school vacation week for kids aged 3 and up.
• Nearby Chester, Connecticut is holding 21st annual Chester Winter Carnivale and 8th Annual Tractor Parade on February 20th, 2011 with performances, face painting, balloons, and more.

If you are considering staying overnight in Mystic, I’d recommend staying at the Mystic Marriott Resort and Spa, the Springhill Suites by Marriott, or the Comfort Inn Mystic (all family-friendly locations).

Photo credit: mnapoleon on Flickr

The Boston Skyline in the Winter

Winter school vacation is coming up in a few weeks, and the weather in Boston has finally (knock on wood) improved just a bit.  If you are planning on coming into the city, you can still definitely have a wonderful time, even if the weather is cold!

Here are a few activity suggestions:

• The Boston Museum of Science is reopening the Charles Hayden Planetarium on February 13, 2011, in time for school vacation.  The newly renovation Planetarium will have state of the art technology, and is launching with a new show – Undiscovered Worlds: The Search Beyond Our Sun.
• The Boston Children’s Museum, recently ranked as the 4th best children’s museum in the country, has a new exhibit, Big and Little, featuring the shoes of one of Boston’s largest residents – Shaquille O’Neal through July 1, 2011.
• The Boston Common Frog Pond is open for public skating daily through school vacation week.

If you are looking for some places to stay during school vacation week, there are several hotels in the city offering special packages for families, including the Hotel Commonwealth on Commonwealth Avenue (near Fenway Park), the Four Seasons Boston on the Boston Common, and The Seaport Hotel located in the South Boston Seaport District.

Photo credit: dbdbrobot on Flickr