Frozen mamoth Baby Lyuba at Chicago's Field Museum

Nothing fascinates kids like poop.  Just the idea occupies their little minds to the point that all they can do is squeal or giggle whenever the term comes up.  Take advantage of that curiosity and head to Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History and Museum of Science & Industry, where they can learn about animal poop and the science behind it.  The “Poop To Power” display at the Museum of  Science & Industry, explains the process of recycling animal manure on farms and the “Name That Poop” interactive game at the Field Museum unravels the info that scientists gather from animal poop. Read More »

While hotels across the nation are adding amenities and facilities for family travelers, the problem in Orlando is that the hotels are too kid-friendly. They’ve grown so used to catering to kids and families that these Orlando hotels have become attractions in their own right.

Who needs Disney World when you have the Nickelodeon Family Suites with bunk beds, video games, and Spongebob Squarepants on the walls to keep you company in-room. The Nick hotel, as it is known, features two massive pool complexes with a 4 story water tower, a 400 gallon dump tank, seven slides, water jets, climbing nets, themed parties, a video arcade, and a host of other kiddie attractions. And the newest thing they recently added is the 4D theate, where wind, water, bubbles, and scents await you with Spongebob for a virtual sliming.

Then there’s Universal’s Hard Rock Hotel, which sits in the middle of Universal’s resort attractions, and also has its own attractions. So that’s further blurring the line between hotels and kiddie attractions. I mean, they have this gigantic 12,000 sq ft palm lined swimming pool (BTW, there was a bear found hanging around the pool area a few weeks back) with its own sand beach and underwater stereo, interactive fountains, and a 260-foot pool slide. What’s more, there’s a water taxi for hotel guests called the Universal Express which takes you straight through to the other attractions and rides, bypassing the lines.

And don’t even get me started on the Walt Disney World Resort hotels. I could go on listing all the major family hotels and the kiddie attractions they offer, but I think you get the drift. Orlando is pied pipering kids, and they get addicted to this fantasyland world that these resorts and theme parks have created. What ever happened to the good old American family roadtrip?

Photo copyrights – Hard Rock Cafe International, Inc.

Before we start naming names, answer  these two questions:

1. What’s a family vacation need that ‘other’ vacations don’t?

2. What’s a family friendly hotel got that a cookie cutter hotel does not?

Answer these, and you’ll be left with a handful of suitable destinations, and at most 1 or 2 good hotels at each of these destinations which you can deem  good enough for the sacred family vacation.

If you’re wondering what the heck this has to do with anything, consider why exactly the Dunes Village Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC has been voted by TripAdvisor users as the most family friendly bargain hotel in the entire nation.

That is because:

1. The resort is located in an extremely family friendly location. Myrtle Beach has about 14 million annual visitors who tend to come with family, has miles and miles of sandy beaches, entertainment, shopping, restaurants, theater, cruises, scuba diving and other water sports, and all sorts of family friendly activities centered around the Grand Strand. Not to mention hot new theme parks like Hard Rock Park.

2. The Dunes Village Resort is a mini-attraction all by itself, with an indoor water park, including a 250 ft long river water ride, a massive swimming pool with water volleyball and basketball, a variety of hot tubs, kiddies’ wet deck with Silly Submarine and a kiddies’ play pool offering a delightful selection of games and slides.

3. The resort offers bargain basement prices, with 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom suites for the entire family at rates starting from $87 (plus taxes). And these are oceanfront ocean view suites for the full family we’re talking about. That’s cheap even compared to other Myrtle Beach hotels.

What all this means is that you can take a family vacation which you can brag about at the office cooler when you get back, and you can do this on a decent budget. While on vacation, you can leave the kids having fun under adult supervision inside the resort, while you hit the shops, or snooze on the beach or do whatever it is you want to do on vacation. Plus, all of you can enjoy the thrills and rides like the hair-raising Led Zeppelin ride at Hard Rock Park. And that’s what a family vacation is all about – you love it, your kids love it, you all remember the shared memories and it doesn’t break the bank.

Info: 5200 North Ocean Blvd. Myrtle Beach SC 29577; (877) 828-2237; www.dunesvillage.com/ ; Photo copyrights – Dunes Village Resort Myrtle Beach