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Enjoy Fall Foliage With Your Family
Fall is here; summer is just a hot humid memory. However, fall is the season for
fun, colorful and fantastic vacation opportunities for families with very young children, those
whose kids are in year-round school and for everyone who plans a getaway over
one of fall’s long weekends.
“Autumn
is a great time to explore America,” said Christine Loomis, travel expert
and family travel author. “While it’s ‘off-season’ in the
travel industry, that doesn’t mean families give up services or quality.
On the contrary, at this time of year the weather is often at its best and families
have more options and can get better value for their money than during peak season.
For example, vacation rentals are more
abundant and usually less expensive in the fall, giving parents and children a
chance to spend quality time together in top destinations — without breaking
the family bank.”
Following
are some tips designed to make your fall family vacation better and
more budget-friendly:
1: Think outside the box when choosing a destination.
Ski
areas — including Killington, Vt, Park City, Utah and Bretton Woods, N.H.
— can be ideal getaways in the fall. Most ski towns are four-season destinations, meaning there are attractions and activities year-round. In the fall,
however, families don’t have to fight crowds or pay top dollar in order to
do the things they like — hiking, biking, horseback riding, rafting, golf,
jeep tours, and, of course, enjoying the autumn foliage. Family-friendly festivals
abound in autumn, too. Harvest festivals and Octoberfests always include family
entertainment, and farms across the country offer apple and pumpkin picking, hayrides,
even petting zoos for close-up animal encounters just right for little ones.
2: You don’t have to buy a second home in order to have your own home-away-from-home
fall getaway.
It’s
just as easy to book a vacation rental home as it is to book a hotel room. Single-family
homes, roomy condos and deluxe properties are just a phone call away. Vacation homes not only offer more room for the money, they also offer less
stress for vacationing families. “Homes and condos give families the best
of two worlds — shared space for quality together time and privacy for kids’
naps or adult relaxation. In addition, fully-furnished properties allow you to
prepare easy meals so you don’t have the expense — and hassle —
of eating every meal out in restaurants,” said Loomis.
3: Keep kids entertained and make memories last forever with easy vacation projects.
Let
the kids take pictures of fall foliage and vacation activities. Develop film at
a local one-hour shop, then gather in your cozy vacation home — many with
fireplaces — to tape the photos into a scrapbook. Let the kids write captions.
Pack
a tree guide, sketchbook, pen and pencils and create an illustrated
journal of your fall adventures. A simple piece of burlap or felt is a good place
to stick fall leaves as you collect them. Or take two sticks and tie string between
them, like a loom. Slip leaves, stones, and other gifts of nature between the
strings to make a colorful fall collage. For leaves to retain their bright color, place them between layers of plastic
wrap in a book.
Bring along your iPad and portable dvd players (good for entertaining kids while traveling). By vacation’s end, you’ll have a family travelogue that will
provide memories, laughter, and a sense of togetherness for years to come.
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