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Family value vacations: three great and affordable places to take the kids.


Can't decide where to go for a family vacation? Don't think you can afford one even if you knew where to go? Think again. Taking the family on vacation On Vacation was The Robot Ate Me's third album, released in 2004 by the band's frontman, Ryland Bouchard's label Swim Slowly Records, then reissued in 2005 by 5 Rue Christine.  can be affordable if you're flexible about where and when you want to go. Here are three different family trips-from an adventure park vacation to a Caribbean stay-all priced right, if you travel at the right time of year.

DENVER

Besides its snow-capped Snow´-capped`

a. 1. Having the top capped or covered with snow; as, snow-capped mountains s>.

Adj. 1.
 mountains, unparalleled skiing and clean streets, Denver is gaining a reputation as a great family vacation spot.

The Black American West Museum & Heritage Center (3091 California St.; 303-292-2566) abounds with 19th century black cowboy memorabilia. Hours vary; admission is $4 for adults and under $1 for children younger than 17.

The Children's Museum Children's museums are institutions that provide exhibits and programs that stimulate informal learning experiences for children. In contrast with traditional museums that typically have a hands-off policy regarding exhibits, children's museums feature interactive exhibits that are  (2121 Children's Museum Drive; 303-433-7444) offers an array of interactive activities, from movies to make-believe safaris. Admission costs $4 and children under two get in free. Open daily, except Monday.

Ever wonder how U.S. coins are made? Take a free tour of the Denver Mint The Denver Mint is a branch of the United States Mint established in 1862 that is today operational and produces coins for circulation, as well as mint sets and commemorative coins.  (320 W. Colfax Ave.; 303-844-3582), which is open Monday through Friday.

Enjoy a day of family fun for less than $25 at the Denver Zoo The Denver Zoo is an 80-acre [1] facility located in City Park of Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1896, it is owned by the City and County of Denver and funded in part by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD).  (303-331-41 10) and the Museum of Natural History (303-322-7009). Both are open daily and located in City Park (Colorado and Montziew streets). The Denver Black Arts Festival An arts festival or art fair is a festival that focuses on the visual arts, but which may also focus on other arts.

Arts festivals in the visual arts are exhibitions.
 (303-293-2559), a free three-day music and art event held in City Park, July 12-14, draws over 200,000 visitors annually. Families with adventurous spirits can raft down Colorado's Arkansas River Arkansas River

River, rising in central Colorado, U.S. At 1,450 mi (2,333 km) long, it flows east through southern Kansas and southeast across northeastern Oklahoma and bisects Arkansas, where it empties into the Mississippi River.
 via Echo Canyon River Expeditions (800-748-2953); tickets cost $28 for adults and $22 for children 12 and under. Less than two hours from downtown Denver, Colorado's ski resorts offer year-round activities, including summer jazz festivals This is a list of notable jazz music festivals, broken down geographically. The festivals mentioned here should have at least some international recognition. Morocco
  • Tanjazz
Asia
  • Beijing Jazz Festival, China
, bike tours, horseback riding and hot air balloon This article is about hot air balloons themselves. For the associated activity, see Hot air ballooning.

The hot air balloon is the oldest successful human-carrying flight technology, dating back to its invention by the Montgolfier brothers in Annonay,
 races (Colorado Ski Country USA; 303-837-0793).

Minutes from Denver International Airport This article is about Denver International Airport. For other uses, see KDEN (disambiguation).

Denver International Airport (IATA: DEN, ICAO: KDEN, FAA LID: DEN), often called DIA
, off 1-70 and Quebec Street, are hotels for $65-plus per night, double occupancy; more centrally located downtown hotels start at $85 a night. Many offer shuttle service to mountain areas. Local buses and light-rail trains can take you to the front door of many attractions for $1 during peak hours and 50 cents off-peak. Children under five ride free. All-day passes cost $3. Call 303-299-6000 for routes and schedules.

Also get an advance copy of Denver's black entertainment guide, Soul Strollin, from the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau Information Center (225 W. Colfax Ave.; 303-892-1505).

ORLANDO

With 66 attractions, 365 hotels and motels, 100 golf courses and year-round warm weather, Orlando is one of the world's most family-focused tourist locations.

In downtown Orlando, Montsho Books (2009 W. Central Blvd.; 407-649-8881), an African American African American Multiculture A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. See Race.  bookstore, features a Saturday storytelling hour for children (I 1:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.). Afterwards enjoy a big buffet lunch at Pinkie Lee's jazz & Southern Cuisine (380 W. Amelia St.; 407-872-7393) or Johnson's Diner (692 W. Robinson St.; 407-841-0717) for real down-home soul food.

A new five-day, multipark pass for Sea World, Universal Studios/Florida and Wet & Wild Theme Park is a great value. At $90 for adults and $73 for children (ages three to nine), the pass includes access to all three parks plus shuttle service between them. One-day passes to each range from $24 to $38 for adults and $19 to $32 for children.

The Walt Disney World Noun 1. Walt Disney World - a large amusement park established in 1971 to the southwest of Orlando
Orlando - a city in central Florida; site of Walt Disney World
 Resort (Lake Buena Vista; 407-824-432 1) complex consists of three main theme parks-the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center and MGM/Studios plus five other attractions. Disney's "four-day value pass" provides entrance and free transportion parks. The cost is $137 for adults and $109 for children (ages three to nine), versus a per-day fee to each park of $41 for adults and $33 for children.

But there's more to the area than just theme parks and shopping. Within a two-hour drive of Orlando in either direction are beaches on the Atlantic Ocean to the east or the Gulf of Mexico Noun 1. Gulf of Mexico - an arm of the Atlantic to the south of the United States and to the east of Mexico
Golfo de Mexico

Atlantic, Atlantic Ocean - the 2nd largest ocean; separates North and South America on the west from Europe and Africa on the east
 on the west coast. And, the Kennedy Space Center Kennedy Space Center (Cape Canaveral) U.S.

launch site for manned space missions. [U.S. Hist.: WB, So:562]

See : Astronautics
 (407-452-2121) with its exhibit and Space Camp (407-267-3184) are also close by.

While Orlando can be costly, save money by visiting during the off-season. The three weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, January 2nd to mid-February, and May, September and October are the best value times.

The three major hotel areas-international Drive, Highway 192 in Kissimmee and the Disney properties-are all within 30 minutes of the airport, 10 minutes of major attractions, and walking distance of shopping and eating establishments. Hotel rates range from a low of $22 per night for up to four persons at some budget motels to $250 or more per night at luxury properties.

Most hotels offer transportation to and from the airport and major attractions at little or no cost. For 75 cents the "IDRide" bus travels the five-mile stretch of attractions, hotels, shopping and restaurants from Sea World to the outlet mall on International Drive. Get on and off as often as you wish with a one-day ($2) or multiday pass ($3 to $7), available from the Orlando tourist information center.

For the latest information about Orlando, check its Web sites at America Online (OOCCVBINC@aol.com) or Compuserve (102125,1055@compuserve.com). Also call the Orlando Official Visitor Information Center (800-428-2697) for its African American Visitors Guide.

RUNAWAY BAY, JAMAICA

Vacationing with children anywhere can be a challenge, but taking a Caribbean vacation may not seem practical - unless you have teenagers or family in the islands. That is until now. The folks at Jamaica's all-inclusive, all-suite property, Franklyn D. Resort, Runaway Bay P.O., St. Ann, Jamaica; 888-FOR-KIDS) have made it easy for families to play together or apart with its "Girl Friday" concept.

Depending upon size, a family is housed in one of the resort's 76 one- to three-bedroom suites, and assigned a "Girl Friday" to cook, clean and care for the kids. Either parents or the Girl Friday can escort children to the Mini Club and Kiddies Center, where those ages two to 11 have supervised play. The activities include Apple computers, Nintendo games, a movie room, an arts and crafts arts and crafts, term for that general field of applied design in which hand fabrication is dominant. The term was coined in England in the late 19th cent. as a label for the then-current movement directed toward the revivifying of the decorative arts.  room and a playroom for toddlers. Teenagers can enjoy beach volleyball, daily bike tours and photography and video lessons. Since the property is conveniently arranged, even preteens can freely and safely roam the grounds.

This allows parents of even the youngest tots the freedom to relax. All activities, which include sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, tennis and golf at a nearby course, come with the package. Even transportation to go shopping in Ocho Rios or to climb Dunn's River Falls Dunn's River Falls is a famous waterfall near Ocho Rios, Jamaica and a major Caribbean tourist attraction. The falls empty into the Caribbean Sea. It is one of the very few rivers in the world that actually fall directly into the sea.  is included in the price. Your Girl Friday can also accompany you on these trips, and is available to baby-sit for an additional $3 per hour, (given advance notice) after the regular 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. workday.

The resort costs $1,700 per person from May to December May to December was a BBC sitcom broadcast 1989-1994 on BBC1 and produced by Cinema Verity. It was set in Pinner and revolved around a solicitor Alec Callender, and his younger girlfriend Zoe Angel.  for the first two adults sharing a suite; all children under age 16 stay free. Rates include everything from airport ground transportation to tips.

A local band plays live music each night during dinner. There's also a disco, piano bar and slot machines on site. But on most nights things get pretty quiet about 10 p.m. It seems most folks do something akin to what my five-year-old son Michael and I did-cuddle up on the balcony and stargaze star·gaze  
intr.v. star·gazed, star·gaz·ing, star·gaz·es
1. To gaze at the stars.

2. To daydream.

Verb 1.
.
COPYRIGHT 1996 Earl G. Graves Publishing Co., Inc.
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 1996, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Title Annotation:Denver, CO; Orlando, FL; Runaway Bay, Jamaica
Author:Giles, Dari
Publication:Black Enterprise
Date:Jul 1, 1996
Words:1219
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