Family Travel News
DISCOVER FALL FUN IN OHIO
 1-800-BUCKEYE, OhioTourism.com Spotlight Ohio Travel Opportunities

Columbus, OH - There is so much to discover this autumn in the Buckeye State. Go hiking in one of Ohio's 73 state parks or metroparks, take a train ride through Cuyahoga Valley National Park, or hop aboard a sternwheeler for an afternoon on the Ohio River. Call 1-800-BUCKEYE or visit www.OhioTourism.com and start discovering Ohio.

Fall Hiking Spree, Summit County Metro Parks, Akron, September 1 - November 30 Lace up the hiking boots for an adventure in Summit County's park system. Outdoor enthusiasts can earn a special patch for participation in this event.

Feathers & Foliage Festival, Kelleys Island State Park, Kelleys Island, September 29 A true sign of fall is the winter migration of a wide variety of birds. Join naturalists to observe birds along the North Pond or hike over to the Glacial Grooves for an all-day hawk watch.

Mohican-Kokosing Valley Fall Foliage Tours, Knox County, October 1 - 20 Enjoy a leisurely drive along tree-lined roads and gently sloping hillsides as they display an array of fall colors. Visitors can travel at their own pace with drive-it-yourself guides.

Fall Color Train, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Independence, October 3 - 28 Glide through the secluded Cuyahoga Valley aboard a restored railroad car as it passes meadows, wildlife (including a beaver or two) and vivid hillsides draped with fall foliage.

Fall Hike, Fort Hill State Memorial, Hillsboro, October 5 - 28 Enjoy a hike to Fort Hill State Memorial for an amazing display of fall wildflowers and colorful leaves at this Native American site and nature preserve. The recently renovated museum offers numerous opportunities to discover more about the local flora and geology.

Annual Fall Foliage Train and Bus Trip, Jefferson Depot Village, Jefferson, October 6 Travel through the scenic Allegheny National Forest on this special steam train ride. The route will include special stops and will pass over the Kinzua Bridge, a site on the National Register of Historic Places.

Fall Foliage Tours on the Valley Gem Sternwheeler, Marietta, October 6 - 28 A three-hour journey on the Valley Gem Sternwheeler will take passengers up the Ohio River and through the hand-cranked Devol's Dam lock.

Fall Foliage Train/Riverboat Cruise, Ohio Central Railroad & Lorena Paddlewheeler, Zanesville, October 7 For a day full of scenic splendor, ride the rails from Dennison to Zanesville where passengers will depart and then board the Lorena Paddlewheeler for a cruise on the Muskingum River. Enjoy an old-fashioned picnic at Zane Landing and top the trip off with a sundae at Tom's Ice Cream Bowl.

Fall Foliage Excursions, Elderberry Line, Carrollton, October 12 - 21 Enjoy a leisurely excursion through the peaceful countryside. Train passengers can enjoy the colorful rolling hills and harvested fields.

Train Ride, The Medina Loop Express, Orrville Railroad, Orrville, October 13 Spend a day traveling through the Western Reserve and several of its small towns. Passengers can relax, enjoy the scenery, lunch and shopping in Medina.

Train Ride, Roseville to New Lexington, Dennison Depot, Dennison, October 13 Once the center of a thriving pottery industry, this area now offers specialty outlets and scenic views. A special excursion train will take passengers through the colorful countryside to New Lexington.

Apple Butter Days and Fall Foliage Tour, Tuscarawas County, October 13 - 14 Wander the back roads of Tuscarawas County to capture the seasonal beauty of autumn. Afterward, sample apple butter cooked in a copper kettle over an open fire or fresh apple fritters at the Gnadenhutten Historical Park Museum.

Fall Foliage Event, Conkles Hollow, Hocking Hills State Park, Logan, October 13 - 14 Gaze across the hollow from the rocky rim or enjoy a canopy of color from the trail along the stream. Naturalists will be on hand to answer questions, and hearty appetites can be quelled with hot bean soup and fresh cornbread.

Fall Foliage Fest, Mapleside Farms, Brunswick, October 13 - 14 Admire the view of 5,000 apple trees from atop a hill in northeastern Ohio. The panorama is matched only by a tempting outdoor barbecue and children's activities.

Little Muskingum Fall Foliage Tour, Marietta/Washington County, October 13 - 14 View scenic covered bridges, remnants of an iron furnace and rolling Appalachian foothills during this drive-it-yourself tour of the Wayne National Forest.

Southern Scenic, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Akron boarding site, October 13 - 28 Climb aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway for a special excursion from downtown Akron. Enjoy the fall colors from the city center into the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Fall Tours, Fort Ancient, Oregonia, October 14 Explore the wooded grounds of this ancient Native American site. The lush tree canopy will be ablaze with reds, oranges and golds.

Fall Foliage Hikes, Wahkeena Nature Preserve, Sugar Grove, October 14 - 21 Tucked on the edge of the Hocking Hills Region, this forest contains sandstone cliffs surrounded by deciduous trees. During the fall foliage hikes, naturalists will describe why leaves change colors and why this process is so important to the ecosystem.

Fall Foliage Tour, Coshocton County, October 20 - 21 Sample homemade apple butter at Historic Roscoe Village, and then enjoy the colorful scenery of the surrounding countryside using a drive-it-yourself tour map. The route highlights the area's attractions and picturesque points.

Hocking Fall Color Event, Hocking Hills State Park, Logan, October 20 - 21 Well-known for its spectacular topography, this region takes on a different appearance with the colors of autumn. Participate in a variety of fall festivities such as hayrides, wildlife viewing, hiking, and sampling cornbread muffins and beans cooked over an open fire.

Fall Foliage & Farm Tour, Coshocton, October 20 - 21 Visit several working farms on this special tour of Coshocton County. Admire the patchwork of colored trees and enjoy the harvest activity at several stops throughout the area. Ohio travel counselors are available weekdays 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. by calling 1-800-BUCKEYE.

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NYC TO PROMOTE FAMILY TRAVEL WITH "MIFFY LOVES NEW YORK CITY!"
 World-Renowned Children's Character To Spotlight New York City's History and Landmarks in New Book Released Today to Bookstores Across the Country

NEW YORK - (September 15, 2003) NYC & Company and Big Tent Entertainment announced today the publication of a new children's book about New York City, featuring Miffy, the world-renowned children's book character, in her new role as New York City's Family Tourism Ambassador. The hardcover guidebook, Miffy Loves New York City!, is the first component of an innovative new campaign to promote New York City as a family destination through the participation of Miffy.

Miffy Loves New York City! is a full-color picture book that contains more than 30 photographs of popular landmarks - with many incorporating images of Miffy in the street scenes - as well as other classic colorful drawings of Miffy. Readers will follow Miffy and her family as they travel on a ferry, the subway, and in a cab and learn about New York's history and culture. Located in the back of the book is helpful travel information. The book retails for $9.99 and is available at bookstores nationwide and at www.miffyshop.com.

Miffy, the popular children's storybook character created by Dutch author/illustrator Dick Bruna, is the focus of more than 100 books, which have sold more than 80 million copies internationally and have recently become available in the United States. Through the new campaign, New York City will take advantage of Miffy's extraordinary international visibility to promote the City to families. The campaign will also feature Miffy on the NYC & Company web site, in advertising, and at promotional tourism events.

Cristyne L. Nicholas, President and CEO of NYC & Company, the city's official tourism marketing organization, said: "With Miffy Loves New York City!, children now have their own personal guide to what makes New York such a great family destination. The stunning photographs of New York's famous landmarks, led by Miffy's generous nature, is the perfect way to convey the warmth and hospitality of New York City to families."

"Miffy Loves New York City is a wonderful addition to the extraordinary work of Dick Bruna, a true giant in children's literature. Miffy is one of the most recognized characters in the world, and we are delighted that she will now be helping to attract new visitors to our hometown," said Richard Collins, Chief Executive Officer at Big Tent Entertainment.

Visitors looking to plan family-friendly trips to New York City should log onto www.nycvisit.com for itineraries and up to date listings of city events and activities. Once you get here, stop by NYC's Official Visitor Information Center at 810 Seventh Avenue at 53rd Street, the City Hall Park Visitor Information Kiosk downtown at Broadway at Park Row or the Harlem Visitor Information Kiosk uptown at 125th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.

About Miffy

Miffy is an adorable white bunny who has delighted children around the world who relate to the universal themes found in the Miffy and Friends book series. In addition to books, Miffy is featured on over 10,000 unique products around the world. Miffy items range from toys and apparel to videos and chopsticks.

Noggin, Nickelodeon's commercial-free, educational network for kids 2 to 5, recently debuted a stop-motion, animated series based on the Miffy and Friends tales as part of their preschool block.

About Big Tent

Big Tent Entertainment, based in New York City, is built around a management team with extensive experience in building entertainment brands. The Big Tent team brings an eye for wholesome entertainment concepts and characters, an existing network of customer relationships and an in-depth knowledge of consumer marketing and product development. Big Tent Entertainment represents and is the licensing partner of Mercis bv, the brand's worldwide licensor.

For more information visit www.nycvisit.com or call 212-484-1222.

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TOUR OPERATOR TO CATER TO SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES

November 2003-This is the inaugural season of Single Parent Tours, the first nationwide tour operator that designs trips for single parent families. Brenda Elwell, author of The Single Parent Travel Handbook and nation's leading expert on single parent travel, will be hosting many of the trips personally, including Single Parent Tours' first weekend trip (Nov. 14-16) to the Rocking Horse Ranch Resort in Highland, NY.

Why is single parent travel different than traditional family travel? "By definition, the single parent is a working parent," says Ms. Elwell, aka GlobalBrenda. "Traditional double parent vacations are structured to get rid of the kids so the parents can have couple time, but the single parent always winds up as the 'odd man out' stuck somewhere in the space between 'family couple' and 'swinging single.'" Single Parent Tours trips are affordable for the single parent, provide family bonding time as well as separate adult and kid bonding time and are a great place to meet other single parents!!

The Single Parent Tours inaugural trip to Beaches Boscobel Resort in Jamaica during August was a rousing success! Forty-two single parent families attended! Families came from all over the USA and many new friendships were formed. Instead of feeling like an outsider, single parents felt celebrated and welcomed.

Some emails GlobalBrenda received right afterwards…

"[My daughter] and I really enjoyed the trip and we plan to go again next year." -Jennifer from California

"I REALLY look forward to another trip soon." -Karen from California

Weekend and weeklong trips on Single Parent Tours' horizon: San Antonio, TX; Monterrey, CA; Playa del Carmen, Mexico; Philadelphia, PA and more! See SingleParentTours.com for announcements.

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Peak Fall foliage to hit the Mad River Valley, Vermont, on Wednesday, October 8, at exactly 10:36 am.
Vermont community members weigh in on peak foliage debate.

WAITSFIELD, VT - The Mad River Valley, the charming destination resort in the heart of Central Vermont, is defying convention this year by setting an exact time and date for peak fall foliage. According to local "experts", the tree colors will be at their brightest and most vivid this year on October 8, at 10:36 am.

Every autumn, travelers from all over trek to see the spectacular show of colors in the Vermont hills and mountains. Hotels and lodges throughout the state book up and tour buses dot the narrow mountain by-ways. The ultimate goal of these travelers is to catch a glimpse of the fall foliage colors at their peak.

"One person's idea of peak foliage isn't the same as another's. It's like opinions about a fine wine," noted Susan Roy, executive director of the local chamber, and native Vermonter. "Colors develop on different hillsides at different rates, and whether your idea of peak foliage includes a little more green or a little more bronze, there are hillsides in the Mad River Valley that will meet expectations on October 8-and a week or more either side of that date." A few locals weighed in with their perspectives. "I usually prefer the fall foliage when there is still some green in the mix, so I usually like it a little earlier than some" claims Helen Myers, retired botanist. "From a professional stand point, however, I will say that chances are quite good that we'll have a good foliage, because of the amount of rain and moisture we've had this year."

And yet another perspective, "I like it later than most," comments Dennis Curran, professional photographer. "Visually, I prefer it when the bigger, older trees turn color, which usually happens later than some of the others. It's nice to have something in the foreground, framed by interesting landscapes."

But, regardless of the lack of a definitive "peak foliage" definition, every year without fail the phones start ringing around late August and early September. "We hear, 'When will peak foliage be this year?' Plus," Roy adds, "I inevitably hear- 'foliage is late this year', or 'foliage is early this year'. That's why we've decided to set a benchmark day and time." The Mad River Valley Chamber has a running count down to October 8 at 10:36 am at their web site, www.madrivervalley.com, and they intend to commemorate the fall colors with lodging and restaurant specials throughout the entire fall foliage season which begins in late September and continues through mid-October.

And, for the fifth year, the Mad River Valley Fall Display Contest will take place from September 29 through October. Merchants and residents create festive outdoor displays and visitors are provided with self-guided maps to tour the displays. For more information on Fall foliage in the Mad River Valley, or to book local lodging packages, call the local chamber at 1-800-82-VISIT or visit www.madrivervalley.com.

The Mad River Valley, home to ski resorts Sugarbush and Mad River Glen, offers visitors Historic Register villages, fine dining, quaint shops and four-season recreational opportunities that include hiking, biking, skiing, horseback riding, fishing and soaring.

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SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU?
Embassy Suites Hotels has announced their "Fall Family Suite Retreat " featuring that clever character Scooby-Doo™, available with advance reservations on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights now through December 7, 2003 at more than 165 participating hotels.

For a limited time and while supplies last, families with advance reservations checking in with kids ages 3-14 at Embassy Suites Hotels will receive a plush Scooby-Doo™ toy featuring a $3.00 mail-in rebate redeemable by Warner Home Video with the purchase of a Scooby-Doo™ and the Monster of Mexico DVD or VHS. Donning a sombrero to celebrate the October 2 release of Scooby-Doo™ and the Monster of Mexico video, the plush Scooby-Doo™ also sports a backpack with a sealable enclosure in which kids can store small items.

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THIS HOLIDAY, Women Want Getaway Gifts, Men Want to Stay and Play
A new survey shows the most desired holiday gift for women this season is the gift of escape, whether it's a vacation, a cruise, or a day at the spa. By contrast, almost half of men said they would prefer a gift from the electronics department. The online study, Women, Men and the Pursuit of Fun, was completed by frank about women, the marketing to women consultancy that helps companies build brand relationships with women...

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NYC FOR THE HOLIDAYS - A WINTER PLAYLAND

New York, NY (October 8, 2003) - There's something special about the holidays in New York: The air is crisp, the lights sparkle and the city is bursting with music, fun and good cheer.

NYC & Company - the Convention & Visitors Bureau is the best source for holiday event information (800/NYC-VISIT; NYC's Official Visitor Information Center at 810 Seventh Avenue at 53rd Street 212/484-1222, and at Visitor Information Kiosks at the southern tip of City Hall Park, and in Harlem in the State Office Building Plaza at 163 West 125th Street at Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard; NYC's official tourism web site, www.nycvisit.com).

Visitors to the city during the holiday season will enjoy a winter vacation filled with excitement and big savings by taking advantage of NYC & Company's Paint the Town discount travel program. Starting December 15, 2003 and running thru through March 31, 2004, Paint the Town offers offer low-priced travel packages that combine a hotel stay with a Broadway show, dining, cultural and sightseeing options and parking discounts or 'do it yourself' discounts, which can be used to create a unique trip. Go to www.nycvisit.com for details.

For assistance finding accommodations, visitors can contact NYC & Company's Peak Season Hotel Hotline, 24 hours a day, seven days a week (800/846-ROOM [7666], U.S. and Canada; 212/582-3352, international) or at www.nycvisit.com. And for help getting around town, the MTA Fun Pass (212/METROCA, www.mta.nyc.ny.us) provides a day of unlimited subway and bus rides for just $7 (available at NYC's Official Visitor Information Center and many locations throughout the city).

THE CLASSICS

New York's holiday season officially begins on Thanksgiving Eve when families gather to watch the giant floats "come to life" (Central Park West btwn. 77th and 81st Sts.) in preparation for the world-famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (Nov 27; 212/494-4495). The excitement continues as the high-kicking Rockettes capture the holiday spirit in the 71st annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Nov 6- Jan 4; 212/307-1000, www.radiocity.com). The ever-popular Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting (Dec 3; www.rockefellercenter.com) stirs the heart and the Empire State Building (www.esbnyc.com) puts on a colorful holiday show of its own in December and January.

HOLIDAY FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

The kids will love this year's Lincoln Center Tree Lighting Celebration (Dec 2; 212/875-5456; www.lincolncenter.org) featuring fantastic performances by various musical groups. The New York Botanical Garden presents the Holiday Garden & Train Show (Nov 21- Jan 11; 718/817-8700), a winter fantasyland of lights with a model-train layout and reproductions of historic buildings of Old New York.

Everyone's favorite polar bears - Gus, Ida and Lily - tear open gift boxes filled with holiday treats Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm in December at the Central Park Zoo (212/439-6500; http://wcs.org/home/zoos/centralpark). The Bronx Zoo's (718/367-1010; http://wcs.org/home/zoos/bronxzoo) annual Holiday Lights (Nov 21 - Dec 14, Friday through Sunday nights only, Dec 15 - Jan 4, nightly with the exception of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) feature giant illuminated animal sculptures, ice carvings, choirs and special evening visits to animal exhibits. A reading of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol will be presented on a New York scale at Madison Square Garden (Nov 28 - Dec 27, 2003 212/307-7171).

The Annual Winter Festival at Brooklyn's historic Lefferts Homestead (Nov 30, 2003, 1 - 4pm, 718/789-2822, ext. 10) features participatory candle and toy-making workshops. Staten Island's Historic Richmond Town recreates a Victorian Holiday Celebration on Dec 27, 2003, 1-5 PM (718/351-1611). The Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers presents Holiday on the Hudson (Dec 12, 2003 212/336-6879), featuring a figure-skating exhibition and holiday music. The King Manor Museum will present A Federal Christmas (Nov29 - Dec28, 2003 718/206-0545) guiding visitors through decorated period rooms with historic holiday settings. And the Central Park Conservancy introduces participants to the African-American "first harvests" holiday at The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center during the Kwanzaa Celebration (December 28, 2003; 212/860-1370) a cultural celebration of music for all ages.

A MUSICAL CELEBRATION

One of the most celebrated of the season's musical offerings is the Vienna Boys Choir's annual visit to Carnegie Hall (Dec 14, 2003 212/247-7800). Other Carnegie Hall treats include the New York Pops Holiday Celebration (Dec 18-19, 2003). George Balanchine's classic holiday ballet, The Nutcracker, will be performed by the New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center's New York State Theater (Nov 28 - Jan 4, 212/870-5570).

HANUKKAH FESTIVITIES

At 3:30pm on the first night of Hanukkah, 8:30pm on the second night, and 5:30pm for each of the following nights except the last night (Dec 19- Dec 26, 2003), a new flame will be lit atop the Giant Menorah (Fifth Ave. at 59th St.). The 92 Street Y (212/996-1100) is host to Make A Menorah - For Families (Dec 11 2003, 1pm - 2:15pm), children 2 to 4 years old spend time making beautiful menorahs to take home, just in time for Hanukkah. On Christmas Day, Big Onion Walking Tours (212/439-1090) will guide visitors along a fascinating journey of Jewish immigration in its Thirteenth Annual Jewish East Side Tour.

NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATIONS

The world's most famous New Year's Eve celebration takes place at the Crossroads of the World when hundreds of thousands gather for the annual Times Square New Year's Eve Celebration & Ball Drop (www.timessquarebid.org, 212/768-1560). Fireworks will light up the city at Brooklyn's Prospect Park (718/965-8999) and Central Park, where they will signal the start of a midnight 5K run (212/860-4455). And the Annual New Year's Eve Concert for Peace will be held at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (212/662-2133).

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About NYC & Company: NYC & Company, the city's official tourism marketing organization, is a private, membership-based non-profit dedicated to building New York City's economy and positive image through tourism and convention development, major events and the marketing of the city on a worldwide basis. For more information visit www.nycvisit.com or call 212-484-1222

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Reduce Travel Stress

 Portsmouth, NH (10/21/03) -- A new line of oversized luggage tags featuring bold designs, Jetsetgo Bag Tag (www.jetsetgobagtag.com), promises to help reduce travel stress over the holidays and throughout the year. Whether you are traveling by bus, train or plane, they are a quick, affordable and convenient way to personalize your bags and luggage so that they are easy to recognize. This is particularly important now that bags tend to look the same around the world. By removing the possibility of mistaking your luggage for someone else's, or vice versa, Jetsetgo Bag Tags allow you to get to your final destination faster. They eliminate the time you once spent watching one black bag after another spinning around the baggage carousel or staring at a pile of bags in a bus's hold trying to identify yours as the driver impatiently waits for you to remove it.

Jetsetgo Bag Tags are built to withstand abuse and come in a variety of designs, ranging from an illustration of an alien with an attitude to a close up photo of a daisy. They are larger than standard tags, measuring 3.5" wide x 4" high, and come packaged with a faux black leather belt strap, which won't snap like chain or stretch like plastic straps, and a removable contact information card that can easily be replaced with any sized business card. Jetsetgo Bag Tags, in addition to making it easy to spot your stuff and to helping to ensure that it gets back to you should it be misplaced, help to reduce the likelihood of its being stolen. Police say that thieves tend to avoid taking easily identifiable objects, and Jetsetgo Bag Tags make anything they are attached to stand out!

"I was embarrassed by the ratty state of the red satin ribbon I had tied to my black roller bag in order to be able to spot it," says Emma Pearson Stoner, founder of Jetsetgo Bag Tag. "When I couldn't find a cool luggage tag to replace it with, I decided to take a risk, dug into my savings and created the Jetsetgo Bag Tag line. I think the response to the line has been so positive because a lot of people have problems identifying their bags or are embarrassed by the fluorescent yarn, stickers or whatever they have been using on their bags in order to find them."

Jetsetgo Bag Tags are useful outside of airports, bus stations and train stations. While exploring a new place, it is easy to become distracted and forget your camcorder, camera or backpack next to a fountain or under a café table. If you are not in your hometown, and particularly if you are in a foreign country, it doesn't help much to have your home number scribbled on the address cards that often come with these items. An easy way to help ensure that an honest person will return your things, is to attach a Jetsetgo Bag Tag to the various bags you are walking around with and then slip the card from the hotel where you are staying or the phone number of your local host or hostess into the clear plastic pocket that is heat sealed to the back of each tag. As you change locations, you can easily replace the cards or numbers with new ones.

Jetsetgo Bag Tags, which make for great birthday gifts, holiday gifts and stocking stuffers, are available at www.jetsetgobagtag.com. They retail in the U.S. for $7.50 (6.47 Euro) and are shipped worldwide. Each is made of durable Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) and laminated with a high gloss finish in order to protect the design from scratching.

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