My ten year old son exclaimed, “This is the most awesome place ever!”. This is quite an endorsement from a child who has traveled extensively from the age of 10 months to family oriented resorts around the globe. The Karmina Palace is the ultimate family vacation destination. A wonderful “Kid’s Club” for younger children, scheduled daily activities for the older kid in all of us (ranging from ping pong tournaments to kayak trips), an exciting water slide, trampoline, game room and daily movies make it easy for kids of all ages to thoroughly enjoy themselves. Our kids were busy from dawn till dusk. When they are happy and busy…we are happy and relaxed. In the evenings the fun continued with nightly outdoor theme dinners and shows. We enjoyed “Around the World” cuisine and a dance performance from around the globe.

Karmina Palace has 8 inter-connected lagoon-style pools cascading down to a small protected beach, beautiful lush tropical grounds, 3 restaurants (one a gorgeous palapa at the ocean’s edge), fitness classes, a gym, a state of the art spa (extra cost applies), golf, tennis, snorkeling, jet skiing, waterskiing, fishing, bicycling, billiards, volley-ball, 5 bars, a night club, a dance club, shops, 24 hour room service, high-speed wireless internet access, and unlimited food and drink. At Karmina Palace you can be as active or as relaxed as you choose. Everything is included for your pleasure, but lounging by the pool is a perfect way to spend the day as well.

Karmina Palace is located in Manzanillo on what is known as the Gold Coast of Mexico. Manzanillo has a distinct bay split into two smaller bays called, Bahia de Santiago and Bahia de Manzanillo, by a jutting peninsula. The bays are lined with sandy beaches, a few resorts, restaurants and “ramadas”, the quaint beachside restaurants set in the sand serving some of the best seafood we have enjoyed in Mexico. Downtown Manzanillo is bustling with the energy of an authentic Mexican town with narrow streets and an active zocalo. There are several open air markets where local art and food can be purchased. Fans call Manzanillo the “World Capital of Sailfish” and each year tournaments draw fisherman from around the world.

Karmina Palace is Manzanillo’s All Suite-All Inclusive Resort. It is located in the sheltered cove of Bahia de Manzanillo. The Bahia de Manzanillo is a crystal clear bay with steep hillsides covered with picturesque white buildings. Karmina Palace has 324 suites. All of the suites are designed and decorated with impeccable taste and luxury with an ocean view. Each Junior Suite has marble floors, a balcony or terrace, a sofa bed, and a large tub with separate shower. Corner suites have 2 bedrooms each with their own bath and TV, a kitchen, dining room, living room with wide screen TV, as well as a balcony, some even with their own plunge pools. Our suite was absolutely beautiful. We enjoyed returning to its comforts after our full days of fun in the sun.

Karmina Palace offers special packages throughout the year, ranging from romantic Valentine’s Day retreats to Fishing packages for the angler enthusiasts. They make the effort to go the extra mile and offer the unique to their guests. While we were there we enjoyed the “Soulful Sounds” of their Visiting Artists Series with nightly music jams of high quality.

Several airlines fly non-stop to Manzanillo during the winter season: Alaska Airlines has direct flights from Los Angeles five times a week; Aero California also flies twice weekly from Los Angeles; from Minneapolis, Northwest Airlines and Hobbit Travel fly direct every Sunday; America West Airlines flies from Phoenix; Continental Airlines offers non-stop flights several times a week from Houston; and Transat Holidays will run direct charter service from several Canadian cities (Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, Regina, Montreal, Saskatoon, Edmonton, and Calgary).

Karmina Palace has polished the art of the All-Inclusive Vacation in the spectacular Mayan kingdom amid blue waters and jungles of the Pacific Coast in Manzanillo. Enjoy this impeccable, fun family resort and enjoy the culture and sights of the surrounding area.

Snowshoeing has become an increasingly popular way to enjoy Traverse City, Michigan's winter wonders. Check it out! www.mytraversecity.com

Pam Plesons

Hotel Mar de Cortez, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Cabo San Lucas is a beautiful ocean resort destination at the tip of Baja nestled between the Pacific Ocean on the west side and the Sea of Cortez on the east side. It is well known for its sport fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, warm weather and warm waters. The famous arches stand majestically at the edge of the bay with Lover’s Beach below. Activity centers around the large marina where there are numerous restaurants and shops. There are glass bottom boat rides, sunset cruises, snorkeling, parasailing, wave runners, deep sea fishing, panga fishing, horse back riding, and ATV and desert tours offered at almost every corner. The long white sand beaches offer restaurants and activities as well.

Cabo San Lucas has many beautiful resorts. We found one that is off the beaten path and very affordable. The Hotel Mar de Cortez is a charming colonial-style hotel in the center of Cabo San Lucas. It is located on a street just a short walk from the shops, beaches, restaurants and marina. It is not on the water, but close enough to everything to enjoy all Cabo has to offer on a budget.

The owners are great hosts. When you call, ask for Nat. The hotel offers quality accommodations, air-conditioning, a swimming pool, a restaurant, outdoor bar, and can help arrange all of your activities. They have locked parking if you have a car. In addition, they offer the most affordable breakfast in town: two eggs, hash browns, two pieces of toast, and fruit for $2.50. Hotel Mar de Cortez has been referred to as the “most reasonably priced hotel in Cabo San Lucas” with 90 rooms priced from $46.00 for a Standard to $73.00 for a Quadruple Suite.

For reservations or information write or call:

Hotel Mar de Cortez

17595 Vierra Canyon Road, #187

Prunedale, CA 93907

831-663-5803 or 800-347-8821

www.mardecortez.com

Posada Real Puerto Escondido

Puerto Escondido, México

Pam Plesons

Puerto Escondido is on the Pacific Coast of Mexico approximately 254 miles south of Acapulco in the state of Oaxaca. It is a relatively small town with a population of approximately 50,000, but has been popular with surfers for years because of the legendary surf beach, Playa Zicatela. Puerto Escondido has several other beaches perfect for swimming and other recreational activities. Puerto Escondido remains relatively laid-back and inexpensive. It is an excellent location for a family vacation off the beaten path of other Mexican larger coastal resort destinations. The airport is only 5 minutes from the hotel and the charming fishing village of Puerto Escondido is only a 7 minute drive.

In Puerto Escondido we discovered the Posada Real Puerto Escondido. The Posada Real Puerto Escondido Hotel is conveniently located in the heart of the Bacocho beach hotel zone, between the airport and downtown Puerto Escondido. It is located on a bluff overlooking the pristine beach and ocean and is surrounded by massive lawns and tropical gardens. It has 94 standard rooms and 6 extra large rooms. All rooms are air-conditioned with color TV with satellite reception and telephone. Included in our room rate were free drinks all day. There is also an all-inclusive plan. There are two pools on the bluff top and wonderful rocking chairs scattered around the grounds. There are also very nice recreational facilities including a new professional putting green, new tennis court, a badminton court and a mini basketball court. For the kids there is a new kids club and game room. La Palapita Sunset Bar has a breathtaking view of the ocean below. The main dining room is La Hacienda. It offers both indoor and outdoor dining with International and Mexican cuisine.

Just a short stroll down the hill is Coco’s Restaurant, Bar and Beach Club, the hotel’s beachfront facility. Coco’s is ideally located on the beach next to the ocean with its own oversized swimming pool, coconut tree lined gardens with relaxing hammocks, beach volley ball facilities, a soccer field, playground, and even a trampoline for the kids. It is the perfect spot to spend the day with the family. Coco’s also has a full service restaurant with a tropical atmosphere and a bar with unique swinging stools. The sunset from the beach is breathtaking.

Posada Real Puerto Escondido is a wonderful destination for a family vacation. We thoroughly enjoyed our vacation there and would return. There is something for everyone, from relaxing in a hammock and enjoying the ocean breeze to a full day of sports and recreation.

Posada Real Puerto Escondido

www.posadareal.com.mx

Hotel Mirador Acapulco

Acapulco, Mexico

Pam Plesons

Acapulco remains one of the most recognized coastal resort cities in Mexico. Tourism is the city’s number one industry. Its white sand beaches, high rise hotels, glamorous nightlife and famous cliff divers at La Quebrada continue to attract vacationers year round. The city has grown to a population of over 800,000.

As we drove into Acapulco we were immediately stunned by the noise and traffic of the city. We were passing through and had only a single night to discover its allure. By chance, we found ourselves on the road to La Quebrada. Once there, much to our surprise, we immediately found parking. We still had no idea where we were going to stay or what our plan was, but we were optimistic. We were approached by a helpful Mexican and we asked for an affordable hotel and suddenly found ourselves entering the lobby of the famous Hotel Mirador Acapulco.

Hotel Mirador Acapulco is a landmark of Mexico. It is perched on the cliffs above the famous cove where the cliff divers perform daily. It has 133 rooms and 9 junior suites with Jacuzzis. All the rooms are connected by steep intertwining stairways. There are 3 pools, one of which is a salt water pool fed directly from the ocean below. The hotel is seeped in history. La Perla restaurant, located on the cliffs within the hotel, has been home to the famous cliff diver shows of La Quebrada for over 60 years. The restaurant still boasts better than average food and great nightly shows, but the hotel is showing significant signs of deterioration. The hotel’s location is its saving grace and even with the stained ceilings, poor plumbing, and rock hard beds in our room, we would return, although I would not recommend this hotel to a family with small children. The stairways are difficult to maneuver and there were many hazards for small children including open wires and chipped tiles.

We were able to book an ocean view room with a private deck for 2 adults and 2 children for $85.00/night with a full buffet breakfast included. In addition, the room included a 20% discount on dinner and drinks at the famous La Perla Restaurant where we enjoyed a full evening of cliff diving shows from a perfect cliffside perch. There were diving shows at 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, and 10:30 pm. Each one became more exciting as the darkness set in. In the last show the divers dove with lit torches in limited light. We all loved the excitement. The kids were mesmerized. The divers climb up to the hotel lobby after the shows and it is customary to tip them for their performance. In addition, there was a professional stage show of dance from around the world in between the dive shows, which made for a very full evening of entertainment.

The Hotel Mirador Acapulco is in much need of renovation, but if you can overlook the deterioration and enjoy the fantastic location and excitement of the divers, it is well worth a one or two night stay.

Hotel Mirador Acapulco

www.hotelmiradoracapulco.com.mx

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One Lake, Many Faces

With more than 1,150 miles of scenic shoreline, more than the entire Pacific coast of California, the Lake of the Ozarks in central Missouri offers visitors gallons (about 617 billion) of fun and adventure.

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OKLAHOMA FOR FAMILIES

Derek MacKenzie-Hook

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Looking for a Spring Break idea?

Between February 24 and April 7,2006 kids 15 and under stay, play and eat for free when sharing a suite with parents at Jamaica's Pebbles Family Resort.

For details: www.fdrfamily.com

San Diego Sunshine

Standing gloriously at water's edge, the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina offers commendable service in a lush resort setting and an atmosphere that lends itself beautifully to a business trip with the kids or a family vacation. San Diego, “America’s finest city”, is known for year round sunshine, miles of white-sand beaches, laid-back friendliness, and a rich history and Hispanic culture. With this hotel’s ideal location adjoining the Convention Center and Seaport Village, you are close to many of the city’s popular attractions and landmarks.

Recently renovated, this towering hotel, offers 1362 guest rooms on 25 floors. Kids get a kick out of staying “up high” and enjoy the magnificent view of the surrounding city, beaches, bridges, marinas and waterways.

Whether you arrive by car, plane or via the marina, the whole family will enjoy the resort atmosphere and can take advantage of the nearby hiking and biking trails, beach activitites, and museums. Take an Old Town Trolley tour or catch a ride for some whale watching or harbor exploration.

Few children will let their parents head for home without enjoying the family-oriented outdoor entertainment at SeaWorld and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. You’ll be among the 26 million visitors annually that can’t pass up this sun-drenched Southern California destination.

If you go:

www.marriott.com

San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina

333 West Harbor Drive

San Diego, California 92101 USA

Phone: 1-619-234-1500

Six Ways to Save When Planning Your Vacation

Lynn O'Rourke Hayes

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