Archive for the ‘General’ category

It’s time to hit the beach and Family Vacation Critic asked readers to tell us what was most important in selecting a beach for a family vacation. We asked about cleanliness of the beach/water, proximity of restrooms, lifeguards on duty, nearby entertainment and restaurants, easy parking, and accommodations within walking distance. Not surprisingly, cleanliness topped the list. Who wants their children playing in dirty water and sand?

Using this criteria, we’ve selected 10 of our favorite beaches across the country. If you haven’t tried one of these beaches yet, consider a visit! You won’t be disappointed.

Got a favorite beach? Tell us about it!

–Lissa Poirot

After Hurricane Sandy devastated New Jersey’s beaches, you may be wondering if any of the beaches have re-opened and if they have all of their facilities. The northern portion of the Jersey Shore received the hit from the storm, with Atlantic City to Cape May surviving unscathed. Southern beaches and boardwalks, such as Wildwoods, remain open. If you want to know where you can go on the northern shore, the following are beaches and boardwalks that were undamaged or have rebuilt.

ASBURY PARK
The famed Asbury Park boardwalk and beach are open.

AVON BY-THE-SEA
The boardwalk here suffered damage from the storm and is still in the process of rebuilding. While part of the boardwalk has reopened, there are still areas under construction.

BEACH HAVEN
Although the area was hit hard by the storm, its beaches, concessions and amusement park are open for the summer.

BELMAR
The boardwalk here also suffered damage and was reconstructed in the Spring. Both the beach and boardwalk have reopened, with restrooms and concessions reopening in the summer.

BERKELEY TOWNSHIP
The boardwalk here was permanently destroyed and will not reopen, although the beach reopens this month.

ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK
The entire park suffered considerable damage and is still under repair, with hopes to be entirely open this summer. Be sure to call in advance to check on what is open before your visit.

LAVALLETTE
This bayside community received damage on both the bay and the ocean sides, but plans to have all beaches reopen by the end of June.

LONG BEACH ISLAND
One of the hardest hit areas on the Shore, there is still a lot of repair going on in LBI. While beaches may be open, some concessions may not be, and construction will be continuing.

LONG BRANCH
The hurricane wiped out parts of Long Branch’s boardwalk, and the town won’t be replacing it this year. However, beach access will be provided for summer.

MANASQUAN
The boardwalk here was damaged during the storm but reopened in May with concessions and restrooms also open.

POINT PLEASANT
The beaches of Point Pleasant will reopen in the summer, but Point Pleasant Beach, however, was hard hit by Sandy. The boardwalk and beach reconstruction were mostly complete by Memorial Day, but you may find some construction still occurring through the summer.

SEASIDE HEIGHTS
The shore made famous by MTV took a big hit during the storm, with damage to both the boardwalk and beach. Both are reopening for summer, but construction will be occurring throughout the season.

SPRING LAKE
Spring Lake‘s boardwalk was damaged in the storm, but the South End Pavilion will be ready for summer use. The North End Pavilion will remain under construction.

TOMS RIVER
Beaches here are tentatively slated to open in late June. Call ahead to find out if they are reopen during your time frame.

–Lissa Poirot

Summer in Texas means hot, hot, hot, but don’t let that deter you from visiting this family-friendly state! Take a look at all the ways your family can have fun in Texas, while keeping your cool!

In San Antonio, a stay at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa’s will surely be relaxing at the resort’s 5-acre water park. The resort just added a wave machine to its park with a winding lazy river and swimming pools. Just across the highway, SeaWorld San Antonio’s newest waterpark attraction, Aquatica, combines animal experiences with thrills and 42,000 square feet of sandy beaches with water slides, lazy rivers and pools.

In Arlington, Six Flags’ Hurricane Harbor features six water attractions and 18 slides for cool summer fun. The park introduces two new slides this summer: Typhoon Twister and Tsunami Surge.

With three locations across Texas summer, Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts also provides more chills and thrills. In South Padre Island, Schlitterbahn features a 25-acre water park with 13 water slides. In Galveston, Schlitterbahn’s 26-acre park features more than 33 attractions, including water coasters and a surf ride. In New Braunfels, Schlitterbahn features 40 attractions on more than 70 acres.

In Galveston Island, kayakers and canoers can hit one of the three paddling trails in the State Park, while in Austin, try the Lady Bird Lake Paddling Trail.

–Lissa Poirot

One of the coolest new travel planners I’ve seen is by Hertz, yes, as in the rental car company.

The company has partnered with Waterkeeper Alliance to offer the first-ever Waterkeeper Swim Guide in its NeverLost GPS unit, available with the rental of a Hertz car. The guide is a guide to where the best beaches in areas you are traveling are, providing details about which beaches are safe for swimming and what makes them unique.

The NeverLost unit provides city guides and other tools, but I’m thinking it’s worth the $12.99 daily rental fee to help find good beaches on a big road trip!

–Lissa Poirot

We loved this list of things to do in Myrtle Beach this summer, provided to us by those who know — Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts — we just had to share it!

1. Take in a Game… at BB&T Coastal Field to watch the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Minor League Baseball team with fireworks following all summer long.

2. Tee it up… at one of the 100+ golf courses.

3. Hit the Beach… and enjoy 60 miles of sweeping oceanfront and sugar white sand.

4. Shop ’til You Drop… at Broadway on the Beach.

5. Putt-putt… at the “Mini Golf Capital of the World” and try your skills at 50+ mini golf courses.

6. Bait, Hook, and Reel… in a Wahoo, Mahi, Grouper, Snapper or even a shark on a deep-sea fishing adventure.

7. Cruise the Coastline… and take in a gorgeous South Carolina sunset while dolphin watching aboard a sailboat.

8. Catch a Concert… and check out the South’s infamous music hall and folk art gallery at House of Blues.

Maui is, without a doubt, a beautiful place to vacation with the family, but it’s also a romantic getaway for couples. If you’re looking to celebrate summer with the kids, while also getting some alone time with each other, the Four Seasons Resort Maui is offer WeTime/MeTime, giving families a chance to have fun together, as well as apart through amenities and programs.

For children, the “Kids For All Seasons” program (ages 5 to 12) is a free recreational and educational program for kids to enjoy for a few hours or all day (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). They can take part in indoor and outdoor activities including games, sports, music, treasure hunts, swimming, arts and crafts, cultural education and lots more.

Teens can enjoy countless activities and services including the “Under the Water—On the Water—On the Beach” program offering snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, surf lessons, and the Waterfall and Fountain pools. The Game Room is another gathering place with Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Wii, ping pong, board games and more. Complimentary footballs, Frisbees, iPods, beach volleyballs, boogie boards, golf green putting and tennis are other “happy time” outlets.

While the kids are enjoying the programs and the very young are looked after by nannies recommended by the resort, adults can take advantage of the variety of features and experiences planned just for them. Among these are the adults-only $9 million spectacular Serenity Pool, an array of expert spa treatments, three golf courses and complimentary on-site tennis courts.

Lissa Poirot