The Plaza

This Mother's Day, consider treating mom to an Eloise Tea at The Palm Court, The Plaza, in New York.

Tea time provides a rare opportunity to combine something kids love (sweets!) with something moms demand (good manners!). Treat mom to a tea party this Mother’s Day at one of these delightful locales.

Eloise Tea and Simply Charming Tea at The Plaza – New York, N.Y.
“Skibble” off to The Plaza for a tea named for the hotel’s precocious fictional guest, Eloise. The menu includes such “mahvelous” items as kid-friendly finger sandwiches, mini chocolate cupcakes, Eloise shortbread cookies, and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Guests can sip cold pink lemonade or hot peppermint tea. (Daily. $30 children, $50 adults.) Afterwards, be sure to stop by the pink, pink, pink Eloise Boutique to watch Eloise movie clips, take in park views and purchase all things Eloise.

If you’re worried your little darling doesn’t have the table manners to attend such a fancy affair, sign up for a Simply Charming Tea. Lisa Taylor Richey, creator of Manners To Go, teaches children and their adult companions tea-specific etiquette such as how to properly pour tea as well as everyday manners like how and why to make eye contact. (Offered quarterly. $150 for etiquette instruction, tea for one child and one adult, an Eloise keepsake and "The Golden Rules of Etiquette at The Plaza" book).

The Peninsula Chicago

Afternoon Tea at The Lobby with Peter Bear, the mascot of The Peninsula Chicago.

Afternoon Tea at The Lobby, The Peninsula Chicago – Chicago
Well-behaved girls and boys dine on ham-and-cheese finger sandwiches, mini burgers, crisped rice treats and Jell-O squares while sipping tea or hot chocolate at The Lobby. Peter Bear, the mascot of The Peninsula Chicago, stops by to greet young guests tableside. Adults are served more sophisticated fare, like salmon with dill cream cheese and roasted vegetable with hummus. (Daily. $18 children, $25 with souvenir teddy bear. $42 adults or $50 with glass of Champagne.) 

Madeline’s Tea at Bemelmans Bar, The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel - New York, N.Y.
Inspired by the petite main character of the famous French book series, the Madeline Tea takes place in Bemelmans Bar, which is lined with murals painted by the author and illustrator himself, Ludwig Bemelmans. In addition to standard tea-time finger sandwiches, guests can choose from such buffet options as Teeny burgers and fries, Pipito’s crudités and dips, and an Eiffel Tower hot fudge sundae with a cherry on top. (Saturdays. $50 adults, $25 children.)

Nursery Tea at Crown & Crumpet Tea Salon - San Francisco
Decorated with an eclectic mix of playful flowered prints, this tea shop has a bright, modern feel different from many old-school tea houses. Children are presented with their own mini three-tiered stand stacked with small sandwiches, a house-made crumpet, and miniature sweet treats ($15). Tiny tea goers can wash down their nibbles with a pot of apple juice, hot chocolate or fruit tea served with heart-shaped sugar cubes. Adults can choose a similar tea-time menu ($28) or order quiches, salads and full-sized sandwiches from the lunch menu ($10-16). To ensure children are on their best behavior, you can order a princess-themed craft to keep young hands busy ($5).

Story Time Tea with Mrs. B at The Grill at Morrison House – Alexandria, Va.
Children are treated to a pot of hot chocolate and finger sandwiches, scones with jam, and bite-sized desserts at The Grill at Kimpton’s Morrison House. Grown-ups enjoy such dishes as curried chicken salad sandwiches, crab salad profiteroles, a sliver tray of sweets and organic teas. A Mother’s Day Tea on May 19 will include corsages and boutonnieres for “dress-up” and children will make cards and poems for their moms. (Monthly. $28 children, $38 adults.)

Manners instructor Rebecca Czarniecki (a.k.a. Mrs. B) hosts these Story Time Teas. Czarniecki recites a story or poem, oversees a craft project and visits with each table to give etiquette tips. She says, “Tea provides an environment where you can teach children and adults a variety of manners – how to hold silverware, use correct body language, and send thank-you notes to follow up after the event. And who doesn’t love a cup of tea?”   

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Courtesy Kristin Schell

A view from the Schell family's vacation rental in Dana Point, Calif., which they found on vrbo.com.

It was on a trip abroad to Israel with their 18-month-old son that Yen Ha and her husband realized they might need a new approach to travel.

After arriving at the hotel in Jerusalem and putting her baby to sleep for the night, the New York City architect and her spouse were wide awake but without options in their small, unlit room. “At eight o’clock, we sat there in the dark with our iPhones,” she said.

That’s why on a trip to Berlin last year, Ha booked a one-bedroom apartment with a kitchen and a common area through the website Airbnb. Ha is hardly alone in making the switch from traditional hotels to private residences, as budget-minded travelers are increasingly seeking to improve convenience on the road and cultivate more authentic travel experiences.

Airbnb reported 10,000 family bookings in January of this year, up from 2,000 in January 2011. Emily Joffrion, an Airbnb spokesperson, attributes the growth to the fact that vacation rentals offer amenities not available in hotels, such as barbecue areas and places where kids can play.

HomeAway, which owns VRBO and other vacation rental sites, said it has seen a 30 percent increase in traffic from 2010 to 2011, with approximately two-thirds of its travelers reporting that they travel as a family or group. HomeAway offers listing services for homeowners; bookings are not transacted directly on the site. 

Travel industry analyst Henry Harteveldt of Atmosphere Research Group said he expects this trend to continue, with the estimated 12 percent of U.S. leisure travelers who rented a vacation home, condo or villa in 2011 growing to a still-modest 14 percent in 2013. “A portion of that will come at the expense of hotels, motels, and B&Bs,” Harteveldt told msnbc.com.

Kristin Schell of Austin, Texas, said cramped hotel accommodations essentially forced her to find alternative lodging since the average hotel room maxes out at four guests, a number her family of six surpassed two children ago. “It just became cost-prohibitive to rent two hotel rooms,” Schell said. She said she has used HomeAway to rent vacation homes five times in the past five years.

HomeAway North America vice president Jon Gray said the average vacation rental in the company’s portfolio of 640,000 properties worldwide has 2-3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and costs $1,750 per week. Three hotel rooms at the average price of $98.07 in 2010, the most recent year for which the American Hotel & Lodging Association has data, would cost $2,059 for seven nights, and that does not include fees for WiFi, laundry facilities and other amenities typical of many vacation rentals.

In addition to being larger and more budget-friendly than hotels as well as offering common areas that can be used when little ones head to bed, the ability to cook is an enormous draw for family travelers. Schell said she only had to order an expensive hotel breakfast once to realize it would be better to save on food by having access to her own kitchen while on vacation.

“We have had those breakfasts where we look at each other and go, 'I can't believe I paid that much for an egg,' ” she said, adding that she prefers to splurge instead on attractions and experiences.

For some, staying in a cozy home with books, quirky furniture and other familiar trappings can make a vacation rental a destination in itself. Ha said she likes that vacation rentals are often in offbeat neighborhoods instead of in “tourist commercial areas.”

One thing sites such as Airbnb can’t yet offer travelers is the promise of consistency that can come with staying in a more established global chain. Anonymous property owners can falsely advertise, doctor photos, or post fraudulent reviews of their own places, despite the best efforts of rental sites to quell these practices.

Airbnb has been criticized by travelers who discovered the photos posted by property owners on the site did not match up with reality. The service now offers free third-party photography services for property owners, verifying that the image accurately reflects the rental.

Gray suggested the best evaluation of a HomeAway property is generally found in third-party reviews, which can only be posted by people who have actually stayed in the property they're reviewing.

Still, vacationers like Ha and Schell remain undeterred. Ha said asking a lot of questions helped her weed out some questionable rentals — how fast and with how much detail owners respond can be enlightening. 

As vacation rental sites roll out more security measures and start offering reassuring guarantees on trips to consumers, more deal-seeking travelers are likely to take advantage of these services. That is, if they’re even aware they exist.

“Staying in a rented apartment or even just a guest room is very new, not many people think of it,” Harteveldt said. “These companies need to raise consumer awareness that this may even be an option.”

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Courtesy of Casa Magna Marriott

The Casa Magna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa in Mexico is set along Banderas Bay.

It’s not too late to take advantage of a deal for the whole family this spring. Check out these five all-inclusive, warm-weather getaways in your pick of the Caribbean, U.S., or Mexico.

Morgan Bay Beach Resort, St Lucia  
The volcanic island of St. Lucia is hardly your typical Caribbean vacation spot; it has a staggering variety of landscapes, from lush peaks and black-sand beaches to tranquil cocoa plantations. Morgan Bay Beach Resort, on a private cove around 25 acres of tropical gardens, makes a great base for those who want to explore the island some days, but hang around the resort on others. There are four pools, and tons of available activities like kayaking, sailing, hiking, aqua cycling, reef fishing, snorkeling, and banana boating.

The Deal: 7-night package includes all food and drinks (even alcoholic drinks), watersports and activities (including the kids’ club), and a $1,000 air credit on stays longer than six nights (or a $600 air credit on stays of five or six nights). $286 per night for a family of four (two kids 16 and under).

Slideshow: Best affordable beach resorts 

Puntacana Resort & Club, Dominican Republic
This resort on the D.R.’s eastern shore has grown from a tiny 10-villa hotel to a sprawling complex with a Six Senses spa, a 70-slip marina, a pair of Tom Fazio– and P. B. Dye–designed golf courses, nine restaurants, seven bars, a biodiversity center, and a 1,500-acre nature preserve. The main hotel’s beachfront casitas were recently made over with khaki-hued walls, dark wicker furniture, and throw pillows in graphic botanical prints.

The Deal: 4-night package includes accommodations in a beachfront casita, all meals and activities (excluding spa and golf, but does include golf clinics), and a $500 resort credit towards activities. $355 per night for a family of four (no age restrictions; could be four adults).

 Omni Orlando Resort at Champions Gate, Florida  
Six miles from Walt Disney World, this 720-room Mediterranean-style resort is surrounded by 1,200 acres of natural wetlands and distant orange groves. There’s an adults-only pool with private cabanas and meditation garden, while an 850-ft. lazy river resounds with the squeals of kids — of all ages — who coast along on tubes through its tunnels, gentle rapids and hidden canyons. A lighted nine hole/par 3 golf experience and 36 holes of walk-out golf is another treat.  

The Deal: All-inclusive Spring Break Experience includes nightly accommodations, three meals a day at any of the resort’s seven dining experiences, and all activities (except for kids camp and golf). $399 per night for a family of four (two children under 12).

Wild Dunes Resort, Charleston, S.C. 
Staying at a vacation condo rental at Wild Dunes Resort on the Isle of Palms lets you take a beach getaway that’s also within easy access of Charleston, with its historic neighborhoods and hot food scene. That is, assuming you can tear yourself away from the natural beauty of Wild Dunes, which occupies 1,600 acres of private property between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway.

The Deal: 3-night Spring Family Fun package includes accommodations in a vacation condo rental, three-day family bike rentals, meals (breakfast two mornings per person at Sea Island Grill; Lunch two days at Hudson’s Market; Dinner daily per person at The Lettered Olive family restaurant), and a Caper’s Island Exploration family boating excursion. $459 per night for a family of four (two kids 12 and under).

Casa Magna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort, Mexico  
Set along Banderas Bay on the Pacific Coast at the base of the Sierra Madre Mountains, this resort offers 433 rooms with marble floors and private balconies that face an infinity pool, and gardens. The outdoor Marriott Kids area has playground equipment, picnic tables, and a large swimming pool all surrounded by sand. Better yet, there’s an on-site sea turtle program with a tradition of allowing children to name any tiny babies, then gather with family members at sunset to set them free in the ocean.

The Deal: The Escape! Inclusive Package includes overnight accommodations, three meals a day, and all drinks (beer, wine, cocktails, soft drinks). $339 per night for a family of four (two kids 12 and under).

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• Best Spring Break Getaways

Courtesy Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel

The Easter bunny gives a basket to a young guest at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel in Orlando, Fla.

Families looking for a hopping good time are in for a basketful of fun at these five hotels rolling out the grassy green carpet for the Easter Bunny this year. These unique Easter offerings are sure to please egg-seeking kids as well as picture-snapping parents.

Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa – Huntington Beach, Calif.
In addition to traditional hunts on the hotel lawn, guests at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach can collect underwater eggs from the hotel pool. Egg-decorating, an egg-and-spoon race and a waterslide relay race add to the seaside fun. Easter room rates range from $203-$415. Non-guests can dine on an elaborate brunch featuring a live jazz band, raw bar, chocolate fountain and more ($72 for adults, $25 for kids, free for those 5 and under) – then join in the Easter activities for free.

Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin – Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
If you’re looking for an Easter activity that really shines, check out the glow-in-the-dark egg hunt hosted by a live DJ at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel. Children are given luminescent necklaces and bracelets to aid in their search for the glowing candy-stuffed eggs.  As though waking up at the “Happiest Place on Earth” wasn’t enough, children can receive a surprise delivery from the bunny himself. Parents arrange for the Easter Bunny to bring a basket filled with candy and a plush toy to the hotel room. Cost is $55 for the first basket and $40 for each additional basket. Easter room rates start at $239 per night.

The James Chicago – Chicago, Ill.
For a unique twist on the classic Easter activity, The James Chicago is encouraging families to explore the Windy City. The hotel provides bicycles to borrow and a map to several tourist attractions around Chicago so kids can receive an egg stamp in their “passport” for each place visited. Hotel guests 12 and younger who bring back a full passport receive a complimentary Easter dessert at the on-site David Burke’s Primehouse. Back in their room, families are treated to an Easter-themed turndown with hidden candies to find. Easter rates start at $359 per night in a loft suite featuring family-friendly movie screenings in a private media room.

Red Mountain Resort – St. George, Utah
This holistic active resort located amidst Southern Utah’s red rock cliffs and canyons is offering an Easter Geocache Fitness Activity for its guests (age 12+). Families will use a GPS unit to find camouflaged eggs. Instead of candy, the eggs are filled with exercises to be completed in order to win a prize (like a yoga mat or other exercise accessories). A last-minute deal for Easter weekend starts at $230 per person per night.

The Somerset on Grace Bay – Grace Bay, Turks & Caicos
Don a snorkel mask and flippers and dive into the Somerset’s first annual “Sea”ster egg hunt. During the first week in April, kids will paint egg-shaped rocks. On Easter weekend, these painted treasures will be scattered into the turquoise waters of Grace Bay where families can snorkel to collect as many painted "eggs" as possible. The winning family will receive a family portrait to commemorate the trip. Holiday rates start at $900 per night for a one-bedroom villa.

These Easter festivities are offered to hotel guests only and are included in room rates unless otherwise noted.

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Mike Segar / Reuters

A woman wears beer mug glasses as she joins thousands celebrating along 5th Avenue in New York during the city's 250th annual St. Patrick's Day parade on March 17, 2011.

March 17 is St. Patrick's Day when everyone is Irish and the river in Chicago turns green. So want to show your kids a little Blarney? Then pick a St. Patrick's Day Parade and enjoy. Below are 10 cities that take their Irish pride, parades — and fun — seriously.

1. Boston
With almost a quarter of the city's population Irish-American, Bostonians turn St. Patrick's Day into a weeklong event loaded with activities for the days surrounding the parade — not only in the city but also in the suburbs and nearby towns. One way to learn about the Irish in Boston is to take the free, self-guided Irish Heritage Tour. The three-mile, 16-site tour starts at the Rose Kennedy Rose Garden by the Waterfront and ends at the John Boyle O'Reilly Memorial near Fenway Park.

The March 18 parade, said to be the largest in the U.S., attracts between 600,000 to 1 million attendees annually, gathering to watch floats, bagpipers, dancers, and cartoon and movie characters. There will be at least 50 bagpipe groups from Ireland, Boston, and across the United States. And, if it's Boston, you know there will be some politicians in the parade as well. The route starts at 1 p.m. at the T Station on Broadway and ends at Andrew Square on the Southside of town.

2. Savannah, Ga.
Savannah's first St. Patrick's Day Parade took place in 1813, only 80 years after the city was founded by General James Oglethorpe. A small group of Hibernians organized and marched on the streets of Savannah to remember the death of Saint Patrick, and the tradition has taken a life of its own ever since. Today, Savannah hosts the world's second largest St. Patrick's Day parade and features more than 350 participating groups including several U.S. military divisions, award-winning bands, and the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales. 

The religious and cultural celebrations in Savannah actually start up to two weeks prior to the parade and include several traditional events such as Investiture of the Grand Marshal, Greening of the Fountain in Forsyth Park, Tara Feis, Celtic Cross Mass and Ceremony, and Sergeant William Jasper Green Ceremony. On the morning of the parade, Mass is held at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in historic-downtown Savannah. The March 17 parade starts at 10:15 a.m on Gwinnett Street near Forsyth Park, travels through the Historic District (where the fountains' waters are turned green) and ends at Harris Street near LaFayette Square. Reserved bleacher seats may be purchased in advance.

3. Chicago
While there are several Irish-themed events leading up to the Big Day, the dyeing of the Chicago River is a good place to start. The river officially turns green at 10:45 a.m. on March 17, and the official parade starts at noon from the corner of South Columbus Drive and East Balbo Drive and ends at East Monroe Drive. Expect to see lots of Irish-themed bands, floats and dancers. Public transportation is strongly recommended.

But the party doesn't stop with the parade. After the parade, The Irish American Heritage Center hosts the St. Patrick's Festival, featuring traditional and contemporary Irish culture. Irish musicians Tim O' Shea and Patrick Buckley join Chicago Irish acts for music, dance, food and even children's activities at this family-friendly event (March 17, 1 p.m.). The Irish American Heritage Center keeps the party going with more music and dancing for a St. Patrick's Afterpart and adds a breakfast buffet at Harrington's Deli and face painting to round out the festivities (March 18, 10:30 a.m. — tickets must be purchased before March 14).

4. Kansas City, Mo.
Although Kansas City sported a strong Irish population along with large St. Patrick's Day parades during the 1800s, the holiday celebration fizzled out for years until 1973 when a trio of talk show hosts and local businessmen got inspired over drinks and staged a small parade where they walked a few blocks with a cow painted green, a goat and some dogs. The "parade" was dubbed the "the shortest and worst parade," but it did revitalize the city's St. Patrick's Day celebrations.

Today, Kansas City's parade is one of the biggest in the country. Attracting over 300,000 viewers, the March 17 celebration starts with a Gaelic Mass followed by the parade. The parade begins at 11 a.m. at Linwood and Broadway and ends at 1 p.m. at 43rd Street. The theme is Forty Years of Failte, which is Gaelic for "welcome."

5. San Francisco
San Francisco hosts the largest St. Patrick's Day celebration west of the Mississippi. Celebrating its 160th year, festivities start at 10 a.m. on March 17 and continue (officially) until 5 p.m. The parade starts at 11:30 a.m. at Market Street and proceeds to Civic Center Plaza. Featured groups from throughout the Bay Area's Irish community include Irish dancers, marching bands, colorful floats, schools, youth organizations, labor unions, and cultural groups, as well as the San Francisco police and fire departments. In addition, many local political and business leaders will join in the parade whose them is "Past, Present & Future." This year the festival will be alcohol free.

But the fun doesn't end with the parade. More activities will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Civic Center Plaza where there will be a healthy selection of Irish food and beverages, traditional and contemporary Irish music, cultural and exhibitor booths, and more Irish dancing and singing. For the children, there will be pony rides as well as inflatable and mechanical rides. In addition to activities held on St. Patrick's Day, the 9th Annual Crossroads Irish-American Festival in San Francisco will provide a variety of Irish-themed activities from March 4th through the 20th.

6. Hot Springs, Ark.
Hot Springs' "First Ever Ninth Annual World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade" may have the shortest parade route, 98-feet down Bridge Street, but it may rank among the most fun. This year, movie star Tim Matheson will serve as the grand marshal and lead the parade's 50 participants including leprechauns, quirky floats, marching bands, and Irish Elvis impersonators. 

On March 17, the festivities will start at 11 a.m. at Hill Wheatley Plaza with bands and Irish music. At 4:30 p.m., the kissing the Blarney Stone contest starts, and at 5:30 p.m. the "Famous Chicken" makes an appearance performing funny routines for the children. The parade starts at 6:30 p.m. followed by more entertainment.

7. St. Paul, Minn.
In St. Paul, the St. Patrick's Day celebrations started in 1967 in Gallivan's Restaurant and grew from there into a significant parade along with a variety of weeklong activities, including the "World's Worst Irish Tenor" contest. 

The parade will start at noon on March 17 (route to be determined) and include lots of marching bands, clans' music, and the parade's queen and king — Miss Shamrock and Mr. Pat. Irish fare and music will be served at several area restaurants, including the Eagle Street Grille, The Liffey, and Patrick McGovern's.

8. New York City
New Yorkers have been celebrating St. Patrick's Day since 1766, initially by Irishmen in a military unit rerouted to serve in the American colonies. Today, the parade is so big that NBC covers it live. (Msnbc.com is a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC Universal.) The parade starts at 44th Street and Fifth Avenue at 11 a.m. on March 17 when bagpipers, more than 50 high school bands, dancers, military units, and clans will make their way up Fifth Avenue until they reach 88th Street by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

The event is a true spectacle, with more than 150,000 participants marching in the parade and more than 2 million spectators lining the streets of Fifth Avenue. A unique aspect of the parade is that all participants are on foot — everyone marches, including civic groups, dignitaries, and of course the bands, but you won't see floats, motorized vehicles, or balloons. Parade officials say the best viewing is anywhere north of 66th Street and also recommend sitting on the steps of the art museum. Francis X. Comerford, chief revenue officer and president of commercial operations for the NBC owned television stations, is the grand marshal.

9. Philadelphia
The City of Brotherly Love lets you get into the St. Patrick's Day mood a week early. The city's St. Patrick's Day Parade brings together more than 150 groups and 20,000 participants including marching bands, dance groups, youth groups, and Irish associations. The parade takes place March 11 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and the theme is St. Patrick Bless the American Worker. 

The first documented St. Patrick's Day Celebration Parade in Philadelphia was held in 1771, just five years before the Declaration of Independence was signed, and marked the start to over 240 continuous years of celebrations. The current parade, which is hosted by the St. Patrick's Day Observance Association, was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1952.

10. San Antonio
San Antonio has a two-day, family-friendly celebration starting on March 16 with the dyeing of the San Antonio River at 5 p.m. followed by the Innish Free Irish Dancers performing at 6 p.m., Amy and Chancey at 7 p.m., and Robert Doyle at 8 p.m. 

More fun family vacation ideas

Sandra Foyt

Sandra Foyt's 15-year-old daughter and another student get a surfing lesson from Zack's Surf Shop in Huntington Beach, Calif.

For the ultimate Southern California surf experience, take the kids to Huntington Beach. Also known as “Surf City,” this destination was the inspiration for the Jan and Dean 1960s hit of the same name. Ocean lovers will dig the bodacious waves and mellow vibe of this town that celebrates all things surf.

Huntington Beach is regarded by many as the cradle of surfing civilization. It plays host to the US Open of Surfing, the largest professional surfing and lifestyle event in North America. It is home to the International Surfing Museum, the Surfing Walk of Fame, the iconic Huntington Beach Pier, and nearly 10 miles of surf-worthy beaches. It’s the palm-lined, sunny spot you picture when you hear a Beach Boys surf tune.

Huntington Beach native Joseph Ali, 28, has been surfing since he was 8 years old and has been teaching surf lessons for half of his life. He says Huntington Beach is the ideal surf town for all of these reasons and because its shores hold “every single type of break,” each of which creates a different wave and surf experience, with surfing conditions available year-round.

No trip to Huntington Beach would be complete without riding, or at least attempting to ride, a wave. There are plenty of surf schools to choose from including Toes on the Nose (where even an old lady like me learned how to surf), Corky Carroll’s Surf School and Banzai Surf School.

Ali, the lead instructor at Zack’s Surf Shop (owned by his father), boasts that he can get 95 percent of students to stand up on their first lesson. Families start with basic instructions, a safety talk and practice pop-ups (the motion a surfer uses to get from lying to standing on a board) on the sand before entering the water.

Colleen Lanin

Surfers catch waves in Huntington Beach, Calif.

“Kids are the easiest and most fun to teach,” according to Ali. Beginners start on 7- to 8-foot foam boards in waist-deep water. Ali pushes children into baby-sized waves so they can concentrate on popping up and enjoying the ride. Surfers-to-be can take lessons at Zack’s as young as 4 1/2 years but Ali says, “I think 6 or 7 is the best age to start surfing because that’s when their self-esteem kicks in.” Young children are given extra supervision and sport wet suits padded with a floating material, which works much like a life jacket.

Sandra Foyt, a mom from New York and author of AlbanyKid.com, fulfilled her 15-year-old daughter Kayla’s lifelong dream of surfing with a lesson in Huntington Beach during a recent visit to California. “I was impressed that my daughter was able to ride the board to shore in just one hour-long lesson,” Foyt says.

“Surfing can be a dangerous sport, requiring vigilance," she says. "I highly recommend bringing a beach chair and umbrella, and watching over kids to ensure that they are following safety rules. Not so much during the lesson, but afterwards when they are on their own.”

The surf culture of Huntington Beach is more than just riding waves, though. It’s an easygoing attitude that permeates the town. It’s ordering from menus laden with surf lingo at casual diners and taco shops. It’s statues scattered around downtown of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, an Olympic swimmer who is known as the Father of Surfing for bringing the sport from Hawaii to the mainland. It’s bonfires on the beach. It’s flip flops worn to the fanciest restaurant in town. It’s a love of the ocean and protecting its shores.

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Inspiration strikes when you least expect it, and last summer it hit Julie Melnick on a flight from Los Angeles to Florida.

NannyintheClouds.com

She struggled onto the plane with a car seat, her 2-year-old son and assorted carry-on bags, and then had a tough time enroute. “My child didn’t want to sit still and he needed to be walked up and down the aisle 5,000 times,” Melnick, who was traveling solo with her son, told TODAY.com. “It was just such a draining experience.”

Melnick knew other moms deal with the same thing, and she thought there had to be a better way. Her solution: Nanny in the Clouds, a website that will match parents seeking in-flight babysitters with a fellow passenger on their flight who has experience caring for children.

Signing up is free, but once a match is made, parents pay $10 for an introduction to a potential babysitter. Then it’s up to the sitter and the parents to work out a fee — and to call the airline and ask to be seated together or request adjoining seats during check in.

“We're recommending the going rate, which is $10 to $20 an hour,” said Melnick. “But a lot of people are willing to pay a premium when they’re traveling.”

Nannies must provide two references upon signing up, but Nanny in the Clouds does not do background checks. “If they’re a teacher, a college student or a grandma, they are qualified in our eye,” said Melnick. Instead, the site encourages parents to do their homework and have phone conversations and/or an in-person meeting to ensure that the match is right.

TODAY.com asked some family travel experts to give Nanny in the Clouds the once over.

“My first reaction was: How lazy are parents that they can’t even watch their own children during a measly flight?” said Colleen Lanin, editor and founder of TravelMamas.com. But after thinking it over, she decided a sitter in the air could be a lifesaver for a mom or dad who is traveling solo with two or more young children. “It would also be a great service for parents who are prone to air sickness or who are nervous/phobic flyers,” said Lanin.

“I would predict more crying, not less,” said Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, editor-in-chief at We Just Got Back. “Most small kids would want to sit with their parents, not a stranger, on a flight.”

Airplane travel “takes the whole family out of their routine” by adding anxiety, excitement, and, usually, sleep deprivation, said travel comfort specialist Anya Clowers of JetwithKids.com. “If the timing and the match were correct, and parents remain in control by using the nanny mostly as an assistant to help, this may be a blessing.”  

For those who do hire an in-flight sitter, though, Clowers advises scheduling a get-to-know-you session before boarding. “A photo or Skype session prior to travel is a good idea so the nanny is not a stranger on the day of travel,” she said.

Nanny in the Clouds launched in November 2011, although Melnick said that, so far, no matches for in-flight sitters have been made.

“There are 30,000 flights a day, and right now it’s a long shot that there will be a registered sitter on the flight you’re on,” said Melnick. So within a few weeks the site will add a feature that allows travelers to search by city pairs instead of specific flight numbers. That will expand the options and allow a mom going from Los Angeles to Miami to choose a flight that already has a registered nanny.

While Melnick has high hopes for her service, she’s not the first to create a program that provides in-flight babysitters. One airline, Gulf Air, already offers specially trained Sky Nannies as a complimentary service on its wide-bodied aircraft flying long-haul flights and in its airport lounges.

Still, whether there’s a sitter on board or not, Clowers said, “Parents still need to take responsibility for their children and be prepared to meet their needs at 37,000 feet.”

Would you use the Nanny in the Clouds service? Tell us on Facebook.

Find more by Harriet Baskas on Stuck at The Airport.com and follow her on Twitter. 

More on TODAY Travel

• TSA apologizes to 'humiliated' mom over breast-pump gaffe
• How to handle kid-hating curmudgeons on airplanes
• Dad puts experts' family travel advice to the test

Colleen Lanin's recent story, How to handle kid-hating curmudgeons on airplanes, struck a chord with a lot of you.

Parent travelers, child-sensitive travelers and business travelers all weighed in with their opinions and experiences. We received more than 100 comments that show this issue is, in fact, a complicated one.

Here are a few select comments that offer some insight on the subject.

(Some posts have been edited for quality or length. To see the full collection of comments, click here.)

“The problem with airplane travel is you can't remove your child from the situation if they have a meltdown, which all children have from time to time. Add to that the stress of handling that meltdown with a plane full of judgmental people and you think that it's hard for you to deal with? What would really help is if people would realize that children are not mini adults and need to be shown the right way to behave. If you act rude and mean when a child is "hassling" you, you've shown them it's OK to be [a] jerk when you don't get your way. Remember those parents also paid for the "right" to fly with their children and have to worry about keeping track of them and themselves …” — Sarah-291974

 “You refer to passengers who object to out-of-control children as 'child-haters'? These passengers, many of whom are business travelers, pay for the right not to be hassled by someones child. Besides, the problem isn't really about the children, it's about the parents of the children who seem oblivious to the problems their kids create. Grow up. Take responsibility for your kids, and quit blaming other people for the bad behavior that you allow.” — Jack H. of Destin, Fla

“I realize there is some humor here in this article, but I just want to point out that I don't think I am necessarily a "kid-hating curmudgeon" just because I resent having to be exposed to screaming/crying/kicking/fidgeting children when trapped within the uncomfortable confines of an airplane. As a matter of fact, I don't want to be around that behavior from anyone of any age!” — eight is enough-444535

 “I have a 2 year old that I have tried everything with. He is great in many situations, but going out to certain places like restaurants and electronics stores can still be a problem. We bought a little DVD player to help with restaurants -- that helps. We have patiently tried every suggestion the parents with the "good" kids use. He has therapists, and we follow what they say. I have a master's in education, I follow the advice of many other experts, and parents who are successful, and still he can get quite a bit nuts sometimes. So, go ahead at look at me with derision. It does not mean you are right.” — Hellohowareyou

“How about tips for the passenger without children? How does one communicate to the parent/guardian of a young passenger that their child is disruptive - without insult or bad feelings during the flight? I realize it can't be easy for either the child to experience a flight (noise, ear pressure, etc) and it can't be easy for the parent/guardian to control these little passengers. I love it when I see a mom struggling to control the kids and the father is "asleep" across the aisle (what a jerk!).” — Flys enough times

“No matter how much or how little the parent tries, these are children we're talking about. They're bound to misbehave any way you look at it. Your only hope is to pray the kid sleeps the whole way or to be lucky enough to be seated far enough away that the misbehaving doesn't affect you as much.” — Jenny-1680959

“If the parents actively work to bring their children under control, have things for them to do, restrain them from kicking seats, at least TRY, it's reasonably tolerable. I've actually been known to help … However, when the parents just look fondly on their "little darlings" and cannot possibly imagine why someone would find them annoying ... or they just flutter around helplessly wanting someone else to fix the problem ... it's not tolerable and, if it's bad enough, I'll ask the flight attendance to address the problem.—  Beth-440386

“I've traveled with my daughter who occasionally misbehaved -- loudly. I felt bad for everyone else. I've also traveled without her while some other child cried and fretted, and it was horrible. I hate when other people's children are noisy, even though I've been in that place. We just have to bite the bullet. That's life. Maybe they should introduce ‘childrens’ flights and put them all together on one plane. Can you imagine?” — Joy-1883026

“I will pack some lollipops in my laptop bag and recommend the ‘Shoes off’ trick on my next flight with kids.” — GoshenBebop

“I give parents the benefit of the doubt when parent[ing]. Not when they just throw up their hands and say, ‘kids will be kids.’” — Wants to know

“I fly a lot, with and without my children, and I have noticed adults behave just as bad, if not worse. I acknowledge this is public transportation and don't become a ‘hater’ of any sort.” — BadgerChick

“I fly a lot. I logged 85K last year and 96K the year before, all in coach. I have never experienced the nightmare scenarios that I read about. Yes, there may be a cranky baby, but that is usually driven by pain in their ears. Nothing a pair of $.39 ear plugs (for me) won't solve. I actually hate the assumption that children will misbehave. I have five kids, and it drives me nuts when we walk in to a restaurant or get on a plane and people assume that they will be noisy monsters. If people assume the worst, do they create a self-fulfilling prophecy?” — Sevenseat

“If people taught their kids manners, and taught them what proper behavior in public is all about, we would have a lot fewer problems. I see too many parents that basically allow their kids to do as they please, and then wonder why those around them hate their kids.” — snicerkdoodle

“When you fly, you gamble. You bought a ticket for a narrow cramped seat in a long metal tube, probably because it was the most efficient and economical means to get from where you are to where you want to be. You gamble that your seatmate showered and used deodorant before getting on the plane. You gamble that she didn't coat herself in enough perfume to lay down a vapor trail. You gamble that the guy built like a Clydesdale isn't sitting next to (and on) you. You gamble that there will be room in the overhead bin and that the airline won't lose your luggage. You gamble that the flight will leave/arrive on time so you can make that tight connection. You gamble that there won't be disruptive kids on your flight. Just like Las Vegas, when you gamble, sometimes you win. Sometimes you don't. Be the bigger person. Smile, put on your headphones/earplugs, and let the rest go. The flight will end.” — Javajunkee560

“Has no one ever thought about a cry room on a plane? If a child must fly and be noisy - there should be a place where the parent and child can go so as not to disturb every other adult passenger (and behaving children).” — Kinki

“ … if you at least are trying to calm your child the rest of us at least acknowledge that you are doing what you can. It's all the parents who just seem to not care that their kid is making everyone else miserable who get the ire of other passengers.” — Robert-1637489

“Kid-Hating Curmudgeons … great name for a rock band!” — Gemartini

Not really on topic, Gemartini, but perhaps a good place to end.

Do you have thoughts on the matter? Tell us on Facebook. 

More stories you might like: 

• Coping with kid-hating curmudgeons on airplanes
• Man next to crying child opens plane door on tarmac
• Where to stay in Las Vegas with kids

Many airplane passengers can’t stand flying within the same fuselage as children. In a survey of nearly 2,500 individuals by Travelzoo Australia, screaming children were named as the worst aspect of air travel by nearly 68 percent of respondents. Last year, Europe’s budget airline Ryanair introduced child-free flights and Malaysia Airlines banned babies from its first-class cabin on some flights.

Apparently travelers think airplanes should be Zen zones free from the noise, exuberance, and annoyance of children. But what’s a traveling parent to do? Rather than staying grounded until the kids go off to college, try these tips from family travel bloggers for handling kid-hating curmudgeons on airplanes:

Related: Readers react to 'kid-hating curmudgeons on planes'

Make friends
Jessica Bowers, author of SuitcasesandSippycups.com, suggests asking those seated nearby to tell you if your children are bothering them. She says, “I think just giving (other passengers) the freedom to complain makes them less cranky.”

Debbie Dubrow of DeliciousBaby.com says, “Once someone actually said ‘Just my luck’ as he sat down next to me, and I answered with a polite and friendly, ‘I'm sorry, I didn't hear you?’ which sent him back-peddling. He was actually quite polite for the rest of the trip.”

Some parents even recommend purchasing a round of drinks for neighboring passengers or passing out ear plugs to drown out any child-induced noisiness.

Keep kicking to a minimum

Avoid jostling your neighbors by removing children’s shoes; there will be less kicking if tootsies get sore from this unwanted behavior. Keep the tray table steady by choosing mellow activities and explaining to children how their behavior could disturb those seated in front of them.

Fly prepared
To avoid mid-flight meltdowns, pack toy sets, arts-and-crafts projects, and travel-sized games and puzzles. Bring along soft-covered books or download children’s stories to your smartphone or tablet. Even if you don’t allow television or video games at home, you may want to consider bending the rules to allow a bit of screen time, especially on a very long flight.

Pack snacks
Pack a wide variety of healthy snacks, all in their own small containers. Dole out goodies one at a time to keep mouths happily munching (and silent). You might want to bring a few special treats to hand out for good behavior toward the end of your journey. Sandra Foyt of AlbanyKid.com always keeps a few lollipops handy on flights, “for emergency purposes.”

Make an obvious effort
Parental involvement is key in keeping your offspring content in the close confines of an airplane cabin. Many travelers complain that it is not the children on planes that upset them, but their inattentive parents. Make an obvious display of your efforts to show you’re doing your best to soothe the wails of your crying baby or to diffuse your child’s tantrum.

Lisa Goodmurphy of GoneWithTheFamily.com says, “I think the most important thing when flying with kids is that your attention needs to be 100 percent focused on them. (Children) can’t be expected to know how to behave on a plane unless you teach them how.”

Ignore the haters
Other passengers may inwardly (or less often, outwardly) groan when you board with your offspring. Despite all of the negative polls and articles, not everyone on the plane will hate you. Many will be sympathetic to the sometimes stressful task of flying with children.

If all else fails, silently repeat this mantra, “This too shall pass.” Soon enough, your family will land safely at your destination. And remember, you will likely never have to see your fellow passengers ever again!

Do you have some tried-and-true tips when traveling with children? Tell us on Facebook.

More on TODAY Travel

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Colleen Lanin is the founder/editor of TravelMamas.com, a site for anyone who wants to travel with children…and stay sane!

Sean Runnels and his wife, Diane, with children Abby, right, 7; Elise, 4; and Rhys, 1, in front of the Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia.

Most of us travel with our kids a few times a year at most. We stress about all the gear to pack, the change in routines, and how to keep our tots entertained en route.

But some folks raise their kids traveling, and have it down to an art. Their tips and tricks — some learned the hard way in such remote places as Croatia or the Cascade mountains — can perhaps help us “regular” traveling parents ease up a bit and enjoy the ride more.

Three families — two sets of physicians and a couple that lives and works on Oregon’s Mount Hood — share what they’ve learned on various adventures.

Sean Runnels, an anesthesiologist in Salt Lake City, and his wife, Diane Ellis, an obstetrician/gynecologist, have worked and traveled around the world with their three kids, ages 12, 8 and 5. After they complete an upcoming two-year volunteer stint in Africa on the Mercy Ship floating hospital, their kids will have circled the globe on its surface.

“I think it’s a good way for them to get the idea of how big the Earth really is, something you can’t get an appreciation of when flying,” Runnels said, referring to their plan to travel to Africa by boat, rail and hiking trail, starting with sailing from New York to England on the Queen Mary 2.

Runnels shares his thoughts…

On gear …
“Less is more,” Runnels said. “You can always get more if you need it when you arrive, but most likely, you’ll not miss it.”

They pack one pair of shoes per child, and earth-tone-colored clothes (“to hide stains”) as well as tie-dye shirts to quickly spot the kids in a crowd. After watching their middle child nearly drown in a lake in Croatia, they now travel with life jackets if they plan to be near water. They favor backpacks over suitcases, after finding that wheeled suitcases leave no hands for controlling children. 

On planning …
Runnels said they try not to plan more than one step ahead so they can remain flexible. They stay in one location for at least two days for every day of travel, and have learned to slow their pace and lower expectations, gravitating toward smaller towns where the environment is typically safer and more interesting for kids.

The Runnels’ youngest child took his first steps while on a month-long, 250-mile trek in Nepal, in which their 7-year-old daughter walked the entire way and their 4-year-old daughter walked a quarter of the way. They took frequent breaks, often hiking one day and resting the next.

“We went from village to village, stopping at tea shops where there were chickens to chase and goats to play with,” he said. “It’s hard to have that kind of down time in big cities.”

Runnels said success when traveling with kids comes when you have realistic expectations and learn to plan just one activity in the morning and one in the evening.

“If you put kids in the right environment where you’re not having to say no all the time, and they’re seeing and doing new things, they’re going to have fun,” he said. “They’re kids — that’s what they do."

On lessons learned the hard way …
In addition to the life-jacket lesson, they’ve learned:

• to spend a bit more when traveling, if necessary, versus “taking a midnight ferry in Croatia to save $10.”
• that high-end hotels are no place for kids.
• that when changing time zones, stay at hotels with pools since it’s impossible for kids to sleep when it’s their day time.
• to pay attention to what your kids are eating before “a monk tells you the nuts they just grabbed in a Thai temple are powerful laxatives.”

On go-to travel spots with kids …
Runnels swears by Asia. “Everyone loves kids, lots of great street food, and eye candy everywhere.” He also recommends trekking inn-to-inn in Europe, where there are “cheap hostels with good food, castles and medieval cities — it’s all a fairy tale to them.”

Rafting around the world

Jenny Blechman, a family physician in Bend, Ore., and her husband, Tim Carney, an anesthesiologist, make the most of weekends away to the coast and longer raft trips around the Northwest. With their two sons, ages 8 and 5, they have traveled to Mexico, Alaska, New Zealand and Spain.

Blechman shares her thoughts…

On gear …
They pack light, bring books and occasionally hand over Blechman’s iPad for movies and games. They never leave home without Zack’s favorite stuffed dog and Alex’s blue blanket.

On planning …
“We started traveling with them early so it made it normal for them,” Blechman said. “They don’t mind sleeping in strange beds or waking up somewhere else.”

They took Zack on a week-long raft trip down the John Day River in eastern Oregon when he was just a few months old, and Alex to Spain when he was 5 weeks. 

On lessons learned the hard way
Bring (or rent) car seats! When traveling in Mexico four years ago, they were in a car crash caused by a hit-and-run driver. Blechman’s husband, Tim, was arrested for questioning and held in jail for 24 hours, along with the other drivers involved. Blechman had almost let the car-rental employee talk her out of needing a car seat for her oldest child, then 3 1/2, but then rented one, “thankfully,” she says. Both boys suffered significant skin burns from the crash’s impact.

On go-to travel spots with kids …
“We go rafting!” she said. “It’s a lot of prep work bringing your own food and gear, but the kids love it — there’s nothing to entertain them but just being outside, and we all have a lot of fun.”

Adventure travel for the whole family

Tammy Villali, catering manager at Timberline Lodge on Oregon’s Mount Hood, and her husband, David Villali, wine program manager, do a lot of day-tripping with their 9- and 3-year-old sons to hike, ski and kayak around Mount Hood where they live. They also travel to Florida, California, Maui and southern Oregon.

Villali shares her thoughts:

On gear …
In addition to snacks and books, the Villalis now pack a portable DVD player, something they resisted for years because they permit only a half-hour of screen time a day at home. 

“But for long trips over 2 hours,” she said, “it was worth the lower stress levels and enjoyment level for all and I wish we had bought it sooner.” 

On planning …
Villali said her biggest hurdle traveling with kids has been changing her expectations of how long and how far they would go. 

“I had to go from ‘Let’s go ski six miles or snowboard today’ to ‘Let’s have fun getting there, getting gear on, playing in the snow,’ " she said. “It’s not about the distance we cover as much as the time spent making it fun to get outside and spend time outside.” 

On lessons learned the hard way …
The only routine they stick to now when traveling is meal times and bed times, having found that naps don’t happen when they want them to.

“I also learned that a hungry and tired child is close to impossible to reason with … a fed but tired child can buy you the extra 15 minutes you need to pack your gear, car or them!” she said. 

On go-to travel spots with kids …
They often hit Trillium Lake and Frog Lake around Mount Hood for frog-catching, hiking and kayaking in summer, and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter.

“Stash a plastic garbage bag in your pack to slide down a hill here and there to keep it fun for the kids and again,” she said, “pack lots of snacks.”

Do you have tricks and tips when traveling with your kids? Tell us about it on Facebook.

More on TODAY Travel

• Finding a baby sitter while on vacation
• Tips for taking a trip with toddlers
• Great gear for kids on the go

Colleen McBrinn, a freelance writer in Portland, Ore., strives to maintain an active lifestyle of outdoor sports and travel with two wee ones in tow.

Atlantis / AP

Guests at the Atlantis hotel swim on Paradise Island, Bahamas. The resort features one of the largest outdoor marine habitats in the world, one that showcases more than 50,000 aquatic animals representing 250 species.

For animal-loving families, the highlight of any vacation is a close -- but fun -- encounter with a critter. At these 10 resorts, located in the U.S., Caribbean, Central America and Africa, families meet regional animals, learn about their behaviors and habitats and even, in some cases, interact with them.

1. Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas
This mega-resort on the Bahamas' Paradise Island is loosely themed on Atlantis, the lost city under the sea. As a result, water is everywhere, tying together the vast property with its many buildings housing over 3,400 guest accommodations. Along with multiple pools and man-made lagoons, Atlantis features one of the largest outdoor marine habitats in the world, one that showcases more than 50,000 aquatic animals representing 250 species. Walk through a shark tunnel and watch the fierce critters zig-zag above your head. Ogle tanks of jelly fish, lobsters and piranhas and be mesmerized by colorful schools of parrot, butterfly and other tropical fish. Watch nurse sharks in the Reef Lagoon, sea turtles in the Hibiscus Lagoon and Southern stingrays in the Stingray Lagoon.

Aquaventure features more water rides as well as the 14-acre Dolphin Cay where you learn about, touch and swim with dolphins. During the six-hour Trainer for a Day program, kids help train the curious critters and assist a laboratory technician at the Dolphin Cay veterinary hospital. The summer's Marine Adventure Fantasy Camp, held at select times, allows 'tweens and teens a multi-day experience of prepping food and feeding the animals, as well as taking a guided shark walk and snorkel trip.

2. Four Seasons Resort at Jackson Hole, Wyo.
The West's panoramic vistas of snow-capped mountain peaks set against blue skies define the legendary landscape of a Wyoming vacation. But that's just the background. To really explore the west, you need to view the region's animals, a special treat for city slicker families.

On a custom, four-hour wildlife safari led by a naturalist and offered year-round by the Four Seasons Resort at Jackson Hole, you ride in an SUV equipped with Swarovski spotting scopes and binoculars. As you traverse such area must-sees as the Grand Teton National Park, the Bridger Teton National Forest and the National Elk Refuge, your guide talks about the region's history and geology while everyone searches the fields, woods, mountainsides and rivers for bison, bears, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, bald eagles otters and trumpeter swans. Kids can use the items in the adventure pack they receive for the outing to collect animal skulls, claws and scat.

You might also spot wildlife while skiing and snowboarding in winter or hiking the parks in spring and summer. Located in Wyoming's Teton Mountains, the Four Season Resort at Jackson Hole offers upmarket accommodations in 106 guest rooms, 18 suites and 32 private residences.

3. Gunflint Lodge, Grand Marais, Minn.
Gunflint Lodge, situated lakefront in Minnesota's North Woods, lures families from mid-December to mid-March with dog sledding. Sit in the sled bundled in blankets as the willing team of huskies and Malamute mixes pulls you through a fairytale setting of frozen lakes and snowy trails edged by icicle-laced pine trees. During special dog mushing weekends -- January 12 to 16, February 8 to 12 and March 1 to 4, 2012 -- enjoy longer outings and hands-on time learning how to harness, handle and command the eager canines. Winter also brings naturalist-led wolf howlings: you howl in hopes the crafty critters howl back.

When not dog-sledding, try ice fishing as well as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Sprinkle the free corn kernels outside your cabin and in the early evening watch the deer that come to munch the treats. In summer, Gunflint morphs into a mecca for paddlers exploring the adjacent Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. As you glide across the lakes, keep a look-out for moose, beavers, otters and loons.

Gunflint Lodge offers 23 one- to four-bedroom cabins. With simple, but comfortable early American style beds and bureaus, and pine paneling and fireplaces, the accommodations exude a woodsy feel. However, don't confuse "simple" with "rustic." Most units come with full kitchens, washer/dryers, multiple bathrooms and saunas. Cook in or dine out at the lodge's two restaurants.

4. Half Moon Resort, Jamaica
The Half Moon Resort, one of Jamaica's long-time luxury leaders, sprawls on 400 acres that feature flower gardens, lush lawns, stables, tennis courts, a spa, an 18-hole golf course, scores of pools and two miles of beach. With so much land the resort hardly ever feels crowded. This is true for the property's dolphin encounters as well. One of the few Caribbean resorts to feature an onsite dolphin lagoon, Half Moon offers a dolphin experience for guests only. So instead of lining up with scores of cruise passengers crowding around a dock, you'll enjoy a small group or a personalized encounter. Little kids learn about the dolphins and touch their rubbery skin at a shallow water beach encounter. During a deep water or swim encounter, older kids, adults and families get more time to go nose to bottlenose with Reggae, the male dolphin, and Toni, the female. For even more time with these intelligent and friendly critters, 'tweens, teens and adults can serve as trainers for a day.

The AAA Four Diamond property joined the RockResorts collection in January 2011. With no high-rise buildings, the rooms spread out in clusters. Standard accommodation options include hotel rooms and one- to two-bedroom suites, or you can rent a five- to seven-bedroom villa.

5. Because & Beyond's Klein's Camp, Tanzania
A safari is the ultimate animal lover's dream. Watching a giraffe move languidly across a grassy plain, a herd of elephants munch tree branches, or a dazzle of zebra trot into the sunset are images you and your kids will remember forever. Because & Beyond's Klein's Camp is private. Rangers are allowed to drive off road and take guests out on night outings, two things that maximize your animal encounters. At night you can more easily spot certain animals such as leopards. At Klein's Camp, if the ranger sees a leopard slinking through the tall grass stalking an impala, he may drive the Land Cruiser off the dirt trail to follow her; the infrared lights on the vehicle allow the guests to track the leopard without disturbing her hunt.

Klein's Camp, comprised of a series of round buildings perched on a high ridge, affords a sweeping view of Tanzania's northeastern Serengeti. Often you can see giraffe, wildebeest and elephants from the main lounge or from a chair on your patio. Kids receive special packs with wildlife information, and the rangers show kids how the locals make fire by rubbing sticks together as well as how to identify an animal by his or her droppings and foot prints.

6. Tortuga Lodge, Costa Rica
Getting to Tortuga Lodge, accessible only by small plane or boat, is itself an adventure. Take the boat ride one way so you can enjoy the wind-in-your-hair feel of the waterways and spot monkeys, sloths and herons along the way. Tortuga Lodge, located on Costa Rica's northwest Caribbean coast, occupies 146 acres of land within the Tortuguero Conservation Area, a region of canals and slow-moving rivers that reaches to the sea and contains the 51,000-acre Tortuguero National Park. From the lodge's 26 rooms and penthouse suite, you often wake to the guttural calls of the howler monkeys scrambling in the branches overhead. On canal boat tours see turtles, lizards, river otters, toucans, parrots and other animals.

From July to October, you can go turtle-watching on Tortuguero Beach, part of the national park and an important nesting site for the endangered Atlantic green sea turtles. You will long remember the age-old ritual of a 300-pound Atlantic green sea turtle lumbering ashore, digging a nest, laying her eggs and then slowly returning to the water.

7. J.W. Marriott Ihilani Resort, Oahu, Hawaii
Feed and find out about Hawaii's stingrays, sharks and other marine wildlife at the J.W. Marriott Ihilani Resort during naturalist-led sessions in the property's onsite saltwater ponds and lagoons. At the Reef Shark Feeding, learn about lifecycles, habitats, and identifying factors of the day's star predators, such toothy critters as scalloped hammerhead sharks from Kaneohe Bay, Oahu; gray reef sharks from Molokini, Maui; or iridescent black-tip sharks from reefs near Pearl Harbor, Oahu. The Ray Experience gets you in the water with Hawaiian rays and spotted eagle rays, graceful swimmers that get close enough to brush up against your legs. During the Reef Safari, the guide leads you on a show-and-tell walk through one of the resort's shallow lagoons, letting you touch the "resident" sea cucumbers, sea stars, tiger cowry shells, strawberry crabs, sea hares and maybe even an octopus. The resort, located on the island of Oahu, also offers special versions of the shark feeding and reef safari for children ages 4-10.

An AAA Four Diamond property, the 315-room J. W. Marriott Ihilani Resort is part of the Ko Olina resort area located about 17-miles west of the Honolulu airport. The upscale resort features two pools, three restaurants, a spa and a golf course.

8. Occidental Grand Xcaret, Riviera Maya, Mexico
Scarlet macaws, flamingoes, white-tailed deer and parrots, are some of the animals that live at the Occidental Grand Xcaret, a 769-room, all-inclusive resort in the Riviera Maya. The animals make strolling the grounds fun, especially when a parrot greets you with a chirpy "Hola!" To see more Caribbean critters go to popular Xcaret, an eco-adventure park adjacent to the resort. The Occidental Grand has its own entrance to Xcaret and the hotel frequently offers discounted park admission.

At Xcaret, get close to sea turtles, meet tapirs, view bats in a cave, admire jaguars and pumas, see manatees and swim with dolphins or sharks, where you'll get an underwater view of a reef with Sea Trek or Snuba (neither of which requires diving certification).

With Xcaret next door, it's easy to come back to the hotel for an afternoon swim and then return to Xcaret for the evening demonstration of Pok-Ta-Pok, the ancient Mesoamerican ball game, and the entertaining folkloric show. For more luxury, book a room at the Occidental Grand Xcaret's Royal Club, which has a separate dining room with better food for dinner.

9. South Seas Island Resort, Captiva Island, Fla.
Discover Florida's sea creatures during a vacation at South Seas Island Resort, Captiva Island. On beach walks, especially along Sunset Beach and South Beach, known for the thousands of shells brought in with the waves, imagine the critters that once inhabited these shells while collecting your own beach souvenirs. On Captiva Island, several easy eco-adventure outings bring you close to wildlife. For more shelling and bird watching, cruise to nearby Cayo Costa Beach, a part of Florida's state park system. On a 90-minute boat cruise through Pine Island Sound, you're likely to spot dolphins arcing through the water "riding" the boat's waves.

Dedicated to marine conservation, the Sanibel Sea School, located at the South Seas Island Resort, offers a variety of hands-on workshops for children, teens, adults and families. The programs range in length of time from 30 minutes to all day. At the one-and-a-half-hour "Creature Feature," kids focus on one sea animal. Budding marine biologists ages 6 to 13, teens and adults can select from more than 30 courses focusing on fiddler crabs, frigate birds, fish, dolphins, mangroves, manatees and more. During the workshops, you'll spend most of the time in the field snorkeling, seining, canoeing and examining finds. Families can also opt for a private session on a topic of their choice. The 330-acre resort, which includes a wildlife refuge, offers a variety of accommodations from hotels to two- and three-bedroom condominiums and homes.

10. Robert's Beach Resort, Placencia, Belize
Reefs, rivers and rainforests abound in Belize, a haven for eco-adventures. Robert's Beach Resort, formerly the Inn at Robert's Grove, is situated in Placencia on Belize's southern peninsula. From there, day trips take you to Maya ruins, where you'll see rainforests as well as many of the spectacular reefs that are part of Belize's portion of the second longest barrier reef system in the world. The resort's top-rated PADI dive center arranges both scuba and snorkel outings. On a snorkel outing to Laughing Bird Cave, you'll float above schools of rainbow colored fish and get close to a big sea turtle who languidly surfaces nearby. For a special family getaway, stay overnight at Robert's Caye, the resort's one-acre island, where sea stars and tropical fish are steps away from your beachside hammock.

Robert's Beach Resort stretches on 22 acres from the sea to the lagoon, a large estuary of mangrove-lined channels and wide bays. On boat trips through the lagoon to Monkey River, known for its troop of howlers, you're likely to see egrets, dolphins and even a manatee. In Placencia, choose from hotel rooms as well as one- to three-bedroom units, a few of which have kitchenettes. Robert's Grove Beach Resort won Tripadvisor's Traveller's Choice Award in 2010 as well as Tripadvisor's Certificate of Excellence in 2011.

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