Top Five Kids Activities in Bradenton, Florida

While mom, dad or big brother is playing golf at Arnold Palmer's Legacy Golf Club, here are Five of the top things for the kids to do in the Bradenton area:

1. Anclote River Park - The park encompasses nearly 30 acres and features fishing, picnic areas, pavilions and a playground for the little ones. A perfect natural escape.
2. University of South Florida Sundome - This multi-purpose facility seats over 11,000 people and hosts nearly 300 events every year, so chances are you'll find a great event during your vacation. It has held U2, Sting and Santana concerts as well as numerous other events.
3. Adventure Island - This 26-acre park at Tampa's Busch Gardens offers much to do for the kids. Open March to October, the park keeps varying hours that generally run from 10am-6pm daily. Hours change, however, so it's wise to check. Admission is $31.95 adults; $29.95 ages 3-9; however, you can camp for $15 per day. Adults will have just as much fund as the kids!
4. Busch Gardens - Here, animals roam free and you are the outsider. Roller coasters, animals, rides, shopping, food, everything you'd expect from a first-rate theme park.
5. Congo River Golf - A cool place to play miniature golf in view of a waterfall, feed the gators and play a variety of games in the arcade. A great way to spend the day. And gators, too!

With all these activities, the golfers don't have to feel guilty!

Family Trip to the 2008 Ryder Cup

The Ryder Cup Matches return to the United States 2008. They take place at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky from September 16-21.

The Ryder Cup is one of the best golf events for kids who are developing a love of the game to see. More than just a tournament, the Ryder Cup Matches pit the greatest players in the game from the United States an Europe against one another in a team competition. They play not only for themselves, but also for their countries.

If you want tickets, visit the Ryder Cup homepage and get further information. In a nutshell, to get tickets, you have to enter a random draw. Of course, later you can probably pay a premium for them from ticket agencies.

There are lots of things to do for the whole family in the Bluegrass Area. The horse farms, Kentucky Kingdom, and U of L Football are all great options for the Louisville area. The golf is great too. There are numerous golf courses in the area. Kentucky's state parks are among the best in the nation and arre abundant across the state.

As the Ryder Cup approaches, look for more information here on things to do and places to play. In the meantime, visit http://www.kentucky.gov/ and http://www.golfkentuckylinks.com/.

A Kids Golf Vacation

A junior golfer on a family vacation often has a tough time. Most resorts and other courses cater to adults and frown on children attempting to play. The David Ledbetter Golf Academies (DLGA) can remedy that problem. In addition to their adult academies, they cater to kids.

Ledbetter Academies are located in several locations across the USA: Bradenton, Champions Gate and Naples, Florida; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Vail, Colorado; and Maui, Hawaii.

Conducive to family vacations, they offer weekly boarding and non-boarding programs, ranging in price from $1,395.00 to $1,630.00 per program. As you can see, your children need to really enjoy the game for the course to be worth the price, but the outcome could pay big dividends.

Another positive aspect to attending any of the DLGA locations is simply that, their location. All are in great vacation spots. Visit www.davidledbetter.com.

Hilton Head for Women Golfers

Hilton Head Island has plenty of everything for mom or the girls on a weekend or week-long golf getaway.

Aside from the beautiful early summer weather, there is ample golf from which to choose. Whether you go for Harbor Town Golf Links in Sea Pines, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course in Palmetto Dunes, Gary Player's Hilton Head National, the Golf Club at Indigo Run, or any of the dozens of other area championship quality courses, you cannot loose.

Myrtle Beach calls itself the golf capital of the world due both to the quality and number of courses, but Hilton Head more than stacks up with it in both areas.

In addition to the golf, there are numerous great restaurants. Hilton Head has all the famous franchises. There are also notable local favorites. Hudson's, located near the entrance to the island, is a fantastic choice for seafood and steak. If you're looking for a great breakfast (anytime of day) or fabulous sandwiches, Signe's on Arrow Road is a can't miss.

Shopping is abundant throughout Hilton Head and in nearby Bluffton, with malls, Tanger Outlet centers and more local boutiques than you can possible get to.

Add to all that some great evening activities and you have a fabulous trip, centered around golf, of course.

Hilton Head Golf Vacation

Sitting in the condo in Hilton Head, South Carolina's Palmetto Dunes area during a breezy mid-June evening gives the golf traveler the sensation that there aren't too many better places in the South.

Palmetto Dunes has a Robert Trent Jones Course, an Arthur Hills Course and a George Fazio Course; all beautiful and fabulous tracks in their own rights. They are all also within just a few minutes of one another, and the beach.

The weather in Hilton Head this June, as during most years, is not too hot, nor is it too cold. The water is perfect and the kids are having a blast at the beach and pool. Hilton Head being a relatively small island, all the activities are well within driving, or biking, distance. Shelter Cove, which is only across the street, has fireworks on Tuesday evenings and lots of other activities for the kids.

Bring the family. It's worth the trip, no matter where you are.

Orlando Golf and Fun

Located in the midst of Orlando, Florida’s excitement, and only six miles from Walt Disney World, is the Reunion Resort & Club.

The list of amenities and luxuries will says it all:

• Two Watson & Palmer designed Signature golf courses
• A Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course
• (Attention Kids!)Multi-level, on-site water park
• Multiple neighborhood pools
• Fitness center with bicycle and Segway® rentals
• Cashless resort (just need your key card)
• Tip-less (all tips are included)
• Complimentary high-speed Internet, in-room safe and daily newspaper
• Resort-wide transportation service
• Special events and much, much more.

Guests of the resort can choose from luxuriously appointed 1-,2-, or 3-bedroom villas or multi-bedroom homes. The best part is that golf packages start at around $325 per night. For such great golf, amenities, activities and beautiful accommodations, along with all the great kid-friendly sites in and around Orlando, the price is right!

Go Ahead, Rent Golf Clubs When You Get There

When you’re on a family vacation, it’s not always prudent to pack your big ole golf bag. The kids have their stuff, the spouse has his/her stuff, and they’re the priority. Right? Right.

Not to worry. You can rent great clubs when you arrive at your destination. Just don’t look in the traditional places, the resort or golf club. If you do, you’ll be paying more than you should.

A Hilton Head Island vacation will provide plenty of opportunity for golf. Many of the courses provide rental clubs at upwards of $25 to $50 per round; however, if you look to some of the areas golf equipment retail stores or sporting goods stores, you can get a much better deal.

Golf Outfitters, a Hilton Head golf store, offers complete golf club set rental for $25 per day or $100 per week. With Golf Outfitters, you can choose from a variety of new, used and demo sets. Golf Headquarters rents generic club sets for $20 per day and $10 for each day thereafter. (Source: WorldGolf.com)

So, don’t let the golf courses you play hit you for more money than they already get. Spend the money you save on a new boogie board for the kids.

Top Five San Diego Attractions for the Kids

While you're hitting the fabulous golf links in the San Diego area, there are a number of attractions the kids will enjoy. Here are our top-five places for the kids to visit during a San Diego family getaway.

1. San Diego Zoo - Arguably the most famous zoo in the world, and rightly so. It's home to over 4,000 exotic animals and beautiful botanical displays. Admission is relatively cheap; $21 for adults and $14 for children ages 3 to 11.
2. Sea World Adventure Park - Kids of all ages will enjoy this spectacular display of aquatic life. Pet the dolphins, visit Atlantis or watch Shamu (and get soaked).
3. Ultrazone - Wow! A 4,000 square foot multi-level laser tag arena. The older kids will get all the excitement they can handle here.
4. Miramar Speed Circuit Indoor Cart Racing - Also for the adventuresome. These go-carts can travel up to 40 mph.
5. Disneyland Resort - What visit to Southern California would be complete without a visit to the place we all know and love.

This only scratches the surface of the array of activities for adults and kids. With so many places to visit, stay, shop and eat, it could be easy to forget about the golf!

Family Golf Getaway to Florida's Gulf Coast

How about a Florida golf getaway with more activities for the kids than you can imagine?

The Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, on northwest Florida's Gulf Coast near Destin, is possibly the best choice you can make year round.

First, the golf. The resort, which has been listed in Golf Magazine’s Top 75 Golf Resorts in America, has four courses; Raven Golf Club (home to the Champions Tour Boeing Championship), Burnt Pine Golf Club; Baytowne Golf Club and The Links Course. The courses were designed by some of the foremost golf architects and present a challenge to any golfer.

For the kids, there’s any number of activities that will keep them entertained for several days. The younger kids and teens will enjoy Euro Bungy, the rock wall, Jolee Island (a pirate ship playground, junior tennis, junior golf and much more. The teens will find the weekly free concerts are a happening place to meet friends and listen to great tunes. With different hangouts and a numerous scheduled activities, all of your kids will be glad you decided on the Sandestin Resort.

If shopping is the thing, there are tons of specialty boutiques and shops nearby the resort. There’s also the Silver Sands Factory Stores, the Southeast’s largest outlet center. Silver Sands has over 100 specialty designer shops and name brand factory stores. If you can’t find in Destin, it can’t be found.

If you want to find other things to do in the area, assuming you have time, here are some pre-planned ideas.

Believe us, you can’t go wrong with the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. The kids will love you for it, and you’ll love the golf.

Family, Fun and Golf in Hershey, PA

The whole family will have some great memories of your golf trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania's Hershey Lodge.

The Hershey Lodge offers something for everyone in the family. First, the golf.

Guests have access to Hershey Country Club. Golf enthusiasts may recall that Ben Hogan was the head professional at Hershey C.C. from '41 to '50. The club has three courses of varying design and character.

If more of a family golf setting is what you need, there is also a local nine-hole course perfect for mom, dad and the kids.

The Lodge, and Hershey itself, has lots for the kids to do. At the Lodge, kids can enjoy the pool, gameroom, playground and a "Dive-In" Movie during the summer months. Guests of the hotel also receive special deals on tickets to Hersheypark, the area's main attraction.



Guests also have access to The Spa at the Hotel Hershey, a full-service spa that allows guests to be pampered with every modern luxury. From a variety of spa treatments to fitness activities, the list of possibilities is almost endless.

Rates at the Hershey Lodge start around $279 and can go to around $550 during the peak summer season. There are also several golf, golf and spa and spa getaway packages.

This is simply a can't loose golf and spa vacation.

In the alternative, here is a great Hershey family fun trip that includes a little golf and a lot of fun. Tripwiser.com offers multiple ideas for trips to the Hershey area.

Kid Friendly Lodging Near the U.S. Open!

Even at this late date, with the U.S. Open starting on next Thursday, family-friendly lodging can still be found in the Pittsburgh/Oakmont area.

If you are looking for facilities with child care, your choices are limited. Extremely limited. Don't fret, because Suite Golf Travel has located at least one great hotel with what you need.

Pittsburgh's Wyndham Garden Hotel-University Place, offers a great place to stay for the traveling family. If the children are too small to spend a day or multiple days at the U.S. Open, the Wyndham Garden Hotel offers child care services. Rates run from $269 per night during the week of June 11-17.

It is located near the center of Pittsburgh, only a short distance from the U.S. Open location in Oakmont, a suburb of Pittsburgh.

It would be a good idea to contact the hotel a soon as possible if you want to make the Open and take the family. There are a few other reputable places to stay in Pittsburgh during U.S. Open week, but not with everything the family needs.

If the spouse and children don't particularly like golf, Tripwiser.com has some fantastic ideas for things to do in the Pittsburgh area. While you're at the Open, you'll know they're having fun!

A Toddler Golf Vacation on Hilton Head Island

Who says you can't have a golf vacation when you have toddlers? Check out these four great resorts and hotels on fabulous Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, all of which offer excellent childcare.

1. Hilton Head Marriot Beach and Golf Resort - Five championship golf courses, 25 tennis courts, four on-site restaurants, high-speed Internet connectivity. Highly rated by both guests and experts. Around $200 to $250 per night.
2. Hilton Oceanfront Resort - Easy access to all of Hilton Head's fabulous golf courses, corporate and fitness facilities, parasailing, tennis, and all in a luxurious setting. Around $150 to $200 per night.
3. Crowne Plaza Resort - Overwhelmingly recommended as perfect for families. The amenities are plentiful: again, fabulous golf; tennis; high-speed Internet; and much more. All in an upscale environment. Around $150 to $200 per night.
4. Daufuskie Island Resort and Spa - All the great courses of the Hilton Head area are nearby. Daufuski, adjacent to Hilton Head, still a bit unknown, which makes it a more serene getaway. The resort has all the amenities one could want, and it is highly rated by guests. Around $200 to $250 per night.

For more ideas on traveling with toddlers and children, not just on a golf vacation, visit Tripwiser.com's Traveling with Toddlers page.