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Canada watersport adventure eco

SWEET DEALS

FOR FAMILIES





Family rafting on the Ottawa River, Canada

Riuland...RIU Hotels' new children's program based on fun, education and enjoying the outdoors...is now launching at select Mexico and Caribbean resorts in two age groups: 'Club 4-7' and 'Club 8-12.'  Giving kids' programs a more modern spin, Riuland centers on themes: AquaLand (pool games and contests),  RiuOlympic (group sports and individual events), PiratesLand (swashbuckling pirate contests and treasure hunts), and two educational experiences. RiuWorld introduces cultures of different countries through their most popular children's games; while EcoLand activities explore the hotel's natural surroundings, stressing care for the environment.

Plays are staged once a week in the hotel's theater, performed by the children instead of for them. Dance games, shows and the Miss and Mr. Riuland pageant awards prizes to all contest winners. Kids sing the special club goers' song long after the vacation becomes a fond memory. The children's program opened in Spain last season, and was such a huge success, RIU personnel are expecting the same reaction at their Caribbean, Dominican Republic and Jamaica properties.  www.riu.com

Horizonx Family Adventure. Rafting in the rapids of Canada’s Ottawa River, surrounded by amazing scenery and tame wildlife, is a unique experience for both parents and kids. Children 40 lbs. and up join Mom and Dad in the gentle middle channel of the river for the perfect whitewater rafting initiation. It’s adventure and excitement in rapids kids can handle. Package includes a day of rafting, BBQ lunch, wet suits and remembrance photos. $100 adults; $70 children under 12. Also check out Horizonx’s new program this year, Full Moon Rafting, and see what comes out at night besides the moon and stars. www.horizonx.ca

unique fAMILY getaway

caribbean islands families st.vincentPirate lore and boat races await families visiting the idyllic islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
St. Vincent was the site of the original and very popular Pirates of the Caribbean movie with Johnny Deppe. Explore Fort Charlotte, sitting 600 feet above Kingstown Bay and featured in the movie. Climb La Soufriere volcano, hike to Trinity Falls hidden in the rainforest, or visit Vermont Nature Trails for birdwatching.
Bequia...dotted with pastel houses, bougainvillea and shady almond trees...retains its boat-building traditions by holding races every Sunday. Kids will love exploring the model boat shops, visiting Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary, Spring Studios (pictured) and conjuring up their own pirate adventures in Fort Hamilton.   www.svgtourism.com

Tamarijn Aruba All-Inclusive Family Package allows 2 children up to age 18 to stay, play and eat FREE when sharing a guaranteed oceanfront room with two adults. Ages 5-12 seek the Mon.-Fri. Children’s Camp for face painting, pool and beach games, movies, scavenger hunts, snacks and more.  Guests staying at either beachfront property, AAA 3-Diamond Divi Aruba or adjacent Tamarijn Aruba, may use all facilities at both properties: ten dining options, seven bars, three freshwater pools, watersports, plus the well-equipped Divi Winds Sports Center featuring a 30-foot rock climbing wall on the beach.  www.diviaruba.com or www.tamarijnaruba.com

At Costa Rica’s famous Lost Iguana Resort & Spa, families watch from their balconies at night as Arenal Volcano spews red-hot lava in a spectacular show. “Family Fun Getaway” includes two adjoining rooms, $500 spa credit, meals and babysitting services for the kids (10 hours total), and three rainforest adventures. Choose from a 1.7-mile zipline canopy tour; a private hiking tour on resort trails; guided biking tour on the live volcano; a kayak or power boat cruise on Lake Arenal; or a visit to the Butterfly Gardens. Youngsters try the new smaller scale zip line; wander the resort’s winding hibiscus maze; or splash in the shallow hot pool. The  open-air spa also houses a gym and sauna.  www.lostiguanaresort.com

Horseshoe Bay Resort, less than an hour from Austin, boasts the nation's only kid-sized tennis courts, putting this Texas Hill Country retreat on our list of family-friendly vacation options. The Andy Roddick Kids' Courts, sanctioned by the U.S. Tennis Association, are specifically designed for children up to age ten, who perfect their skills using kid-sized equipment, guided by age-specific rules. Racquets at Kids' Courts do not exceed 25 inches, and play is with low-compression bright orange tennis balls. A 36-foot court is used by children ages eight and under, while older kids play on 60-foot courts. www.horseshoebaytexas.com

Need help in choosing accommodations? Ciao Bambino scouts the globe for hotels, villas, resorts and apartment rentals catering to families with children, from infants to teens. The newest section on their site, called Community Recommended, reaches beyond the staff inspections that mark certain properties 'CB approved.' It calls on families who have already stayed in accommodations to give full reviews, so readers can make accurate decisions on which place fits their vacation needs. This feature includes key information about the writers' families, how many children were involved, ages and travel priorities. Readers can identify the validity of each resource as it applies to their particular families.  www.ciaobambino.com