As a result, parents will want to find a few activities their children are sure to enjoy. It won’t be hard to get the addresses for a few kid-friendly attractions in this resort city, as there are many in the Coachella Valley.

If the kids love outdoor recreation, parents should consider bringing them to Knott’s Soak City Water Park, which is located on Palm Springs’ Gene Autry Trail. It may be a hot day in the desert, but visitors to this wet and wild attraction would never know it.

No matter how old travelers are, they can find the water slide that is right for them at Knott’s. For instance, the Pacific Spin allows the whole family to hop into an inflatable raft for a slippery ride through a 132-foot long tunnel, then drop 60-feet into a 70-foot funnel. Meanwhile, daredevils can see if they have what it takes to conquer the Tidal Wave Tower, which requires them to speed down a seven-story slide.

If the kids have yet to reach the age where they will enjoy the type of experience offered by the Riptide Reef, an 800,000-gallon wave pool, then parents should bring them to Gremmie Lagoon. Here, children can splash about or head down smaller water slides.

For the child who loves to learn, the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert can serve as an ideal destination. While this educational attraction is located in Rancho Mirage, this city is just a short drive away from Palm Springs.

At the museum, learning goes hand-in-hand with having fun. During their visit, budding scientists can play with magnets or dig for fossils in the Science Rules exhibit. If children are more interested in seeing how things work, they may want to head over to the Gear Wall, where they can control a series of foam cogs by hand.

No matter what a child’s interests are, parents should be able to find something for them to love about their visit to Palm Springs.

Photo Credit: Jeff Sandquist on Flickr

Choosing the right type of accommodation for a family vacation is one of the most difficult decisions a traveler must make. For most families, hotel rooms just don’t offer enough space. Families with babies are especially handicapped by hotel rooms, with members having to tiptoe around napping babies. Timeshare rentals, which typically offer a living area, as well as from one to three bedrooms, are perfect for these situations. For instance, a baby can nap in a bedroom, while the rest of the family watches television or eats.

The multiple rooms of a timeshare also work better for families with older children. Families who have four or more family members often have a hard time figuring out sleeping arrangements in a hotel room or have to rent a second unit to accommodate everyone. This can put a major dent in a traveler’s wallet, as even one hotel room can often cost substantially more than a timeshare.

Travelers should also figure out a budget for their meals during their family vacation planning. It is easy to spend way too much money while out at venues like amusement parks, which usually charge customers twice as much for a simple meal than they would pay for the same thing at a fast food restaurant. To make up for these often unavoidable splurges, families should plan on cutting corners by eating in their rooms on occasion, if possible. This is, of course, easier for families who are staying in timeshare rentals, which typically have kitchen facilities.

Family vacations turn out best with careful planning. Having the right accommodations and a good working budget will help your vacation to be a lot more fun, as well as less stressful.

For instance, travelers can enjoy a plethora of outdoor activities at North Beach, whether they have come to Coronado alone or with their family. Even their canine companions will enjoy this sandy attraction, as dogs are allowed on the beach off-leash. Those who brought their surfboard on vacation with them can rise bright and early to hit the waves before the beach gets too crowded. In the evening, this spot becomes a great site for a bonfire.

Then, there is Silver Strand State Beach, which is a great place for the kids to build their seashell collections. Older individuals are also welcome to camp overnight on the beach.

When the kids are not looking for seashells under Coronado’s white sand, they can run amuck in the playground at Spreckels Park. At this 8-acre site, visitors will find picnic tables and other park amenities. Spreckels is also the location of several summertime concerts and events.

If travelers want to use their time in Coronado to work on their golf swing, then they can make their way to one of the resort’s beautifully designed courses.

Vacationers who hit the links at the Coronado Golf Course, for example, will be able to play a few rounds on a 6,590-yard course, while taking in amazing views of San Diego Bay and the lengthy Coronado Bridge. After golfers finish at the 18^th hole, they can move on to Grumpy Dan’s Grill and fuel up with a hot dog.

If tennis has always been a traveler’s favorite game, they will want to bring their racket to the Coronado Tennis Center, where they will find eight public courts. If they forgot to pack a racket or tennis balls, then they can always rent whatever they need right at the center.

Photo Credit: The Bridge on Flickr

As the weather improves, the number of outdoor festivals only increases. Those who are staying in America’s Finest City at any point in May will be able to find an appealing cultural event.

For instance, if visitors to San Diego have a sweet tooth, then they will want to make their way to the San Diego Botanic Gardens on May 12. Here, travelers will find the city’s Chocolate Festival, an event people of all ages can enjoy.

During the festival, attendees can sample chocolates, view educational demonstrations or drench a strawberry in the event’s chocolate fountain. If anybody has brought their mom along on their trip to San Diego, then a visit to this sweet festival is the perfect gift, as it takes place one day before Mother’s Day.

Travelers who want to lose any weight gained at the Chocolate Festival before they return home can always do some dancing at the Zydeco & Blues Festival, which will run from May 11-13 at Spanish Landing Park.

This spirited event brings a little taste of Louisiana to the West Coast, as talented musicians pack four stages over the course of three days. Among the performers scheduled to entertain are Chubby Carrier, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, and the Bill Magee Blues Band. If attendees have never been the best dancers, there is plenty of time to pick up a few moves so they can groove to those Cajun sounds. During the festival, non-stop dance workshops will provide lessons in everything from swing and salsa to line dances and Texas slides.

Whether or not travelers are of Italian heritage, they are sure to have a good time at the Sicilian Italian Festival, which will be held on May 20 in Little Italy. Individuals may be staying in San Diego, but they will feel as though they have been transported to The Boot when they take in the sights and smells of this cultural celebration. Music, wine and, of course, delicious Italian cuisine, await visitors to this event.

Photo Credit: Leandro’s World Tour on Flickr

Like the name suggests, the inspiration for the ride is the Manta Ray, the largest species of ray in the world. Typically, the Manta rays you’ll see at in the wild are a whopping 22 feet wide and weigh about 3000 pounds. The Manta Coaster, on the other hand, has a 54-foot drop, and will take riders at a top speed of 43 miles per hour through both sky and sea, with the coaster whizzing through underwater habitats and actually skimming the surface of the water alongside the ride.

With the Manta Coaster, SeaWorld San Diego is also installing a one of a kind launch station, where a 270-degree screen will project gigantic images of bay rays in their natural habitat. It’s the first of its kind in the United States, and is something both riders and non riders can enjoy. With Manta, guests will be able to see and interact with 65 bat rays, 10 guitar fish, and hundreds of fishes.

SeaWorld San Diego also has its Forbidden Reef, where visitors can witness the underwater flight of bat rays and other fish in person. Even better, visitors here can feed and touch the rays.  So start planning your vacations and come to San Diego, the city with the best weather ever!

This April, May and June, visitors staying in Myrtle Beach will find a series of exciting and eclectic events.

For instance, wine aficionados will want to savor all the flavors on display at the Coastal Uncorked Food and Wine Festival. Now in its third year, this event will set up shop in downtown Myrtle Beach from April 22-29 and allow wine and spirit purveyors from far and wide to offer samples. Those who prefer something a little sudsier can swing by the festival’s Brewery Tent to try a few craft beers.

Of course, no food and wine festival is complete without delicious local cuisine. Inside the event’s Gourmet Village, visitors can sample tastes from area restaurants while bands provide a spirited soundtrack.

Come May, those who don’t mind getting a little dirty will want to participate in the Myrtle Beach Mud Run on May 12. This off-road cross country race is open to people of all ages and is for a good cause – the Grand Strand Humane Society.

During the race, participants have a chance to run almost four miles through one of Myrtle Beach’s few undeveloped areas. Those who think they have what it takes to become the Myrtle Beach Race Series Champion will have to speed over gravelly roads, crawl through mud pits and climb over multiple walls made of different materials.

For something a little less muddy, travelers can attend this year’s Beach Blast! Christian Music Festival. On May 19, Third Day, Jamie Grace, TobyMac and many other spiritual artists will deliver entertainment and inspiration in the city’s downtown area.

In June, anybody staying in Myrtle Beach can say goodbye to spring and welcome summer by attending the Sun Fun Festival. The entire family can find something to love about this annual event, which, as usual, will feature a historic parade on Ocean Boulevard, concerts and fireworks.

If the children are too small to participate in the festival’s volleyball competition then they can build sandcastles or compete in watermelon eating contests during the Sun Fun Kids Fair.

Photo Credit: Miss-Britt on Flickr

In January, the Palm Springs International Film Society will hold its International Film Festival. However, those who would prefer to attend an event a little sooner can book Palm Springs timeshare rentals this June so they can catch the flicks being screened at the 18th Annual International ShortFest.

Between June 19 and 25, the Palm Springs International Film Society will bring some of the best short films in the world to California. Each year, this event features roughly 200 movies from filmmakers living in more than 60 countries.

The festival is still taking submissions, so a final list of movies has yet to be published. However, anyone interested in attending the screenings should know that the event is always on the film industry’s radar. In fact, winners of ShortFest’s various prizes become eligible for Oscar consideration.

If the 2012 festival is anything like last year’s event, than attendees can expect blocks of short films that last around 80-90 minutes and focus on specific genres. For instance, the 17th annual show kicked off with Make ‘Em Laugh, 81 minutes of comedic shorts.

Other blocks of film included Parlez Vous Palm Springs? Best of the French Language Shorts, Art Attack!, which featured movies about artists, and Fantastic Animation.

During the festival, cinephiles will also have a chance to attend question and answer sessions with many of the filmmakers behind their favorite shorts. Each year, the event hosts a series of panels on different aspects of the film business as well.

If travelers cannot make it to ShortFest this June, they can still catch a flick in Palm Springs any time of year as long as they are staying in the area. For current movies, visitors can head to Regal Palm Springs Stadium 9. Meanwhile, those who seek independent or international features may want to swing by Camelot Theatres and see what is playing.

For a unique experience, travelers can visit Cinema Fondue, where they will find vintage movies, fondue and a full bar, in addition to the traditional popcorn and soda.

Even if visitors to Palm Springs never spot a celebrity on the streets, they know that they can at least see plenty of stars up on the silver screen.

Photo Credit: Popculturegeek on Flicker

When travelers book New Orleans vacation rentals this April and May, they will have an opportunity to celebrate the city’s musical culture and see some of today’s hottest acts at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

While jazz fans will not be disappointed with this year’s lineup, which will include the Hot 8 Brass Band and Dr. Michael White & the Original Liberty Jazz Band, fans of other genres will find many other reasons to attend this popular festival, which will run from April 27 through May 6.

Among the big-name acts set to converge on The Big Easy this spring are Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, John Mayer, Foo Fighters, Eddie Vedder and the recently reunited Beach Boys. The lineup will also include the lesser-known performers, such as Bon Iver and Janelle Monae, who will continue to build their fan base at the festival.

Of course, those who are staying  in New Orleans will find more than just music at the festival. Travelers can make their way to the Louisiana Folklife Village and watch as architectural tradesmen forge ironwork and musicians build accordions from scratch. Meanwhile, a visit to the Native American Village provides festival attendees with a chance to learn about Louisiana’s indigenous people.

Travelers can pick up a souvenir or two when they visit one of the festival’s three craft areas. In the Congo Square African Marketplace, shoppers can pick up an African-influenced work of art or swing by the Louisiana Marketplace and buy directly from one of the state’s artisans. The Contemporary Crafts area is where attendees can find items from both local and national vendors.

As New Orleans is famous for its Cajun cuisine, travelers will not want to leave the festival until they have sampled a few dishes from the local restaurants that will participate in the event. After hungry attendees fill up on everything from jambalaya and boiled crawfish to Creole stuffed crab, they will have enough energy to continue exploring all that this event has to offer.

Photo Credit: Larry Johnson on Flickr

According to a recent poll ResorTime.com conducted on Facebook, a mother’s ideal activity on her special day was a split decision. Traveling with her family was among the top results and how motherly of an answer this is. After a year of tending to her family’s every need, given the option, there is still no one else she would rather spend her time with. So take some time to share your love and find the perfect resort where you can unwind, bond, and forge some new lifetime memories together.

Yet the modern family lives a very busy lifestyle, and the logistics of getting everyone together for a trip can be very difficult. If this is an issue for your family, don’t fret because, according to our mothers, some personal time on a spa day can be just as rewarding. So make sure to find the perfect resort for her with spa and massage treatments that your mother will be appreciating for the entire year to come.

The Leapfrog Tag Reading System is a compact touch-and-talk reading system that fits this bill neatly. Little ones use a small device that can read words aloud to them from specially designed books. The reading system can also be used with National Geographic activity cards that are filled with fun animal facts and can also make realistic sounds so that a child can learn what a creature sounds like.

A portable DVD player along with a collection of movies and TV shows can be a lifesaver for long, boring car and airplane trips. To save room, take the DVDs out of their original cases and store them in a travel carrying case designed to keep your discs from getting scratched. A portable DVD player can also be useful in a vacation rental, as well. Although, many units are equipped with a DVD player, having another separate unit on hand means the whole family isn’t stuck watching children’s cartoons and programming all day in order to keep a toddler happy.

Of course, old-fashioned activities, such as playing with finger puppets or placing stickers in activity books also still work well to keep children entertained for hours. These activities also stimulate a child’s creativity as they make up stories of their very own.

Having the right activities on a trip for the younger set can make the difference between everyone having an enjoyable trip or a vacation spent dealing with a fussy, bored toddler.