5 Family-Friendly Australia Vacation Activities

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Oftentimes, when people think of taking a family vacation, places like Disneyworld or taking a cross- country trip and checking out the Grand Canyon are the kinds of things that immediately come to mind.

But if you have enough time off and your budget can afford it, how about trying something that’s a bit “outside of the box”? How about going to a place like Australia instead?

Although we’re pretty sure that one of the first things that comes to mind when we say that is kangaroos (and yes, there are quite of a few of them there), the reality is that Australia has plenty of family-friendly things to do.

If this is piquing your interest and you’re interested in knowing about some of the sites that would make taking the trip well worth your while, we have enclosed five of our favorite “down under” activities below:

Nambung National Park. Something that people of all ages love to do is play at a park, right? Well, if you make a point to stop by the Nambung National Park, you will literally feel like you’ve just stepped into an adventure. For starters, you can see over 150,000 different limestone rock pinnacles. Also, there you can do plenty of snorkeling and windsurfing, plus there’s also a lot of wildlife that you can watch as you’re spending your time there as well.
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Head for the Hills in Noosa

When you think of a holiday to Noosa, images of sun kissed beaches and the trendy shopping and dining precinct of Hastings Street immediately spring to mind and although these are certainly some of the most popular aspects of a visit to Noosa, there are certainly some excellent alternatives. Noosa is home to a wide range of accommodation options including beautiful beachfront properties as well as boutique accommodation options tucked away in the cosy hinterland just minutes from the beach.

What else is there to do?

Particularly popular with couples, Noosa accommodation in the hinterlands leave behind the hub of activity that is Hastings Street and the beachfront, for a more relaxing and intimate holiday experience. The Noosa hinterland stretches from Doonan all the way to Eumundi, Pomona, Cooroy, Kin Kin and Cooran and is just 10 minutes from Noosaville and about 20 minutes from Noosa Heads. The lush rolling hills form a patchwork of sparkling lakes, verdant valleys, tranquil forests, remarkable volcanic formations and friendly country towns.

Photo courtesy of Christian Haugen

Photo courtesy of Christian Haugen

For the relaxed minds and spirits

Dotted with art galleries, cafes, day spas, boutique vineyards and historic pubs, a visit to Noosa’s hinterland enjoys all the comforts of a stay closer to the beach, at more relaxed pace. The changing landscapes and stunning mountain views lend a romantic atmosphere to hinterland Noosa accommodation and the nearby walking trails beckon to be explored. A wonderful opportunity to spot some of the local wildlife and diverse birdlife, you can also ride horses along these trails for an even more romantic experience.

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Sun, Sea and Privacy: The World’s Most Secluded Beaches

There’s nothing quite like a romantic getaway spent lounging on a sandy beach sipping cocktails, but if you’re really looking to slip away with a loved one you should leave the shores of the Spanish all-inclusive resorts behind, and jet off in search of some serenity. We’ve rounded up a selection of some of the world’s most secluded beaches, so you can soak up the rays in complete peace, quiet and privacy.

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Stonehole Beach, Bermuda

With a stretch of pink sands and glorious pale blue waters, the beaches of Bermuda are out of this world. Surprisingly though, it’s never too hard to find a nice secluded spot. Stonehole Beach is the best of a good bunch, though it’s not the easiest to reach. You’ll have to take the bus to Horseshoe Bay and wade through some waist-high waves to reach it, but you can guarantee that your efforts will be worth it when it’s just the two of you enjoying the view.

Anse Macquereau, Seychelles

Home to some of the world’s most luxurious resorts, peace and quiet doesn’t come better than on the beautiful Seychelles islands. One of the swankiest of these is Fregate Island, and it’s well worth splurging on. Palm trees and granite formations line each side of the beach, keeping other human life well away, and there’s even a Beach occupied sign for the ultimate privacy. Not that you’d encounter many other people anyway – only a handful of the world’s wealthiest come here.
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PLEASING THE LITTLEST PARK GOERS IN ORLANDO

There’s no need to wait until kids are in elementary school to bring them to Orlando — not when every park has plenty to wow the littlest park goers and their parents, including big, interactive play areas designed just for them.

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At Walt Disney World:

  • The Magic Kingdom’s New Fantasyland doubled the size of Fantasyland with everything from the iconic Dumbo ride, the chance to meet and greet the princesses at A Princess Fairytale Hall, and the Barnstormer coaster that’s the perfect size for preschoolers.
  • The Boneyard at Dinoland U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom lets your little paleontologists dig for “fossils” in a gigantic sandbox, play on a xylophone that looks like dinosaur ribs and head down prehistoric slides.
  • Turtle Talk with Crush is that loveable animated creature’s home at Epcot’s Future World.
  • See “Muppet Vision 3D The Great Movie Ride” and “Beauty and the Beast-Live on Stage.”
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Marriott Rewards (and fun sweepstakes)

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I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Marriott Rewards. I received Marriott Points to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

I just wanted to let you all know about the new Ambassador program I am in now for Marriott Rewards® and will be posting two more times in the coming months about the program.  There are so many cool things about this, one of them is it makes me happy to work with Marriott and of course I get the insider’s view of their new contests and promotions to share with you.  One of these new contests is called Year of Surprises. Year of Surprises is Marriott Rewards’ way of celebrating its 30th birthday.  To enter it is easy, just think of someone who deserves to be celebrated this year with a surprise party- so head on over to yearofsurprises.com to enter.  The first round of the contest ends soon (February 28th) so please get your entries in quickly. Nominations are reviewed on creativity, appeal of the nomination essay, and ability to actually throw the surprise party.  This first round of nomination’s winners will be announced in March.  Then there are two more rounds, one in May and one in August.  So Aunt Sue who recently moved the Arctic Circle might not win, but its worth a shot to nominate that special someone who lives near you.  In order to enter, you do need to be a member of Marriott Rewards, but this is more of an incentive then a chore.  To sign up click here: Marriott.com/rewards.
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LA Bound

muppets LA evemt

Very shortly, I will be headed to LA to visit (among other things) the Muppets.  I’m pretty excited about that- Kermit has always held a soft spot for me- as has Gonzo, the well-meaning and often misunderstood creature of unknown origins.

Here is a brief synopsis of what we will be up to during our #MuppetsMostWantedEvent and #CaptianAmericaEvent trip-

  • Attending the red carpet premiere of The Muppets Most Wanted. This will be the highlight for me, I’m fairly certain.
  • Interviewing the cast/directors of The Muppets Most Wanted, including Kermit and Ms. Piggy.
  • Attending the press junket for Captain America-The Winter Soldier and interviewing the cast/directors. My husband is pretty upset I will get to see the movie a whole month before it comes out, and he can’t.  He’s a huge, huge comic geek.
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5 Family-Friendly Activities in And Around New Orleans

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This is the time of year when many people are thinking about planning a family vacation. And when it comes to narrowing down the budget, aside from going to a place that is affordable, another top priority is looking for a destination that has plenty of things for people of all ages to do.

If you’re looking for suggestions on a great family vacation that you can take, have you ever thought about New Orleans? Although it’s oftentimes associated with being a romantic location or a place where a group of friends can go for Mardi Gras, the reality is that it’s also a place that families can enjoy too.

If we’ve piqued your interest and you’d like a list of family-friendly family vacations that are in and around New Orleans, we have provided you with a list of them below:

Slidell Swamp Tours. Something that Louisiana is known for is their swamps. And while they might not initially sound like something that you would be exciting about, it’s actually a lot of fun. If you enjoy
viewing animals in their natural habitat, then you’ve definitely got to take a Slidell Swamp Tour. On this tour, you can get an up close view of alligators, owls and even black bears who are just a few feet from you as you’re riding along in a boat. (CajunEncounter.com.)
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Travel Guide: The Best of Southeast Europe

When it comes to holiday destinations, Southeast Europe is perhaps one of the most overlooked and underrated regions in the world, with much of Western Europe taking the limelight. A closer look, however, reveals just how much people are missing out on. Southeast Europe, often referred to as the Balkans, is home to a vast number of stunning countries with fascinating and unique cultures.

Croatian delights

Dubrovnik, a city in Croatia, is amongst the most popular of these, and with glorious beaches, ancient buildings,  glistening marinas and extensive history, it isn’t difficult to see why. Your friends will definitely love the idea of going on weekend breaks to Dubrovnik. Visit this city and know why it’s one of Europe’s top holiday destinations for tourists. Featured as a recommended city break by the award winning travel website of newspaper the Telegraph, Dubrovnik is becoming an increasingly popular choice for travellers who are looking for something a little more interesting than your average beach holiday.
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