Travel as a family and create meaningful memories!
“Over the river and through the woods” takes on a new meaning as we hit the road in search of holiday spirit. With great anticipation, we present ideas for families of all ages to make special holiday memories at these December travel destinations.
by Christine McMahon Tumpson
Photograph from Omni William Penn
Celebrate in grand style with a special holiday offering from the Omni William Penn Hotel. The decorating alone creates awe-inspiring moments, particularly around the show-stopping tree, and its specially-created holiday ornaments.
“SKATE + SNUGGLE” HOLIDAY PACKAGE:
Deluxe overnight accommodations
Breakfast
Ice skating at PPG Place
Hot cocoa delivered to your room
Hand-painted Omni William Penn holiday ornament
Omni William Penn Hotel, 530 William Penn Place, Downtown, 412.281.7100. omnihotels.com/pittsburgh.
Photograph from Kiawah Island
Singing along with John Hiatt to “Come on baby, drive south” is fun when the end-point is Atlantic Ocean barrier island, Kiawah, just 21 miles south of historic Charleston, S.C. Those extra temperature degrees make a world of difference this time of year, and with so much to see and do here, there’s snow missing that cold, white stuff.
KIAWAH ISLAND BY THE NUMBERS:
10,000 acres
10 miles of beach
30 miles of marsh + riverland
KIAWAH ISLAND SHOUT-OUTS:
Best Islands in North America (#5)
Travel & Leisure Magazine (2012)
Happiest Seaside Town
Coastal Living Magazine (2012)
Premier Resort
Golf Magazine (2012)
Best Places to Buy a Second Home (#4)
Barron’s Magazine (2012)
What makes it all so special here? The island’s private designers focused on family in creating this haven with an emphasis on enforcing the importance of nature. As a result, bike paths run alongside the roads, which travel on little wooden bridges across spacious marshlands, past pristine fairways and luxury homes, to end on the wide, flat beaches. Sunrises and sunsets bring out the bird-watchers, while children scan the rivers for lizards, big and tiny. The Lowcountry attitude of “live and let live” is a quiet force that brings a soft gentility to every social interaction, except on the golf course. The Ocean Course played host to the 94th PGA Championship this year and is considered one of the toughest courses in America. At the end, the clubhouse porch has comfortable sofas for watching the ocean and sipping Arnold Palmers.
Staying here is easy too, with the five-star Sanctuary Hotel at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, and the individual home and condominium rentals.
Kiawah Island, kiawahisland.org. The Sanctuary Hotel, 1 Sanctuary Beach Drive, Kiawah Island, S.C. 843.768.6000. kiawahresort.com.
Photograph from Omni Bedford Springs
Find winter fun fulfillment in the Laurel Highlands at the historic Omni Bedford Springs Resort & Spa. Made famous for its boast of eight mineral springs, the setting is one that inspires gingerbread dreams. Families will especially love the indoor mineral water swimming pool that has special healing properties, as well as being one of the most beautiful.
“STOCKING STUFFER”:
20% off best available rates + $10 “surprise” gift card to Starbucks, iTunes®, Amazon.com, or Omni Hotels & Resorts.
Omni Bedford Springs Resort, 2138 Business Route 220, Bedford. 814.623.8100. omnihotels.com/bedfordsprings.
Photograph from Lexus
Start out in true holiday cheer just by opening the car door of the ES Hybrid. The new hybrid version of this luxury sedan is the best of both worlds. With a winning combination of high-end details and high gas mileage numbers, this stylish vehicle is a great one to feel good about. Fewer trips to the money-draining gas monster helps to boost morale, and there’s no compromise in the vroom factor of the drive to keep the heart racing.
Here are some of our favorite selling points:
40 MPG rating (combined)
200 total system horsepower
2.5 liter Atkinson Cycle
The design of this sedan takes drivers into supreme consideration, including those back-seat drivers, with rear-side window sunshades and a power rear sunshade, along with extra leg room. The same attention is given to cargo capacity, with an intelligently designed hinged trunk that opens extra-wide for easier loading and room for nine carry-on bags (or four golf bags!).
Lexus is renowned for its luxurious feel, and this newly designed car offers some of these awesome options:
15 speaker, 835-watt premium surround sound system
Heated seats and steering wheel
Sustainable bamboo accents, such as a steering wheel trim bowed from a single piece and sanded by hand
Lexus of North Hills, 15025 Perry Hwy., Wexford. 724.940.1400. lexusofnorthhills.com.
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This article is featured in the December 2012 issue of WHIRL Magazine.
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