Road trips, state and national parks, theme parks attracting families this year

SPECIAL – More than one-third of Americans are planning to take a family vacation of 50 miles or more from home in the next 12 months, according to a recent AAA survey.

AAA estimates drivers this summer should pay the lowest gas prices in 12 years and have already paid nearly $12 billion less on gas this year compared to the same period in 2015. Lower gas prices have motivated Americans to drive at record levels, and will prompt many families to take road trips this year. AAA says 55 percent of Americans say they are more likely to take a road trip this year due to lower gas prices.
 
Road trips (69 percent), state and national parks (49 percent) and theme parks (42 percent) are the most popular types of vacations for families planning to travel in the next 12 months. Vacations to international destinations (26 percent) and cruises (19 percent) round out the top five most popular vacation options for traveling families, according to the AAA survey.
 
“Two-thirds of Americans say spending quality time as a family is the most important part of taking a family vacation,” said Bill Sutherland, AAA National senior vice president of Travel and Publishing. “Whether it’s a cross-country road trip or a dream vacation to a far-off destination, travel offers busy families an excellent opportunity to share experiences and connect with each other in meaningful ways.”

AAA Travel experts offer these tips to families planning vacations this year:

Road Trips.  Map out a route in advance to make the most of your time. Tools such as AAA’s TripTik Travel Planner, in desktop and app versions, can help families find AAA Diamond Rated hotels and restaurants, gas prices and plan fun stops along the way. Plan frequent stops, once every 100 miles or two hours, to remain alert.
 
National Parks.  The National Park Service celebrates its centennial anniversary this year, making it a special time for travelers to discover the parks. The most popular national parks, such as Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon and Yosemite, may reach capacity during peak travel times, so plan ahead. National parks are waiving entrance fees this year April 16-24, Aug. 25-28, Sept. 24 and Nov. 11.

Theme Parks.  Theme parks in Orlando and southern California are expected to continue to grow in popularity with families this summer as new attractions debut at theme parks coast-to-coast. Go in early May and September when crowds are lighter and lines are shorter.
 
International Vacations.  Take advantage of favorable exchange rates and discounted pricing currently available. The strength of the dollar right now makes international travel especially affordable and you’ll get more for your money when visiting destinations abroad.
                                                              
Cruises.  Cruises offer a variety of activities for all ages, plus children’s programs that give parents a chance to relax and unwind. Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) forecasts 24 million vacationers will cruise the world’s waterways in 2016, one million more than last year. Experienced travel agents can help cruisers identify the cruise line, ship and itinerary that best suit them.

AAA’s professional hotel inspectors, who evaluate nearly 28,000 hotels across North America using detailed, published guidelines, have identified a few of their top picks for family-friendly AAA Diamond-rated hotels:

Beaches Negril Resort & Spa, Negril, Jamaica – Three Diamond

AAA Inspector Notes:  Marvelous for both families and adults, this beautiful all-inclusive is well laid out with an amazing water park offering refreshing fun for all ages. There’s an Xbox play lounge, sailing lessons for children and adults and a comprehensive kid’s camp area for all ages.

Great Wolf Lodge, Centralia, Wash. – Three Diamond

AAA Inspector Notes:  From splashing in the water park, gaming in the arcade, playing a game of checkers in the lobby, to any number of other seasonal adventures, this hotel is a fantastic place for the entire family. A nice selection of guest rooms is available, including some with bunk beds and a popular kids’ cabin.

LEGOLAND Florida Resort, Winter Haven, Fla. – Three Diamond

AAA Inspector Notes:  Geared toward children, this LEGOLAND resort features pirate, adventure and kingdom themed rooms. Kids have a bunk bed area while adults can relax in their own space. Set on Lake Eloise, there are boardwalks with views of wildlife, a fire pit to relax beside at night, a LEGO club room with movies, a splash pad by the expansive swimming pool and even a Master LEGO builder’s workshop with classes.

Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, East Harwich, Mass. – Four Diamond

AAA Inspector Notes:  This waterfront resort offers an outdoor amphitheater and a pirate-themed interactive water playground with treasure chests, fountains and a pirate ship with slides and swinging ropes. The high-tech children’s center features a 135-inch HD screen for Wii, PlayStation and Xbox gaming. Activities include dive-in movies, teen gaming nights and lessons in swimming, sailing and tennis.
 
Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa, Gatlinburg, Tenn. – Three Diamond

AAA Inspector Notes:  Cabin-style duplexes plus condos that can be expanded via connecting doors are perfect for large families. Many units have fireplaces and whirlpool tubs. Family-friendly facilities include an infinity pool and nature trails that lead from the property into the densely wooded forest of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

 
Before setting out on a family vacation, download the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Travelers can use the app to map a route, find the lowest gas prices, access exclusive member discounts, find more than 58,000 AAA Approved and Diamond-rated hotels and restaurants, request AAA roadside assistance and more. For in-person travel planning, seek the expert advice of a trusted travel advisor, who can provide personalized service and first-hand destination knowledge to create a memorable family vacation. For more information and to begin planning a vacation, visit AAA.com/Travel.

AAA’s Family Travel telephone survey was administered as part of global market research company ORC International’s weekly CARAVAN® omnibus surveys conducted among two national probability samples (landline only and cell phone), which, when combined, consists of 1,002 adults living in the continental U.S. Interviewing was conducted March 17-20, 2016. The study has an average statistical error of ±3.6% at the 95% confidence level for U.S. adults.

A not-for-profit, fully tax-paying organization, AAA Oklahoma provides its 390,000 Oklahoma members with emergency roadside assistance and auto travel services. Plus, the auto club offers members and the general public a wide range of personal insurance, worldwide travel and financial services at branch offices across Oklahoma and online at AAA.com. Motorists can map a route, identify gas prices, find discounts, book a hotel and access AAA roadside assistance with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile