TRAVELFORKIDS.COM - FAMILY TRAVELERS DEMANDING MORE CLOSE-TO-HOME TRAVEL IDEAS

Lafayette, California
May 28, 2002

TRAVELFORKIDS.COM, published by Globetracks, Inc., has long been one of the top websites for families to get the best tips on travel from Paris to Peru. Now, in response to heavy requests from readers, Travel for Kids is revealing gems North Americans can find on "road trips" and even weekend escapes: just in time for all the lazy days of summer, the wonder of nature and family friendly adventures from the California Gold Country to Costa Rica is revealed!

With great new "discover California gold" destinations, families can plan adventures in the Golden State in ways that casual visitors usually miss.

The new California destinations include:

The Gold Country (birthplace of the '49ers gold rush) is an often-missed spot in the route between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe or Yosemite National Park. In fact, this is a great vacation spot, where families can chug through the hills on a steam train or stagecoach, pan for gold, trek under spectacular stalactites in underground caverns or fish for their dinner at a trout farm.

Yosemite inspired President Teddy Roosevelt to create the national parks system: a great national treasure. It's where the sparkling Merced River meanders through wildflower meadows, waterfalls break over granite cliffs into rainbow showers, and sheer rock walls catch fire in the last light of day. Yosemite, where families can camp, raft, bike, ride ski or dig toes into pebbly sand and skip stones on the river, digging toes into the pebbly sand, lie back in peaceful meadows and gaze up at those grand rock faces, El Capitan and Half Dome.

· he Central Coast (from Monterey to Morro Bay) where kids can run free on sandy beaches, collect gnarled driftwood, look for otters, seals and gray whales or explore Carmel's jewel-like mission, the magic forests of Big Sur, Hearst Castle at San Simeon.

· Really getting to know Los Angeles beyond Disneyland and Universal Studios there are lots of places you probably never knew existed in the City of Angels like wonderful museums from the La Brea Tar Pits to the Petersen Automotive Museum.

Malibu, Marina del Rey and Venice: find out why Malibu is where "the endless summer" really exists: exist, and it does! Just pack some sand toys, get a boogie board, grab some picnic snacks, and find out where the best spots are to "hang" on the coast, from Leo Carrillo to Zuma or wander the canals of Venice (California), before setting sail for whale watching from Marina del Rey.

Beyond California, Costa Rica, a treasure trove of nature, and long known as a "safe haven" for travelers, has been added. Great information about gems like hot spring resorts, white sand beaches and the spectacle of green sea turtles laying eggs are detailed along with great ideas for adventures: Families can skim across the jungle canopy in a tram or hike through howler monkey habitats, see a live volcano or glide in shallow-bottom boats through mangrove swamps while colorful butterflies drift by (sharp eyes may spot a caiman low in the water or a boa constrictor coiled on a branch). For those who like their wildlife more passive, there are butterfly gardens, frog ponds, and wildlife conservation parks too.

In addition to the greater North American coverage, Travelforkids continues to add Travel Essentials articles, such as the highly popular "Tips for Traveling with Preschoolers," a great hand-holding piece that encourages parents with young children to head out for long trips by making practical and fun recommendations. Other new articles getting a great deal of attention are the must-read "Packing for your Trip" and the charming "Traveling with Stuffed Animals. "