Recommend September 2011 - (Page 64)

asia CHiNA a wonderland for kids There are a multitude of attractions in or near Beijing and other large cities where children will experience China in novel ways. T sergio ortiz The days when China was generally thought of as an adult destination are long gone. Today’s China is where families will enjoy everything that makes the destination tower over others—and travelers need not fret as they did in bygone days about finding ways to keep children in check. This huge, puzzling, flavorful country is a colorful mix of ancient cultures standing against a backdrop of magnificent natural beauty that to this day defies time and redefines customs. From the tropical island of Hainan, rightfully touted as “China’s Hawaii,” to the barren sands of the Gobi Desert—a forlorn expanse that rivals the stark beauty of the Sahara—China draws families who invariably come to see sites found nowhere else. Aware that China is rapidly becoming one of Asia’s top child-friendly destinations and that a growing number of visitors come with children in tow, the country years ago began plans to make itself more appealing to young travelers. That’s right in line with a study conducted by YPartnership, publishers of the authoritative “National Travel Monitors Survey” of travel hab- its, preferences and intentions of Americans, concluded that, “Family travel continues to grow as more and more parents, particularly those working full-time, view vacations as a way to ‘reunite’ the family, more than [they do] an occasion for rest and relaxation.” Another research paper, “The National Leisure Travel Monitor,” predicts family travel to rise next year, as nearly 40 percent of adults plan to take a vacation with children—up from 32 percent a mere five years ago. fun to-do’s Children invariably find Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and other fabled destinations to be virtual wonderlands. While Hong Kong has a super fun Disneyland with all the legendary amenities of the real McCoy, Beijing offers the super campy Shijingshan Amusement Park, a place that uses the slogan “Disneyland is too far” with tongue firmly planted in cheek. Shijingshan is a fun Disneyland knockoff that perhaps too closely subscribes to the old adage that imitation is the highest form of flattery. recommend.com 64 september 2011 thomson family adventures http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend September 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Abercrombie & Kent
Sunset Key Guest Cottages, Key West
Can't Get Enough of Jupiter Beach, Florida
Hanging Out in the Outer Banks
Aloha to Families in Hawaii's Resorts
Cruise Stockholm
Galapagos Islands- Cruising 101: Back to Basics
The Ultimate Family Adventure in Costa Rica
Flanders Travel Planner
Fabulous Family Voyages
China: A Wonderland for Kids
India: Pure Wonderment
An African Adventure
Dreams Punta Cana Resort & Spa, D.R.
The Bahamas: Islands of Adventure
Cayman Islands: A Home Away from Home
Mazatlan Reinvigorated
CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort

Recommend September 2011