Summer holidays with the kids are the best time to get away as a family and spend some quality time together.  But when it comes to the practicalities of keeping kids safe under the sun, putting on sunscreen on the beach can be a bit of a struggle with them raring to hit the waves, build sandcastles and eat (by now sandy) sandwiches. 

Worries about the sun and skincare issues can put some parents off from venturing to sunnier climates, but if you listen to the experts and choose wisely where you holiday, your annual family escape to the sun will go swimmingly!

According to skin specialists, 50% of our exposure to sunlight occurs in childhood. Making it even more pertinent advice to keep covered and protect your children’s skin from sun damage.  By following some simple advice, both parents and kids can frolic about on the beach without the worry about skin damage (and the discomfort of sleepless nights from sunburn).

The first thing to remember is that kids should spend as little time as possible in direct sunlight abroad, which means avoiding the hottest mid-day temperatures when the sun is at its strongest.  Protective measures such as sunhats and long-sleeved cotton   t-shirts can help when on the beach and it’s advisable to keep to shadier areas.  However, this is not necessarily that unless you go to a resort where beach areas provide loungers and large umbrellas that provide shade.

Many holiday resorts are aware of the needs of parents to keep their children in the shade as much as possible.  So you’ve chosen a destination but want to make sure you can find a resort that is aware of your needs to keep your children safe from the sun? 

One of the companies keeping this in mind is On the Beach, who specialise in holidays Spain bound, with many of its resorts providing kids’ clubs so you can take your children to the beach in the early morning or in the afternoon when the sun is weaker and let them make friends and fun memories in the Kids’ Clubs during the day. And did we forget to mention that then you can have a break?!

It’s important to remember that infants should never be exposed to direct sunlight and that high-factor sunscreen that is specifically designed for children (of at least SPF 30+) should be used.  For more advice about skincare on holidays a good place to go is the NetDoctor, a site giving tips on sun damage prevention.  So once you’ve arrived in that Spanish paradise, got the suncream on and hit the beach, the only thing left to do is relax.

Snuba in Puerto Rico

By Meghan McCloskey

“There are only three things you need to remember about Snuba,” said the bronzen instructor, “Breathe, never take off your oxygen mask and don’t swim off like a mermaid.” 

Easy enough, I think, considering one of the three rules is an instinct. ‘Snuba’ is not a typo, it’s one of the fastest growing aquatic activities that combines the best of snorkeling and scuba diving and allows you to explore coral reefs in the depths of the tropical seas without getting scuba diving certified. 

I jump, flippers first, off the back of the boat into the warm waters off the coast of Guánica, Puerto Rico.  Before I know it I’m fifteen feet underwater immersed in a delicate coral reef, face to face with iridescent fish in their natural habitat.  The only underwater communication I’ll be using is the ‘ok sign,’ which is Snuba for “this is awesome!”

Puerto Rico offers plenty of adrenaline inducing activities without the headache of complicated travel arrangements.  For families with a mix of daredevils and sunbathers, you can’t go wrong with this destination.  You don’t even need a passport to enter Puerto Rico, which is approximately a 4-hour flight from New York.  Despite its convenience, when you land in Puerto Rico and you stare out at the banana groves and the cerulean blue waters, you will feel as though your stresses are a world away.  

My destination is Copamarina Beach Resort in the small town of Guánica, a place where locals take pride in their land and go to great lengths to preserve the natural areas. Guánica is home to the largest dry forest in the world, a water-deprived ecosystem where the trees and cactus only grow one to five feet, yet sometimes to the age of 700 years.  Besides biologists from around the world, the free park attracts mountain bikers who could start at the top of the cliffside forest and bike down to Compamarina Resort to relax by the pool. Jose Luis at the information hut will point you towards a trail to meet your interests, whether it is a stroll to breathe in the fragrant fresh air or a quest to spot the rare Puerto Rican Whip-poor-will.

Copamarina hosts one of the best water sport centers for families on the island because there are options for all ages and skill levels.  There are opportunities for scuba diving, kayaking, paddle boarding and even HobiCat sailcraft.  Little ones can team up with parents and older siblings on a three-person kayak to embark on a trip to the forested Gilligan’s Island and even have a picnic on with white sandy beaches.  Not up for the challenge? Put up your feet and take in the views of Guanica at sunset from off shore aboard a pontoon boat.

I try my hand at paddleboarding, an ancient Hawaiian version of surfing, where the audacious rider balances on two feet on top of a surfboard and propels through the water with a giant oar.  Unfortunately, Poseidon is against me on the uncommonly windy day and the waves forbid me from reaching Gilligan’s Island.  I resign to shore, but an aromatherapy massage awaits me at the Bodyderm Spa of Copamarina.  As traditional Puerto Rican music soothes me, I treat my deserving muscles, feeling surprisingly accomplished for a vacation day.

Most visitors to Copamarina opt for the all-inclusive package, a real steal and the only package of its type on the island.  Parents will love daytime dining at the al fresco café, Las Palmas where you can try Puerto Rican fusion like mofongo (root vegetable-based dish) stuffed with grouper while kids can munch on comfort foods. Steal away for an evening and dine at the elegant Alexandra Restaurant, which offers innovative cuisine while being serenaded by the violin of a local music professor.  The filet mignon is a must-try!

If you want one more taste of Puerto Rico before heading home, stay at Courtyard Marriott Isla Verde Beach Resort, found on a slice of pristine beach conveniently located a half a mile from the San Juan airport.  The energetic ones in the group can rent a boogie board or surfboard to tackle the waves.  Want to rest up before heading back to the real world?  No problem, you can recline on a spacious hammock and gaze out at the beach or hedge your bets at the in-house casino.

I head back to the airport, adrenaline still piping through me.  It’s a good thing that Puerto Rico is so accessible because I’ll be back soon for more adventure!

Universal Orlando's new Superstar Parade attraction opened May 8

More than a dozen ferocious Nile alligators loll on the riverbank below the bridge where I’m standing. 

I should be terrified but I’m not. Maybe that’s because I’m at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom experiencing Wild Animal Trek, one of Disney’s roster of special VIP experiences.

Who doesn’t want to be treated like a VIP on vacation? We all do, of course, cutting lines, getting pampered, seeing what most tourists don’t. Orlando  offers plenty of VIP options for the entire family—assuming you’re willing to pay extra for the privilege, of course.

Join us to talk everything Orlando at a #TMOM Twitter Party  5/14, 9pET. Great prizes too!

Wild Animal Trek, for example, takes “adventurers,” just a dozen at a time, accompanied by two well-seasoned guides, on a bush walk and truck ride through the most remote areas of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. On our outing, a mama and baby rhino walked right in front of our truck and we saw a lion and lioness snoozing on a hilltop, not to mention the elephants, giraffes, antelopes, ostriches, gazelles, cheetahs, flamingos … Having been on safari in Africa, I really do feel I’m back there — or at least somewhere other than an Orlando theme park. That’s the idea, of course.

The price for the Africa Trek is nearly $200 –but a lot less than going to Africa!  And I like all the extras. Besides your trek, you receive a CD of photos, including plenty of the animals, your bush meal and a donation to support the threatened animal of your choice. 

Here are some other options::  

– Share a spa experience with your little princess—everything from facials at the Nickelodeon Family Suites to spa experiences for preschoolers at The Spa at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort   to special teen treatments and parent-teen massages at the Mandara Spa at Universal Orlando’s Portofino Bay Hotel and at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin.

–  Head  to  SeaWorld’s Discovery Cove where admission  is limited to 1,000 guests a day and includes a dolphin-swim interaction, the chance to hand-feed hundreds of tiny birds and for an extra-fee the chance to take an underwater walking tour wearing dive helmets for up-close encounters with rays and schools of tropical fish.  There is also trainer for a day programs. You can also sign up for an immersive animal connection experience at SeaWorld Orlando   where you can see where the injured sea animals are treated. Get up close with penguins, sea lions or dolphins.  Look for other exclusive experiences –even being a trainer for a day.

— Take a VIP Tour at Universal Orlando Resort and let your guide give you the 411 on all the attractions. Front-of-the-line access is also included. Did we mention the complimentary valet parking, the effortless character interaction (no waiting in long lines) and the discounts on souvenirs? (Check here for prices.)  If you stay at one of the three Universal Orlando hotels, your room card guarantees you front of the line access to most of the attractions.

 — Have lunch with an astronaut ($24.99 for adults; $15.99 for kids 3-11) at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (www.kennedyspacecnter.com).

— Get slimed  like a celebrity  at The Nickelodeon Suites Resort 

— Walt Disney World offers VIP Tours  which will enable you to hit the major attractions at all of the parks in one day with a guide who has a magic pass that enables you to head to the front of the line or go in the back entrances.  There are a variety of other special options from  going on a scavenger hunt through the Magic Kingdom on Disney’s Family Magic Tour  to a unique Richard Petty Speedway Challenge  to the chance to be transformed into a princess at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique  or a pirate.  Take your little princess to the Perfectly Princess Tea at the Grand Floridian Resort) where she’ll get princess lessons from resident Princess Aurora and a special princess doll.  

Orlando, after all, is the place to make dreams come true—yours as well as the kids.

TurtleTrek the 3D movie at Seaworld Orlando

By Eileen Ogintz
Tribune Media Services

I can’t stop thinking about Grandma.

She’s only in her 20s, and not really a grandma; she got the name because she was unfortunate enough to lose her teeth.

Oh, did I mention that Grandma is a sea turtle that lost her entire lower jaw when someone cut it off to retrieve a fish hook?

Horrible, I know, but Grandma is pretty lucky all things considered. She was rescued four years ago and nursed back to health and now lives at SeaWorld Orlando where sea turtles are the showcase of the newly opened TurtleTrek, a one-of-a-kind attraction designed to share the sea turtle’s journey from hatching on the beach, racing to open waters, facing hazards — like unscrupulous fishermen and boaters — and then, if they’re lucky, returning to the same beach to lay their eggs. There’s also a call to action. (If you stop using plastic bags — as SeaWorld plans to do in the next year — that will keep many animals from being impacted by plastic that ends up in the ocean.)

In the nearly 50 years since SeaWorld’s rescue programs began, more than 20,000 injured, orphaned and sick animals — whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, manatees, sea turtles and birds — have been rescued, cared for, and in most cases, returned to the wild.

Now, just as SeaWorld brought attention to the plight of the manatee — and you will see rescued manatees here as well — the park now showcases the vulnerable sea turtles like Grandma in the brand-new TurtleTrek exhibit. Besides actually seeing these amazing creatures in person, you can see a 3-D/360-degree film (even projected overhead) that features a sea turtle (the hero, of course) and thousands of fish. This six-minute movie is so hi-definition it would take you nearly three months to download it at home.

In addition, more than 1,500 fish native to the Caribbean live in the saltwater habitat and approximately 200 freshwater fish join the manatees in theirs.

TurtleTrek is home to adult and juvenile sea turtles, including hawksbill, Kemp’s Ridley, loggerhead and green sea turtles — all of whom, like Grandma, have been deemed nonreleasable by the Florida government.

The aim, of course, is to release as many as possible. Since 1980, SeaWorld Orlando has returned more than 1,200 sea turtles back to their natural waters. SeaWorld’s animal rescue team, in fact, is on call 24/7. (Check out www.seaworldcares.com/conservation. To find out more about marine animals, visit www.seaworld.org.)

Recently, I got a peek at SeaWorld’s extensive rehabilitation area that is as well equipped as many hospitals, offering operating rooms, X-ray machines, a pharmacy and experts who consult on animal care with veterinarians and human doctors around the world. Imagine giving a 3,600-pound manatee stitches or setting a tiny frog’s broken leg! (You can sign on for such a behind-the-scenes tour ($30 for adults, $10 for kids 3 to 10) as well as other special experiences to get closer to these creatures, including interacting with a Beluga whale or a dolphin, being a marine mammal keeper for a day, as long as your kids are 12, and VIP tours that enable you to cut the lines. For more details, log onto http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-orlando/attractions/exclusive-park-experiences.

You also have the chance to swim with a dolphin, snorkel with sting rays and tropical fish and feed exotic birds at SeaWorld’s sister park Discovery Cove where Freshwater Oasis is just opening, giving you a chance to wade and float and discover marmosets and Asian otters along the way. This place is all inclusive and only allows 1,000 guests a day — no worries about lines here — so reservations are a must. (Prices start at $199 a person and include the dolphin swim, food and drinks and unlimited admission to either SeaWorld or SeaWorld’s water park Aquatica or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for two weeks — not a bad deal since SeaWorld daily admission alone is $81.99 for adults.)

I even had the chance (for an extra $59) to take an underwater walking tour — wearing a dive helmet to get up close to nurse sharks, baby rays, octopus and schools of tropical fish — a lot more than you likely will see snorkeling or diving. “You don’t even have to try to look for them, they’re all right there,” said Constance Critchlow, visiting from London.

All of Orlando’s parks offer new attractions this spring and summer, like SeaVenture and TurtleTrek. (For details, see my blog about Orlando.) If you are considering a trip, come in May or June before the parks get too crowded and the weather too hot. You might snare a better hotel deal too, with rooms under $100 a night. (Visit www.visitorlando.com for the latest deals.)

Families visiting SeaWorld, meanwhile — and yes, Shamu is still a top attraction — get that this is more than a place for rides, though there is Manta, the flying roller coaster, the first of its kind, Kraken, Orlando’s only floorless coaster, the water-coaster Journey to Atlantis and, for younger children, the popular Shamu’s Happy Harbor.

“So much better than just rides,” offered Erin Hollenbacker, here with her sons from Ohio for their first visit to SeaWorld. “This is completely different and all of the animals really capture their attention.”

“It’s been very educational,” added Sheila Burnett, here from Illinois with her granddaughters.

Education, of course, is as big a part of SeaWorld’s mission as is conservation. The entertainment — whether it’s One Ocean, SeaWorld’s killer whale show, “Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island,” which showcases sea lions, otters and walrus or the chance to visit the Dolphin Nursery — is all designed to nurture interest in marine life and how we can protect it.

Park officials like to remind visitors that just by coming, guests are helping to rescue and protect animals all over the world, since SeaWorld and Busch Gardens have contributed $50 million to conservation, wildlife rescue and environmental programs.

“You have to keep your eyes on the dolphins,” advised 10-year-old Morgan Jones from Chicago. “They are really funny! I like SeaWorld best of all the parks.”

Who says learning can’t be fun — even on vacation!

© 2012 EILEEN OGINTZ, DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.