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Sarasota, FL – With September just around the corner bringing a new year of education and learning, Sarasota and Her Islands (www.sarasotafl.org) is encouraging travelers to add the Southwest Florida destination to their syllabus with “30 Days of Discovery”. The month-long promotion includes some of the destination’s most sought after attractions available at discounted admission rates of two for the price of one. Visitors to Sarasota throughout September can plan trips to eight of the top museums, aquariums and sites to learn about the rich history, culture and environmental offerings of the destination without the threat of a pop-quiz at the end of the month.

This year’s “30 DAYS OF DISCOVERY” participants offering 2-for-1 admission include:
The Sarasota Classic Car Museum – The second oldest antique car museum in the country, the museum showcases a rare collection of vintage automobiles, including restored vehicles over 100 years old. Hours are 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. daily and admission is $8.50 for adults, $7.50 for seniors and $6.50 for children (ages five and under are free). For more information, call 941-355-6228 or visit www.sarasotacarmuseum.org.

G.WIZ – The interactive, hands-on science museum provides programs for people of all ages. The center features science, technology, engineering and math displays and activities to educate youth through experiential learning. Hours are 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday (open Mondays on school holidays) and 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for children 3-16, $7 for children under 3. Special discounts for seniors, students, military and local Florida residents are available. For more information, call 941-309-4949 or visit www.gwiz.org.

Historic Spanish Point – Provides a look at 5,000 years of Florida’s cultural history from archaeological exhibits like prehistoric Indian mounds to areas to reflect on the pioneer homestead life. Outdoor trails and boardwalks offer glimpses into natural habitats. Situated across 30 acres on Little Sarasota Bay, Spanish Point is accredited by the American Association of Museums and was the first site in Sarasota County named to the National Register of Historic Places. Hours are 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday – Saturday and 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and Sarasota County residents, $5 for children ages 5-12 and children under 5 and members are free. For more information, call 941-966-5214, or visit www.historicspanishpoint.org.

Mote Aquarium – Explores the depths of the sea, from shark, dolphin, manatee and marine life exhibits to viewable working laboratories and displays showing off the world-renowned research of the Mote Marine Laboratory. New exhibits include Fossil Creek, Seahorse Conservation Lab, and Sea Turtles: Ancient Survivors. Hours are 10:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. daily. Admission is $17 for adults (over 12), $16 for seniors (over 65) and $12 for children 4-12. Children under 4 and Mote members are free. For more information, call 941-388-4441 or visit www.mote.org.

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art – The museum is the lasting legacy of John Ringling of the Ringling circus and his wife, Mable. It also includes Ca’ d’Zan mansion, the winter home of the Ringlings, the Historic Asolo Theater and the Circus Museum, which houses the world’s largest miniature circus. Hours are 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $25, $20 for seniors, $10 for active US military, students, children 6-17 and Florida teachers (must have ID). Museum members and children under 6 are free. For more information, call 941-359-5700 or visit www.ringling.org.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens – This tropical oasis sprawling 9.5 acres along Sarasota Bay boasts the world’s most impressive living collection of rare tropical plants, as well as a conservatory, outdoor butterfly garden, banyan grove, bonsai, bamboo and tropical fruit gardens and art exhibitions. Selby’s collection is comprised of plants from over 150 scientific expeditions to rainforests across the globe. Hours are 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. daily. Admission is $17 for adults and $6 for children 6-11. Members and children under 5 are free. For more information, call 941-366-5731 or visit www.selby.org.

The South Florida Museum – This is the largest natural and cultural history museum along the Gulf Coast of Florida, featuring galleries highlighting archaeology and paleontology. The museum’s galleries highlight pieces of Florida’s history, such as marine and mammal life. Hours are 10:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m Tuesday-Saturday and noon-5:00 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $15.95 for adults, $13.95 for seniors (60 & older) and $11.95 for children 4-12 years of age. For more information, call 941-746-4131 or visit www.southfloridamuseum.org.

Warm Mineral Springs – The spring produces 9 million gallons of mineral-rich water daily, resulting in a fresh body of water every two hours. The water’s mineral content is ranked as the richest of any spring in the U.S. The warm waters, which are consistently 87 degrees, provide a soothing atmosphere for swimming and soaking. Hours are Monday-Sunday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Admission is $20 for adults, $14 for students, and $8 for children 12 and under. For more information, call 941-426-1692 or visit www.warmmineralsprings.com.

A Day’s Outing, a free, online travel search tool for helping users find nearby day trips, vacation side trips and weekend getaways, offers local events for late summer trips. It’s easy for families, couples and friends to plan a perfect end of summer trip without the expense of an overnight hotel stay. With summer winding down and hundreds of thousands of outings to explore all across the country, A Day’s Outing helps people plan the perfect day trip that’s either right around the corner or a few hours away. Launched last year in the mid-Atlantic, A Day’s Outing recently expanded its service nationwide and introduced a mobile version of its service for iPhone users.

An end of summer vacation may not be possible for everyone this year, but a great day trip or weekend road trip certainly can be. Often many activities, historical points of interest, museums, gardens, and other hidden treasures are located right your own backyard. A Day’s Outing helps people plan a short-distance trip by revealing nearby events, destinations and great day trip activities.

Day Trips That Appeal to Everyone
A Day’s Outing includes day trips close to home that everyone can enjoy. Examples of outings, along with the site’s categories that can be searched, include:
Antiques & Auctions: Amherst Quilt, Craft & Amish Furniture Auction, Amherst, WI
Fairs, Events & Festivals: Pocono Garlic Festival, Shawnee on Delaware, PA
Family & Children: Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL
Farms, Food & Wine: Dallas Farmers Market, Dallas, TX
History & Heritage: “Meet Mr. Lincoln,” The National Civil War Museum, Harrisburg, PA
Museums & Art: San Diego Automotive Museum, San Diego, CA
Nature & Outdoors: Werner Wildlife Museum, Casper, WY
Parks & Gardens: Leschi Park, Seattle, WA
Theater & Stage: Mind Over Matter, and other Psychic Manifestations, Washington, D.C.
Unique Sports & Hobbies: Ohio Bird Sanctuary Mansfield, OH

With any search on A Day’s Outing, the focus is on simplicity. There is just one page where users choose their preferences to seek an outing, one page listing personalized search results with events, day trips and destinations to choose from, and the last page provides details about the specific outing chosen. The simplicity eliminates getting overwhelmed within the site and the hassles of having to spend an inordinate amount of time researching specific activities whenever users want to consider or plan a day trip.

“With A Day’s Outing, anyone can quickly and easily plan a nearby day trip or weekend road trip. By simply letting us know where they were starting from and what they wanted to do, we can provide a list of events and destinations to choose from,” commented Elizabeth Muse, co-founder and CEO of A Day’s Outing. “We designed A Day’s Outing to is a valuable, timesaving service that helps users find the best local events so they can plan fun outings with their friends or family.”

A Day’s Outing will also be rolling out a mobile application of its service that will be available soon, bringing the convenience of its service into the palm of travelers who are on-the-go.

The best things in life may still be free according to theFamilyTravelFiles.com, a popular family vacation website. Because hectic schedules sustain the daily rhythm of most households, free and easy is a magic phrase for families; enjoying time together and making memories matters; staying within budget is even better.

“Parents are always looking for ways to share positive experiences with their children. However the economic crunch has made many pay closer attention to vacation budgets and to consider the value of time with our children. Fun does not need to cost $149.99. Sometimes the best things in life are free. Our Free or Almost Free series highlights unique experiences meant to be shared,” says Nancy Nelson-Duac, Co-Founder and Executive Editor of theFamilyTravelFiles.com.

For families who wish to spend less and still have fun, The FamilyTravelFiles.com has created a lifestyle folder within their website dedicated to free or almost free family activities. As the year progresses the destination list will be expanding including more activities and events with family vacation value. The new Free or Almost Free lifestyle folder highlights what’s fun and free providing lists of unique experiences meant to be shared with kids or grandkids. Information is compiled through site location visits, research, reader’s feedback, and interviewing destination experts.

What can be free and still fun? Are you wondering what’s on the list?

Kissimmee, Florida in the Orlando area hosts weekly free classic car cruises in Old Town – music included. At Lake Kissimmee State Park amid the headwaters for the Florida Everglades park rangers conduct free “Cow Camp” living history sessions.

In Alexandria ride the King Street Old Town Trolley with 20 stops for free or take to the streets for a do-it-yourself urban adventure using a scavenger hunt provided by the Alexandria Archaeology Museum.

Near San Diego, the Nature Center at San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve home of Lorenzo Lizard, join one of the fun and free guided seasonal walks conducted for families or head for Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to take advantage of a wide variety of free year-round programs including educational hikes, workshops, and awesome stargazing.

Connect with Colonial Virginia in Richmond. Step back in time and meet Patrick Henry, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson on the street or pack a picnic dinner and plunk down and enjoy free family-friendly music on the grass terrace of Wilton House on the James River.

The complete menu of Free or Almost Free destination options may be viewed at theFamilyTravelFiles.com by clicking on the special lifestyle folder within the e-zine. To expand the list for the future, parents or grandparents are encouraged to “Tell Mom” about their own favorite free or almost free activity. Become a fan of Family Travel Files on Facebook and keep up with the latest family vacation news or follow Family Travel Files Blog and give feedback as news is posted.

Palm Beach, Aruba – Summer vacation at Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort and Casino means kids really rule! New activities and amenities created especially for families on summer vacation this July and August appeal to children, teens and families. Guests at the leading Caribbean resort will enjoy.

New “Kids Rule! Concierge” Offers Complimentary Beach Essentials
To accommodate families on summer vacation, the arrival experience at the Hyatt Regency Aruba resort will include a “Kids Rule! Concierge” each day during peak check-in times. The “Kids Rule! Concierge” desk provides guests with welcome gift items including: Aruba beach bags, miniature suntan lotion, and beach pail and shovel. In addition, families can learn about the popular Camp Hyatt program – which features Aruba-specific activities such as Papiamento language lessons, island scavenger hunts and Aruban story time.

Dive-In Movie
Spend even more time at the pool as a family with movies on the Main Pool Deck every Tuesday and Thursday. Enjoy theater-style seating or dive right in and watch family-oriented feature films projected onto a giant screen. Forgot to pack popcorn? Refreshments such as popcorn and drinks will be available via concession.

Complimentary Healthy Snacks and Soothing Aloe Mists
Sun and fun typically leads to hungry bellies at snack time! Each day, complimentary skewers of tropical fruits will be offered to the Caribbean resort’s guests around the pool at 2:00 pm. Throughout the day, the pool staff will offer guests lounging about the pool a cool, refreshing mist of locally grown aloe, an Aruban specialty.

Kids “Pay Their Age” at Palms
During peak periods, children “Pay Their Age” at a special kid’s dinner buffet in Palms restaurant. Sample items kid favorites such as macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets, pizza bagels and warm baked cookies.

Smooth & Cool Family Bonding
A smoothie class will be offered every Monday at 10:30 am in Kadushi Fresh Fruit Juice Bar and guests will learn how to make the resort’s most popular smoothies. This is an excellent activity for teens or for family bonding, especially as complimentary samples and recipe cards will be handed out as keepsakes to bring home.

Let the Family Games Begin
New family oriented team-building activities on the summer schedule include Family Tug-o-War, Family Limbo Contests and Token Dives.

Room rates at the Aruba resort for July and August begin at $296 per night. The Hyatt Regency Aruba is offering their popular “Three for Free” promotion – guests enjoy a free night, free room upgrade and free daily breakfast for two. In addition, “Three for Free” can be combined with the “Family Plan” package, which offers a second room at 50% off the published rate and includes free daily breakfast for kids 12 and under. For more information about the Hyatt Regency Aruba or to make reservations this summer, call 1-800-55-HYATT or visit www.hyattregencyaruba.com.