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THE REAL DEALS

Patriotic Travel Ideas

From museums to monuments, a roundup of summer trip ideas for Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, New Orleans, Telluride, and elsewhere.
Monday, July 2, 2007 |

Boston's Omni Parker is offering a Sensory Scavenger Hunt package that's ideal for families. On check-in, kids receive a scavenger hunt list and a disposable camera. Your family's objective is to stroll the city's historic sights and take photos of as many notable monuments and sights as possible. After your outing, return to the hotel for a free in-room movie, a bag of popcorn, and a plate of milk and cookies. Kids also receive a wax-paper backpack filled with a kaleidoscope, candy, jacks, and a scented bracelet. Local sightseeing options include the 2.6-mile Freedom Trail of 16 historically-significant sights. For more ideas about patriotic things to see in Beantown, visit the city's tourism website. (Note: This hotel's restaurant features a renowned version of Boston Creme Pie.) Rates range from $189-$309 per night per family. When: Through Sept. 3, 2007; based on availability. Details: Hotel tax of 12.45 percent is not included. If you wish to have a non-smoking room, be sure to specify that when you make your reservation. Contact: 617/227-8600, omnihotels.com.

The Grand Canyon is a majestic treasure that can be enjoyably witnessed on the Grand Canyon Railway, which is offering a Railway Getaway Plus Package via tour packager RailsNW. The package includes a two-night stay in a moderate hotel, two diners, two breakfasts, and a round-trip train ride between Williams, Ariz., and the Grand Canyon. The train is climate-controlled and the ride is long; children under 10 are discouraged from attending due to the length of the trip. When: Based on availability. Where: Depart from Williams, Ariz. Details: Based on double occupancy. Taxes and a park entrance fee of $12 per person are not included. Contact: 800/717-0108, railsnw.com.

Las Vegas is fast becoming the city that most represents modern America. During the summer, when fewer conferences are scheduled, the city's hotels offer discounted rooms. Some of the best discounts can be found at blind-booking websites Hotwire and Priceline because hotels can sell rooms through these sites and fill their beds without publicizing their discounts. You'll find many of Vegas's premier hotels, such as Caesars Palace and Luxor, offering nightly rates of $76 to $99—roughly half off thier ordinary summer rates. Visit Hotwire.com and Priceline.com for bookings. When: Through the summer. Details: Reservations made through Hotwire.com and Priceline.com are non-changeable and non-refundable. Contact: hotwire.com or priceline.com.

New Orleans's Royal Sonesta on Bourbon Street is offering a French Quarter Romance package. Stay for two-nights at a pool- or patio-level room, receive breakfast by room service one morning, savor one brunch at the recently reopened Court of the Two Sisters restaurant in the French Quarter, dine one night at the hotel's restaurant, receive two drink coupons for the hotel's lounge, and enjoy at least one night of in-room champagne and truffles. The rate is $550 per couple for the two-night stay. When: Through the summer. Details: Based on double occupancy; taxes of 13 percent plus $2 per room per night are not included. If you wish to have a non-smoking room, be sure to specify that when you make your reservation. Contact: 504/586-0300, sonesta.com/RoyalNewOrleans.

Philly's Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation is offering a Philly Like a Local package that's aimed at vacationers under age 35 who may be visiting the city for the first time in several years. When you stay at one of eight participating hotels, you'll receive discounts for shopping at local boutiques, dancing at local clubs, dining at local restaurants, and drinking at local pubs. You'll also receive a guidebook, a CD featuring tracks recorded by local musical artists, a temporary tattoo collection, a 3 P.M. check-out, and an updated list of tips on how to eat, shop, and hang like a local taken from the tourist board's blog, UWishUNu.com. Rates vary by hotel, starting with a Saturday night stay at the Radisson Plaza Warwick for $214. This hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places and is located in the historically relevant downtown neighborhood of Rittenhouse Square. For more info on the patriotic sights of Philadelphia, visit the city's official tourism website. When: Through the summer; based on availability. Where: Here are the participating hotels: Four Seasons, Hilton Inn at Penn, Hyatt Regency Penn's Landing, Loews, Park Hyatt at the Bellevue, Rittenhouse, Sofitel, and Westin. Details: Rates vary. Taxes not included. Contact: uwishunu.com/philly-like-a-local.

Telluride's Mountain Lodge is offering a Summer Adventure package beside Mesa Verde National Park, one of our country's natural wonders. Along with a four-night stay for a family of four in a two-bedroom condominium, the package includes the following activities (two per person per trip): a two-hour horseback ride with a cowboy; a half-day guided mountain bike tour, a half-day high-country Jeep tour; a half-day Segway tour of historic sites; and a half-day whitewater river trip. Rates start at $1,396 per family per four-day stay. The resort offers free shuttle service to Mesa Verde National Park. A free gondola takes walkers and hikers up and down Telluride Mountain. For more info on nearby Mesa Verde National Park, visit the national park's website. When: Through Oct. 15, 2007. Details: Based on double-occupancy. The fee to include additional children in the offer is $100 per day, per child. Taxes and service fees not included. Contact: 866/368-6867, mountainlodgetelluride.com.

Washington, D.C.'s superluxe Mandarin Oriental has teamed up with the Friends of the National Zoo, the non-profit arm of the Smithsonian's National Zoo, to offer a Safari Sleuths package. The deal includes a night's lodging, breakfast for two adults and two children, two $50 certificates redeemable for treatments at the hotel's spa, valet parking, a donation to the National Zoo's endangered species fund, and a scavenger hunt on the Zoo's new Asia Trail. Children note on a piece of paper if they see Balawat, the zoo's new sloth bear, red pandas, clouded leopards, the baby giant panda, Tai Shan, and other zoo attractions. If the scavenger hunt is a success, the concierge will reward the sleuths with the Wild Animalopoly board game to take home. Kids also receive a gift bag containing a plush giant panda toy, animal trading cards, a safari hat, and a disposable camera. Rates start at $389 per night. For more info on the patriotic activities to do in our nation's capital, visit the District's official tourism website. When: Through Oct. 31, 2007. Details: Based on double occupancy; taxes of 14.5 percent are not included. Contact: 888/888-1778, mandarinoriental.com/Washington.

Williamsburg's Colonial Williamsburg is offering a Girlfriend's Spa package at its new 20,000-square foot spa. (Who says that a visit to this historic sight in Virginia can't include a little pampering?) The package includes a stay at the newly renovated Williamsburg Lodge, a 90-minute facial, a makeup application, a lunch, a $20 coupon for makeup purchases, and a 15 percent discount on purchases at the Shops of Colonial Williamsburg. Be sure to stop and see the current special exhibit on the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown Settlement. When: Through Aug. 30, 2007. Details: Based on double occupancy. Taxes are not included, but gratuities of 18 percent are. Contact: 800/447-8679, colonialwilliamsburg.com

Note: This story was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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