Summer Travel and Family Fun at Henry Vilas Zoo

The Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wisconsin is the perfect zoo experience that takes just several hours, great for families with young children or anyone else looking to take a short walk on the wild side . Admission is free, as is parking, but there are only two lots and they fill up fast. Street parking is available.

The zoo is easy to navigate on a circular path. The majority of the exhibits are outside. Three indoor exhibits (Tropical Rain Forest Aviary, Discovering Primates and the Herpetarium) allow further walk throughs in the animals more natural habitats.

The carousel began spinning as of last year. As part of the new addition in progress, the Children's Zoo, rides are $1.00 per person. Adults are free when accompanying children under 42 inches tall. Check out the Wisconsin scenes on the top panels of the ride!

The gift shop, open March through November has animal themed souvenirs from clothing, stuffed animals, pencils, jewelry, postcards, games, toys, crafts –plenty to catch a young person's fancy. Strollers, wagons, and wheelchairs may be rented here for $4.00 plus a driver's license. There is an ATM inside.

With plenty of picnic tables and grassy areas to spread a blanket, bringing lunch and snacks is very popular. Just remember to pick up when done. The concession stand is open April through November and has snacks, hot sandwiches, pop and ice cream. Everything is ala carte with prices from $1.99-$2.99 per item. Outside vending machines with pop and water are located in several areas.

The Zoo is open year round. Grounds are open 9:30 am to 5:00 pm as are the concessions and gift shop during the months they are open. Buildings are open 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Again, admission and parking are free but donations are gladly accepted. For more information visit www. Vilaszoo.org.

Best Family Vacations

To find the best family vacations that fit your budget and time constraints, you simply need to start your search online. You'll find lots of travel tips and great ideas on safety, health, vacation planning and packing, and how to make the most of a trip with the whole family. You may have visions of the 'Vacation' movies with Chevy Chase, but it really doesn't have to be that way! Family oriented resorts offer all kinds of activities and some are even all-inclusive, which means that once you get there transfers to and from the airport are included in addition to accommodations, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, snacks, meals, tips and gratuities, and on site activities like roller blading or water sports. Whatever type of activity your family enjoys, you are sure to find family vacations that have everything you want.

There are many sites dedicated to traveling with the kids and family members of all ages. According to www.familytravelnetwork.com, the best family vacations offer something to please every family member not matter the age. This site also features fifteen tips for planning last minute family vacations during school holidays and summer break. Plan a great family winter weekend getaway and travel to the slopes for a family ski and/or snowboarding vacation. If you're looking for adventure, then visit www.familyadventures.com for exciting family vacations designed for families with children or teens. For another type of adventure, possibly a dude ranch or theme park like Disney World in Orlando would be a good choice. Hawaii is also a popular family vacation destination with lots to do for the entire family. Just visit www.alohadestinations.com for more information. And let's not forget a Disney Cruise Line family vacation, featuring exotic ports of call and activities for kids of all ages, even the adults!

There are obviously too many sites to list here that specialize in the family vacations, and you may be a little overwhelmed when you first start your search. You can find a family vacations directory and resources for traveling with kids, including listing of family friendly places to visit at alltravelingkidsfamilyvacations.com, travelwithkids.about.com, familyvacations.com, or familytravelguides.com where you can search a huge database to find accommodations like campgrounds, cabins, bed and breakfasts, full service family resorts, and more family vacation topics. Get the family rounded up and have the vacation of a lifetime! Have fun, de-stress, and get away from the day to day grind. No one deserves it more than you and your family!