The Family Trip That’s More Fun (and Way Cheaper) Than a Theme Park
The Family Trip That’s More Fun (and Way Cheaper) Than a Theme Park
Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins; Outside Style Guide
https://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/north-carolina/experiences/news/western-north-carolina-family-vacation-a-cheaper-more-fun-alternative-to-theme-parks
Sometimes good old-fashioned fun is the best kind of fun.
Western North Carolina is ready for you! After Hurricane Helene hit in September 2024, the famously spectacular mountain region has come back stronger than ever and wants you and your family to experience all its good-time glory. We’re talking all the things your family loves about major theme parks: train rides, chocolate shops, roller coasters, gourmet dining, and personalized kids’ accommodations. There are no characters in costume, but, hey, there is actual wildlife. That’s right, kids, bona fide nature! Western North Carolina offers plenty of family fun in a majestic natural setting (right at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park!)–at a fraction of the cost (and stress) of a typical theme resort.
A four- to five-night stay at a Disney theme park and resort will run a family of four around $6,000 – $9,000. This trip would hardly cost half that if you did everything last-minute and super first class. Here’s how to do it.
Asheville
Asheville has something for everyone–gorgeous nature with a crunchy cosmopolitan vibe. Want to camp, fish, hike, and kayak? No problem. Prefer upscale dining and shopping? There’s that too. Want cultural experiences and museums? Check, check! Asheville has all this and more with a focus on family fun.
For the kids: Don’t miss the Pinball Museum. A flat fee gets you all-you-can-play access, but the real gem is two rooms of vintage arcade games. You can finally beat Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles like you’ve always set out to do (with an adult beverage to boot). If all that memorabilia has you feeling nostalgic, hit up Orbit DVD for the finest movie and video game selections this side of the century. Take a short walk over to the House of Black Cat Magic Cat Cafe and pet the sweet kitties. Get outside to enjoy the gorgeous gardens and trails of Western NC at the North Carolina Arboretum.
Wanna be your kid’s hero? Take them on the factory tour at French Broad Chocolate Factory and Cafe, and don’t skimp on the hot chocolate and brownies. After that, visit The Moogseum, an immersive, interactive, under-the-radar museum celebrating synthesizer pioneer Bob Moog’s incredible vision (and sounds). Plunk around on keyboards, synthesizers, and theremins until you get hungry for Asian (hit up Jazmin) or Mexican (try Xico). And whatever you do, eat breakfast in this town: Butterpunk and All Day Darling are do-not-misses. Need a treat along the way? Pop into Loft for all your souvenir and toy needs–it’s just an absolute joy to browse.
WHERE TO STAY
Ditch the tablets and keep it kitchy at Asheville’s Wrong Way River Lodge and Cabins, complete with record player and board games. It’s right on the river and offers a true glamping experience that makes even indoor kids feel comfortable.
Bryson City
There’s a reason there are so many children’s stories about trains: because kids friggin’ love them. Now’s your chance to take your kid on a real-life Polar Express on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Tuckasegee River Excursion out of Bryson City.
The ride takes you through incredible scenic vistas, and the down-to-earth tour guides, music buskers, and bar cart create a trivia night atmosphere that everyone can enjoy. If you think that’s impressive, wait till you get into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is America’s most popular park for a reason. Hike trails to incredible waterfalls, spot for elk and bears, tube and swim in rivers, horseback ride, or fly fish – there’s tons to enjoy in a pristine natural setting.
WHERE TO STAY
Long View Resort and Spa is the stunningly chic mountain getaway you’ve been dreaming of. Do not miss the outstanding homemade breakfasts – no continental schlock here.
Highlands
Where adventure becomes extreme(ish): In the winter, strap on your snowsuits for Highlands Outpost and get ready for unlimited snow tubing, easily accessible and wholesome fun for everyone. There’s also ice skating, gem mining, and North Carolina’s finest and longest roller coaster, the Scaly Mountain Screamer. You can spend the whole day here, but you’ll want to grab lunch down the road at Highlands Smokehouse–possibly the finest barbecue joint in North Carolina, with plenty of homemade sauces for the connoisseurs–and get back out there.
In the warmer months, hit up Highlands Aerial Park, where the whole family can test their courage on a zipline tour through the forest canopy. Kids will love the adventure course (where they can show off their bravery and teamwork), and parents will love the options for UTV tours, golf, and hiking, too. Don’t miss the region’s gorgeous scenery at Bridal Veil Falls and Dry Falls.
WHERE TO STAY
Trailborn sure treats kids like VIPs, with pop-up tents, s’mores kits, and teddy bears awaiting your sleepover. Its prime location in town makes it walking distance to shops and restaurants, but cozily tucked away in a natural setting.
For Minor Hotels, creative deal-making and agility are key to U.S. growth
Minor Hotels’ North American growth strategy: ‘No two deals are the same’; how creative deal-making and entrepreneurial agility will help Minor overcome noise in the U.S. market.
https://www.hotelinvestmenttoday.com/From-Our-Partners/For-Minor-Hotels-creative-deal-making-and-agility-are-key-to-US-growth?
LOS ANGELES ─ Discover why uncertain times may be the prime time for Minor Hotels’ U.S. launch. Genna Panagopoulos, Vice President of Development, U.S. & Canada, Minor Hotels Europe & Americas, detailed the differentiators that have opened the way for bespoke agreements like the three already signed in Miami, New York and the Caribbean: flexible deal structures, investor oriented incentives and brand versatility designed to cut through a saturated landscape. In this interview at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) in late January, she highlighted how Minor is tailoring its franchise and management terms ─ including key money, fee adjustments and creative subsidies ─ to position itself as a partner willing to share risk to unlock long term value. Panagopoulos also pointed to the unique upside of expertise and relationships, built across Minor’s 640-property portfolio spanning 57 countries, which “helps connect with foreign capital looking to invest in North America.” That reach, combined with an approach where “no two deals are the same,” is enabling the company to set an aggressive goal of 25 hotels in the coming years.
The U.S. Issues Travel Warnings for 14 Middle East Countries, Urges Americans to Leave
Skatebiker [CC BY-SA 4.0 ]/Wikimedia COmmons
https://www.fodors.com/news/news/u-s-issues-travel-warning-against-14-middle-east-countries
Here's what you need to know about travel to the Middle East right now.
On February 28, U.S. and Israeli forces launched missile strikes on Iran, which retaliated with its own missile and drone attacks on U.S. and civilian targets in several countries in the Gulf Region, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Oman.
The conflict is ongoing, and has upended air traffic throughout the Gulf Region. Airspace in Qatar and the UAE quickly closed, cancelling some 11,000 flights over the weekend and impacting travel plans for upwards of one million travelers, reports The New York Times.
A passenger terminal at Dubai International Airport was hit by an Iranian drone strike Sunday, injuring four airport workers. Drones also damaged at least two luxury hotels in Dubai over the weekend.
Doha, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai are home to large international airports whose primary airline tenants operate large worldwide networks, connecting intercontinental air passengers to all continents. Many North American and European travelers use Gulf Region airports as a connecting point for travel to Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Many of those travelers’ plans are now on hold with the closure of these hubs.
Airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi reopened to limited flights on March 2 to help clear the backlog of stranded passengers, but the airport operators in both cities urged passengers not to go to the airport unless they had received word from their airline they had been confirmed on a new flight. Airspace in Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain remains closed.
The governments of both the UAE and Qatar requested that local hotel operators extend the stays of visitors who could not depart the country, and that the government would cover their expenses until they could evacuate. An estimated 20,000 travelers were stuck in the UAE after their flights were canceled.
Oman Air continues limited operations from its hub at Muscat International Airport, although it has suspended regional flights within the Gulf, which affected by neighboring airspace closures. Some stranded passengers in the UAE hired private security firms to provide five-hour overland transfers from Dubai or Abu Dhabi in order to board flights at Muscat. Other travelers took even longer overland journeys to board flights in Saudi Arabia, where air operations have largely continued.
Passengers whose flights have been canceled can request a refund of their ticket from their airline or travel agent. Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways are allowing free rebooking without penalty to another date or a ticket refund of passengers booked on any of their flights up to and including March 10. That date is likely to extend with any extension in the closure of Qatari and Emirati airspace.
Travelers who had planned travel to other destinations outside the region whose travel plans were affected by the airspace closures can apply to their travel insurance for a reimbursement for any prepaid expenses related to their travel that cannot be refunded. The conflict falls squarely into what airlines call force majeure in their carriage contracts, meaning they aren’t liable for passenger expenses related to any delays or cancellations.
On March 3, the U.S. State Department closed its embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait following drone attacks from Iran. The State Department also urged Americans to immediately depart from 14 Middle East countries as Iran continued retaliatory missile and drone strikes. The advisory warned of “serious safety risks” and included Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Syria, Yemen and the Palestinian territories.
The State Department also ordered the evacuation of nonessential staffers and their families from embassies in six countries: Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE.
Imposter Scam Accounts Are Taking Advantage of Current Travel Disruptions
Kazuo Ota
https://www.fodors.com/news/news/imposter-scam-accounts-are-taking-advantage-of-current-travel-disruptions
Emirates advised fliers to be wary.
With the chaos caused by the war between Iran, the U.S., and Israel, scammers are preying on travelers stranded in the Middle East or facing travel disruptions. Earlier this week, Dubai-based airline Emirates warned travelers that imposter accounts are active on X, urging people to exercise caution.
There was a time when everyone aired grievances with brands online on Twitter (now X). However, public complaints on social media have led to fake accounts that intercept messages and swindle travelers. These accounts have similar names to the brands and are detected only upon closer inspection.
Here’s how the scam works: Fake accounts on the internet, posing as airlines or travel companies, reply to posts as if they are official customer care representatives. They move conversations to other platforms, such as WhatsApp, and persuade people to share private information, including phone numbers, emails, and booking codes. With this information, scammers don’t just gain access to your bank accounts. They can also cancel flights or hotel bookings and secure refunds to their own accounts, or use your miles and points to make purchases.
This is what Emirates is currently warning about. Travelers are advised to check their flight status online and only go to the airport if their flight is still operating.
The reminder from Emirates comes at a time when travel scams have become so sophisticated they’re difficult to detect. Everything can be faked, and as data leaks continue to rise, customers have fewer protections against criminals.
Guests have been warned that scammers are sending emails or private text messages requesting payment detail updates after booking hotels through Booking.com. Fake customer service centers have appeared, and phone numbers on Google searches have been altered to lure victims. Even those who take all the right steps can become victims—like an American traveler who called a legitimate customer service number but was later patched through to a scammer, resulting in a $17,000 loss.
It’s strongly advised to contact customer care only through the official app or website, and not to trust Google search results. Always double-check names on social media platforms. Unfortunately, X has changed its blue check policy: It is now a premium membership anyone can purchase. Be wary of verified accounts on social media, too.
Travel Disruptions Continue
Thousands of passengers are stranded in the Middle East after the United States and Israel carried out attacks on Iran this weekend. Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in the conflict, and Iran has promised indiscriminate retaliation, targeting Israel as well as American military bases in the region. The conflict has expanded to include the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. As a result, these countries have partially or fully closed their airspace and airport operations have been disrupted.
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha are major international hubs, and flights—even those originating elsewhere—often transit through them. The impact has spread globally, with airlines canceling, delaying, and rerouting flights.
People are trying to flee the region, but very few flights have departed from Dubai or Abu Dhabi since Saturday. While passenger planes are mostly grounded, charter flights have continued, with the wealthy paying their way out of conflict. Foreign governments are running repatriation flights to rescue their citizens. Emirates suspended flights until March 4, while Abu Dhabi stopped operations until March 5. Qatar’s airspace is also closed.
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