Can anyone offer some suggestions for Maralyn

[fiona]

If you are going in the summer you might want to consider somewhere like Captiva which has the South Seas Plantation complex. It's not cheap, and you can rent through individual home owners, but they offer lots of sports activities. They have a little bus that takes everyone round to the beach for wind-surfing, or boating, or golfing at one of the courses, tennis courts etc. Full of families with children and loads of teenagers.

The Sundial complex at Sanibel offers a cheaper alternative but not as many things to do.

Nothing worst than travelling with bored teenagers (and I've got 2 so I should know!).

[tinkerbell]

Just to go back to the Las Vegas issue....!

I have been twice, first time I was 17, and next time was 22. It was annoying being moved on in the casino's, but there is so much to do it's not even an issue. Rollercoasters galore! I stayed in first the Luxor, then New York New York. Went to Siegried and Roy, (white tigers) and tried to get tickets for '0' but sell out 3 months in advance!! I had a great time in vegas, and would have no problem going back there in future with youngsters.

We did the Virgin touring drive, San Fran - LA via Mammoth Mountains, Yosemite, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Phoenix and Lake Havasu (original London Bridge!). All wonderful, with a 9 year old and 17 year old in the car. One tip if you are planning any similar journey- Get a people mover! Young ones can take turns sleeping outright in the back!!!

I wont go on too much in case this is a closed subject, but Disney in California and Universal are both great days out, so too are Magic Mountain and Six Flags. All wonderful coasters and other attractions! Fell free to email me if you want any more info! (laurajewell79@hotmail.com)

[debbie]

-If you want any info about this area SFO-Monterey let me know.




[/quote]
Dear Neil and Kay,
We are planning a trip to Monterey in summer 2004, can you recommend any websites for villas, or any other info' on houses to rent in the area? Have you been on any of the whale watching trips?

[asbaum]

We own a vacation home in Florida, but we live in the Chicago, Illinois area.

You know the song, "My kind of town Chicago is ....."

It really is a great City! Friendly and Clean. With nice weather in summer (although it can get hot and humid at times) but all in all worth a trip.

Plenty to do!!!! And plenty to do for free (or next to being free)!!!

I listed some links for you (don't know if they are all still good, but click and see)

Check out:
http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/home.do

Your kids will love it. It is a kid friendly town!!! There are seasonal events, i.e., July 4th and the week before is the Taste of Chicago - where you can sample food from hundreds of restaurants and free music by well known bands.
(this year:
http://entertainment.metromix.chicagotribune.com/top/1,1419,M-Metromix-TasteofChicago-fromintrostory!InputReview-72612--1,00.html )

Baseball
Chicago Cubs ( http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/m...x.jsp?c_id=chc )
Chicago White Sox ( http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASA...x.jsp?c_id=cws )

Football (ours)
Chicago Bears ( http://www.chicagobears.com/ )

Soccer (your football)
Chicago Fire ( http://www.chicago-fire.com/ )

Basketball
Chicago Bulls ( http://www.nba.com/bulls/ )

See the Museums, Lake Michigan Beaches, Architecture, Concerts (Blues, Rock, Jazz), Pubs, Dancing, Night Life, Navy Pier
http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/
http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Tourism/ThingsToDo/Museums.html
http://collaboratory.nunet.net/museums/pages.cfm
http://poweredby.10best.com/list.pro...9/CG_1/SID_51/

When in town, pick up the Chicago Reader (free newspaper) for a weekly list of what is happening around town
http://www.chireader.com/

And then there are places just outside the City, like Oak Park (this is actually where we live) with it's Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture and the birthplace of Earnest Hemmingway (actually he hated Oak Park when he lived here, but too bad, he's dead now and we claim him)
http://www.oprf.com/

Come see Chicago, Al Capone and all the gangsters are gone .. you'll have a great time!!!

Email if you are serious when you are coming and I'll let you know what is up in this great city.