In this section, you'll find the most important news from Ohio's tourism attractions and visitors bureaus.
Family-friendly Summertime Features at Ohio State Park Resorts Usher in Summer Season
6/2/2008
CONTACT:
Mona Mesereau
mona_mesereau@msn.com
(720) 842-5271
CAMBRIDGE, Ohio (June 2, 2008) – Ohio State Park Resorts have a cure for the restless family: short-vacation packages and activities that will satisfy even the most energetic member of a family but won’t break the bank on rooms, meals or even fuel to get there.
There are seven Ohio State Park Resorts operated by concessioner
Xanterra Parks & Resorts. The resorts are located around the state, all within an easy drive of major metropolitan areas. Salt Fork State Park Resort, for example, is about two hours from Pittsburgh and Columbus. Punderson Manor State Park Resort is about 45 minutes from Cleveland and an hour from Youngstown.
Many of the packages reflect the distinctive offerings of the destination and include discounted rooms and selected activities.
Vacationers can visit individual resort Web sites or
www.atapark.com for more information and descriptions of the resorts and parks. Information can also be obtained by calling each resort or the central reservations office at 1-800-ATAPARK (1-800-282-7275). Concessioner Xanterra Parks & Resorts operates lodges in Burr Oak, Hueston Woods, Maumee Bay, Mohican, Punderson, Salt Fork and Shawnee State Parks. Prices quoted below do not include taxes.
Maumee Bay State Park Resort has developed a two-night “Jet Ski Adventure” for families. Available May 30 through Sept. 1, the package includes two nights in a standard room for two adults and two children, $25 gift certificate for dining in the resort’s Water’s Edge Restaurant, 30-minute rental of one Jet Ski Wave runner and one coupon for four people for use of a paddle boat or canoe. The starting package price is $362. Maumee Bay State Park Resort is situated on Lake Erie in northwestern Ohio.
Salt Fork State Park Resort near Columbus offers the "Family Fun Package" with four hours of geocaching. Increasingly popular with travelers of all ages, geocaching involves use of a hand-held global positioning system (GPS) and clues for finding hidden "treasures" throughout the park. In addition to use of the GPS, the package includes one night of lodging in a room with two double beds and a bunk bed, two movie rentals, popcorn and soda. The package is available for Sunday through Thursday stays May 27 through Oct. 25. Price is $159 per family for one night. Families can choose to stay a second night for $89 (room only).
The "Family Escape Package" at
Hueston Woods State Park Resort near Cincinnati includes one or two nights in a double room, one large one-topping pizza, 20 game room tokens and movie rentals. Available through Oct. 31, the one-night package is priced per night at $119 per family for Sunday through Thursday stays. The two-night weekday package is $199.
Several of the resorts also have discounted room deals. Though priced for couples, they make sense for families too since children under the age of 18 stay free with their parents.
The "Bed & Breakfast" package at
Punderson Manor State Park Resort in northeast Ohio includes a one-night stay and breakfast for two. This package starts at $125 per night for weekday stays and $155 for weekend visits.
The "Awaysis Package" at
Mohican State Park Resort features accommodations for two nights, breakfast for two each morning; dinner for two one evening; welcome gift with wine, wine glasses, chocolates and a $5 coupon for snacks or Amish fudge from the gift shop. This package starts at $340 for Sunday through Thursday stays and $370 for Friday and Saturday stays. Mohican State Park Resort is located near Mansfield in the heart of Ohio’s Amish country.
All seven Ohio State Park Resorts also feature a special family package for members of AAA. The "AAA Family Escape in Ohio" package in all locations includes a one-night stay for a family of four, two breakfasts for two adults and two breakfasts off the children’s menu, one large two-topping pizza and four sodas, movie rental, popcorn, kids welcome bag and choice of one family activity that reflects the distinctive offerings of each location.
Family activity choices at
Burr Oak State Park Resort include a one-hour pontoon boat rental, a train ride aboard the Hocking Valley Railroad, one-hour naturalist-guided pontoon tour or picnic lunch for four people. This package is priced at $174 for Sunday through Thursday night stays and $184 for Friday and Saturday night stays. Burr Oak State Park is located on the edge of Wayne National Forest in southeastern Ohio.
Family activity choices at
Shawnee State Park Resort include a canoe or paddle boat rental for four people, movie passes for two adult and two children for the nearby Portsmouth Cinema, four passes to the nearby putt-putt golf course and a $25 certificate for use in the dining room or gift shop. The rate at Shawnee State Park Resort starts at $174 on weekdays throughout the summer and $184 for weekend visits. Shawnee State Park Resort is located in south central Ohio near the Kentucky border.
About Xanterra Parks & Resorts
Xanterra Parks & Resorts® (consisting of Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Inc. and Xanterra South Rim, L.L.C.) operates lodges, restaurants and other concessions at national parks and state parks and resorts. Xanterra Parks & Resorts is the country’s largest park concessioner. Xanterra operates concessions in the following locations: Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Crater Lake, Death Valley, Rocky Mountain and Petrified Forest National Parks, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial; and at the Silverado Resort in Napa, Calif.; and eight Ohio State Parks. Its affiliate Xanterra South Rim, L.L.C. operates concessions at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Xanterra also operates the Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, Ariz.
Long committed to the preservation and protection of the environment, Ecologix, Xanterra Parks & Resorts’ environmental program, includes a variety of proactive environmental stewardship programs in each location. Xanterra has been repeatedly recognized for its environmental leadership in the hospitality industry and is the recipient of many honors, including major awards from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, Travel Industry Association, Colorado Department of Public Health, State of Arizona, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and Utah Department of Environmental Quality.
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