National List of Family Vacation Destinations Searched Online This July 4th Season Ranks Orlando No. 1

Family Travel Website Compiles Top-15 List; Offers 10 Tips to Make Long Drives or Trips More Enjoyable for Restless Children -- and Their Parents

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., July 1, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Parents looking to plan that perfect family vacation online this July 4th travel season are largely searching for rentals in Florida, according to the family travel Website www.GreatFamilyRentals.com .

The targeted travel site's top-15 list is compiled from about 150,000 searches performed by its users in the last month:

    Popular destinations searched online for family vacations 
                      this July 4th season

 1) Orlando, Fla.
 2) Kissimmee, Fla.
 3) Myrtle Beach, S.C.
 4) Tybee Island, Ga.
 5) Gulf Shores, Ala.
 6) Destin, Fla.
 7) Hilton Head Island, S.C.
 8) Davenport, Fla.
 9) South Padre Island, Texas
 10) Sebastopol, Calif.
 11) Kihei, Hawaii
 12) Indian Shores, Fla.
 13) South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
 14) Daytona Beach, Fla.
 15) Naples, Fla.
 Source: www.GreatFamilyRentals.com

The staff at GreatFamilyRentals.com has also come up with 10 ideas on how parents can make trips this July 4th weekend more fun for their children and, in turn, themselves:

  10 ways to make long car rides and trips more fun for children

1) Give children disposable cameras to use freely throughout the trip and document their travels.

2) Schedule time for children to let off steam and be kids at playgrounds or parks.

3) Give children age appropriate music players with earphones that allow them to listen to their favorite types of music.

4) Drive at night when children of all ages are more apt to sleep through all or most of long stretches.

5) Give children creative outlets such as erasable drawing tablets or notebooks or get them one of their favorite books or magazines.

6) Include children in the trip's scheduling and planning decisions such as when and where to eat. The inclusion will empower children and make them more vested and interested in the trip.

7) Don't stay at a site or structure -- even a famous one -- if it's clearly a bust for the family.

8) Be quick to take breaks and be realistic about how much sightseeing children can do. Don't try to see everything.

9) Play driving games such as "I spy . . ." that incorporate the surroundings.

10) Be wary of giving children food or drinks with caffeine, as well as heavy foods that may upset their stomachs later.

Sources: www.GreatFamilyRentals.com ; www.grownupsguide.com

About GreatFamilyRentals.com

GreatFamilyRentals.com is the Web's only vacation-rental site truly dedicated to one of the fastest growing leisure travel sectors -- family travel. GreatFamilyRentals.com connects families with owners of quality vacation and resort rental properties worldwide. The Web Smarty-winning site also offers families a one-stop shop for booking air travel, car rentals, activities, and more. GreatFamilyRentals.com is based in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

CONTACT:  GreatFamilyRentals.com
          David Goldschmidt
          CEO
          (866) 280-6731
          info@greatfamilyrentals.com
          http://www.greatfamilyrentals.com/