“The Frugal Traveler: Adventure Travel With Kids - Wichita Eagle” plus 1 more

The Frugal Traveler: Adventure Travel With Kids - Wichita Eagle

Posted: 30 Dec 2010 09:35 AM PST

By Sharon Harvey Rosenberg and Myscha Theriault

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

A jungle ride through a natural reserve on a Mexican island served a dose of adventure for children traveling on an otherwise serene cruise to Mexico. On another expedition, wet suits, water shoes and head lamps were standard equipment for a 90-minute tour of crystal caves.

Children love adventure. Including activities with wow factor on your next family getaway is a sure bet against boredom.

Flexibility: Mike and Catrell Cooney (www.cooneyworldadventure.com) took their three teenage boys on a world tour. When the family missed the road to Brisbane in Australia, they traveled through a national park, which provided sightings of platypuses in the wild. The unscheduled detour added about 1,000 unplanned and unavoidable miles to their trip, but produced a trunk-load of valuable memories.

Details: Attention to detail can also yield financial savings. The Cooneys, for example, saved big bucks at major attractions around the globe because their three sons qualified for student discounts. Erika Henderson of The Active Explorer recommends layers for family caving trips, as temperatures can remain cool inside even when outside temperatures become balmy. Henderson also stresses footwear with good tread to avoid slips and spills.

Location: Select locations that have built-in adventure. Angkor Wat's jungle temple, featured in the film Tomb Raider, adds wow factor and takes a basic archaeological outing to the next level, especially for children and movie fans. The Los Suenos Marriott Ocean and Golf Resort on Costa Rica's Pacific coast is strategically located near numerous adventure spots, giving teens and younger children a chance to hike in the rainforest, go white-water rafting or experience wildlife up close.

Activities: Break up sightseeing with adventure activities. For example, if you plan to spend the day at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, after seeing the Sphinx and pyramids, do yourself a favor: Buy camel rides for the kids, and finish the day with a faluka (small sailboat) ride on the river. And don't overlook the mini-camps offered at many resorts and cruise ships, said Kristen Braynen, of Island-Guru.com, which provides concierge services for travelers. Kids' activity clubs are free on some cruises. During a mid-December cruise, Braynen enrolled her toddlers in a free program with childcare experts who changed diapers, fed and entertained young travelers for no extra cost. This allowed the adults to enjoy adventure outings unencumbered.

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Nintendo: 3D Games May Damage Kids' Eyes - Huffingtonpost.com

Posted: 29 Dec 2010 01:11 PM PST

As gamers eagerly await the release of the Nintendo 3DS, a portable console featuring glasses-free 3D technology, the company has issued a warning to consumers. Nintendo stated that viewing images in 3D may cause damage to the eyes, especially in children younger than six years old.

The disclaimer was posted to Nintendo's Japanese website along with guidelines for proper use of the 3DS device, Fox News reports.

According to a translation of the warning (via Google Translate), Nintendo says that young children's eyes are not fully developed and that prolonged exposure to 3D images could interfere with proper growth in a ways that might not affect an adult's eyes.

Engadget has details: "Nintendo [...] says that children under six shouldn't use the 3D mode at all, since their eyes are still developing, and that parents can use controls built into the 3DS to lock it into 2D mode for children."

Nintendo's warning also informed adult gamers on proper 3D gameplay. "[P]layers are advised that 3D gameplay causes eye fatigue more quickly than 2D gaming and are told to take a break after 30 minutes of play -- and you should quit immediately if you get ill," writesEngadget.

The Escapist is now reporting that young children will be barred from using the 3DS console at the upcoming Nintendo World event, which will showcase the device.

Ophthalmologist Michael Ehrenhaus told Fox News that children as old as eight years old may be at risk of developmental damage, but he also said that Nintendo's warning may be a bit extreme. "I don't foresee it as a major issue," Ehrenhaus conceded. "[Nintendo are] just being overly concerned."

Fearmongering aside, Nintendo plans to start selling the 3DS this coming February in Japan. European and U.S. consumers can expect the device in March, AP reports.

Earlier this year, Samsung stirred up fears about the health risks associated with watching 3D TV. View our slideshow (here) to see who should steer clear of 3D and why, according to Samsung.

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Thursday, December 30, 2010