With the
holidays drawing to a close—and the cold, grey, Central Ohio weather settling
in for a few months, our dreams turn to sunny, warmer days and fun-filled travel
plans. If you need a little inspiration,
the annual AAA Great Vacations Travel EXPO is right around the corner!
The AAA Great Vacations Travel EXPO runs
Friday, January 16-Sunday, January 18th, at the Greater ColumbusConvention Center in Downtown Columbus, Ohio.
The annual EXPO offers a one stop shop for everything travel related and
this year’s Great Vacations Travel EXPO is no exception.
Visitors to the EXPO will find everything from family friendly entertainment, travel experts, vacation information, and celebrity visits to special EXPO only discounts and deals.
Visitors to the EXPO will find everything from family friendly entertainment, travel experts, vacation information, and celebrity visits to special EXPO only discounts and deals.
What
will you find at The AAA Great Vacations Travel Expo?
Vacation
Marketplace: The EXPO has assembled an incredible lineup of hundreds of
the world’s top travel destinations.
Paradise
Pavilion: The Paradise Pavilion transports guests right out of the
cold to warm, tropical vacations at extraordinary resorts throughout the
Caribbean and Mexico.
Lake Erie Shores & Islands: Guests can set sail for Lake Erie
Shores & Islands at this special feature area. From Cedar Point, to
Put-in-Bay, this fun-filled beach environment boasts interactive activities
that bring the unique Lake Erie Shores & Islands experience to life.
AAA Explore
Store: Packed with free travel guidebooks, maps and brochures,
the Explore Store is where guests can receive expert advice and great deals on
the perfect vacation.
AAA Kids Day: Kids Day,
jam-packed with kid-centric entertainment, activities and workshops, takes
place on Saturday, Jan. 17 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. These special kid-friendly activities are designed
to entertain youngsters while providing useful tips and advice for Mom and
Dad. Some Kids Day highlights include:
§ The EXPO's popular "Passport
for Prizes” game which offers guests a chance to win a family getaway to sunny
Myrtle Beach.
§ The Great Outdoors area, presented
by Metro Parks, gives Mom and Dad a chance to take a breather while kids enjoy
interacting with wildlife, a putting green and other outdoor-related
activities.
§ Exotic animals transform the Travel
Stage into a full-on menagerie at Noon with The Farm at Walnut Creek.
§ A costumed General Sherman
re-enactor brings history to life at 10:30 a.m. with kid-friendly tales of the
Civil War, presented by Fairfield County Visitors and Convention Bureau.
§ Well-known hiking expert, author and
speaker Jeff Alt offers his tried-and-true tips for hiking with kids at 1 p.m.
§ Guests can meet and have family
photos taken with everyone’s favorite cartoon character, Snoopy, and fish for
fun prizes all day long on the sandy beach, courtesy of Lake Erie Shores &
Islands
AAA Travel
Stage: Appearances, live entertainment, events and workshops are
led by leading travel experts and well-known celebrities. Travel Stage higlights include:
"1,000 Places to See Before You
Die" author headlines Travel EXPO
Patricia
Schultz, Three-time New York Times bestselling author, is scheduled to
appear at the Great Vacations Travel EXPO on Friday, Jan. 16, at 2 p.m.. Shultz will share adventures from her 25
years of travel writing; detailing insider travel secrets and taking audience
questions during an open Q&A
session.
She will also be available after her
appearance to chat with visitors and sign copies of her books of her books and
chat with guests. In addition to her
writing, Shultz is the executive producer of the popular Travel Channel Show, “1,000 Places to See
Before You Die,” which was inspired by her book.
Esquire restaurant editor &
James Beard Award winner to appear
Josh Ozersky, the editor of the esteemed
Esquire magazine’s food and restaurant coverage, will appear on the AAA Travel Stage at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, and will
answer audience questions about the best food cities and restaurants for
travelers. Ozersky
was recognized for excellence in food writing with the prestigious James
Beard Award for his work on New York Magazine's "Grub
Street," Ozersky received additional James Beard nominations for his work
on New York Magazine's "Grub Street," Ozersky received
additional James Beard nominations for his writing in Time, The Wall Street
Journal and OzerskyTV.
Travel EXPO hosts renowned daredevil
Nik Wallenda
Celebrated daredevil and high-wire
artist Nik Wallenda, representing the seventh generation
of the legendary Great Wallendas, will also
headline at the EXPO. Wallenda takes the AAA Travel Stage on Sunday, Jan. 18,
at 2 p.m. Wallenda’s presentation will detail the experience of walking a
tightrope, what makes him do it and how travelers can see the world from a
different angle. Wallenda also will answer audience members’ questions and pose
for photos.
The AAA Great Vacations Travel EXPO is always a great spot for travel inspiration and resources--as well as loads of discounts and special travel deals. Since many of the discounts and offers are only available at the EXPO--and booking is even available on the spot from some vendors--plan to bring along your calendar and means of payment!
About the AAA Great Vacations Travel EXPO
The Great Vacations Travel EXPO, presented by AAA, opens Friday, Jan. 16, and runs through Sunday, Jan. 18, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Downtown Columbus. EXPO hours are: Friday noon to 7 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are available at the door or at any AAA Ohio Auto Club store for $8. AAA members who show their AAA card will receive 50%-off on admission. Children ages 16 and under are admitted at no charge. For additional event details, or to purchase tickets in advance, visit www.AAAGreatVacations.com
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post--simply an event that we have attended, enjoyed and wanted to share!
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