As a travel writer, I’m often looking for unique story ideas. One of the best resources for information about destinations near and far, I’ve found, is at the annual AAA Great Vacations EXPO, Jan. 20-22, at Franklin County Veterans Memorial in Columbus.
The event, presented by the American Automobile Association, offers booth after booth of exhibitors sharing the lowdown about their particular towns and distant locales, many providing special packages and discounts to show guests.
I also like learning about travel trends from the featured speakers on the AAA Travel Stage and picking up maps at the AAA Explore Store. This year’s show includes appearances by Bert Kreischer, of the Travel Channel TV show “Bert the Conqueror,” and Spud Hilton, travel editor of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Since I write about family travel, I take my family along and make an event of it. We usually go on Kids Day, Jan. 21, when a full slate of kid-friendly activities is planned, including children’s crafts, a stick-horse rodeo and a chance to see neat animals up close, such as a baby giraffe and a ring-tailed lemur, from the Farm at Walnut Creek.
My husband, Mike, enjoys testing his putting skills at the Great Outdoors Adventure Area, where he’s won a free round of golf at one of the Columbus Metro Parks the past three years we’ve attended the show.
My children, Rosie and Max, get a kick out of hugging roaming mascots, such as Snoopy and SpongeBob SquarePants, and collecting giveaways at the booths – especially candy.
I just enjoy thinking about upcoming adventures in the dead of winter. I roam from booth to booth, collecting brochures in a bag until it’s stuffed tight.
I look for realistic weekend getaways to Lake Erie and Amish country, and dreamier vacations such as a Disney cruise.
The AAA Great Vacations EXPO runs Jan. 20-22 at Franklin County Veterans Memorial, 300 W. Broad St., Columbus. Show hours are noon-8 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday; and 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday. Tickets cost $9, or $6 for AAA members, and are available at the door or at any AAA Ohio Auto Club store and online at AAAGreatVacations.com. Children ages 16 and under get in free.
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