Vacations advice

www.arthoffman.com Art, Martha and Chenji head off to Florida.

The only hiccup to what promises to be a great spring break is gas prices. After one of the mildest winters in recent memory it isn't hard to fast forward to spring break. "I hope the weather holds out for a good spring break. "But it will affect the amount of money that they spend and where they spend their money. "Spring and summer is your big thing," says Colton Wallace at Blonde John's Surf Shop. This winter has been well, winter for retailers. We're about five percent ahead of last year at this time and that number is just climbing and climbing," says Marie Curran with Brett Robinson. "Everybody makes their money off that and does there own thing through the winter. "It may not affect if they come down here," says Wallace. Right now the average price of a gallon of gas in Alabama is three dollars and 49 cents and that is expected to go up as temperatures rise.

When your children reach a certain age, say, four to seven points Orlando is a frequent topic of conversation. All those who took a trip to Disney World with their children has an opinion on what to do to maximize dollars spent Disney. If you stay, when you go, the best and worst that, which is a waste of time, and the route or attraction was worth every minute online, and every last whimper. But the best advice yet: dinner reservations.

My husband and I do not consider ourselves connoisseurs, or even eating high maintenance.We eat meat with gusto-even lard, especially bacon-eating large quantities of gluten, too rich in carbohydrates, too much corn syrup, fructose, and bushels of fruit grown inorganic. Moderate to soft on the spectrum of food tastes and demands. Or so we thought. Until we have spent a few days break at Disney World, and instead of eating our own elbows while waiting in line to meet Cinderella, eat too many breakfast dishes kid-friendly. Super chicken tenders and fries French companies, everyone?The casual quick lunch food is okay by me (emphasis on the hand), but eat fast food three days in a row makes me moody and cranky, and transforms me into a lot of maintenance and foodie snob Food incorrigible desperately seeking decent meal. food options inside the Magic Kingdom and other parks are limited and the goal of providing fast fuel for the masses, but outside the front door, you will find dining destinations to please the pickiest palate.We were tempted by the menu of six-course prix fixe at the Victoria & Albert's, the restaurant's signature Grand Floridian, which also offers custom menus, butler service, and long-stemmed roses for the ladies. But finally we found the V & A trousers too fancy for our host on this trip, especially since we had no babysitter and customers must be 10 years or more. Next time. Jiko at Animal Kingdom Lodge features a fusion of Mediterranean, Indian and African tastes and an open kitchen where you can watch the expert chefs concoct their meals.Artist Point, the restaurant at our "home" hotel, Disney's Wilderness Lodge, gathers inspiration from the Pacific Northwest and offers a rustic and elegant. We also enjoyed a delicious seafood meal Caribbean-inspired coffee more relaxed Olivia at Old Key West hotel....