New water park opens in Aruba
EAGLE ISLAND, Aruba - A new water park has opened in Aruba.
The 28,000-square-foot Morgan's Island park opened in December near the La Cabana resort on Eagle Beach. The park features slides and rides with twists, dips and funnels, and a freefall, one-person water slide with a 69-foot vertical drop.
Other attractions include giant double wave pools with a wraparound lounging area for families, and a kids-only pool area with water spouts and slides. Showers, changing and locker rooms, a game parlor, food and an infirmary are also on site.
Morgan's Island is open daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Details at http://www.arubamorgansisland.com.
For general information about vacations in Aruba, visit http://www.ARUBA.com.
Disney opening American Idol Experience
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - An attraction inspired by the "American Idol" TV show officially opens at Disney's Hollywood Studios Feb. 14.
Walt Disney World guests can register to audition in front of a Disney casting director for a chance to take part in the theme park show. Contestants who make the cut must then audition for a Disney producer. Those selected by producers will perform in front of an onstage panel of judges and an audience of park guests who vote on each show's winners.
Performing guests with the highest votes compete in an end-of-day grand finale show at the attraction. The winner of that competition gets a guaranteed reservation, with no waiting in long lines, for a future regional audition for the real "American Idol" TV show.
Details - including age restrictions and other eligibility requirements - at http://www.disneyworld.com/idol.
Snow in Atlanta? There is now
ATLANTA - Residents of Atlanta aren't accustomed to snowy winters. But now anybody in the area who wants a day of snow play can head to Stone Mountain Park, which has opened its first "Snow Mountain Park," with three football fields of snow, a 400-foot hill with 11 tubing runs, and a 30,000-square-foot play area.
The snow park opened Dec. 31 and is scheduled to remain open weekends through March 1. Details at http://www.snowmountainpark.com.
Winter festivals in Traverse City
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - Traverse City's annual February winter carnival coincides this year with the North American Vasa Festival of Races, a cross-country ski event, on the weekend of Feb. 13-16.
The Vasa, in its 33rd year, offers a picturesque course for ski racers through Pere Marquette State Forest. The main competition, which features 12K, 27K and 50K races in both freestyle and classic modes, takes place Feb. 14, with 6K and 16K races Sunday.
The Cherry Capital Winter WonderFest, which was held for the first time in 2007, offers more than 50 activities and events, including sleigh rides, concerts, films, tastings, bonfires and fireworks over the snow. Details at http://www.winterwonderfest.org, http://www.vasa.org and http://www.VisitTraverseCity.com