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Columbus, Ohio —
Columbus is hosting the fifth annual Great Vacations Travel Expo, an event that will help kick the January blahs.
Visitors will find more than 250 exhibitors, free trip giveaways, special things to do for kids, interactive events and experiences, travel hints and advice, visits by celebrities and so much more.
During the three-day event, which runs from January 18-20, travel destinations will be giving exclusive discounts. Have a calendar ready so you know when you are free to go.
Saturday, Jan. 19, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., is Kid's Day. Families will find plenty to do together on this special day. The first 200 kids will receive Mickey Mouse ears. There will be games, and the Radio Disney Cleveland Road Crew will be on hand to perform. The outdoors are brought in by the Metro Parks — wildlife included.
At the Paradise Pavilion, visitors can get out of the cold and take a look at tropical destinations. At the Marketplace, travelers can find top travel destinations from around the world.
This year, visitors will have the opportunity to see several familiar faces. Lisa Whelchel of “The Facts of Life” TV show will be on hand at 3 p.m. Saturday. She is best known as Blair Warner on the 1980s show. Whelchel just completed her adventure as a castaway on “Survivor: Philippines” and will share her travel and life experiences with those at the expo.
Also on the guest list is screen star, travel writer and “Geographic Traveler” editor-at-large, Andrew McCarthy. He will appear at 1 p.m. on Sunday. McCarthy has appeared in “Weekend at Bernie's,” “Pretty in Pink,” “St. Elmo’s Fire” and “Less Than Zero.” He is well-known as a travel journalist and will be on hand to talk about his new memoir and offer his insight into travel, including tips to combat the fear of traveling.
Appearing on Friday at 2 p.m. will be Peter Greenberg, “CBS News” travel editor and author of the “Travel Detective” series. He will be sharing his travel tips. Greenberg has reported on and explored travel destinations all over the world. He hosts the “Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio” show, which broadcasts from a different location around the world each week. His most recent book, “The Best Places for Everything,” reveals the best places in the world to find life-changing experiences.
The expo is held at the Franklin County Veterans Memorial, 300 West Broad St., in the heart of downtown Columbus.
Show hours are Friday, 12 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 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 $9. AAA members who show their AAA card will save $3 on admission. Children ages 16 and under are admitted at no charge. If you would like more information or purchase your tickets in advance visit www.AAAGreatVacations.com.
Columbus is hosting the fifth annual Great Vacations Travel Expo, an event that will help kick the January blahs.
Visitors will find more than 250 exhibitors, free trip giveaways, special things to do for kids, interactive events and experiences, travel hints and advice, visits by celebrities and so much more.
During the three-day event, which runs from January 18-20, travel destinations will be giving exclusive discounts. Have a calendar ready so you know when you are free to go.
Saturday, Jan. 19, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., is Kid's Day. Families will find plenty to do together on this special day. The first 200 kids will receive Mickey Mouse ears. There will be games, and the Radio Disney Cleveland Road Crew will be on hand to perform. The outdoors are brought in by the Metro Parks — wildlife included.
At the Paradise Pavilion, visitors can get out of the cold and take a look at tropical destinations. At the Marketplace, travelers can find top travel destinations from around the world.
This year, visitors will have the opportunity to see several familiar faces. Lisa Whelchel of “The Facts of Life” TV show will be on hand at 3 p.m. Saturday. She is best known as Blair Warner on the 1980s show. Whelchel just completed her adventure as a castaway on “Survivor: Philippines” and will share her travel and life experiences with those at the expo.
Also on the guest list is screen star, travel writer and “Geographic Traveler” editor-at-large, Andrew McCarthy. He will appear at 1 p.m. on Sunday. McCarthy has appeared in “Weekend at Bernie's,” “Pretty in Pink,” “St. Elmo’s Fire” and “Less Than Zero.” He is well-known as a travel journalist and will be on hand to talk about his new memoir and offer his insight into travel, including tips to combat the fear of traveling.
Appearing on Friday at 2 p.m. will be Peter Greenberg, “CBS News” travel editor and author of the “Travel Detective” series. He will be sharing his travel tips. Greenberg has reported on and explored travel destinations all over the world. He hosts the “Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio” show, which broadcasts from a different location around the world each week. His most recent book, “The Best Places for Everything,” reveals the best places in the world to find life-changing experiences.
The expo is held at the Franklin County Veterans Memorial, 300 West Broad St., in the heart of downtown Columbus.
Show hours are Friday, 12 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 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 $9. AAA members who show their AAA card will save $3 on admission. Children ages 16 and under are admitted at no charge. If you would like more information or purchase your tickets in advance visit www.AAAGreatVacations.com.
