Family Travel: A Quacking Good Time

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

29 Jul 2008 10:00 PM

Ernie from "Sesame Street" would be in heaven.

If your kids are as enamored with rubber ducks as the lovable orange character from the award-winning children's television show then head to Michigan next week. That's where you will find of one the world's largest Rubber Ducky festivals around.

The village of Bellaire in Northern Michigan is holding its annual Rubber Ducky Festival from August 6-17 and is hoping to break a record by stuffing more than 5,000 yellow ducks in the Intermediate River for a quarter-mile race on August 16th.

Spectators have a chance to get in on the action by betting $5 apiece on the ducks, which are numbered. First place winner gets $500, with cash prizes all the way down to 27th place.

While dozens of other cities around the country host duck races like this on their rivers to raise money for local causes, Bellaire's race is unique in that it is just one part of a ducky extravaganza, which features concerts, children's activities, live music, sidewalk sales, parades and other wild and wacky competitions, from a belt sander race to "the world's second-longest coffee break."

If you go, plan on spending a couple extra days exploring the area. Bellaire is also home to numerous ski and golf resorts. During the summer months the region is a hotspot for bird watching and fishing. The town is located about 30 miles from Traverse City, but has its own lodgings including the Lakeview Hotel & Conference Center, Stone Waters Inn, Applesauce Inn Bed & Breakfast and the All Seasons Motel.

If you are looking for a travel destination that is a bit more high octane then head to the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.

The massive shopping center is the new home of Nickelodeon Universe theme park and the notorious Avatar Airbender ride.

The ride made headlines last week when it became the makeshift home to a Minnesota high school teacher who spent 20 consecutive hours on it.

Jim Salava was among 10 brave souls who boarded the Avatar Airbender in the "Ride the Tide Challenge," a contest designed to see who could spend the most time on the ride that averages 43 mph and reaches heights of 70 feet.

Salava boarded the ride at 6:30 a.m. on July 21 and stayed on until 2:35 a.m. the next day. Other than bathroom and meal breaks, contestants remained on the ride at all times - even to sleep.

For surviving the marathon ride Salava was awarded a top prize of a family cruise, $1,000 in cash and a lifetime pass to the theme park.

Related Articles:

Have Duck Will Travel

Family Travel: Sweeten Up Your Summer Vacation

Family Travel: Dolls, LEGO and Blues

All-American Family Vacation Destinations

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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Eileen123 (40) 30 Jul 2008 09:34 AM

Oh my kids love their rubber ducks... wish we could go!

www.simplestop.net - Stop your postal junk mail, Protect the environment, Protect your identity.

Michele Cheplic (37236) 02 Aug 2008 05:13 AM

Me too Eileen! Thanks for the comment. My daughter has about 10 rubber ducks she calls them the "duck family."