Hot summer days bring special times when millions of Americans take a break from their hectic schedules to reconnect with family and friends. In the case of African-Americans, we're traveling more to make those connections. Between 2000 and 2002, African-American travel volume rose 4 percent--double the overall rate, according to the Travel Industry Association of America. Most of those trips were taken for leisure, often to visit friends or relatives.

Today's $90 billion minority travel market reflects many distinctive trends that reinforce strong family values and a proud cultural heritage. Here's how African-Americans are creating memorable family moments through several unique vacation categories:

REJUVENATING REUNIONS

One of the most popular ways African-Americans reconnect with loved ones is to share summer vacation with extended family. Whether the event is a simple barbecue in the backyard or an elaborate affair at a faraway destination, family reunions strengthen bonds and give future generations a legacy to build on. Add your favorite foods to the occasion and it just gets people talking, exchanging stories and sharing moments.

"The activities at family reunions help participants develop a sense of identity and self-esteem," says Dr. Ione Vargus, Professor Emeritus and founder of the Family Reunion Institute at Temple University in Philadelphia--an organization that helps African-American families plan reunions. "For young people in particular, when they interact with older relatives and hear about their ancestors, they get a sense of belonging to something and that's a very important ingredient." Reading about history is interesting--but hearing it directly from Grandma is priceless!

HERITAGE VACATIONS

African-American families who desire more from their vacation than lounging by the pool or screaming on thrill rides are opting for cultural trips. Parents who want their children to experience Black history and culture are visiting attractions such as the National Civil Rights Museum[TM] in Memphis, Tennessee; the Stax[R] Museum of American Soul Music, with 17,000 square feet of cultural artifacts and music memorabilia, also in Memphis; or the James E. Lewis Museum of Art at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. Often families will schedule their vacation around an African-American-inspired event like the Idlewild Jazz Festival on Williams Island in Idlewild, Michigan, or the Cowboys of Color Invitational Rodeo in Fort Worth, Texas. To make the day even more special, pack sandwiches and bags of your favorite flavors of LAY'S[R] brand potato chips for a casual picnic as you discuss all you have learned.

To find out more about heritage tourism, you can visit a website devoted exclusively to Black cultural vacationing. SoulofAmerica.com offers information about African-American events, cultural sites and travel packages across the United States and the Caribbean.

GROUP TOURS

Forget those boring group tours you endured in grade school! Today's African-Americans are sharing sightseeing experiences with family and friends that are both fun and educational. According to the Travel Industry Association, African-Americans take three times as many group tours as the general public.

Popular excursions include Underground Railroad tours, such as the Motherland Connextions tours in Niagara Falls, New York, where you can cross the Niagara River to one of the Canadian border towns that drew Freedom Seekers. Or discover the "Black Beverly Hills" of the 1920s and '30s through Black LA Tours in Los Angeles, California. Be sure to bring along great tasting snacks like LAY'S[R] potato chips to make learning about your heritage even more enjoyable.

CRUISIN'

African-Americans are taking to the seas like never before. Today, there are many cruises designed specifically for Black tourists that sail the Mediterranean (Barcelona, Monte Carlo and Florence, among others) and Jamaica, Grand Cayman and the Grand Bahamas in the Caribbean.

While many cruise packages are ideal for couples, there are also options that satisfy the entire family. Some cruises feature concerts, parties, basketball tournaments and supervised programs for children ages 3 to 17. Families also have the opportunity to explore a variety of destinations together at exotic ports of call. Sampling the local delicacies of another culture is always part of the adventure, but be sure to take along bottled water and plenty of LAY'S[R] potato chips to give the kids that familiar taste and feeling of home.

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