At the Gaylord Palms Orlando

Last November my husband and two daughters accompanied me on a business trip to Orlando. The accommodations were five-star superb with an "Old Florida" theme featuring four historic locales -- all under one sprawling atrium. Nothing fun was within walking distance, but the Disney parks were a short drive away. It was beautiful, clean, and fake in the great Disney tradition (which I happen to love). Still, I felt trapped there. The view of the sky through the dome was one of the few bright escapes.