(Family Features) If winter’s chill has you dreaming of sunshine and quality time together, it’s the perfect moment to start planning your next family getaway. Spring break may feel far off, but booking early means more time to look forward to reconnecting with the whole family in a destination full of enriching experiences. Whether you’re seeking excitement or a laid-back escape to recharge, now’s the time to plan and take advantage of the season’s most rewarding offers.

Designed for connection and comfort – from studios to sprawling three-bedroom suites – each Hyatt Vacation Club resort offers a resort experience with a refined sense of home, featuring fully equipped kitchens, spacious living areas, in-unit washers and dryers, and private balconies. Guests can linger over morning coffee, share home-cooked meals or unwind with a glass of wine under the stars.

The in-room experience is just as exceptional as what awaits beyond it: luxurious pools, unique on-site activities, fine dining and more. Every detail is crafted to bring families and groups together, blending the ease of vacation with the inviting warmth of home.

With more than 20 residential-style resorts sprinkled across North America and the Caribbean, the resorts offer guests and World of Hyatt members a chance to slow down and immerse in local experiences, breathtaking scenery or shared experiences that linger long after you leave.

From ocean breezes in Key West to Pacific views in Cabo, Hyatt Vacation Club resorts offer freedom to explore and rewards that keep you coming back. For a limited time, members who register by March 22, 2026, can earn 3,000 Bonus Points per night (up to 30,000 total) for stays at participating properties through March 29, 2026, just in time to make your spring break escape even more rewarding.

When planning your spring break destination, consider these inspirational places that offer spacious accommodations, and find more information by visiting Hyatt.com/HVC-3K-points.

Your Gateway to Sedona’s Great Outdoors: At Hyatt Vacation Club at Pinon Pointe, just off historic Route 66 in Sedona, Arizona, adventure begins right outside your door. Explore scenic hiking trails, ancient Native American ruins and landmarks that define this stunning desert landscape. Surrounded by Sedona’s iconic red rocks, this Southwest retreat offers cozy studios and spacious two-bedroom villas – each with a full kitchen, living area, furnished balcony or patio and a fireplace. Guests can also enjoy a heated outdoor pool with desert views and curated on-site programming, from self-guided art walks to chakra and crystal workshops, that explore Sedona’s spiritual history.

Your Home Base on the California Coast: Perched high above the Pacific near the charming town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Hyatt Vacation Club at Highlands Inn is a haven for couples, friends and families seeking both comfort and adventure. Spacious, residential-style suites with kitchens and private bedrooms make it easy to settle in while Big Sur’s dramatic coastline calls you to explore. Drive the cliffs of Highway 1, hike hidden trails, unwind on sun-drenched beaches or toast the sunset with a glass of local wine. For those looking to immerse themselves even further, enjoy live piano performances in the lobby and guided botanical walks at the resort.

Relaxation, Reimagined in the Texas Hill Country: Set amid 39 acres of rolling Hill Country landscape, Hyatt Vacation Club at Wild Oak Ranch invites guests to slow down and soak it all in. Float along an 800-foot lazy river, roast s’mores by your personal firepit or catch a movie under the stars. Surrounded by an award-winning golf course and 39 acres of lush landscaping and nature trails, this ranch-inspired haven encourages guests to enjoy the outdoors. If you’re looking for fun on-site experiences for the family – or a chance to make new friends – you can enjoy guacamole-making classes and karaoke.

Soak Up the Spirit of Puerto Rico: Soak up the beauty and charm of Puerto Rico from Hyatt Vacation Club at Hacienda del Mar, surrounded by warm tropical breezes, turquoise waters and Caribbean elegance. Set just 25 miles from historic San Juan along a prime stretch of famed Dorado Beach, this secluded seaside resort invites you to experience paradise with direct beach access, whirlpools and on-site activities like salsa dancing and art tours.

SOURCE:
Hyatt

(Feature Impact) The key to easy preparation of high-quality meals, wasting less food and saving money may already be sitting in your kitchen.

For many families, the freezer is for last-minute meal options. However, new federal nutrition guidance and growing scientific consensus reveal a different reality: frozen foods can be the starting point for healthy eating, not a backup plan. That’s why the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) is launching “Fresh Thinking About Frozen,” a campaign to help families discover these benefits of frozen foods.

Making Nutrition Achievable

The recently released 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the nation’s top nutrition advice, emphasizes portion control and nutrient-dense foods. Frozen options deliver on both counts.

Families who keep frozen produce on hand tend to eat more fruits and vegetables overall. Pre-portioned frozen meals also help people eat what they need without overdoing it. Plus, the convenience factor matters: frozen berries are ready for a morning smoothie, pre-cut frozen vegetables can be added to tonight’s stir-fry and a balanced frozen meal can be quickly paired with a salad.

That isn’t cutting corners. It’s being smart on how best to feed a family well.

Freezing Hits the Pause Button on Fresh Foods

Freezing food only changes a food’s temperature, not its nutrition. Freezing keeps food close to its original state without requiring additives.

Produce begins to lose nutritional value right after it’s harvested. Freezing fruits and vegetables hours after harvest pauses nutrient degradation and locks in the vitamins and minerals, so the food remains farm fresh even as it travels across the country to your grocery store. Frozen meals are similarly made with real ingredients and turned into just-cooked recipes then frozen for families to eat when they’re ready.

The nutrition community understands this. A recent survey conducted by AFFI found 94% of registered dietitians agree frozen fruits and vegetables are just as nutritious as their fresh counterparts. Another 92% said frozen foods offer a variety of nutritious meal offerings. These findings are central to the “Fresh Thinking About Frozen” message: Frozen is not second-best. It’s simply smart.

Solving the Food Waste Problem

Nearly 40% of food in the United States gets thrown away, according to the nonprofit ReFED. That translates to roughly $1,500 per year per household, straight into the trash along with unused produce and forgotten leftovers.

Frozen helps fix that problem. Eight in 10 consumers agree buying frozen helps reduce food waste at home, AFFI research finds. The reason is simple: You use what you need, when you need it and the rest stays perfectly preserved. No more dreading the refrigerator cleanouts and feeling guilty over the uneaten food going into the trashcan.

Time for Fresh Thinking

Families already making this shift aren’t settling for less. They’re strategic about nutrition, budget and time. They integrate the freezer into regular meal planning. They feel confident about providing quality foods that are simply frozen.

The freezer isn’t a place of last resort. It’s a tool for eating well in real life. Visit frozenadvantage.org/FTAF for tips, recipes and resources to make the most of your freezer.

Photos courtesy of Shutterstock

SOURCE:

American Frozen Food Institute

July 17, 1941 – March 2, 2026
NOCONA – Tommy Lobban, 84, died on March 2, 2026.
There was a visitation from 6 – 7 p.m. on March 4, at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel in Nocona. A graveside service will follow at 11 a.m. on Mar. 5 at Nocona Cemetery.
He was born on July 17, 1941 in Nocona to Lewbert and Orbey Paine Lobban. He grew up ranching all of his life in Nocona. He married Jan Leslie Combs on Feb. 18, 1983.
He is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Sharon Gordon.
He is survived by his wife, Jan Lobban, Nocona; a step-son; brother, Lew Lobban, Henrietta; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; three nephews and two nieces.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.