****We are very big travelers and have had the pleasure to visit several places in the past few years. Over my years of traveling I have learned alot of do's and dont's and have some favorites for sure. I will continue to keep you updated as we experience new places and new tips as well !!.....
DisneyWorld
Truly magical for kids and parents.....
We are Disney-holics and hopefully when our kids are older they will have some great memories from our Disney vacations. First off,YES it can be expensive !! But with the right research and some planning it doesn't have to be. Check out the link above "Tips for saving at Disney" for more really great savings, this is where I got alot of my info also.
*Where to stay= This is a HUGE factor in saving money and saving on parking fee's. STAY INSIDE THE PARK if you can, there are many hotels to choose from that range from $89 - $500 a night. Staying at a Disney Resort hotel includes ...complimentary transportation to all Disney parks (savings of $20 a day), extended theme park hours, complimentary transportation for you and your luggage from Orlando International Airport and shopping purchases can be delivered right to your room (instead of lugging it around all day). My personal favorites are....Disney's Port Orleans-Riverside and Disney's Animal Kingdom lodge
*Things to Do= DisneyWorld offers 4 parks Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. All 4 parks are great and each has their own special theme. From experience my suggestion would be to ONLY visit one park a day, especially if you have young kids (under age 5). Each park spans over MANY,MANY acres and it is too exausting trying to "park hop".
Downtown Disney is kind of the "boardwalk" between parks and is great place to go in the evening for dinner, ice cream, catch a show or do some souvenir shopping. Our favorite restaurants here are the new "T-Rex" (dinosaurs come to "life" every 30 minutes) and Rainforest Cafe (same sort of idea but with HUGE fish tanks and great gift shop).
*Character Dining= If you have younger children Character Dining is wonderful. This is a great way to have some one on one time with Mickey, Minnie, princesses, etc. The characters make their rounds to each table and parents can snap all the pictures they want. These HAVE to be booked before you go and I would highly recommend booking these 6 months ahead of time if possible. You can book these at WWW.disneyworld.com click on "where to eat" and then "character dining" then "book a reservation". Some of our family favorites are Chef Mickeys (mickey and friends host buffet style breakfast and dinner), Cinderella's Royal Table (high demand to meet "The Royal Family" try to book as far out as possible on this one), Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (located inside Epcot, great for young girls...my daughter's favorite spot to meet all the princesses)
I could go on and on about the tips and tricks about Disney but check out the link above to see for yourself !!
Also, go to www.bestoforlando.com for some great deals and tickets !!!!!
*Where to stay= This is a HUGE factor in saving money and saving on parking fee's. STAY INSIDE THE PARK if you can, there are many hotels to choose from that range from $89 - $500 a night. Staying at a Disney Resort hotel includes ...complimentary transportation to all Disney parks (savings of $20 a day), extended theme park hours, complimentary transportation for you and your luggage from Orlando International Airport and shopping purchases can be delivered right to your room (instead of lugging it around all day). My personal favorites are....Disney's Port Orleans-Riverside and Disney's Animal Kingdom lodge
*Things to Do= DisneyWorld offers 4 parks Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. All 4 parks are great and each has their own special theme. From experience my suggestion would be to ONLY visit one park a day, especially if you have young kids (under age 5). Each park spans over MANY,MANY acres and it is too exausting trying to "park hop".
Downtown Disney is kind of the "boardwalk" between parks and is great place to go in the evening for dinner, ice cream, catch a show or do some souvenir shopping. Our favorite restaurants here are the new "T-Rex" (dinosaurs come to "life" every 30 minutes) and Rainforest Cafe (same sort of idea but with HUGE fish tanks and great gift shop).
*Character Dining= If you have younger children Character Dining is wonderful. This is a great way to have some one on one time with Mickey, Minnie, princesses, etc. The characters make their rounds to each table and parents can snap all the pictures they want. These HAVE to be booked before you go and I would highly recommend booking these 6 months ahead of time if possible. You can book these at WWW.disneyworld.com click on "where to eat" and then "character dining" then "book a reservation". Some of our family favorites are Chef Mickeys (mickey and friends host buffet style breakfast and dinner), Cinderella's Royal Table (high demand to meet "The Royal Family" try to book as far out as possible on this one), Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (located inside Epcot, great for young girls...my daughter's favorite spot to meet all the princesses)
I could go on and on about the tips and tricks about Disney but check out the link above to see for yourself !!
Also, go to www.bestoforlando.com for some great deals and tickets !!!!!
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Universal Studios-Orlando,Fl
Where Movies come to Life...
We have been to Universal Studios more than a handful of times and it just keeps getting better everytime. Much like DisneyWorld, Universal Studios is full of rides and thrills but is more geared towards older children and teens (anywhere from age 6 up). Universal Orlando Resort is comprised of two amusement parks, three on-site hotels, and the Citywalk area. After a long day at the parks, Citywalk is a great place to unwind to do some shopping and grab some great dinner...some top picks would be Margaritaville, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and Emeril's.
Universal offers several ticket options and they do try to push the "2 parks in 1 day" ticket but I would stay away from this one. For first timers, you need at least one FULL day for each park to be able to enjoy everything they have to offer (especially in peak season). Some great rides our family enjoys are JAWS, THE MUMMY AND THE SIMPSONS RIDE...tried and true favorites !!
**Where to stay**- We have stayed at WorldQuest Resort, The Rosen-Shingle Creek Resort, Marriott Convention Center, The Royal Pacific Resort and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. These are all great hotels and I really do not have a bad thing to say about any of them but out of all of them I highly recommend the ROYAL PACIFIC RESORT......Think lush tropical surroundings and lagoon-style swimming pools !! This is one of 3 resorts that are located inside the Univeral Studios area so staying at this resort of course means exclusive theme park benefits including.....
*Early Park Admission† to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, one hour before the theme park opens (valid theme park admission required
*Universal Express ride access* to skip the regular lines throughout both theme parks - a FREE benefit worth up to $87 per person, per day^ (valid theme park admission required)
*Complimentary water taxis or shuttle buses to make getting around the resort fast and easy so you can make the most of your time
All in all Universal Studios will not disappoint and is a GREAT family vacation spot. Worth every penny !!
Universal offers several ticket options and they do try to push the "2 parks in 1 day" ticket but I would stay away from this one. For first timers, you need at least one FULL day for each park to be able to enjoy everything they have to offer (especially in peak season). Some great rides our family enjoys are JAWS, THE MUMMY AND THE SIMPSONS RIDE...tried and true favorites !!
**Where to stay**- We have stayed at WorldQuest Resort, The Rosen-Shingle Creek Resort, Marriott Convention Center, The Royal Pacific Resort and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. These are all great hotels and I really do not have a bad thing to say about any of them but out of all of them I highly recommend the ROYAL PACIFIC RESORT......Think lush tropical surroundings and lagoon-style swimming pools !! This is one of 3 resorts that are located inside the Univeral Studios area so staying at this resort of course means exclusive theme park benefits including.....
*Early Park Admission† to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, one hour before the theme park opens (valid theme park admission required
*Universal Express ride access* to skip the regular lines throughout both theme parks - a FREE benefit worth up to $87 per person, per day^ (valid theme park admission required)
*Complimentary water taxis or shuttle buses to make getting around the resort fast and easy so you can make the most of your time
All in all Universal Studios will not disappoint and is a GREAT family vacation spot. Worth every penny !!
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Asheville, NC
Wonderful weekend getaway...
Talk about "Southern Charm" !! Asheville is a perfect blend of mountain charm and City sophistication. My hubby and I have taken MANY weekend trips to this area and everytime we go we experience something new.
The area's beauty led millionaire George Vanderbilt to build "Biltmore" (his castle) in the heart of Asheville.
We visited Biltmore during Christmas time with lights and decorated trees in every room, it was beyond gorgeous. Arrive early if you plan to see the house, gardens and winery all in one day, this can take anywhere from 5 to 7 hours to tour the entire property. Ask for a next day upgrade to expand your visit to two full days for $10 more. Timed entry to the house is required during the busiest periods, insuring that guests will never be terribly overcrowded within the house itself even on the busiest days. The Stable Cafe is the most popular restaurant on the estate. Tasty and large meals are served at booths that are former horse stalls. You can buy tickets at www.Biltmore.com , Buy tickets online at least 7 days in advance and save $15 off the regular gate.
*Downtown Asheville is also a great area to spend the day. Artists and street musicians converge with the street crowd for a vibrancy rarely found in a city of this size. During the day you can shop the boutiques, grab some great local cuisine or just sit and people watch. At night the city comes alive with music, dancing and street performers.
My picks for some GREAT restaurants in the downtown area are.....Carmel's (mine and my hubby's all time favorite), Tupelo Honey Cafe (great breakfast), Table (a little pricey but great for a special night). The Chocolate Fetish is a must !! They have homeade fudge of all flavors and the biggest and best chocolate covered strawberries you have tasted ..........
The area's beauty led millionaire George Vanderbilt to build "Biltmore" (his castle) in the heart of Asheville.
We visited Biltmore during Christmas time with lights and decorated trees in every room, it was beyond gorgeous. Arrive early if you plan to see the house, gardens and winery all in one day, this can take anywhere from 5 to 7 hours to tour the entire property. Ask for a next day upgrade to expand your visit to two full days for $10 more. Timed entry to the house is required during the busiest periods, insuring that guests will never be terribly overcrowded within the house itself even on the busiest days. The Stable Cafe is the most popular restaurant on the estate. Tasty and large meals are served at booths that are former horse stalls. You can buy tickets at www.Biltmore.com , Buy tickets online at least 7 days in advance and save $15 off the regular gate.
*Downtown Asheville is also a great area to spend the day. Artists and street musicians converge with the street crowd for a vibrancy rarely found in a city of this size. During the day you can shop the boutiques, grab some great local cuisine or just sit and people watch. At night the city comes alive with music, dancing and street performers.
My picks for some GREAT restaurants in the downtown area are.....Carmel's (mine and my hubby's all time favorite), Tupelo Honey Cafe (great breakfast), Table (a little pricey but great for a special night). The Chocolate Fetish is a must !! They have homeade fudge of all flavors and the biggest and best chocolate covered strawberries you have tasted ..........
My top picks for places to stay would be.....Grand Bohemian Hotel (picture on left) find them at www.bohemianhotelasheville.com. This hotel is directly across the street from "Biltmore" entrance and is stunning. Renaissance Downtown (great for walking distance to all the downtown action), Haywood Park Hotel (another downtown location) www.haywoodpark.com
Washington D.C.
Great...for school aged kids..
We wanted to take our girls somewhere different for spring break this year, so we gave them a choice of a few places and they actually picked Washington, D.C !! In planning for this trip I did some research and made an itinerary for each day just because I heard it was ALOT of walking and to pace yourself...boy was this an understatement !! You literally need to bring your walking shoes (and your walking stick !) for your Washington DC trip.
We ended up staying in the Crystal City area at the Renaissance Hotel on South Potomac Ave. This Hotel was just outside of DC in Arlington and was a great price and brand new !!. We had a view of the Ronald Regan Airport from our room that the kids loved. If you want to stay inside the action of the city, you will pay the big city prices..hotels I found started at $300.00 and most were close to $500.00 a night. This hotel was within walking distance of some great restaurants and even had a hotel shuttle (complimentary) that takes you to the metro station a few blocks down the street.
THE METRO- oh wow..this was an experience all in itself and actually at the end of the trip we asked the girls what they liked the most and they both said "the metro". At first we were sooooo confused and were being run over by the locals in business suites that were trying to catch their train. The first thing you need to know is GET A METRO POCKET GUIDE !!! Figure out your destination first and follow your line and the right color and if you can figure all that out, you will be metro experts !! Also, make sure to not put too much money on your metro card to start out, YOU WILL NOT GET YOUR MONEY BACK. We learned this tip from a Metro attendant. If all else fails and you just cant figure out the Metro...ask the attendants...They are soooo helpful and very friendly.
There is so much to see and learn about in Washington and can be very overwhelming !! If you dont take anything else out of this article please please take this tip.......BUY TICKETS FOR "THE OLD TOWNE TROLLEY" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is a must and I read alot of reviews about this trolley and thought "well why not". It was by FAR the best thing we ever purchased. These tickets can be purchased online at www.trolleytours.com
This open air Trolley takes you to all the attractions and museums and are filled with humorous stories and colorful anecdotes. It is a hop on and off all day long ride, so find your location you want to go to and they drop you off and continuously comes back around every 15 minutes throughout the day to be picked up. They have 20 stops located on 3 loops and the runs start at 9:00 and last reboarding is at 5:30. This was voted the "Washington's Best Tour" by Washington magazine and you will not regret this and also has 100% money back guarantee
We visited all the National Museums, memorials, Union Station, National Zoo and National Cathedral ( beautiful ) and the best part was all this was free !! There is no charge for any of the museums whatsoever.
Washington D.C is a great vacation spot for families and if you have children that are school aged !!
We ended up staying in the Crystal City area at the Renaissance Hotel on South Potomac Ave. This Hotel was just outside of DC in Arlington and was a great price and brand new !!. We had a view of the Ronald Regan Airport from our room that the kids loved. If you want to stay inside the action of the city, you will pay the big city prices..hotels I found started at $300.00 and most were close to $500.00 a night. This hotel was within walking distance of some great restaurants and even had a hotel shuttle (complimentary) that takes you to the metro station a few blocks down the street.
THE METRO- oh wow..this was an experience all in itself and actually at the end of the trip we asked the girls what they liked the most and they both said "the metro". At first we were sooooo confused and were being run over by the locals in business suites that were trying to catch their train. The first thing you need to know is GET A METRO POCKET GUIDE !!! Figure out your destination first and follow your line and the right color and if you can figure all that out, you will be metro experts !! Also, make sure to not put too much money on your metro card to start out, YOU WILL NOT GET YOUR MONEY BACK. We learned this tip from a Metro attendant. If all else fails and you just cant figure out the Metro...ask the attendants...They are soooo helpful and very friendly.
There is so much to see and learn about in Washington and can be very overwhelming !! If you dont take anything else out of this article please please take this tip.......BUY TICKETS FOR "THE OLD TOWNE TROLLEY" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is a must and I read alot of reviews about this trolley and thought "well why not". It was by FAR the best thing we ever purchased. These tickets can be purchased online at www.trolleytours.com
This open air Trolley takes you to all the attractions and museums and are filled with humorous stories and colorful anecdotes. It is a hop on and off all day long ride, so find your location you want to go to and they drop you off and continuously comes back around every 15 minutes throughout the day to be picked up. They have 20 stops located on 3 loops and the runs start at 9:00 and last reboarding is at 5:30. This was voted the "Washington's Best Tour" by Washington magazine and you will not regret this and also has 100% money back guarantee
We visited all the National Museums, memorials, Union Station, National Zoo and National Cathedral ( beautiful ) and the best part was all this was free !! There is no charge for any of the museums whatsoever.
Washington D.C is a great vacation spot for families and if you have children that are school aged !!
Atlanta, GA
Charming and exciting part of the south...
My Hubby and I decided take a short trip for our anniversary last year and we thought we would give Atlanta a try. Our main reason for choosing this location was Six Flags over georgia (again, theme park junkies) but once I did further research, they have so much more to offer than theme parks. We stayed at The Ritz-Carlton in Buckhead which is a charming suburb of Atlanta that has alot of great restaurants and shops in the area. Our first day there we went to SIx Flags and had a blast, think DisneyWorld for adults. They have lots of great rollercoasters and shows and you could easily spend your whole day there and not ride the same ride twice.
That evening we ate at a GREAT restaurant called Maggiano's Little Italy in Buckhead, I have eaten at alot of Italian restaurants and this by far #1 or #2 on my list. I highly recommend reservations for this restaurant, they stayed very busy throughout the night. To view their website visit www.Maggianos.com
The next day we visited the Oakland Cemetery...ok I know what your thinking "ewwww a cemetery on your anniversary" but give me a chance to set the scene. After doing some research on things to do, Oakland Cemetery kept popping up as top places to visit and is actually voted #1 on trip advisor of things to do. This historical park is the final resting place for many civil war soldiers, golf legend Bobby Jones and "Gone With The Wind" author Margaret Mitchell. In 2003 the cemetary began a $ 15 million dollar renovation. To view their website visit www.oaklandcemetery.com
That evening we ate at a GREAT restaurant called Maggiano's Little Italy in Buckhead, I have eaten at alot of Italian restaurants and this by far #1 or #2 on my list. I highly recommend reservations for this restaurant, they stayed very busy throughout the night. To view their website visit www.Maggianos.com
The next day we visited the Oakland Cemetery...ok I know what your thinking "ewwww a cemetery on your anniversary" but give me a chance to set the scene. After doing some research on things to do, Oakland Cemetery kept popping up as top places to visit and is actually voted #1 on trip advisor of things to do. This historical park is the final resting place for many civil war soldiers, golf legend Bobby Jones and "Gone With The Wind" author Margaret Mitchell. In 2003 the cemetary began a $ 15 million dollar renovation. To view their website visit www.oaklandcemetery.com
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On our final night in "hotlanta" we wanted to do something special for our special night and asked the conceirge at the Hotel what they recommended. They stated that Dante's Jazz and Fondue (1 block away) was really good. Talk about Romance !! Wow, this place had it all...dim lighting, cozy tables, live jazz music playing in the background and wonderful fondue !! Give it a try if you are in the area and let me know what you think. View their website at www.dantesdownthehatch.com
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Atlanta is such a charming southern city, great for kids, families or just a romantic weekend getaway. They have so much to offer...Georgia Aquarium, Coca-Cola Museum, Jimmy Carter Library and museum, Philips arena, Centennial Park (built for the 1996 summer olympic games), Turner Field and much more !!
Destin, FL
As close as you can get to the carribean without the passport.....
Out of all the places we have traveled to this has to rank probably #1 on my list. Destin is located in "panhandle" of Florida and probably has some of the clearest, emerald green waters I have seen. It is perfect for snorkeling, sailing or just parking your happy butt in the sand and not moving for the next 8 hours.
We have been vacationing here every June for the past 3 years and I almost feel like I could start a whole new blog and just talk about this place....but I wont. I definately have some do's and dont's for Destin as well...
First off if you are looking for somewhere to stay in Destin there are ALOT of hotels to choose from and my favorite travel search engine is www.Expedia.com
I have to say that I am partial to the "Emerald Grande" though. This resort is located right on the harbor and has some of the most beautiful views from your balcony (picture above I took one morning). This resort offers a private beach to its guests that is accessible by the resorts very own beach taxi. Emerald Grande also offers kids activities all summer, fireworks on the harbour and close to 10 restuarants within walking distance. I could (and would) go on and on but you can see for yourself at www.EmeraldGrande.com
Destin also has lots of activites and some great restaurants. We took a dolphin cruise that was amazing !! We ended up seeing close to 8 dolphins that stayed right next to the boat, our girls really loved it. Check out BOOGIES WATERSPORTS and the trick to see all these dolphins is to reserve for the first boat that goes out....usually 9:00 am. We also enjoy Big Kahuna's waterpark and mini putt putt, Alvins Island is a great beach store to get all your souvineirs without paying a fortune and a new little"charm" we found this year (thanks to some friends we met !) was The Village of Baytowne Wharf. This is a great community that offers tons of restaurants, shops, carnival, starbucks (a must of course) and much more all on cobblestone walkways located right on the water.
Some of my favorite restaurants are Tommy Bahamas cafe, Harry T's, Ciao Bella's, The Back Porch, Dancing Iguana. You can google any of these to get more info.
We have been vacationing here every June for the past 3 years and I almost feel like I could start a whole new blog and just talk about this place....but I wont. I definately have some do's and dont's for Destin as well...
First off if you are looking for somewhere to stay in Destin there are ALOT of hotels to choose from and my favorite travel search engine is www.Expedia.com
I have to say that I am partial to the "Emerald Grande" though. This resort is located right on the harbor and has some of the most beautiful views from your balcony (picture above I took one morning). This resort offers a private beach to its guests that is accessible by the resorts very own beach taxi. Emerald Grande also offers kids activities all summer, fireworks on the harbour and close to 10 restuarants within walking distance. I could (and would) go on and on but you can see for yourself at www.EmeraldGrande.com
Destin also has lots of activites and some great restaurants. We took a dolphin cruise that was amazing !! We ended up seeing close to 8 dolphins that stayed right next to the boat, our girls really loved it. Check out BOOGIES WATERSPORTS and the trick to see all these dolphins is to reserve for the first boat that goes out....usually 9:00 am. We also enjoy Big Kahuna's waterpark and mini putt putt, Alvins Island is a great beach store to get all your souvineirs without paying a fortune and a new little"charm" we found this year (thanks to some friends we met !) was The Village of Baytowne Wharf. This is a great community that offers tons of restaurants, shops, carnival, starbucks (a must of course) and much more all on cobblestone walkways located right on the water.
Some of my favorite restaurants are Tommy Bahamas cafe, Harry T's, Ciao Bella's, The Back Porch, Dancing Iguana. You can google any of these to get more info.
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CHARLESTON, SC
Voted "Most Romantic City" for a reason.......
Charleston definitely has the "romance" factor !! Think of Charleston as a love story, a great romance begins with a first impression , charm and seduction. First time visitors almost always fall in love with Charleston. At first meeting, Charleston impresses with her collection of historic buildings, cobblestone walkways, shops and of course SOUTHERN CHARM.
We were here on an anniversary getaway, I wish we had more time to spend here and our 2 days were jam packed full of activities. I made sure we hit the "highlights" of what the city has to offer. I also did ALOT of research before this trip and it could not have turned out more perfect !!
*Where to stay* - If you are looking for luxury, pampering and everything in betwee...the FRENCH QUARTER INN is unbelieveable and stunning !! This hotel has been voted #1 luxury hotel in the U.S. (2010 trip advisor) and most recently voted #1 hotel in Charleston (2011 trip advisor) and boy has it earned those titles. As soon as you walk through the doors the timeless elegance takes your breathe away, you are immediately greeted with a smile from the front desk staff and a glass of champagne and lady fingers. When we arrived in our room we had flowers, a bottle of champagne and a lovely note from the hotel congratulating us on our anniversary !! There is a coffee/tea cart right outside your door, delicious and complete continental breakfast, wine and cheese in the afternoon, milk and cookies in the evening and truffles at turndown. You will not be disappointed with this decision.
We were here on an anniversary getaway, I wish we had more time to spend here and our 2 days were jam packed full of activities. I made sure we hit the "highlights" of what the city has to offer. I also did ALOT of research before this trip and it could not have turned out more perfect !!
*Where to stay* - If you are looking for luxury, pampering and everything in betwee...the FRENCH QUARTER INN is unbelieveable and stunning !! This hotel has been voted #1 luxury hotel in the U.S. (2010 trip advisor) and most recently voted #1 hotel in Charleston (2011 trip advisor) and boy has it earned those titles. As soon as you walk through the doors the timeless elegance takes your breathe away, you are immediately greeted with a smile from the front desk staff and a glass of champagne and lady fingers. When we arrived in our room we had flowers, a bottle of champagne and a lovely note from the hotel congratulating us on our anniversary !! There is a coffee/tea cart right outside your door, delicious and complete continental breakfast, wine and cheese in the afternoon, milk and cookies in the evening and truffles at turndown. You will not be disappointed with this decision.
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*What to do*- Charleston is known for their ghost stories so we decided to do a "haunted ghost tour" and after hearing great reviews about "Bulldog tours", we booked one of their haunted jailhouse tours. Book early if you can because the available slots go fast. Our tour started at 9:30pm and we met our tour guide at one of the oldest jails in the city that has some pretty scary stories behind it. This particular tour is very dark and spooky so probably not advised for young children. This tour is a MUST and we had a blast !!
As soon as you enter into the city you are surrounded by carriage rides !! And me being the romantic that I am...this was at the top of my "to do list". We booked with Palmetto Carriage Rides and loved every minute of it. The tour starts at their barn located behind the Rainbow Market and loops around the city. The guided narrator has some really great stories about the history of the city and mansions and brings a different light to Charleston
As soon as you enter into the city you are surrounded by carriage rides !! And me being the romantic that I am...this was at the top of my "to do list". We booked with Palmetto Carriage Rides and loved every minute of it. The tour starts at their barn located behind the Rainbow Market and loops around the city. The guided narrator has some really great stories about the history of the city and mansions and brings a different light to Charleston
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*Where to eat*- Charleston is known for their "lowcountry" cooking and cuisine. I did some research on the top places to eat in the city before we left and these are some GREAT picks....
CIRCA 1886 is wonderful for a special night out. Located inside the renovated carriage house of Wentworth Mansion, this restuarant boasts seasonal menus and elegant dining. Based on where you are staying it is a little off the beaten path so we decided to take a bike taxi (FUN !!) to our 7:30 reservations ( a must).
On our second evening out, we took the hotel's advice and booked 9:30pm reservations with High Cotton- think white table cloths and live jazz music playing in the background....another great pick !!
CIRCA 1886 is wonderful for a special night out. Located inside the renovated carriage house of Wentworth Mansion, this restuarant boasts seasonal menus and elegant dining. Based on where you are staying it is a little off the beaten path so we decided to take a bike taxi (FUN !!) to our 7:30 reservations ( a must).
On our second evening out, we took the hotel's advice and booked 9:30pm reservations with High Cotton- think white table cloths and live jazz music playing in the background....another great pick !!
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PIGEON FORGE, TN
Southern Fun !!
We decided to take a weekend getaway to Pigeon
Forge, Tn and we had a blast !! Our trip started with a christmas dinner show at
Dixie Stampede which was so much fun. I was a little skeptical when making
reservations as I was not sure if I wanted to eat my dinner with horses and
dirt....Boy was I surprised. The stables and arena were gorgeous, the show was
spectacular and the food was AMAZING !!
The highlight of our trip by far was the Hollywood Wax
Museum. The museum just opened May 2012 and is 22,000 sq
feet of fun, celebrity figures and even a horror section. There are plenty of
photo opps and the figures are eerily life-like, pose with Marilyn Monroe, Brad
Pitt, Elvis Presley and many, many more.
We did the "pick 3" which included the museum, Castle of Chaos (fun 5-D ride) and Hannah's Maze of
Mirrors. If you are visiting the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area the Hollywood Wax
Museum is a MUST SEE !! They are open 365 days a year and You can check them out
at WWW.HollywoodWaxMuseum.Com/PigeonForge.
They are located at 106 Showplace Boulevard, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863.
Forge, Tn and we had a blast !! Our trip started with a christmas dinner show at
Dixie Stampede which was so much fun. I was a little skeptical when making
reservations as I was not sure if I wanted to eat my dinner with horses and
dirt....Boy was I surprised. The stables and arena were gorgeous, the show was
spectacular and the food was AMAZING !!
The highlight of our trip by far was the Hollywood Wax
Museum. The museum just opened May 2012 and is 22,000 sq
feet of fun, celebrity figures and even a horror section. There are plenty of
photo opps and the figures are eerily life-like, pose with Marilyn Monroe, Brad
Pitt, Elvis Presley and many, many more.
We did the "pick 3" which included the museum, Castle of Chaos (fun 5-D ride) and Hannah's Maze of
Mirrors. If you are visiting the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area the Hollywood Wax
Museum is a MUST SEE !! They are open 365 days a year and You can check them out
at WWW.HollywoodWaxMuseum.Com/PigeonForge.
They are located at 106 Showplace Boulevard, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863.
Hershey, PA
The Best Theme Park Ever
This place surprised me ! We thought we would make a quick stop in Hershey on our way to the Big Apple, boy were we in for a shock.
I was honestly expecting a small, quiet park that would not hold a candle to the BIG GUYS (i.e Disney, Universal Studios ), but from the moment you step into Hershey Theme park it is non-stop action.
First off, we stayed at The Country Inn and Suites which is only a 5 minute drive from the park. I highly recommend this hotel, It is a New hotel, very clean, offers an indoor hot tub & pool for the kiddos and my favorite part (of course) is the complimentary hot breakfast. This is not your typical bagels & cold cereal breakfast...think scrambled eggs, sausage, roasted potatoes, waffles & much more. Say Hi to Mr. Bob in the breakfast room !!
We visited during "SPRINGTIME IN THE PARK" which is only for 2 weekends before the "official" opening of Hershey Park. Tickets are deeply discounted for these 2 weekends due to some of the attractions are closed but I only saw one rollercoaster and the water park closed. TIP !! Wait to buy tickets until you get there !! You can go to any of the local GIANT Food Stores in the area and buy tickets up to $15.00 off the already discounted price !!
If you are any type of Theme-Parker you HAVE to visit this park !! The cleanest, Largest park I have ever seen. Not only do they have over 65 thrill rides, 11 rollercoasters, 20 kiddie rides but they also have a WATERPARK located INSIDE the theme park which IS INCLUDED IN YOUR TICKET PRICE. Since we visited in the Spring the water park was closed but we got to walk around it and it looks AMAZING !!
BUT...Just when you thought it couldnt get any better...they throw a ZOO in the middle of the park !! Zoo America is an 11 acre walk-through zoo that offers over 200 animals.
You will not be disappointed if you visit Hershey !!
I was honestly expecting a small, quiet park that would not hold a candle to the BIG GUYS (i.e Disney, Universal Studios ), but from the moment you step into Hershey Theme park it is non-stop action.
First off, we stayed at The Country Inn and Suites which is only a 5 minute drive from the park. I highly recommend this hotel, It is a New hotel, very clean, offers an indoor hot tub & pool for the kiddos and my favorite part (of course) is the complimentary hot breakfast. This is not your typical bagels & cold cereal breakfast...think scrambled eggs, sausage, roasted potatoes, waffles & much more. Say Hi to Mr. Bob in the breakfast room !!
We visited during "SPRINGTIME IN THE PARK" which is only for 2 weekends before the "official" opening of Hershey Park. Tickets are deeply discounted for these 2 weekends due to some of the attractions are closed but I only saw one rollercoaster and the water park closed. TIP !! Wait to buy tickets until you get there !! You can go to any of the local GIANT Food Stores in the area and buy tickets up to $15.00 off the already discounted price !!
If you are any type of Theme-Parker you HAVE to visit this park !! The cleanest, Largest park I have ever seen. Not only do they have over 65 thrill rides, 11 rollercoasters, 20 kiddie rides but they also have a WATERPARK located INSIDE the theme park which IS INCLUDED IN YOUR TICKET PRICE. Since we visited in the Spring the water park was closed but we got to walk around it and it looks AMAZING !!
BUT...Just when you thought it couldnt get any better...they throw a ZOO in the middle of the park !! Zoo America is an 11 acre walk-through zoo that offers over 200 animals.
You will not be disappointed if you visit Hershey !!
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New YORk City
LOTS of Walking but SO action packed !!
When our son was 9 months old we were brave enough to take all 3 kiddos to New York City for the first time (for all 5 of us !). After much research, we stayed at the Belvedere Guests who stay at our Manhattan Art Deco hotel near Times Square can relax in our quiet quarters while being at the center of the famed New York Theater District, Hell’s Kitchen restaurants, and more. The Belvedere Hotel offers an idyllic setting for every visit to New York. Even the most discerning traveler will revel in the grand marble floors available in our executive rooms, granite bathrooms, luxurious bathrobes, flat-screen TVs, and plush bedding. For your comfort and convenience, our accommodations in NYC also offer a full-service kitchenette that includes a microwave, refrigerator and coffeemaker in addition to high-speed Wi-Fi and much more. The subway was the highlight of the girls tips and we also visited ground zero, Today Show, Ellis Island, Times Square, Natural History Museum, 5th avenue, and China Town. I would LOVE the opportunity to visit New York again in the near future not that our kids are 5 years older...great place for the family !
Dominican Republic
Beautiful but beware
We ended up cruising on Carnival to the Dominican Republic and we were super excited to experience "The Dominican" that we have heard so much about. Amber Cove is Carnival's private multi-million dollar area that includes swim-up bars, water slides, and a lazy river. I told my husband that if we were going to the Dominican than I want to experience the REAL Dominican Republic not a multi-million dollar tourist-only trap. We ended up taking a cab to Puerto Plata (about 15 mins away)to experience their #1 beach in the area. Upon arriving, there were 10-15 machine-gun armed offices that were protecting the beach from local crime. Needless to say...my kids were terrified and we only ended up staying about 30 mins on that beach before we quickly made our way back to out comfortable resort area. My suggestion would be to stay in the resort area if cruising and if flying in, do not venture too far out due to high crime rate on tourists in the area.
Turks and Caicos
Beaches Only...
I have dreamed of visiting this island for over 10 years and it did not disappoint ! The only thing on this island is a beautiful beach and some bars, so if that tickles your fancy than this is the island for you ! Grand Turk is more upscale than compared to the Bahamas and it has higher end restaurants such as Margaritaville and boutique stores. Grand Turk is a laid back, drink in your hand, type of island and if this is for you than visit this island !!
St. Maarten, Virgin Islands
Maho Beach Experience !
When we decided to visit St. Maarten, I quickly got online to see what the top tourist experiences were because I wanted to do something outside the box. All the travel sites I visited kept coming up with Maho beach and how it was a must if visiting, so of course I quickly booked our excursion ! Maho Beach is on the dutch side of the Caribbean island and just the bus ride there was very informative and scenic. Once dropped off a Maho beach, there is a large airplane schedule posted showing what times the large commercial planes fly just feet over tourists heads. The beach is very crowded, so it is ideal to get there early to mark your spot. We plopped down next to the crystal clear shore, got a few drinks from the beach bar that is just a few feet away, and waited for our first airplane experience. Watching the planes appear over the horizon and hearing the excitement from the tourist is such a rush and is a great build up of when the plane actually soars over your head. Our children loved this experience but a fair warning...the jet streams can be fatal so stay down near the ocean and away from the fenced area near the landing strip. My daughter timed this picture perfect for us !
