family travel Archives - Page 12 of 25

Hilton Head Resorts, SC

July 15, 2014 by Samantha Leave a Comment

Is your family itching for a fun in the sun vacation? If a trip to somewhere with oceanfront views, southern charm and an atmosphere the entire family will enjoy sounds perfect, you can sit back and relax, I have discovered the perfect getaway for you.

The Hilton Head Resorts family has unveiled the Sonesta for your vacationing enjoyment. The resort was recently renovated for your comfort. With 340 guest rooms and suites, the resort offers lovely accommodations to make your family feel right at home. Located on 11 lush acres, you will enjoy world class golf and tennis nearby, on site bicycle rentals and amazing swimming pool complex, with hot tubs and a heated lagoon style swimming pool to name a few.

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Filed Under: travel Tagged With: family travel, Hilton Head Resorts, hotel, resort, south, South Carolina, travel

Medieval Times – Kissimmee, Florida

July 5, 2014 by Samantha 3 Comments

A feast for the eyes as well as the stomach, Medieval Times is a great show that the whole family can enjoy. No worries, the little ones won’t be afraid- the show is very tame (rated G!) while still offering tons of fun and action. Make sure you arrive about an hour early to give yourself ample time to explore the Medieval Village, the only one in the country. Launched in Spain in 1973, and in Kissimmee, Florida just 10 years later, it is widely regarded as the longest running and most popular dinner attraction in North America- and I have to concur. During this 2 hour live performance, you and your family will experience a glace back in time- when knights defended the realm, and chivalry was not dead.

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The exhibit showing the clothes and artifacts from the times that the show was based on was not just educational- it was fun, and I highly recommend it. There was a woman making thread and clothing there as well, and my son thought that was the coolest thing. If you have very small children, as I do, I will personally recommend that you turn back when you reach the rooms that exhibit the torture devices. While morbidly fascinating, even non-readers can understand what some things were used for, and there were illustrations. Most were not graphic- but for younglings and those with a weak stomach- skip that area. Areas of interest for everyone will be the stables, pottery, loom/seamstress area, carpentry, metal smith, and more. My son loved the metal smith and carpentry areas the best- he also got a huge kick out of the looms. It really interested him to see how clothes were made and fabrics created. (Who knew?) Other high points from the village were authentic chainmail suits, and fired and even some painted pottery.
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Filed Under: travel Tagged With: family travel, florida, travel

The Colonial Inn – the place to stay in Ogunquit, Maine

June 20, 2014 by Samantha 9 Comments

If you love hotels with class, charm and history and you happen to be planning a visit to Ogunquit, Maine (or want to!) I have found the perfect hotel for you. The Colonial Inn has been in business, providing a lovely place to stay in a central location for over 125 years.

In 2013 a massive 4 million dollar renovation was completed to restore The Colonial Inn to the ranks of the finest hotels in Ogunquit. While retaining the Victorian Charm of the hotel, the renovations offer guests the modern amenities such as a hosted wine/social hour, a heated outdoor pool and entertaining areas for families.

The Colonial Inn offers a fantastic vantage point of all that Ogunquit has to offer- the hotel is close to the beautiful beaches which have made the area an ideal vacation spot. I liked that we could walk or take the trolley, which conveniently stops in front of The Colonial Inn, and explore the shops, the restaurants and the sights without the frustrations of driving.
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Filed Under: evergreen, travel Tagged With: family travel, hotel, Maine, travel

Headed to San Fran? Stay at The St. Regis San Francisco

June 19, 2014 by Samantha 11 Comments

Planning a visit to San Francisco gets me excited, from the culture to the style of the city, I can barely wait to arrive. Knowing I will be staying at The St. Regis San Francisco only adds to my anticipation. They also have a very cool program being offered at this exquisite hotel, my son had a great time and I know your kids will as all.

The Family Traditions Program has the youngest traveler in mind. With amenities and activities designed for youngsters, The St. Regis San Francisco takes luxury to a kid friendly level.

Upon check, in children receive a gift basket curated with their age in mind. Babies will enjoy lotions and toys, toddlers will love coloring books and teddy bears while older children might receive a puzzle and TCHO artisan chocolates.

When you are ready to begin the adventure of experiencing San Francisco kid style, The St. Regis San Francisco has tailored family excursions that will not require a lot of travel thanks to the central location of the hotel. From a nearby park complete with sandboxes, swings and an indoor ice skating rink to IMAX theaters keeping the kids busy and happy is a breeze. You might want to fit in time to bike across the Golden Gate Bridge, or take in a ball game, so turn to the concierge team of The St. Regis San Francisco. They are happy to assist you in creating a itinerary that is customized to your interests.
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Filed Under: travel Tagged With: CA, family travel, hotel, San Francisco, travel

Cruising with MSC Divina – MSC Cruises‎

June 11, 2014 by Samantha 15 Comments

Disclosure- We received the below trip in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and honest. Please see “Disclose” tab for more info.

My son, husband, and I recently took a cruise on the beautiful MSC Divina. Out of Miami, Florida, we spent 3 days docked at various islands, and 4 more at sea, for a total of 7 days including the one we boarded. The time we spent on board was fun, and there was a lot to do on the ship.

My son and an MSC dancer, about to dance the Tarantella

Every day, they passed out a daily newsletter that gave you list of the day’s activities and events, as well as where and when they were. We took advantage of as many of these as we could, both because we wanted to fully experience the cruise and because one never knows when they will get the chance to do some of the activities again.

“White Gala” on board the MSC Divina

We took Italian lessons, which my son and I enjoyed- but my husband didn’t. Luckily, they had a bar very nearby, where he went and spent the remainder of the lesson. The lesson was offered in 3 parts, but we only did two of them. Daddy was a good sport about it.

We loved the dance lessons that were offered on the ship- almost every day, they had multiple options and times for a new dance to learn. We tried out three of them- the Meringue, the Tarantella (a traditional Itlaian dance), and “Thriller” (the epic Michael Jackson song and dance!) My son decided to do kids club for “Thriller” instead of dancing, but that’s fine- the husband and I had a great time. I think “Thriller” was both of our favorites. Neither of us are dancers, and my husband normally HATES to dance- the fact that he not only participated but also enjoyed himself is crazy to me. I was thrilled with it!
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Filed Under: family, travel Tagged With: cruise, family travel, famiy, travel

On Board the MSC Divina

June 10, 2014 by Samantha 12 Comments

Disclosure- I received the below trip in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and honest. Please see “Disclose” tab for more info.

We enjoyed our time on board the MSC Divina. Boarding was much faster and easier then I thought it would be (one thing I learned- they will tell you that you are not allowed to bring your luggage on board with you- this is not true. If you want to bring a bag so you can change clothes or medical equipment with you, you can. We waited hours for our luggage to be delivered- you live, you learn!) We checked into our room with no problem, and also signed up our son for Kids Club, with the staff making sure he got his proper ID bracelet and was placed into the right age group. The staff was all decked out for the occasion, which my son was much amused by.

Our balcony room was about 150 square feet, plus the bathroom and balcony. The balcony had two deck chairs and a table on it as well. In the room was one European King Bed and a pull out sofabed that my 6 year old son used. During the day, it was folded up to use as a couch and seating space. There was a mini fridge in the room, which you can purchase items from OR you can upgrade your package to include unlimited minibar use. I suggest it if you can, it makes things very easy and convenient. You can choose which package you get- if you have kids, I would suggest the one that is also “ice cream inclusive”, lol.

The balcony was our favorite place to spend time while in the room- which was honestly not often. There was too much to do on the ship- or off it on docked days. The bathroom has a small shower which also has a laundry line in it for bathing suits to be hung to dry, which is quite convenient. There is a TV in the room, as well as a spacious closet with hangers and drawers, with a safe you can lock inside as well. Your life vests are on top of the wardrobe, and you are required to do a “safety drill” the first day on board to make sure you and your family know how to properly use them and where to go in case of an emergency.
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Filed Under: travel Tagged With: cruise, family, family travel, travel

Pack Up and Head To South Carolina

May 16, 2014 by Samantha 8 Comments

If you are looking for a quiet spot to spend time as a family, where time seems to slow down but there is still plenty to do when you are feeling active, take a gander at Beaufort, South Carolina. This sleepy town is so picturesque that Hollywood has used it as the backdrop for such films as “The Prince Of Tides” and “Forest Gump”, and while there are many lovely cafes, bakeries, chocolateries, coffee shops, and restaurants in the district, you won’t find a Starbucks or a McDonalds in town. Welcome to beautiful Beaufort.

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Take a tour of the downtown area in a horse drawn carriage- Southern Rose Buggy Tours offers them with a covered top to protect you and yours from the Southern sun. The tour guide and driver know the area inside and out, telling you all about not only historical landmarks and homes that you pass, but also stories and legends that go hand in hand with history (both modern and long past). There is an amusing anecdote related to Barbara Streisand and the local Marines that is sure to have your group laughing- make sure you ask what “the sound of freedom” is if your guide forgets to tell you. Each tour lasts about an hour, and if you bring peppermint candies along, you will be able to give the carriage horse a treat.

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Cruise around the area with Captain Dick River Tours on the Prince of Tides sightseeing boat, where you will often see dolphins, cranes, and other wildlife as you tour the river. The daily hour and 15 minute tour leaves the Downtown Marina at the Beaufort Waterfront Park at 2pm, all seats are $24 (no charge for infants). The kids will love to see the local fauna, and mom and dad will also enjoy hearing about the historic homes, celebrity sightings, and filming stories. There is also a 2 hour sunset cruise option two days a week (seasonally) Tuesday and Saturday evenings.

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After you are done exploring the downtown Waterfront Park and Playground, make a quick stop to Southern Sweets Ice Cream Parlor. The kids will be thrilled with any ice cream stop, but this old fashioned ice cream parlor will be a hit with everyone. Complete with soda fountains, hand dipped ice cream, and marble table tops, you can get anything from an ice cream cone to a banana split to an egg creme and more. They also have home made brownies and pralines, a must try. If you feel that your sweet tooth still isn’t satisfied, and perhaps you’d like a unique souvenir to take home with you, make sure you pay a visit to The Lollipop Shop. Not only do they carry every kind of candy (and sweet beverage) you could desire- even the hard to find, old fashioned or “retro” stuff- but you can buy your candy in many ways. By the piece, the pound, the box, or the stuffed animal. You read that right- you (or your child, should you feel so generous) can choose from two sizes and about two dozen styles of stuffed toys, which come “hollow”, so to speak. You then stuff your toy full of candy from the baskets in the store, and when it’s full, they close it up, name it, and give you a “birth certificate” for your new buddy. They also give you a box of stuffing to take with you, so that when the candy is eaten, you have a soft and cuddly toy to keep forever. This was nearly everyone’s favorite find, and one that we will surely visit again next time we are in the area.
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Filed Under: food, travel Tagged With: family travel, food, SC, South Carolina, travel

What To Do In San Francisco with Kids

May 9, 2014 by Samantha 8 Comments

When visiting the famous “City by the Bay”, it’s easy to be overwhelmed with the variety of activities and dining options that you will be presented with. Everything you see looks like fun, all the food smells amazing- so if you only have a few days or week, where are the best places to spend your time and money on your family vacation?

If you like to take a tour of the city you are visiting, let me suggest the Ride the Ducks Tour. This is a chain that can be found in several states, with San Fransisco being one of the newest places to tour on an amphibious WW II DUKW. Yes, this is definitely “touristy”- and it’s also extremely family friendly, and a good way to see the sites of the city in a way that adults will enjoy and kids will love. The DUK Captain (yes, your knowledgeable, often funny guide and driver is certified by the US Coast Guard, you are in good hands) knows the city inside and out, and will not only point out landmarks, but also fun spots you might like and good places to eat or shop. They also let the kids have a turn driving the DUK while it’s in “boat mode” in the bay, which will thrill them. Since they “guarantee” they are “cheaper then other” sites in San Francisco, you won’t spend as much to see and do what you’d like to.

You and your family will see the best of San Francisco from land and water. Get up close and personal with the iconic Bay Bridge, float by Alcatraz, see Fisherman’s Wharf, roll through Chinatown, wave at cafe patrons in North Beach (San Francisco’s answer to New York City’s “Little Italy”), as well as taking in great views of the city skyline.

To see as much as you can for as little as you are able spend, continue saving by purchasing a San Francisco CityPASS. Available for $84, the pass gives you access to many of the most popular sites in the city, as well as 7-Day unlimited-use Cable Car and Muni transportation pass to help you get around. If you don’t have a car, this is the best way to get from place to place. If you have a car with you, be aware that most venues require payment for parking, and many of them are none too inexpensive. You could rack up the price of the pass in a day or two very easily.

Another spot included in the CityPASS booklet is the famous California Academy of Sciences ,where you can climb into the treetops of a man-made rainforest to see life on literally all levels, see what it feels like to be in an earthquake, check out eggs that are bigger then your kids, view the bones that show the evolution from ape to human, and see a rare Albino Alligator (Claude, in case you’d like to get formal).

Also included in your pass is the Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise Adventure, which gives you a tour of the city via boat. See the sights from the inside or outside of the boat, which ventures out several times a day. This hour long tour is scenic and narrated (so that you know exactly what it is that you are seeing) and available in 9 languages via audio tour as well. The children will love being on a boat as they cruise past the Pier 39 sea lions, which are a must see for any visitor to the city. You can also see them on land when you visit the pier later on (and make sure you take a spin on the merry go round).
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