Day 3 Norwegian Breakaway Cruise
December 29, 2014 by 1 Comment
Today was island day- we were so excited! We woke up, packed our beach bag, and headed down to breakfast at the buffet. We were quite looking forward to today, because today was the day we were going to Norwegian’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay. We signed up for an early tender to the island from the ship (smaller passenger boat that brings you to the land when it’s too shallow or there is no dock for the larger ships) last night, and we were going to head straight to the waiting area after breakfast- which we did. While on the island, we were going to have a beach BBQ, and just relax for the day on a beautiful beach.
It was not meant to be. We waited in the waiting area for about an hour and a half, while the crew tried to figure out if they would be able to get the tenders safely to and from the island. It was determined, in the end, that they could not due to choppy waters.
So, that was quite a bummer. They also said that we would at that time be headed to our next stop, Nassau, arriving around 4 pm. So, we headed of to the pool to spend the day. It was crazy crowded, but the kids were having a good time. We took advantage of the free time to check out the “breakaway bouce”, a trampoline with a harness that lets kids really soar. My son loved it. He then tried the Slide Spider Mountain, a layered, netted. climbing contraption that has a slide down to the bottom once you reach the top. It’s more challenging then it looks, and high as well. The nets made the upward climb tricky, but the slide was all fun.
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Discover Wild Idaho
December 27, 2014 by 2 Comments
Ready the full story on This Girl Travels!
Idaho is an amazing place, full of natural wonders and a unique history as well. If you visit, you will want to make a stop in Boise, the state’s capital. There is much to see and do in Boise, especially if you have the kids in tow.
Some of our favorite things to do while in Boise were in a very localized area, so you won’t have far to go from place to place. Driving around is easy too, with not much traffic at all and very few places charging parking fees. (Those were both welcome changes of pace for this NYC area girl, who is used to more congestion then cold and flu season while driving.)
If you have kids, you know that one of the first “must” stops when you visit a new area is the zoo. Zoo Boise is not only one of the most popular spots to visit in Southern Idaho, but one of the top ranked zoos in Idaho as well. This pretty location is home to many species of animals- nearly 100, in fact. But that’s not all you can see at the zoo- you can take a walk back in time and visit the Dinosaurs- this exhibit features animatronic dinosaurs that not only move, but roar as well. Kids will get a huge kick out of this prehistoric zoo visit; a little something out of the ordinary. You can have your very own up close and personal animal encounter with either a sloth bear or a giraffe- or both if you feel adventurous. Find out the day’s feeding times (available online or in the zoo’s programs when you arrive) and make sure you arrive early- there is only space for 25 participants per feeding. For just $3, you can feed the animal it’s favorite snack!
There are also several play areas for the kids, food stands, and of course souvenir shops. You and you kids can also ride the carousel for just $1, and there are plenty of snack stands abound as well. Make sure you stop at the petting zoo, or Zoo Farm. There you can feed the animals (such as goats) for just a quarter. All proceeds from the Zoo Farm go to the Zoo Boise Conservation Fund, so there is another reason to drop a few coins in.
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Incredible Malaysia: planning the best car trip with your kids
December 26, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Incredible Malaysia: planning the best car trip with your kids!
What could be better than a wonderful holiday with your kids, especially if it’s in Malaysia?
Of course, most of caring grandmothers will say that eastern countries are very dangerous, and you shouldn’t take your children there… Don’t trust them! These are just common cautions of those who have never been to Malaysia, because actually everything is much better than they say.
Modern Malaysia is not only safe, but also interesting both for children and adults. It’s a unique combination of exotics, culture and the highest level of development. So, you shouldn’t worry about your children.
Malaysians are extremely friendly to tourists with kids. Sometimes they even try to take a photo with them, and in the stores you can get pleasant discounts.
Well, if your doubts have completely disappeared, let’s check the most important aspects, following which will make your vacation with children easy, relaxing and very enjoyable!
What transport to choose? Why rental car is the best solution?
Speaking about it, first of all you must take care about comfort of your kids. So that’s why public transport is certainly what you don’t need. The most reasonable choice for your trip in Malaysia is a rental car.
Why use the car when traveling with kids?
• With rental car you can provide the best comfort for your kids using booster seat or child/infant seat.
• Rental car gives you a freedom of movement – you can drive wherever you want at any time and don’t worry about any schedules.
• Malaysia is well-known for its hot and very humid climate. Average air temperature reaches 27-32 C, so rental car with air conditioner can escape you and your family from the heat.
As you can see, a car has lots of benefits which will make your journey comfortable and safe.
You can easily make an advance booking online to get a rental car. Just follow Kuala Lumpur Airport and select any car you may like.
What to take with you in the journey?
When you travel with your kids, it’s very important to take everything you need – this will help you to feel confident in any situation and fully enjoy your holiday.
We have prepared the list of MUST HAVE items which may be needed during your trip in Malaysia.
The main thing you must have in your car is enough bottled water for drinking and washing your hands. You also have to stock up with dry and wet wipes, diapers for the little ones, soluble cereals and baby puree. Means for protection of children’s skin from the sun and insects are also required.
The next item you ought to prepare is a medicine chest with the next items: antihistamines, antimicrobial, antipyretic and, if necessary, something from allergies.
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Cruising in Style on the Norwegian Breakaway
December 21, 2014 by 8 Comments
Daily Cruise Diary
Today was our third day on the Norwegian Breakaway cruise ship, but the first “port day” (that is, day that the ship is docked for any length of time besides the day that we boarded).
We began out day pretty slowly. My husband and son were up first, and they hung out playing video games for about 20 minutes until I joined them in the land of the living. At that time, we all got dressed and headed upstairs to the buffet for breakfast. My husband likes to try a little bit of everything, I try a few things here and there, but also like my “staple” of some sort of fruit and yogurt. My son, oddly, eats only cereal and a hard boiled egg, possibly some bacon or sausage. Anyone who knows my son is aware that he normally eats anything and everything, and in large quantities. For some reason, right now at breakfast he prefers to take it slow. Not that it matters, there are tons of choices, and food is available all day long. (And not just in the buffet, but in the ship’s many restaurants as well. You won’t run out of options.)
Today was a “port” day, we were in Port Canaveral, Florida. As we were just in the area, and the day looked like it would rain, we decided to stay on the ship and take advantage of all the happenings (and the smaller quantity of people) on board. (I’m glad we did- it rained a lot of the day.)
There were excursion options, but none that looked like fun in the rain, so. Where we were docked, there was also nothing walkable, so that also made our choice an easy one for us.
My son loved the SpongeBob themed splash park, and we spent hours there with some of the other kids. We also went into the pools and went on all the waterslides multiple times. The splash park is great for all young kids, from the very little to about 10. The one area is clearly aimed at the very young, but the sprinkler-type area was attracting quite a few of the older kids.
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Cruise Like a Norwegian
December 18, 2014 by 10 Comments
Our first full day on board the Norwegian Breakaway cruise (out of NYC, convenient!) was just that- a full day. It was a day at sea, and it was still too cold to use the pools, hot tubs, or water slides in my opinion. Instead, we explored the ship and took part in many of the ships on-board activities.
We went down to the buffet for breakfast, and found ourselves a table. Before you enter, the staff sprays your hands with a disinfectant hand sanitizer to help stop the spread of germs. The food was good, and it’s nice not to have to cook ourselves, I will tell you that. My son, of course, had to use the bathroom halfway through the meal, so I took him out. In the hallway, we came upon quite a sight- a sound, really. Several staff members, one with a guitar, were singing a song about washing your hands. The song was “Washy washy, happy happy, everybody wash your hands”. We stopped for a full minute, it was such a strange song- but they sure put all their energy into it. Then we were off to the bathroom- and we of course remembered to washy washy before we headed back to finish breakfast. (Check out the video below- it’s not a great video, people had no problem walking in front of me, but you will get to hear this insane song. Bonus- it’s the one that will get caught in your head for the rest of your day. You’re welcome.) You need to give it a few seconds. Really- it’s just nuts. And you will love it.
After breakfast, we went to Family Arts and Craft time. Today’s craft was making a SpongeBob bandana. After everyone made their craft, the kids got to put them on and did a little parade around the room.
We then took the kiddo to Splash Academy- Norwegian’s kid’s club. No, they don’t take the kids swimming, no worries. We signed him up yesterday right after we boarded the ship, and he got a bracelet with his ID on it that has our names and cards linked to it in their computer. We also had to make up and give a password so no one could “Fake” being one of us. The kid’s club staff are all very energetic and keep the kids active and having fun all day. They all have silly nicknames as well, like “Boots”, “Tic Tac”, “BBQ”, and etc.
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A Visit to the Hotel Adler Thermae, Tuscany
December 15, 2014 by 16 Comments
A getaway does wonders for the spirit, but when that trip is to Tuscany your soul will sing with delight. The sights, the sounds and the people offer a refreshing change of pace from the daily grind. A more lovely place to vacation couldn’t be found.
A trip to Tuscany is an occasion, and such a wondrous occasion calls for top notch accommodations. Hotel Adler Thermae fits the bill perfectly. Imagine a luxury resort that is a perfect mix of modern architecture, nature, and classic Italian charm. The Hotel Adler Thermae has a rich history that stems back to 1810. Operated by the 7th generation of the Adler Family with obvious care and pride, this all inclusive hotel offers visitors a one of a kind stay that is drenched in class, style and luxury.
The cuisine of Hotel Adler Thermae is worth writing home about! Imagine having a cocktail with the host to welcome you, or having a generous breakfast buffet available until 11 am to the delight of your taste buds. Lunch at Hotel Adler Thermae is nothing short of impressive. The salads, antipasti and pasta dishes and grilled meat and fish offerings are the perfect way to refuel for a busy day of sightseeing. The gourmet 4 and 5 course meals at dinner time are nothing short of mouth watering. My favorite part of the edible offerings of the hotel has to be the afternoon break buffet which features home-made cakes, all of which were completely drool worthy.
While I could talk to you about the food at Hotel Adler Thermae all day long, there is so much more to offer at this luxury hotel. The Thermal Spa is a hot spring of wellness. The waters are heated naturally from deep within the earth and have absorbed minerals over time which are great for not only the mind but also the soul.
I loved that there are indoor and outdoor thermal pools for my enjoyment and a special thermal pool for children which features jet fountains and perfectly warm water that will lead to a lot of splashing fun for the kids. The pool featured above actually goes into a whirlpool every 10 minutes, which my son absolutely adored.
Win Wonderful Bluetooth Speakers from Turcom
December 9, 2014 by 36 Comments
Disclosure: The Bluetooth speakers from Turcom mentioned below was provided for me in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.
Being out and about and having kids I am always trying to find a way to make sure that we can listen to music. I love that we all now have smartphones and that it is now easier than ever to have music right at our fingertips. With the girls, they want to listen to music just like I do. Once we get a new one we are always listening to it in the car and singing on the karaoke machine when we’re home. I find it hard to be able to have the music loud enough for the girls to hear as well and to be able to have it hands free and not attached with wires. The new bluetooth speakers from Turcom are amazing.
About Turcom:
Turcom Electronics has a company operated facility based in Souther California to distribute Turcom products to clients all over the domestic U.S. and internationally abroad. Turcom’s goal is to deliver high quality products featuring the latest technology at a fraction of the price of other major brands. Turcom Electronics is constantly searching for the latest technology available on the market to add to its unique blend of versatility, functionality, and value.
About Turcom Portable Mini Wireless Speaker: You can now take your music with you wherever you are going. It is perfect for home and office and portable enough that you can take it wherever you prefer.
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- Compatible with almost all Bluetooth-enabled devices
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