Go for the food. Oh my goodness, go for the food. The food in Puerto Vallarta was consistently amazing. This was the first thing I ate after landing, lunch at the CasaMagna Marriott Resort (which has since been renamed to Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa) at their beachside restaurant, Las Casitas. For the location alone the meal was noteworthy. Las Casitas is open to … [Read more...]
The 7 Best Kept Secrets of Toronto ComiCon
You probably already know that the Toronto ComiCon is an awesome place to meet your favourite comic book creator and get an autograph. You also probably know that the Toronto ComiCon is a fantastic place to go shopping for geeky goodies. And you probably already know that it's a great place to meet some of your favourite sci-fi and fantasy film and TV stars live and in … [Read more...]
Knockturn Alley, The Dark (and Spooky) Side of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios is broken into three areas -- there is a small slice of London, England (complete with Kings Cross Station and Platform 9 3/4s), then there are the shops of Diagon Alley (including Gringott's and the Leaky Cauldron), and just off of Diagon Alley you'll find the perpetually dark twists and turns of Knockturn Alley. If … [Read more...]
Why You Want to Buy a Wand When Visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando
If you are wondering "Is buying a wand worth it?", "Do I need a wand to visit Harry Potter world?" or "Do I want to buy a wand before visiting the Wizarding World at Universal?" I've got answers for you (briefly; yes, maybe, and no -- buy your wand at the park!) If you are spending the day wandering around Diagon Alley at Universal Studios or in Hogsmeade within Islands … [Read more...]
The Porter Difference, What the heck is that exactly?
I love riding on the train. I adore riding on the train. I will jump at any excuse to take the four hour Via Rail ride to Toronto. Four hours of sitting in a cozy seat, with wifi, coffee, and a lovely view out the window. Sometimes I splurge and go business class, sometimes I ride economy, either way, I always love riding on the train. There have been times when I’ve been … [Read more...]
Summertime Travel, Tips to Save Money During Family Travel
Travel is my addiction. I love hitting the road, whether it's a day trip to the county or a train trip to Toronto, travel is my favourite thing. The depressing reality is that travel can be expensive, particularly when you start packing up the entire family for a big getaway. I love to find ways to save on travel so that I can squeeze a few more trips into the year. Some … [Read more...]
Secret Confession: I Have Beach Guilt
I've brought my kids on a family vacation to Florida twice now. Twice we've visited Orlando as a family. And I'm finding that I feel oddly guilty about it. See, when I was a kid we would visit Florida and stay with relatives. We'd fly down, or drive (24 hours straight, my dad was hardcore) to Bradenton, or Sarasota, stay for a week or two and head home. We chilled. A lot. We … [Read more...]
Flying Direct from Windsor to Florida with Porter: By The Numbers
Porter Airlines now offers flights direct from Windsor to Melbourne, Florida. The airport code for Melbourne International Airport is MLB, aka Major League Beaches, and Windsor is YQG, also known as Your Quick Gateway, hence it's like taking Your Quick Gateway to Major League Beaches. Okay, so right now you may be thinking, cute, whatever, but where the heck is Melbourne … [Read more...]
Spontaneous Walt Disney World, Seizing the Evening at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
I know people PLAN Disney. They plan the heck out of Disney. They plan when they will eat, and where, and make reservations months in advance. They plan exactly which rides they're going to go on and what order they're going to ride them in. There is even some Fast Pass deal where you can register for rides ahead of time. Planned. Every minute. Out the wazoo. But something … [Read more...]
7 Life Lessons Learned While Kayaking with the Dolphins in Sebastian Inlet
I spent a morning kayaking in Sebastian Inlet Florida State Park, and it taught me a bit about motherhood, about being a caregiver, and about surviving my "sandwich generation" moments. Stick with me here guys. Life happens. It just keeps on happening. Kids. Aging parents. Health issues. STRESS. Non-stop worry and stress. I feel like my life has devolved into some sort … [Read more...]
Dinosaurs Alive at Canada’s Wonderland
A few years back I took my daughter on her first trip to Canada's Wonderland and she taught me a little bit about fun, about how the merry-go-round could be every bit as exciting as the thrilling roller coaster rides and about how wonderful it is to be able to experience an amusement park through your kid's eyes. During that trip, one of the highlights of our day was … [Read more...]
LAST CHANCE TO SEE: Magical Surprises in the Dragon Challenge Queue at Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando
One of the very cool things that I missed on our first trip to Universal Orlando was the queue for the Dragon Challenge. I want to tell you guys about this amazing space in detail for two reasons. First, because I think it is an often overlooked ride and one that any Harry Potter fan would LOVE the experience of walking through. Secondly, this ride is scheduled to close for … [Read more...]
Nigel and the Knight Bus, a Magical Moment inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
This is one of my daughters' most cherished memories of our visit to Universal Studios Florida. One rainy evening we stopped by to check out the Knight Bus and the conductor, a friendly chap named Nigel, chatted us up. The Knight Bus is a full sized triple decker bus sitting in the streets of London. just outside of Diagon Alley. It, of course, looks exactly like the … [Read more...]
Volcano Bay, Theming Behind Universal Orlando’s New Water THEME Park
I want to tell you about Volcano Bay. It's the new water park area that just opened up at Universal Orlando, and it looks pretty darn awesome (even to someone like myself who doesn't normally care for water parks). Actually, today I am out there somewhere exploring Volcano Bay, checking out the new water rides, and chilling in a cabana, but a little less than a year ago I … [Read more...]
Sneak a Peek at the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium Gift Shop, at Universal City Walk Orlando
From the moment I set eyes on the new Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen, I knew I had to eat there. We stepped into Universal's City Walk area, and there was this giant whimsical factory-like building sitting there across the waterway, just begging to be explored. That first afternoon I convinced my family to walk over the bridge and take a look at … [Read more...]