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 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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
A Look Inside Ollivanders Interactive Wand Show, Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter
One of the many magical moments to be experienced within Universal Orlando's magical Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a visit to Ollivanders Wand Shop where "the wand chooses the wizard". The wand choosing show is a close up, intimate, and fun, interactive experience for Harry Potter fans of all ages. If you're wondering how to get picked for a wand at Universal, what the … [Read more...]
Legendary Obama Cookie at Moulin De Provence Bakery in Byward Market, Ottawa
"Obama Cookie" from Moulin De Provence in Ottawa. When I was in Ottawa last Spring I just HAD to do the touristy thing by visiting Moulin De Provence in the historic Byward Market to get an Obama Cookie. Apparently at one point Obama stopped by this bakery during a visit to Ottawa, bought one of these maple leaf shaped shortbread cookies, and said "I love this … [Read more...]
Camp Jurassic Kid’s Playspace, One of the Hidden Gems of Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure
Camp Jurassic is a kids' playspace within the larger Jurassic Park section of Universal's Islands of Adventure. It would be easy to overlook, and in my mind, that's a mistake because this highly themed area is a ton of fun to explore. Camp Jurassic is off the main path. You head through an archway, over a bridge and past the line up for the Pteranodon Riders, to get to … [Read more...]
Visiting Iceland with Riley Blue
For a few months now I've been planning a trip to Iceland. You are probably thinking, "What? Really? Iceland?". Or maybe I'm wrong, perhaps you're thinking, "That sounds awesome, I wish I was travelling to Iceland.", or maybe you're reminiscing about when you went on holiday in Iceland. I somehow feel like the later is less likely because it seems as though Iceland isn't on … [Read more...]
Planning a Family Getaway During Winter Break
Winter break is one of the best times of the year for families to travel and experience different places around the world. Since many people feel the same way, it can be a little tricky to plan the perfect vacation in a short amount of time. However, people can plan a successful vacation if they take a little extra time and plan accordingly. The first thing that a family … [Read more...]
Why You NEED to Eat at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen, Universal City Walk Orlando
When my family talks about returning to Universal Orlando one of the first things that always comes up is heading back to Toothsome's. From the moment I set eyes on Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen I just knew I had to eat there. Before leaving for our trip to Orlando I had read online that there was a new steampunk + chocolate themed restaurant … [Read more...]
That Time I Went to Sunny Mexico & Used Moisturizer Instead of Sunscreen
I want to tell you guys the story about that time I went to Mexico and I didn't bring any sunscreen with me. A friend had convinced me that it would be better to just buy a container of sunscreen when I got there, instead of worrying about trying to find the right travel sized container that would be okay to bring in my carry-on luggage. However, once I got to Puerta … [Read more...]