Santa Fe, New Mexico is a great example of tourism and culture that thrive through community engagement. Tourism in the city is a wonderful trifecta of color, sight and sound! From folk art, conservation and botany, to farmer’s markets, trains and road trips, Santa Fe, New Mexico offers its community—and those who happen to become a part of its community through tourism—the satisfying slice of life known to those “in the know” as variety.

And with the world having recently celebrated World Tourism Day on September 27, 2014, the city of Santa Fe is definitely a place that should peak right at the top of your fall travel destinations. The city’s dedication to the preservation of culture and history, as well as what it offers to the public to reflect this preservation, speak to the educational impact which travel and tourism can and should have in our lives.

So what are you waiting for? Make a date to visit Santa Fe, New Mexico this fall! Rest assured that, in doing so, you will be aiding in teaching your children about the place of community and social responsibility in our lives and, most importantly, in our playtime.

The following list contains a few noteworthy activities that will not only make your stay in Santa Fe more memorable, but that will help both you and your children see the value and necessity of learning and community engagement in both work and play!

Museum of International Folk Art

The Museum of International Folk Art is a great place to begin a vacation filled with educational experiences through tourism! With exhibition galleries that invite your child’s participation through interactive activities, hands-on arts and crafts which are led by friendly and knowledgeable staff members, and a host of other exciting events, your family will find a full immersion into community engagement all while having loads of fun at this Santa Fe favorite!

Though the museum offers ample amounts of fun all year long, families with children should be sure to call ahead or visit the museum’s website for a full calendar of events that are targeted to younger audiences. You can peruse the museum’s guide online or pick one up right before the fun. For some exhibits, such as Wooden Menagerie exhibit, be sure to pick up an iPad Touch, which will allow the entire family to take part in the interactive learning experience while perusing the kid-friendly galleries.

Wooden Menagerie: Made in New Mexico, runs until February 15, 2015, and exhibits the wonderful history of animal wood carving in New Mexico, as well as its influence on other forms of art on both the national and international level. Not only will children be able to view an amazing display of local craftsmanship, but they’ll be able to take part in mask making as well!

• Museum of International Folk Art Homepage: http://www.internationalfolkart.org/
• For a full listing of current exhibits at the Museum of International Folk Art, be sure to visit: http://www.internationalfolkart.org/exhibitions/current.html

Santa Fe School of Cooking

Are you looking for an altogether unique and rewarding learning experience for your child? Something inspired and educational and … well … fun? Well then be sure to plan a visit to the Santa Fe School of Cooking, which has been hailed as one of the top places to visit while in Santa Fe! With its hands-on fun, the place is a wonderful blend of community engagement and inspired learning – education through tourism at its finest!

The Santa Fe School of Cooking allows for colorful and creative kitchen time for the entire family. Kids can work alongside parents in learning how to prepare and create local foods. Let your kids join in on the fun and make some of their favorite eats, such as tacos or even burritos! Classes are conducted throughout the week, and include varied menus which sample from Spanish, Native American, Mexican, and New Mexican food, to name but a few.

And for those families looking for a comprehensive culinary adventure? The school is also known for its entirely entertaining restaurant walking tours. Take a page from a bevy of other travelers who have raved about this experience on Trip Advisor and book your very own tour. Even Fodor’s has hailed the school’s restaurant tours as an unforgettable experience while in Santa Fe!

The tour begins at The Santa Fe School of Cooking, where you’ll be prepped on the festivities and offered a sampling of what the school itself has to offer. Meet and greet your fellow tour participants before heading out to sample the best of Santa Fe’s culinary scene.

• Santa Fe School of Cooking Homepage: http://santafeschoolofcooking.com/
• Schedule of cooking classes at the Santa Fe School of Cooking: http://santafeschoolofcooking.com/Cooking_Classes/index.html
• To read more about the restaurant walking tours, visit: http://santafeschoolofcooking.com/Restaurant_Tours/

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum

The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum offers a variety of events and programs that cater to both children and adults alike. The museum makes it a point to itemize its activities into sections that will help you decide what best to do with your family while visiting the museum. These sections include: Adult, Family, Youth, Special Events, and Art & Leadership. There is also a section for Teachers as well.

The free family art programs are particularly noteworthy. “Music and Math” will take place in October 2014, an exciting program led by faculty from the Santa Fe Institute.

Another interesting program for families this October, one that you should definitely check out if in town, will focus on the art of Miguel Covarrubias. The free program will actually explore the artist’s work not only through talking about the colorful characters in his art, but by creating dances inspired by the artwork! That’s right! With the help of a museum and dance educator, parents and children alike will be able to explore their own artistic vein through dance and appreciation in an engaging community of like-minded individuals.

• Georgia O’Keeffe Museum Homepage: http://www.okeeffemuseumevents.org/

El Rancho De Las Golondrinas

If your family has a penchant for live entertainment, prepare to be thoroughly amazed at El Rancho De Las Golondrinas—treat your family to an imaginative delight for the senses at this incredibly picturesque living history museum!

Located on 200 acres of rural farmland, this historic ranch, translated as “Ranch of the Swallows,” actually dates from the early 1700s. This blast from the past also includes original colonial buildings that still stand on the site to this day. Children and adults alike can watch in awe and amazement as villagers, dressed in period clothing, reenact early frontier life in New Mexico.

With programs, events and festivals that highlight the life and times of the Southwest during 18^th and 19^th century New Mexico, there’s plenty to be seen and done here. Music, dance and daily life are but a few of the items explored through this living history project that combines aspects from Mexican, Spanish and Territorial life of the period.

The ranch also offers summer camp and special classes, including the Horno baking class, where visitors can bake bread while learning about the traditional outdoor ovens brought to New Mexico by the Spanish.

• El Rancho De Las Golondrinas Homepage: http://golondrinas.org
• For a calendar of events at El Rancho De Las Golondrinas, visit: http://golondrinas.org/Calendar_of_Events/index.html

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Did you know that the state of Pennsylvania, home to Gettysburg and the famous Liberty Bell and Hershey’s chocolate, is also home to a wonderful abundance of kid-friendly activities? It’s true! In fact, there are many cities in Pennsylvania that offer both attractions and lodgings where kids can indulge their curiosity with a bevy of hands-on fun!

So if you’re looking for a scenic road trip in the middle of the original thirteen colonies, or a getaway to occupy the idle hands of your inquisitive children, a place where hands-on fun is not only allowed but encouraged, be sure to tack on the following two destinations to your travel itinerary while on vacation in the great state of Pennsylvania!

A Colorful, Out-of-the-Box Experience!

Are you ready for an educational experience that is sure to captivate both children and adults alike? Well then head to the birthplace of Crayola crayons in the beautiful city of Easton. Located in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, Easton is an hour or so away from both Philadelphia and New York City.

What’s more, Easton has the distinct pleasure of being home to the one-of-a-kind Crayola Factory, a hands-on museum showcasing the magic of Crayola crayons through art, technology and a plethora of hands-on creativity. With 21 separate attractions to engage with, guests can choose from making their own crayon with a personal label, interacting with a digital projection screen where the colorful animations created can actually come to life, building a custom marker, and even learning about Crayola crayons from the resident Crayonologist!

Redesigned in 2013 to ensure more thrills and more fun, the new Crayola Experience is sure to be the highlight of your family’s trip to Pennsylvania! And don’t worry: if your family’s not able to make it to family-friendly Pennsylvania, or if you simply want to experience the magic of Crayola crayons in a completely different setting, doors will soon be opening on an Orlando, Florida location as well!

The Crayola Experience: http://www.crayolaexperience.com/

Birds and Bats and Monsters, Oh My!

Want more educational fun for the family? You’ve got it, then! Visit SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment’s loveable Sesame Place, located in Langhorne, and prepare to be simply amazed!

Sesame Place offers families an assortment of friendly entertainment, from shows, parades, water fun, and a host of other hands-on attractions. See Elmo the Musical or join in on a Neighborhood Street Parade. Get soaked on Bert & Ernie’s Slip & Slide and then laugh until your sides split on Big Bird’s Rambling River.

But that’s not all! With Cookie’s Monster Land now open, kids can also delve into the furry fun that the Cookie Monster has in store for them with exciting rides, a net-climb and a soft-play area for younger children. And to preserve your child’s memories at Cookie’s Monster Land, be sure to visit the interactive photo location before leaving!

Don’t want the fun to end so soon? Then book an overnight package and let the fun spill over to another memorable day: http://sesameplace.com/en/langhorne/stay/

With packages such as the “Play More, Wait Less,” “Build Your Own Package” and the limited-time only “Buy 2 Nights Get 1 Night Free” package, there’s sure to be an overnight package that fits the bill for your family. Keep in mind that to take advantage of the “Buy 2 Nights Get 1 Night Free” package, it must be booked by 9/1/14, while your family’s arrival date must be 10/26/14 or earlier.

With seasonal events and a calendar of back-to-back fun, be sure to visit Sesame Place’s website for its full-range of activities!

Sesame Place: http://sesameplace.com/langhorne/

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At Hotel Union Square in the heart of downtown San Francisco, not only will you fall in love with the striking history of the hotel, but you will also fall in love with a unique hotel filled with both genuine and award-winning personality!

Though Yvonne Lembi-Detert, the CEO and President of the Personality Hotels group, designed Hotel Union Square some 30 years ago in 1982, the hotel is actually San Francisco’s first boutique hotel (the pre-war version of the hotel graced San Francisco even before the major earthquake of 1906, with major renovations in 1913 for the 1915 Pan Pacific Exposition). From the original 1915 Egyptian tile mosaic murals in the entryway to the old basement that runs the entire length of the building itself and at one time held one of San Francisco’s largest and famous speakeasy’s (The Golden Bubble, a 10,000 square foot speakeasy that was rumored to hold over 250 people and purportedly included a slide at one of the entrances) back during the Prohibition Era, Hotel Union Square is filled with both urban and traditional ambience, wonder, luxury, and mystery!

The art-deco inspired lobby is home to a wonderful selection of staff and hotel events, such as the evening wine reception with live music and complimentary coffee and hot chocolate in the mornings. Heather Noll, the President and Founder of Chalkboard Communications, and the General Manager of the Hotel Union Square, Domitille Montoro, will go out of their way to ensure that every stay at the hotel is one worthy of countless memories! I even had a glitch with my flight arrival and Heather made sure that everything was arranged and taken care of, ensuring that a stressful stay was NOT one of the things on my list of to-do items! Domitille went out of her way to make sure that everything in my room was to my liking and, as a fun and added feature, was able to also show me the stupendous Dashiell Hammett Suite, where Dashiell stayed with his wife-to-be the night before the wedding and which includes Dashiell’s original writing desk.

In addition to the Dashiell Hammett Suite, Domitille also explained the hotel’s history and a few of the other suites that were available to guests at the hotel, such as the Dugout Suite (for Giants fans), Penthouse and Junior Suites. The hotel also offers a great selection of rooms, such as the Executive King and Queen Rooms, the Deluxe Rooms, which can be queen-sized or double-double sized and include all of the wonderful amenities of the other rooms, such as flat screen T.V.’s and mini fridges, the Sleep & Soak Room (with soaking tub and an oversized rain shower-head) and the No Frills Double Room.

One of the most exciting offers by the art deco-inspired Union Square Hotel, which is actually but one of four exclusive San Francisco-based hotels (there are six altogether) directed by Yvonne, including Hotel Diva, Kensington Park Hotel and the Steinhardt Hotel, is the amount of attention paid to mothers traveling with children in the form of the remarkable and entirely engaging Kids’ Suite, which actually sleeps up to two adults and two children. In other words, this room is the true definition of a suite! In addition to the plethora of puzzles, reading books and activities, toys, and other assorted knickknacks for children, there is also mixed-media collages around the suite of famous kid-friendly landmarks around San Francisco, a computer for kids with history-filled games and a writing desk for kids. 

Additionally, the suite comes with a cherry wood trundle bed, a Nintendo Wii and a host of other delights for children of every age. What’s more, the very same partition which holds all of the reading and activity books also serves as a room divider without having a complete wall or partition blocking children from the view of parents. On the other side of the moveable partition, parents who wish to stay in the same room will find a large king-size bed, T.V. and writing desk at their disposal. To book this suite, be sure to contact the hotel at 800.553.1900.

If mothers or their children happen to tire of indoor activities, San Francisco is the perfect environment for kid-friendly fun. Try a few of these favorites to ensure your child gets the very best of San Francisco:

• The Yerba Buena Gardens – Provides ice skating, bowling, museums, and art (701 Mission Street, between 3^rd & 4^th)
• Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum and Wax Museum – Galleries of the important, rich and famous, as well as a Chamber of Horrors (Jefferson Street, Fisherman’s Wharf)
• Exploratorium – An interactive science museum for kids and adults (Pier 15, Greet St.)
• SF Zoo – Northern California’s largest zoological park, including a Children’s Zoo, carousel and zoo train (Sloat Boulevard near Great Highway)
• Zeum – Hands on art & technology museum for kids and families (Yerba Buena Gardens)

One of the refreshing qualities that places the Personality Hotel group an echelon above all the competition is its constant attention to renewing itself in a city known for being grounded in history. As it turns out, Hotel Union Square, as well as Hotel Diva and Kensington Park Hotel, have just launched a new pampering/travel program geared toward expectant mothers – the first of its kind in San Francisco! The new Pregnant & Pampered SF Getaway package is at its core a celebration of motherhood, growth and renewal, and its strong appeal has attracted many local businesses in the San Francisco area to team up with Personality Hotels in an effort to celebrate this milestone achievement in women’s lives. 

In the past, travel and pregnancy have always focused on couples, often with the advice that mothers-to-be should stay home and refrain from traveling. This entirely new concept put into effect by Yvonne Lembi-Detert actually celebrates the mom-to-be, and ensures that she has everything at her disposal to enjoy a wonderful experience full of luxury and hospitality before childbirth.

The Pregnant & Pampered SF Getaway package starts at $179 a night (excluding taxes as well as based on availability). This price is a mere $49 add-on to regular room rates, and the amenities from the three hotels involved, as well as the local businesses that are involved, are truly outstanding:

• Body pillows that are available to help stay comfortable and well-rested
• Expectant mothers will receive sparkling water upon arrival
• A Massage Therapy Bar that happens to be made from 100 percent organic cocoa 7 Shea butters (from Lush Cosmetics™).
• A voucher for a free Ice Cream Sundae from the world famous Ghirardelli Square Ice Cream Chocolate Shop
• A welcome roll of Tums, in case heartburn happens to strike!
• A forty dollar-off coupon to Spa J’Adore for a facial or prenatal massage
• A copy of “Your Pregnancy Week by Week,” a fascinating and popular book for mothers-to-be
• An actual set of first keys for your soon-to-be bundle of joy! The keys are made by Green Toys™, a local business that makes toys from eco-friendly materials
• A twenty percent of voucher that can be used for a future stay in Hotel Union Square’s Kids’ Suite or the Little Diva Suite at Hotel Diva.

To book a Pregnant & Pampered SF Getaway package from one of the three participating hotels, contact them at:

• Hotel Diva: 440 Geary Blvd., 415.885.0200, www.hoteldiva.com  
• Kensington Park: 450 Post St., 415.788.6400, www.kensingtonparkhotel.com
• Hotel Union Square: 114 Powell St., 415.397.3000, www.hotelunionsquare.com

Alternatively, you can visit http://info.personalityhotels.com/packages or call 800.553.1900 for more information!

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Beaches Resorts by Sandals are making every kid’s (and some adults) dream come true by bringing the loveable characters of Sesame Street to the shore for you! As a proud sponsor of Beaches, the Caribbean family beach resort is ensuring that the colorful cast of characters is on site at their resorts to make every kid’s dream come true! Visit http://www.beaches.com/sesame-street/ for additional information and what the entire program entails, but there is something for every child to take part in with Beaches Resorts Sesame Street fun!

As kids all around the world love the Sesame Street gang, this trip is something that your kids will surely remember for a long time! In addition to the regularly scheduled events with the crew, you can also participate in specific themed activities with the members of Sesame Street, such as the Super Science Fair with Super Grover, an age-appropriate journey through the wonders of the scientific process! This includes investigating sand treasures, bubble experiments and floating adventures with water. Another great thing about these themed adventures is that they include other members of the Sesame Street family as well!

One great activity that is both fun and educational is ‘From Trash to Treasure with Oscar the Grouch’!! This eco-friendly adventure allows children to find reusable material in Oscar’s ‘Trashland’ and creatively repurpose the material. It is a wonderful lesson in recycling and reusing resources, and kids will start this necessary process of understanding the environment from a young age!  

Parents can also upgrade many of these packages to include additional items for their luxury vacation: http://www.beaches.com/sesame-street/sesame-packages.cfm#top, such as night-time tuck-ins by favorite characters as well as photo ops, breakfasts with the characters and birthday parties! The prices vary depending on adult or child tickets, as well as the number of individuals involved in the party. Be sure to book ahead for optimal rates!

If your children happen to be a bit too old for Sesame Street, Beaches Resorts also has their famed Kids Camp http://www.beaches.com/activities/kids-camp.cfm! The resort has certified nannies, a program for infants that takes the smallest newborn up to 24 months old, a toddlers program, pre-teen program and teen’s program as well. There is also after-camp care and care for children with special needs.

The program for teens makes sure that the older children are not left out of the fun! There are tennis clinics, pool Olympics, boat cruises water sports, and karaoke. The pre-teen program shares many of the same activities while ensuring that they are protected from the sun with sun screen, beach hats, and the use of swimsuits and beach toys.

As far as the rest of the Sesame Street cast is concerned, children can have a variety of adventures with their favorite character. There is bird-watching with Big Bird where kids can view all of the colorful types of birds that live in the Caribbean, as well as becoming official “Birdketeers” with Big Bird by decorating their own headbands with feathers and learning a special dance!

Story Time with Elmo is a popular interactive experience where Elmo reads a story and then appears in person to the children to complete the experience. Bake with Cookie Monster is also an exciting adventure that is definitely not to be missed. Children can assist staff with baking cookies! Afterwards, the Cookie Monster will drop by to check on the work and sample a bit of the cookies just to make sure they’re up to scratch! There’s also a treasure discovery, a surprise tea time and game time with the Count! This trip definitely has something for every member of the family, so be sure to take advantage of all the fun!

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By Lincoln McElwee

Situated in the postcard-perfect southwest of Utah and only three hours by car from Las Vegas, Nevada (five hours from Utah’s capitol up north, Salt Lake City), Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort offers its guests all the amenities of a top-notch resort while staying true to the beautiful ruggedness of its famous next door neighbor: Zion National Park!

Located on 4,000 acres of pristine land and sitting atop a forested plateau with stunning views into Zion National Park, the resort is the perfect embodiment of family-friendly fun. Zion Ponderosa offers daily activities for every member of the family, from the sedimentary type who may simply want to enjoy a spa treatment, swim or play miniature golf to the completely active types who want more hands-on activities, such as canyoneering, hiking and horseback riding.

One of the most convenient aspects of Zion Ponderosa is that the resort offers a kid’s camp for either half or full day activities. The popular camp is run during the summer season, from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. What’s more, the camp counselors are chosen based on their own interests in child development, thereby ensuring that counselors are vested into the wonderful camp experience! 

During the summer season, the kid’s camp also offers wagon rides around the grounds of the resort. The wagon rides take place in the afternoons and culminate in a Dutch oven dinner around an open camp fire, as well as s’mores and campfire stories. During the day, there are a myriad of activities for kids, including zip lining and ATV tours with miniature ATVs, as well as hiking, swimming, and an entire kid’s room in the recreation barn reserved for children, with TVs, movies, games and other fun activities to keep children occupied and entertained!

By making use of all the amenities the kid’s camp offers for children, adrenaline-loving parents can take part in the daily hikes that begin on the resort’s property and end in the national park itself. That’s right – Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort has about six trail-heads that begin on the property, with many of the trails ending in Zion National Park itself! Guests of the property can even request to be picked up from their lodgings in the morning and dropped off at the trail-head of their choosing. Guest pickup is also available for these hiking excursions. 

In addition to the popularity of the resort’s activities, which are so numerous that guests do not even have to leave the grounds of the resort if they so choose, Zion Ponderosa also prides itself on its accommodations, which truly offer something for everyone! 

One of the more popular types of lodging, especially for backpackers or those who want a camping experience in the safety of a controlled environment, is the campground lodgings where guests can set up their own tents at designated lots on the property. The campground lodgings are probably as “rugged” as the accommodations get, though guests in reality have access to a coin-operated laundry facility and communal showers. In addition to the tent sites, the campground also offers wagon-style accommodations. These very popular Western Wagons are designed with traditional wagon wheels, round, covered roofs and can sleep up to four people. And just like the tent sites, guests here have access to the showers, restrooms and other amenities of the resort itself.

Zion Ponderosa also provides a full-hookup RV camping site, the closest of its kind near the East Entrance to Zion National Park. RV guests also have access to the other amenities of the resort, as well as having grills and picnic tables right at the RV campsite. This intimate setting ensures that RV guests can relax in the pristine setting of nature, surrounded by the beautiful sky, Utah Junipers and Pinion Pines!

Two other types of accommodation are the Cowboy cabins and cabin suites. The cowboy cabins can sleep up to six guests, but do not include interior bathrooms. As a contrast, the cabin suites offer private bedrooms, wet bars, full bathrooms, and front rooms. Guests can even request queen-sized bunk beds in the cabin suites. The suites also sleep up to six people and even come equipped with fireplaces.

One of the most impressive accommodation types that the resort offers is vacation rental homes. These million dollar homes are built and designed by individuals who own property and houses around the world! Due to the sheer beauty of Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort, these homes are built and rented out to guests for a specified amount of time, two nights being the minimum. One of the most popular events for renting the vacation homes happens to be family reunions! Some of these homes, for instance, can sleep from 25 to 35 people, and guests share all the amenities of the resort! 

For those guests who do choose to remain on-site and enjoy all that the resort has to offer, the day can be filled with miniature golf, trampoline activities, rock climbing for beginners, and zip lining. There are also a variety of “open-use” activities on the grounds, including basketball, billiards/foosball, horse shoes, ping pong, tennis, softball, and volleyball. And depending on the season, the resort also stages an evening rodeo!

The activities that are scheduled throughout the day, and where advance reservations are highly recommended (especially during the summer season), are the ATV tours, canyoneering, hiking shuttles, horseback riding, jeep tours, paintball, rafting, shotgun range practice, wagon rides, and the seasonal Dutch oven dinner.

After all of the excursions both inside Zion National Park itself and on the grounds of the resort, the perfect place to unwind is at Zion Ponderosa’s own restaurant, the Blue Belly Grill! The restaurant uses only the freshest ingredients and incredible recipes to create a unique dining experience like none other. Weekly specials, along with the a la carte menu for both breakfast and dinner, ensure that guests have a diverse amount of choices! And the great thing about the grill is that the choices trickle down to a menu just for kids as well. As far as the dinner entrées are concerned, the Cornmeal Crusted Utah Trout is amazingly delicious, as well as the Fish and Chips, a group favorite that is served with English-style chips! Another fun part of the dining experience is that the grill uses paper tablecloths for parties with children. Kids are given crayons to decorate the tablecloths and parents are of course more than welcome to join in on the fun!

So if your family is in the mood for an adventurous vacation filled with the natural beauty of Utah, from the red and white sandstone formations of Zion National Park to the breathtaking beauty of the evening sky during your sunset jeep tour at Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort, Michael Kane, the General Manager, and Julie Millard, the resort’s Reservations Manager, will be sure to make you feel more than welcome! The dedication of the resort’s staff is unparalleled, from the remarkable head chef, Francesca P. Van der Stappen, to the waiters and waitresses serving each meal with a smile. Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort is truly a destination par excellence!

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Portland, Oregon has gone through its share of changes. Much like San Francisco and the Beat Generation of the 60s and 70s, there is a notion surrounding Portland – a perception – often depicted in the extreme with shows like “Portlandia,” where tired, yearning masses of the young and restless seem find their way to the burgeoning shores of the city and live out their laissez-faire lifestyles.

Though this portrayal is admittedly exaggerated, yet comedic nonetheless, what it lacks is the fact that before the indie scene and the hipsters, before the pub crawls and wine vacations and spa packages, there was the simple love of place and dedication to heritage, to history.

There are locals like Dave J. Spacek, the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Mark Spencer Hotel, that grew up in Portland and can remember when the West End district, where the hotel is located, was little more than a district of warehouses.

But just as the warehouses have now been converted into energy efficient lofts and work spaces, so too does The Mark Spencer Hotel, located at 409 SW 11^th Ave., continue to promote the progressive ideals of the city by ensuring that the city’s resources are preserved for future generations.

For example, the hotel is a Green Seal certified property and active in recycling,  even down to the corks from the evening wine reception held nightly in the hotel atrium.  

The hotel is also known as the Hotel to the Arts in that it supports both well-known and fledgling theaters, including the … this support helps to ensure the continued access to culture and the arts for both Portlanders and the tourists who flock to the sights and sounds of Portland with their children, visiting such places as the celebrated Voodoo Doughnuts.

Speaking with Dave over coffee – a steaming cup of Kobo’s, a local company whose deliciously aromatic coffee is offered by the hotel at its complimentary breakfast and throughout the day as well – I agree that Voodoo Doughnuts  is indeed a great attraction and well worth the visit, and having tasted their Bacon Maple Bar doughnut (raised yeast doughnut topped with maple and bacon) the morning before, I now have an unhealthy love relationship with the famous donut shop. 

Indeed, just a few weeks ago, I noticed that a friend of mine who recently moved to Portland had posted pictures of his children enjoying the sheer sugar rush of Voodoo Doughnuts’ unique and flavorful donuts, which also include an assortment of vegan doughnuts as well. Keep in mind that Voodoo Doughnuts is CASH ONLY.  

What I also learn, however, is that if I want to taste a bit of Portland like the locals, there are a few places worth trying that are off the beaten path of most tourist itineraries, such as Blue Star Donuts at 1237 SW Washington Street. 

In fact, after a few more “local” tips, I have my entire day planned. Blue Star Donuts for a “lite” breakfast, where I enjoy a savory donut ring of basil, blueberry and bourbon, as well as a decadently delicious dulce de leche donut.

I then head over to Lardo’s brick and mortar establishment at 1205 SW Washington Street on the West Side (Lardo’s on the East Side is the famous food cart). At Lardo, I indulge my tastes in the Double Burger, a juicy and flavorful favorite with cascade natural beef, porkstrami, cheddar, lettuce, and the restaurant’s famous Lardo sauce. This amazing combination of flavors is accompanied by a side of Lardo fries, topped with fried herbs and parmesan. And to wash it all down, a cold and delicious local brew.

After Lardo’s sensual display of culinary can-do, I manage to make my way over to another recommendation: Ruby Jewels, the beautifully designed ice cream shop seen on the Food Network and toted by Oprah as her favorite place for ice cream sandwiches. Even with these celebrity nods to the North Portland shop’s sensual creations, the ice cream is still handmade daily in the shop’s kitchen and continues to source its ingredients from sustainable, local businesses

Ruby Jewel’s has a selection of ice cream and ice cream sandwiches that you can choose from, and if you’d like something altogether different, you can customize your sandwich by choosing both the type of cookie and the ice cream flavor. I treated myself to the gluten-free chocolate chip cookie sandwich with honey lavender ice cream, which is a perfect treat for the senses and a welcome reward for such a hot day. 

A welcome treat for children is Finnegan’s Toys & Gifts, Portland’s largest toy store since 1977. The store is actually located on the corner of SW 9^th Avenue and Washington Street, and can easily be added to any itinerary that already includes any of the above-mentioned places on Washington Street, such as Lardo’s or Blue Star Donuts.

Hotel guests can also feel like a local by experiencing the various amenities that The Mark Spencer Hotel offers, such as their bevy of promotions and accommodation packages.                                  

One of the most popular packages is the Powell’s Bookworm Package. In addition to overnight accommodations, continental breakfast, wireless internet access, weekday newspaper (NY Times), afternoon tea and cookies, and an evening wine reception, the package includes a $50 gift card to Powell’s City of Books, the largest independent bookstore in the world and within walking distance from the hotel.

As the New York Times itself has noted of Powell’s Books, “the children’s section, like everything here, is phenomenally well stocked.” Powell’s Books, then, and as an extension of Portland, is such a vital asset in helping to provide educational entertainment for families that happen to be traveling with children.

Further highlighting its vast array of children’s literature, Powell’s offers activities in its stores that give children something fun and educational to do during the busy summer months with a program series known as Kids’ Storytime. Held every Wednesday and Saturday at Powell’s City of Books, the flagship store on 1005 W Burnside St., as well as other select store locations in Oregon (there are six locations in total, including one at PDX airport and another in neighboring Beaverton), the events allow children to also be a part of the Powell’s experience.

For more information on what Portland has to offer to families with children, be sure to visit Portland’s own event website, which is dedicated to planning year-round events specifically with children in mind.

In addition to the Powell’s Bookworm Package, The Mark Spencer Hotel also offers packages as unique as: the OMSI Mummies of the World Package, which includes 2 VIP tickets to the exhibit and 2 all-day Streetcar passes; the Romantic Spa Package, which includes a couple’s massage at Spa Sasse; and the Cycle Portland Package with discounts on bicycle tours and bike rentals.

Various other packages include tickets and passes to such exciting venues as the Portland Art Museum, the Artist Repertory Theatre, Portland Center Stage Theatre and the Portland Baroque Orchestra. 

All of the hotel’s packages are so compelling in that they add an opulent dimension of culture to the various amenities that each hotel room pampers its guests with, such as flat panel TVs, private baths, Simmons Beautyrest Black Diamond bed sets, Wi-Fi, and fully-equipped kitchenettes.

The Mark Spencer Hotel also plans to accentuate its identity as the premier Hotel to the Arts by designing each of its six floors with a specific art theme in mind, such as photography, writing/literature, drama, and sculpture. The floors, with their individual attention to the visual and performing arts will, in their entirety, further showcase the wonderful local talent and abundance of cultural offerings that both The Mark Spencer Hotel and the city of Portland have to offer each and every guest.

 With such attention to detail and with a strong sense of place both in the art community as well as in the Portland community, it’s easy to see why The Mark Spencer Hotel is truly redefining the way kid-friendly travel is perceived.

Cultural outlets for the entire family make for a trip that the entire family is sure to remember! So give Portland, Oregon a try – you and your family will be glad you did! 

The post Support Your Child’s Education with Family-Friendly Vacations: Portland, Oregon appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

By Lincoln McElwee

Barbecue may not be for every member of the family, but in Kansas City, Missouri, there is more than enough of it to please even the most discerning of meat-eaters! Establishments, such as Arthur Bryant’s, Oklahoma Joe’s, Gates BBQ, and Fiorella’s Jack Stack, all have amazingly delicious variations on the barbeque theme. And that’s what it’s all about, right? There is almost nothing more American than BBQ in the summer, and all the various flavors truly speak to the American spirit of choice and enterprise. And in Kansas City, both enterprise and freedom of choice are taken seriously!

Indeed, one of the most iconic ticks about the city aside from barbecue itself is…well, the debate as to which BBQ is in fact the best BBQ in town! The debate is an ongoing saga that, quite honestly, is just as fun testing out as reading the reviews of both old and new BBQ joints.

I personally sampled Gates BBQ when I spent some time in the city. Gates has been getting a lot of negative reviews lately, which may indicate that this warm-hearted establishment is not the bastion of barbeque that it once was, but with the sheer amount of barbecue in the city, I would definitely put not only Gates but many of the other barbecue joints to the test…to the taste test, that is! Websites, such as the one that the Kansas City Barbecue Society hosts, are remarkably sufficient in providing all of the seasonal entertainment of Kansas City, as well as countless other cities, that revolves around all things barbecue: http://www.kcbs.us/ 

One of the most engaging and unforgettable attractions in Kansas City is the Hallmark Visitors Center. The center is home to a variety of exhibits that focus on the creative products of the Hallmark brand. It offers a free, fun and friendly learning environment for visitors interested in the remarkable and heartwarming Hallmark story. The company has called Kansas City home for more than 100 years, and began when an 18-year-old, Joyce C. Hall, started the company in 1910 with a shoebox full of postcards!

The Hallmark Visitors Center has also added an exciting new feature – Hallmark Live! –where a different designer, photographer, sculptor, illustrator or writer will be available to talk to visitors about their creations on a daily basis! The center is open from 10AM to 4:30PM from Monday through Friday, as well as 9:30AM to 4:30PM on Saturdays. For more information, visit: http://www.hallmarkvisitorscenter.com/

Another thrilling experience for the entire family are the Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun theme parks, where visitors can pay one price for the experience of two separate parks and all of the attractions that both parks offer! Whether it’s getting to learn more about the Mesozoic era with the Dinosaurs Alive! experience, submerging the family in the watery fun of the Oceans of Fun Waterpark, or live entertainment at Worlds of Fun with brand-new shows beginning this summer, there is truly something for every child and every member of the family! There are even places to dine within the park for those with a sweet tooth or with a hungry hankering for those Kansas City ribs!

The park also has a Planet Snoopy Kids Area, where families can spend the day with their children with more than 20 PEANUTS-themed attractions! https://www.worldsoffun.com/

The summer will also be jam-packed with family-friendly attractions at the Kansas City Zoo! One of the events at the Zoo, the Kansas City Jazzoo 2013, was an exciting celebration of animals and jazz. Based on its success, the zoo has created the Kids’ Jazzoo, which will take place this summer on August 23, 2013. The fundraiser helps to provide for the Zoo’s Learning Fund, and is an interactive adventure for children 12-years-old and under. Children will be able to see animals up close, play interactive games, and learn about birds, elephants and polar bears! There will also be food, kid-friendly music, crafts and face-painting. Tickets are $35 for children and adults. For more information about the zoo, visit: http://www.kansascityzoo.org/

The zoo also offers an Adopt a Wild Child program where families can help to care for their favorite animals by donating money to the zoo for the upkeep of specific animals! For more information, call 816-513-5804 or e-mail Carrie Bryan at carriebryan@fotzkc.org.

There are also various museums around Kansas City that families can visit and enjoy learning about everything from Jazz to presidential history, such as the Truman Library & Museum, the Toy & Miniature Museum of Kansas City, the American Jazz Museum, the Kansas City Museum, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. For more information, as well as other great family-fun attractions, visit: http://www.kcmo.org/CKCMO/Visitors.

The post The Flavors of Kansas City, Missouri Make for an Unforgettable appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Summer has officially arrived! And what better way to celebrate than to book a seamless summer getaway for your family; but don’t just celebrate the summer with any destination – book the ultimate family “Destin-nation” in Destin, Florida today!

Destin has the honor of being named one of the top 25 destinations in the United States by Trip Advisor, as well as receiving the Travers’ Choice Award in 2011! With accolades like these, it’s no wonder that families are frantic to experience the tranquility and beauty of Destin, Florida.

Your ultimate family vacation should ultimately begin with resort-style accommodations at the Emerald Grande at Harborwalk Village! The resort does offer airport shuttle service from both Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS) and Destin Airport as well, but be sure to contact the resort at least 48 hours in advance to arrange the pickup!

The Emerald Grande’s harbor-front setting, and the fact that this Wyndham Vacation Resort is ideally situated at the foot of Marler Bridge, just four short miles west of the Mid-Bay Bridge in Destin, will ensure that your family experiences the very best of coastal Florida at this Emerald Coast location! Additionally, the exceptional fact that all of the rooms at the Emerald Grande have spacious balconies and panoramic views will indeed place you and your family right in the heart of the Emerald Coast!

One of the features that situates the Emerald Grande in a category all its own is the resort’s dedication to families of all sizes. The resort welcomes family-friendly vacationing by providing multiple-style accommodations, offering four different resort residence categories to ensure optimal space and luxury. All luxury condos include: large, plush beds, gourmet kitchen, free Wi-Fi, in room safes, flat screen TV’s, private balconies, and spacious floor plans.  You can view sample room photos and take a virtual tour of all rooms on the hotel’s website: http://www.emeraldgrande.com/accommodations.aspx 

The resort’s amenities include a full service European spa and fitness center, indoor and outdoor heated pools – the outdoor pool is actually a beach entry pool and the indoor pool is both heated and cooled – and a family-oriented water playground, all of which happen to overlook the stunning Gulf of Mexico from 4 stories high!

The Emerald Grande Spa, located on the second floor of the resort, also has views which look out onto the Gulf of Mexico! The spa offers everything from complete spa packages to spa parties, wraps, facials, massages, and body treatments. Services are also available for both men and women. If you would like to include services before you stay, you can book, for instance, the ‘Ahh to the Spa’ package and receive two 30 minute massages and a take-home spa gift with your stay. You can call 1-850-337-8150 to speak with a spa representative!

The hotel also offers the East Pass Fitness or Extension, which allows guests the opportunity to both work out in the hotel’s specialized fitness center and make use of group fitness options. There is also a smoothie and juice bar onsite.   

In addition to spa packages, the Emerald Grande also offers a variety of packages for couples and families, such as golfing, deep sea fishing and honeymoon packages! For reservations or information, call (800) 676-0091 or (850) 337-8100.

There is also the use of the seasonal – and supervised – kid’s club and a soft toy play area for little kids. The Emerald Grande even provides an arcade for teens. For beach fun, the resort offers a complimentary shuttle boat that takes guests to a secluded beach for hours of fun in the sun! 

The Emerald Grande also offers full-time concierge service, garage parking and 24-hour security. Child care is also available, so if you’d like to have a romantic afternoon and make use of the resort’s in-room dining, you can! Otherwise, the Emerald Grande at Harborwalk Village offers a variety of restaurants to choose from.

The resort ensures optimal enjoyment for the family with its ideal location at Harborwalk Village, where all sorts of fun, and at all levels, can be found around the clock!

Harborwalk Village itself offers multi-level shopping right on the waterfront. If you’re looking for a unique gift, be sure to stop by Hove’ Parfumeur, located on 34 Harbor Blvd at Suite 150. The owner, Amy van Calsem Wendel, has created a wholly expressive statement of beauty and refinement by offering perfumes, colognes, massage oils, and body oils that are available for both men and women. The fragrances have been produced with the finest of essential oils and ingredients from all over the world and are sold from the Harborwalk Destin location and one other shop in New Orleans! With Hove’ Parfumeur, you know that you’re buying a truly unique and expressive gift, one that a friend or loved one, or even yourself, will truly cherish! http://www.hoveparfumeur.com/

Harborwalk Village also provides a variety of aqua adventures, such as boat, Jet Ski and pontoon rentals, fishing, and the Harborwalk Village’s celebrated dolphin cruises! There are also weekly fireworks and live entertainment.

The dolphin cruises, run by Olin Marler Charter Boats, will provide your family with enough memories to last a lifetime! Booking a fishing charter with Olin Marler Charters means that your family is in the capable hands of the oldest and longest running recreational fishing fleet in Destin, with over 45 years in the business of charter fishing! The Destin Dolphin Cruises are popular for both the recreational and educational aspect of the cruises. Your family will embark on a daily dolphin watching tour and learn about the history of Destin itself! This family friendly approach to dolphin cruises and charter fishing is what has made Olin Marler Charter’s Destin’s favorite charter service since 1967! www.olinmarlercharterboats.com

Another cruise that will have everyone in the family laughing and joining in the fun is the interactive Buccaneer Pirate Cruise. The Buccaneer Pirate Ship departs from the Harborwalk Village Marina, where visitors will sail the high seas of the beautiful Emerald Coast. Passengers will be entertained with sword fights, storytelling, water gun battles, singing, dancing, and treasure hunts! The great thing about the Buccaneer Pirate Cruise is that parents can participate in the fun with their children or simply sit back and relax while watching their children have the time of their lives. As well as providing the Scurvy Dogs’ Club cruises for adults, the Buccaneer Pirate Cruise also offers birthday cruises for children, which include a private area on the quarter deck, decorations, a complimentary group photo, flag raising ceremony, and a souvenir flag! The birthday child even gets to steer the ship! www.destinpirateship.com  

As far as dining is concerned, the nearby area truly has you covered! Be sure to check out Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., where waitress AmberLynn will greet you with a smile and an impressive menu of seafood. The restaurant is located just a short walk from Destin Beach itself, and should you need a place to walk off that seafood, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is also located mere seconds away from the Henderson Beach State Park. The menu serves up some mouthwatering favorites, with such appetizers as Mama Gump’s Garlic Bread Basket and Crab Stuffed Mushrooms. For the main course, try the Dixie Style Baby Back Ribs or the Shrimper’s Heaven, voted the #1 guest favorite! It includes chilly shrimp, hand breaded coconut shrimp, fried shrimp, tempura shrimp and fries. The kids menu allows children to select from chicken strips, burgers, pepperoni pizza, and popcorn shrimp, among other items. All kid’s items also include French fries, fruit and a special treat. http://www.bubbagump.com/locations/destin/  

Harry T’s Lighthouse – located right under Destin’s iconic lighthouse on Destin Harbor –is a true Destin dining legend that every visitor should try and visit. With its amazing waterfront views, you’ll be sure to see the East Pass, Crab Island and Norriega Pointe while either listening to live music or waiting until sunset for the “Canon Blast” and bell ringing from passing boats. Enjoy the Diablo Fish Tacos or a sandwich made with the local catch of the day! If you’d like a vacation in a glass, try Harry T’s Jetty Juice, which is the restaurant’s take on a blue margarita. They also offer both domestic and premium beers, as well as wine and fountain drinks for the children. Harry T’s Lighthouse is also known for its support of local musicians with its local musician live entertainment on weekends! http://www.harryts.com/   

One of the intriguing things about Fudpucker’s Beachside Bar & Grill is that there are only two locations in the entire world, one of which is at Harborwalk Village! Be sure to at least visit the Destin location, as front house manager Christine Rodriguez will be sure to take good care of you! Why not try their Chargrilled Chicken a la Fud or the Bacon Wrapped Shrimp! For the kids, Fudpucker’s offers a Junior Fudburger, Fuducini Alfredo, Grilled Cheese, and Corn Puppies, among other menu items. They even have Kiddie Cocktails, such as a Florida Sunset (orange juice with grenadine), Shirley Temple, Hawaiian Sunset (pineapple juice and grenadine), and a Roy Rogers. So whether it’s the live alligator shows, teen night or their famous t-shirts, Fudpucker’s has something for everyone! And to ensure that there definitely is something for the entire family, Fudpucker’s has added two new ventures: FudPuckeroni’s, a family friendly sports bar offering pizza and wings, and FudShucker’s, their family friendly Steam Shack and Raw Bar. http://www.fudpucker.com/  

In addition to the purely unique dining experience at Fudpucker’s, there is also the entertainment aspect of the restaurant. To this end, Fudpucker’s has also created Fudpucker’s Water Sports, where visitors can rent jet skis, paddle boards, kayaks, and pontoon boats. You can also go parasailing on the “Pucker Up.” http://www.fudpucker.com/fudpucker-watersports

Fudpucker’s has also created Gator Island, where visitors can take photos holding a live gator, as well as viewing smaller gators in tanks that are set out front. There are also plenty of gator related toys and souvenirs: http://www.fudpucker.com/gator-island

If you need to wet your whistle or relax from all the adventures at Harborwalk Village, the Crab Island Cantina is the place to stop for a breather! Crab Island Cantina offers Latin inspired Mexican cuisine, fresh Gulf seafood and Black Angus steaks all in a warm and casual environment offering the best view of Destin Harbor. This is what waterfront dining is all about! The Chile Poblano Crab Enchiladas are out of this world, and the cantina’s Mexican Street Tacos will have you singing! The owner, Judy, will make sure that your experience at Crab Island Cantina is top notch, just like the libations, as Crab Island Cantina has the largest selection of tequilas, margaritas, and imported Latin beer. And of course, all of your favorite tropical drinks are available at the cantina as well! http://crabislandcantina.com/index.html

Your visit to Destin, Florida will not be complete unless you make plans to visit the Regatta Bay Golf & Country Club. This stunning golf course, designed by the lead architect for Arnold Palmer, has been named one of Golf Digest’s “Top Places to Play in North America!” It offers on-course circulating beverage carts, a state-of-the-art Parview GPS system on its golf carts, a clubhouse with a golf shop, chilled apples on the 1st and 10th tees, and mango-scented iced towels. There are also a variety of specials and packages, so be sure to inquire before you go! Another wonderful amenity that general manager, Dan Shelton, offers to players at the Regatta Bay Golf & Country Club is a full-service restaurant! Overlooking Lake Regatta, the Regatta Bay Clubhouse offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as a daily happy hour with 2-for-1 drinks. Brad, the restaurant manager, will ensure that your dining experience at the multi-level facility will be on par with all the amazing experiences Destin, Florida will provide for you and your family during your wonderful “Destin-nation” vacation! www.regattabay.com

The post The Ultimate Family “Destin-nation”! appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

By Shandley McMurray 

Last April we packed our 5- and 6-year-old kids into a legroom-lacking flight to Bali. Despite the long journey to get there, our time spent in this paradise was amazing for everyone. An adventurous family, we prefer taking holidays to places where we can go for hikes, traipse through museums and explore new areas rather than lounge on a beach. With its vast topography (volcanoes, rice fields, forests and beaches, just to name a few) Bali was a perfect destination for us. From riding elephants through the fields to visiting Cliffside temples and feeding monkeys in a sacred forest, our children were amazed by the activities we were lucky enough to enjoy. And when we were ready for a rest, the affordable massages, pools and beautiful sand beaches offered a welcome respite.

Here are a few of our favorite places and activities.

 
Where to Stay

Ubud

Furama Villas & Spa – http://furamavillasandspa.com/ubud/

Enjoy a buffet breakfast in the outdoor restaurant overlooking the rice fields before retreating to your villa’s private pool for a swim. Enjoy a massage in the spa (we each got a complimentary half hour upon check-in) and make sure to wander the beautiful grounds, walk through the rice field (in the morning before it’s too hot) and visit the village outside the gate (it’s very poor, but the people and children are lovely). The staff are very attentive. They respond to problems quickly and love being around children. They even made my son a birthday cake as a surprise – free of charge.  

Nusa Dua

Melia Bali – http://www.meliabali.com/en/index.html
We stayed in this enormous resort for a week and were quite happy with it. The children loved playing in the lagoon pools that sit outside various wings of the hotel. And the main pool had plenty of shallow areas for them to splash around in. We ate at all of the restaurants and truly enjoyed the diverse selection (everything from noodles to pancakes with chocolate sauce) of the buffet breakfast at Lotus (the Asian Garden Restaurant).  We were lucky enough to visit Sakura (the Japanese restaurant) on all you can eat sushi night. Yum! We also frequented Sateria (the beachside venue) for an early dinner or late lunch but avoided its over-priced buffet nights. Sorrento, the Mediterranean Restaurant was also good, especially on their more affordable buffet evening. My daughter was most impressed by the Mariachi Band that agreed to play a cover of a Justin Bieber song.

As for accommodation, the family room was perfect for our needs. The kids had a twin-sized bed each on the ground floor of the room while we climbed a small set of stairs to a king-sized bed above. Everything was open so there was no worry about not hearing them in the night, yet we still had privacy and a separate bathroom.

Cons: It took a day and a half to get someone to fix the broken blind in our room and the resort’s large size can mean crowds at breakfast and peak times around the main pool. The kids’ club exists, but they don’t always do what they have scheduled and seemed to allow a lot of television watching. We only used it twice for two hours (once so my husband could take surf lessons and another so we could have a lunch date in Kuta).  By the end, the kids were begging for us to take them out, claiming boredom as the reason.

Westin Resort Nusa Dua – http://www.westinnusaduabali.com/

While we didn’t stay at this hotel, we did make great use of its fabulous pool and 12 meter waterslide (if you look like you belong – and don’t flaunt your tell-tale towels from a different hotel – you’ll fit right in). We also ate two delicious meals at The Veranda, by the pool. The kids enjoyed wood-oven baked pizzas while we munched on seafood pasta and curry. Make sure to try their banana and pineapple juice. It’s delicious! The Westin was much less crowded than our hotel and offered a great kids’ club with both indoor and outdoor play grounds (for hotel guests only). Activities include face-painting, kite making, fishing and stargazing. Each child also receives a kids’ club bag complete with treats such as sun hats, water bottles and a night light.  If we hadn’t paid for our trip in advance, we probably would have changed to this hotel since we liked it much better. Note: The Westin also has something called an SPG Kids Pass, which is an all-inclusive dining program for kids. Sign up when you get there and anything they eat is included for a flat daily rate. You have to be a member of the Starwood Preferred Guest program, but membership is free so sign up before you go.

Best Place to Watch the Sunset

Jimbaran Bay It would be a shame to miss this picturesque spot at dusk. Arrive at least half an hour before sunset to enjoy a drink (or two) at your table on the beach. Kick off your shoes and enjoy the feeling of the soft sand between your toes as the children search for shells nearby. There are a ton of restaurants to choose from, most of which are very touristy. A bonus: many offer free shuttles to and from hotels in Nusa Dua, so check with the concierge at your hotel before taking a taxi. Jimbaran

Beach Restaurant offered good food, friendly service and a Balinese dance performance. http://www.jimbaranbeachrestaurant.com 

Where to Eat

Nusa Dua

Bali Collection http://bali-collection.com/dining offers a slew of restaurants serving everything from sushi to Indian dishes. There’s even a Baskin Robbins if you’re looking to treat yourself after a meal. Restaurants such as Coco Bistro http://bali-collection.com/2011/coco-bistro even offer Balinese dancing and music to entertain you.

Jimbaran Bay As mentioned in the sunset section above, there’s an abundance of yummy seafood restaurants on the beach in Jimbaran Bay. Try Jimbaran Beach Restaurant http://www.jimbaranbeachrestaurant.com for the impressive scenery, entertainment and traditional seafood. Balique Restaurant (Jalan Uluwatu 39) is another traveller favorite which boasts reasonable prices and a varied menu.

Kuta

While there are a bunch of good local restaurants on the main shopping streets, Zanzibar http://www.zanzibarbali.com/home.html offers amazing views as well as good food. Kids can enjoy a yummy pizza or pasta while you tuck into a Mie Goreng.

Best Day Trip

Pura Luhur Uluwatu Temple  About a 45-minute drive from Nusa Dua, this Balinese Hindu temple is set in the south of the island. Perched high atop a 70-foot cliff, the views of the surrounding area and Indian Ocean are spectacular, especially during sunset.  It is one of the Sad Khayangan (the six largest temples in Bali). You’ll need to borrow sarongs and sashes at the entrance as you won’t be allowed in without them. And beware of the monkeys. They’ve been trained to steal sunglasses, earrings, cameras, even flip flops (we had to take our daughter’s off and carry her after a monkey tried to pull it off her foot). Keep everything valuable at the hotel or well out of reach. TIP: Organize a tour to Uluwatu, ending with a sunset dinner at Jimbaran bay or hire a driver and pay him to wait for you while you visit the site. That way you won’t be stuck trying to find a way to get back.

Best Animal Experience

Elephant Safari Park (Taro Village) http://www.elephantsafariparklodge.com/
My son still refers to this experience as his “best birthday ever.” Who wouldn’t if they, too, were able to watch a show where elephants paint, answer math questions and play soccer before feeding them bamboo and having a 40-minute ride on their backs through the park? Book your entrance tickets through a travel agent or your hotel as they often include a car transfer to and from the resort (about 45 minutes from Ubud) and buffet lunch.

Most Monkey-ridden Forest

The Sacred Padangtegal Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud is set in a lush forest peppered with massive banyan trees whose roots hang like a canopy. Also present in the forest is a large population of long-tailed macaques monkeys. While cute to look at, they can actually be quite scary. Two climbed up my son (one on his front and the other on his back) and tried to fight each other while atop his head. So take pictures and enjoy watching them, but try to keep your distance. Women sell bunches of bananas outside the gates to the sanctuary. Feel free to buy them, but it’s best to give them the fruit one at a time. And do it quickly. My husband had three monkeys hanging off him at one point. Once he finally gave in and dropped the bananas, they jumped off to steal the snack.  

While in the forest, make sure to visit the main temple, which is stunning. Covered in bright green moss with traditional orange stone structures, the temple is a truly magical place. For a small fee, you can borrow sarongs to wear for admittance.

Tips for the Sacred Monkey Forest:
1) Do not bring any food or drink into the forest. Even if it’s just a water bottle, tightly secured in a backpack, they will smell it, find it and possibly attack you for it.
2) Always be aware of your surroundings. Monkeys jumped on us almost every time we had the children stop to pose for a picture and when we sat down to relax on a bench.
3) Do not look a monkey in its eyes. It will consider this as an affront and could possibly attack you. Pretend you don’t see them and quietly walk around to get by.
4) Do not wear sunglasses or leave them on your head and keep your hand on your camera so monkeys don’t try to steal it.
5) Beware of “guides” who offer to take you safely around the monkeys or show you secret parts of the forest. They will usually try to sell you something (like artwork) or will ask for money at the end.

Best Water Park

Waterbom (in Kuta) http://www.waterbom-bali.com/
Waterbom was by far one of our children’s favorite experiences in Bali. With 17 water slides and a lazy river, not to mention numerous pools to play in, we had one of our most exciting afternoons at this park. Don’t forget the sunblock and hats as there’s not much shade to be found. And bring your own towels. They provide lockers to store your things in, so pack a change of clothes as well.

Best Shopping

Kuta A bit like an Indonesian Miami Beach, Kuta is busy, loud and not nearly as beautiful as other parts of Bali. With good restaurants and plenty of stores and markets (including a sizeable shopping mall), this is a great place for picking up souvenirs, but not the most romantic or relaxing place to stay. Make sure to bargain for everything and I mean everything , even in the stores. You’ll be surprised how much you can save.

Ubud If you’re a fan of art, make sure to visit the galleries in Ubud. The paintings are bright and colorful – a wonderful reminder of a fantastic vacation.

Nusa Dua Bali Collection (http://bali-collection.com/) was a mere 10-minute walk from our hotel in Nusa Dua. We had our daughter’s hair braided outside one of the tourist shops which was filled with carved wooden sculptures and coconut bowls. With brand stores such as Hurley, D&G and Polo, as well as Balinese art shops and spas, there’s definitely something for everyone in this shopping area.

Sidebars:

Vaccinate

At least two months before you go, visit your doctor to find out which vaccines you need to stay safe and healthy during your trip. I needed an update of Hepatitis A as mine had run out and we all needed a quick Typhoid booster. While we didn’t get a Rabies shot, I was wishing we had one as a monkey bared its teeth at my son in the Monkey Forest.

Visa

When we travelled to Bali, we were able to purchase our visa at the airport in Denpasar, Bali. Make sure to check that you don’t have to purchase one before you leave. And be sure that all of your passports are valid for at least six months from your date of travel to avoid being turned away at the airport.

Before you book

Finding a hotel that would accept all four of us in one room was tricky. We used a travel agent to help wade through the millions of places to find one that fit our needs.

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