Where might a fun-filled weekend getaway with friends meet the seductive French flare for enjoyable living? I’ll give you a hint: at the Astor Crowne Plaza New Orleans, a luxury hotel located in the legendary French Quarter!

So just because Mardi Gras may have passed you by, the savings surely don’t have to! With the best rates in New Orleans from May 28 – August 30, 2013 and prices as low as $89, prepare to be pampered while experiencing southern charm and hospitality at its very best and brightest.

Arriving at the hotel, you will immediately see why the Astor Crowne Plaza New Orleans has been designated as a AAA Four Star Hotel for its upscale accommodations and sophisticated hospitality. The commanding Astor Crowne Plaza New Orleans stands as a veritable gateway at the corner of Canal and Bourbon Street. When standing on Canal and looking up at this Crowne Plaza premium brand hotel’s marquee, “The Astor” both literally and figuratively stares down at you with undeniable pride. Why? The brand is one of only two properties in the world that are allowed to use its name in front of the Crowne Plaza name, a prestige that should give you some indication as to the level of care and sophistication you’ll soon be experiencing!

“The Astor” opened its doors in April 2002 and boasts 693 rooms including 28 spacious suites. Guest rooms feature satellite/cable TVs, coffeemakers, hairdryers, high-speed Internet access, in-room movies, in-room safes, irons, dual-line telephones, and Crowne Plaza’s Sleep Advantage bedding with sleep amenities. For a superior experience, make sure to try the hotel’s Executive Floor, where you’ll be amazed by the sheer opulence which “The Astor” affords its guests here, such as nightly turn down services, plush robes and the newly renovated and entirely unique Executive Club. Situated like a living room with couches, chairs and individual seating areas, as well as a large screen television for your viewing pleasure, the Executive Club also features a complimentary continental breakfast, computer and printer access as well as complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages in the evening.

In addition, be sure to make use of the hotel’s tour assistance. There is also laundry/valet service as well as room service for a late breakfast or night cap. Don’t forget that a fitness center and an outdoor pool – on the rooftop – are also on-site. For complete information, visit www.astorneworleans.com   

And speaking of making use of the hotel’s tour assistance, local attractions include the Audubon Zoo, Superdome, New Sports Arena, Harrah’s Casino, Saint Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square and the wonderful Riverwalk shopping area. And being that your hotel is located where it is, you’ll certainly need to explore the legendary Bourbon Street!

Besides the elegance and inviting cream tones of the marble lobby and the full service concierge, you can try any number of appetizers or even a signature cocktail – such as the traditional Bourbon Milk Punch – at Dickie Brennan’s Lobby Lounge, a full service bar and lounge also found right in the spacious hotel lobby.    

If Dickie Brennan’s Lobby Lounge is the place to go for appetizers and aperitifs, then Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House Restaurant & Seafood Bar, also housed in “The Astor,” is the place to both be and be seen for a bit of New Orleans fine dining. The ambience is charged with pure southern charm, and the uniquely memorable moments to be shared with friends are the very epitome of carefree and enjoyable living.

As this is a weekend getaway, you should call ahead and book one of the opera-style balcony tables on the second-floor which must be booked by special request. Otherwise, dine like the locals and find a table along the walls of the Bourbon House dining rooms. This way, you can start with a selection of fresh shucked oysters on the half-shell with local caviar, boiled Gulf shrimp, mussels and marinated crab fingers, or the Louisiana oysters on the half-shell – with or without caviar – and people watch with good friends and great food!

 The libations, should you choose to indulge, are top-shelf. So whether someone in your group chooses, say, the Shrimp Creole or the Crab Crusted Fish, Bourbon House has a wide array of both new and old world wines to complement each and every dinner selection. And with a name like the Bourbon House, you can be sure that the restaurant has a plethora of Bourbon’s to delight the palette.

Particularly admirable, the Bourbon House has a gluten-free menu for those in your group who may have food allergies. Also, if your group is planning on an evening show over at Broadway Across America, or even if you prefer one of their matinee performances, the Bourbon House offers pre-fixe menus so that your afternoon or evening is set from start to finish!

Lastly, the Astor Crowne Plaza New Orleans offers both free valet parking packages as well as airport pickup. For more information, go to: http://www.astorneworleans.com/specials 

For reservations, call 888-696-4806 and ask for the Summer Sizzler rate!

So go ahead, plan your unforgettable weekend getaway in the heart of Creole country! It’s not every day you can be pampered by the charm of New Orleans, Louisiana – NOLA, for short – and indulge in the luxury of southern hospitality all in a single, upscale location such as the Astor Crowne Plaza New Orleans!  

The post Pack Your Bags for the Big Easy – The Astor Crowne Plaza New Orleans is Sizzlin’ This Summer! appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Dreaming about taking a dip? Are the kids still sporting their floaties wishing they could get in one last swim? Don’t fret… just because Jack Frost has arrived doesn’t mean you can’t catch a wave! Check out Wilderness at the Smokies Waterpark Resort in Sevierville, Tennessee.

Situated at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains, this resort offers year-round entertainment with 700 acres of both outdoor (check out the Wild Vortex, their outdoor thrill slide) and indoor attractions. Your family’s winter blues are sure to melt away as they throw on their favorite swim suits and head to The Wild WaterDome, their 60,000 square foot indoor water park!

It can be hard to plan a vacation that the whole family will enjoy.  At the Wild WaterDome, there is truly something for everyone. The kids will love Washout Mountain, the interactive water playground complete with slides, water cannons and plenty of ways to get soaked!

Your teens definitely won’t roll their eyes when you tell them about the Smokies Surf Rider, the Southeast’s only indoor surfing simulator. You can watch on as 19,000 gallons of water go rushing under their surfboard each minute, giving them a realistic 5-foot wave to practice their shredding! 

While the kids are off playing, you can relax in the Magnolia Grove Hot Spa, which is a part indoor, part outdoor hot tub that is open year round. There is nothing like feeling the chill of the air on your face as your body is submerged in toasty warm water! Finally, you can all meet back up to go down one the indoor tube slides together, or even plunge down the 55-foot tunnels of the Storm Chaser if you are feeling brave! 

If you need a break from the water, just head over to Adventure Forest, the indoor “dry park” at the resort. This dry park, which just opened in March, offers all sorts of activities including: a three-story ropes course, a multi-level enclosed laser tag arena, mini-bowling, black-light mini-golf, more than 100 arcade games, a ‘Laser Maze,’ a 25-foot tall spring ride, a 23-foot climbing wall and more. With this many options, your family will never want to leave!

When it comes time for meals, you won’t have to look far! The Wilderness at the Smokies has six on-site restaurants available to you.  There is one for every situation, ranging from delis and snack shacks, if you are looking for a quick meal on the go, to full sit down restaurants and a buffet, for a nice family dinner. Find your favorite and become a regular, or mix it up and you will never run out of yummy dishes to sample!

When the kids are all exhausted after a long day in the water, you’ll be happy to know that a warm bed (and even a fire place!) awaits you near by at the Stone Hill Lodge and the River Lodge. These two hotels in the Wilderness at the Smokies can accommodate your group, regardless of size.  From a cozy room for a family of four to one of the multi-room suites that can sleep up to18!  This would make the perfect setting for a family reunion or a birthday getaway.

Finally, prepare to make your co-workers jealous when you return home with a nice summer glow. The Wild WaterDome indoor park features a see-thru, energy efficient, Foil Tec roof, which allows UV rays permeate through it so that you can get your tan on year round! Stress free vacation planning, a happy family and getting some vitamin D? It just might be enough to get you through the rest of the winter!

And you never know who you might run into!

For more information about Wilderness at the Smokies or to book your vacation, call  877-325-9453 or visit www.WildernessAtTheSmokies.com.

The post A Winter Water Land appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.