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Posts Tagged ‘marriott’
Monday, August 23rd, 2010
I need your help with a little travel dilemma. I have got a $250 Marriott gift certificate burning a hole in my pocket book! The problem? I tend to be a tad (ahem, a ton!) indecisive. That’s where you come in. I’ve narrowed it down to three choices…please weigh-in and choose where my family should go on our weekend getaway! For helping me out, you could win two fabulous travel games from ThinkFun. Even if you don’t need the prize, go ahead and vote! Just let me know in your comment that you’d like the games to go to another entrant. We’ll go wherever you tell us to go!
To keep things within my (tight) budget, I need to go somewhere within driving distance from our home in San Diego. My travel companions will be the hubs (Phil), my daughter (Karissa, age five), and my little guy (Leo, age two). We’ll take our journey sometime during September, while the weather is still warm and sunny in Southern California.
Option 1: Rides & Waterslides
What kid doesn’t love amusement parks and waterslides? While we’ve visited Disneyland with Little Ones numerous times, we have never taken our children to Knott’s Berry Farm. In fact, the last time I visited the nation’s oldest theme park was during high school and I’m sure a lot has changed since then. There are oodles of rides in Camp Snoopy that would please the kiddies, like the Flying Ace Balloon Race and the Charlie Brown Speedway. The following day we could head to Knott’s Soak City waterpark for a watery good ol’ time on its plentiful waterslides, lazy river, and Gremmie Lagoon children’s pool.
Option 2: Wooly Mammoths & Movie Stars
My husband and I have lived in SoCal for ten years and during that time we have only ventured to Los Angeles for a weekend getaway once…and that was shortly after we moved here. Sure, we’ve driven through the city on our way elsewhere or to pick up cupcakes from Sprinkles, but that’s about it. For this trip, we’d bring the kids to La Brea Tar Pits, where thousands of years ago extinct animals got stuck in black, gooey pits of tar. There are life-sized wooly mammoth models submerged in the tar pits as well as skeletons of creatures like Sabor-toothed cats constructed from fossils found in the muck on display at the Page Museum next door. We could also wander along the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard, try to match our hands with those of celebrities at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, or take in behind-the-scenes movie magic at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Option 3: Old-School Amusements & Beachy Fun
I have never been to the Santa Monica Pier, the West Coast’s only amusement park on an oceanfront pier. With its aquarium, old-fashioned soda fountain, carnival games, carousel, Ferris wheel, and other diversions – this place is sure to please the kiddies. The next day we could pick up a picnic lunch and head to Santa Monica Beach for a day of splashing in the water and building sand castles.
Road Trip Entertainment
For the journey, I’ll be sure to bring along lots of healthy (and a few forbidden!) snacks, pack some bubbles and a beach ball for rest-stop entertainment, and pull out the Zingo! To Go for a few rounds of on-the-go fun. My kindergartner and I played this game for the first time during our flight to Puerto Rico for our mommy-daughter getaway. We have the at-home game too and my daughter and her friends love, love, love playing both versions! The game is similar to Bingo…but with a zing! There are no loose pieces to worry about misplacing and everything fits in a compact travel bag. It’s recommended for kids aged four and older.
Another fun travel diversion for puzzle lovers is Rush Hour, a single player sequential game in which the player steers cars, trucks, and buses out of traffic jams. It also comes with its own handy travel bag. The original version is appropriate for kids and adults aged eight and older, while Rush Hour Jr. can keep children aged six to eight occupied on the way to your destination.
Vote & Win!
So…where should we go? It’s up to you! Just leave a comment below about which of these three paths you think we should take for a chance to win two games: Zingo! To Go (for ages four and older, retail value $14.99) PLUS your choice of ThinkFun’s popular Rush Hour (for ages eight and older, retail value $19.99) or Rush Hour Jr. (for ages six to eight, retail value $17.99).
This contest ends on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time. A winner will be chosen at random using Random.org. The winner will be notified via email. If the prize is not claimed within two days, another winner will be selected. One entry per person.
To vote, simply make a comment below about which road trip option my family should take. That’s it! If you have additional tips on sites to see, restaurants for us to try, and activities to do during our trip, feel free share those too. We will go to whichever location receives the most votes.
A note from the Travel Mama: I earned this $250 Marriott gift card for running a Tots Travel Too Contest for Marriott a couple of months ago on Travel Mamas. I was under no obligation to write another blog post mentioning Marriott. ThinkFun provided my family with a free Zingo! To Go game to preview and will provide the two games to the winner of this giveaway.
You might also like:
• 5 of California’s Best & Most Diverse Beaches
• Recommended Travel Toys & Gear
• Road Trip Tips
• Which Disneyland Character Meal is Best for Your Family?
Tags: aquarium, beach, California, carousel, Ferris wheel, Hollywood, Knott's Berry Farm, Los Angeles, marriott, Santa Monica, ThinkFun, travel games, waterslide, Zingo! To Go
Posted in Air Travel, Road Trips & Cruises, Travel Gear & Toys | 49 Comments »
Saturday, August 21st, 2010
Looking back on our summertime mommy-daughter trip to Puerto Rico, all of the delicious food we ate plays a starring role in many of our favorite vacation memories! From traditional Puerto Rican cuisine to kid-friendly fine dining and refreshing treats – there’s something for everyone in the family to enjoy in San Juan.
A plate of Puerto Rican greasy goodness
Traditional Puerto Rican Cuisine
To get a taste of traditional Puerto Rican cuisine, we went to Raices. All of the adults ordered some version of Mofongo; mashed green plantains served with a choice of protein. I got mine with garlic shrimp. While it was tasty, I preferred the side of fried ripe plantains. Yum!
Be sure to get a side order of fried sweet plantains at Raices!
Upscale Meal WITH the Kids
If you’d like a fancier meal but don’t want to book a sitter, look no further than Jam Rum Bar & Bistro Moderne! This restaurant has a modern, candy-colored decor, serves scrumptious food, and offers a “kids’ lounge.” When the kids got restless, we sent them off to play with building blocks, color with crayons, and watch movies in this little room just around the corner from the dining area.
Kids’ Lounge at Jam Restaurant
In addition to a wide variety of tropical drinks and fine wines for adults, Jam also offers a menu of Kidtinis. With names like the Chocotini and Kidsmopolitan, how could we resist? My succulent, savory, creamy entree of Puerto Rican pork with pumpkin risotto was worth the multitude of calories. For dessert I ordered a chocolate mousse served with a crumbly chocolate cookie and a shot of coconut rum…mmm…heaven!
Mama’s Pomegranite Sangria and my daughter’s No Tequila Sunrise
A Refreshing Treat
One day we ventured to El Morro, the oldest fortress in Puerto Rico and a perfectly windy spot for kite-flying and a refreshing Piragua (snow cone). The vender formed our frosty treats by scrape, scrape, scraping a large block of ice. There were 19 flavors to choose from, with exotic options like sesame seed, molasses, and guava plus traditional choices like cherry, lime, and grape.
My daughter slurping up her grape piragua at El Morro
Breakfast at San Juan Marriott
Each morning we started our day at the San Juan Marriott with either room service or the plentiful breakfast buffet at La Vista Restaurant. The array of pastries (like M&M muffins!) and selection of fresh fruits were a big hit with my five-year-old, Karissa. I appreciated the vanilla-flavored oatmeal and the made-to-order omelets.
Just a peek at the extensive breakfast buffet at the San Juan Marriott
New Latin-Themed Restaurant at San Juan Marriott
This restaurant will get a much-needed renovation this fall (2010). One night during our stay we were treated to a sampling of the new, Latin-themed menu. The best part was the Puerto Rican-style shrimp ceviche, made with Grand Marnier and coconut.
Puerto Rican shrimp ceviche at La Vista Restaurant
Italian Night in San Juan
My favorite meal at the resort was at the fancier Italian Ristorante Tuscany. In my opinion, pasta is this restaurant’s strong suit. I particularly enjoyed the appetizer Fiocci, darling little purse-shaped pasta topped with a creamy cheese sauce served alongside a gorgonzola and pear salad. The tray of scrumptious mini desserts was a big hit too!
Dessert tray at Ristorante Tuscany
Take Home a Taste of Puerto Rico
Looking for a unique, affordable souvenir that will satisfy your sweet tooth? Look no further than the local drugstore, where you can stock up on sugary treats made of coconut, sesame seeds, mango, and more. Do you prefer savory snacks? Pick up a bag of fried garlic plantains instead. Or, grab a bottle of Puerto Rican rum to mix up some tropical fruity drinks once you return home.
Puerto Rican candies and snacks
After all of this wonderful food, is it any wonder that I gained two pounds in a few short days on this vacation? Ahhh…but it was so worth it!
What is your favorite Puerto Rican dish or restaurant? Leave a comment below!
You might also like:
• A Day on the Farm in Sicily
• A Mommy-Daughter Vacation in Puerto Rico
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A note from the Travel Mama: My daughter’s and my flight, accommodations, and many other expenses for this trip were paid for by the San Juan Marriott. I always provide my honest opinions, regardless of who’s footing the bill.
Tags: fried plantains, Jam, marriott, mofongo, piragua, Puerto Rico, Raices, restaurants, San Juan
Posted in Where to Travel with Kids | 6 Comments »
Sunday, August 1st, 2010
For weeks before our San Juan getaway my five-year-old daughter, Karissa, asked daily, “How many sleeps until our vacation?” She danced around the house singing, “Puerto Rico…Puerto Rico!” She bragged to neighbors and waitresses about her impending trip with just mommy…no little brother, no daddy. This would be a special time for the two of us to talk, frolic on the beach, play games, and do other mommy-daughter stuff.
Mommy and daughter at El Morro in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Despite the lengthy travel time (12 hours door-to-door each way from my home in San Diego), when I was invited by the San Juan Marriott to spend a few days at their resort with three other fabulous family travel bloggers and their children, I jumped at the chance! We were joined by Debbie Dubrow of Delicious Baby, Amber Johnson of Crazy Bloggin Canuck, Corinne McDermott of Have Baby Will Travel, and their kiddos.
Water Fun
If you’ve read some of my previous posts, you might know that I’m a sucker for great hotel pools (and not just because of my kids)! A zero-entry pool with shallow water and gorgeous waterfall fountains was a fantastic splashing spot for babies, toddlers, and kids of all ages. We spent most of our time in the main pool with its tropical flower mosaic-tiled floor.
San Juan Marriott’s Zero-Entry Fountain Pool
On our first day at the resort we tossed a beach ball back and forth and ignored the burgeoning droplets that had begun to fall from the sky. The closed waterslide taunted Karissa, who begged me to let her slide down it just once pleeeease despite its sign announcing “closed” (apparently due to rainy weather). We warmed up in the hot tub, although the sign posted clearly prohibits children under age 12 from entry.(Shhh…don’t tell!) Too soon, heavier rains forced us out of the water.
Sipping a strawberry smoothie at the swim-up bar
Thankfully, a couple days later a sunny morning allowed for some all-out poolside fun! We swam with our friends before pausing for fruit smoothies at the swim-up bar.
Finally, it was time for what every child-sized hotel guest had been waiting for…the waterslide opened! Children and grown-ups alike took turns zooming down the winding slide. I have visited a lot of resorts with fabulous pools and never have I experienced such joyous frenzy surrounding the waterslide! The lifeguard at the top egged us all on to “scream on the way down.” (My daughter took this directive quite seriously!) Truly, this was my favorite part of our trip. When you’re zipping down a waterslide, there’s no time to think about bills, or work, or to-dos…it’s just pure fun, fun, fun!
The waterslide at the San Juan Marriott
As we drove past other hotels in the area, it seemed the San Juan Marriott had snagged the best beachfront location of the bunch. Its expansive stretch of sandy beach lined with lounge chairs and blue and white striped umbrellas was a wonderful place to laze away the day.
Rainy Day Activities
What is there to do in San Juan when it’s raining? Not a whole lot, frankly. San Juan is where to go for a sunny getaway and typically rain is rare, especially during the summer. Thankfully, the kids didn’t seem to mind the rain a bit. Really, children just want to spend time with YOU, it doesn’t matter what the weather is.
One day we were scheduled to visit the Rio Camuy Cave Park, which apparently houses a raging underground river. While this sounded intriguing our visit had to be canceled due to the rains. Instead, we went to Museo Historico de la Biblio, which reminded me a bit of the attractions in Las Vegas for children. There were animatronic dinosaurs and wooly mammoths that roared if you feed them a couple of quarters, miniature golf, an indoor ice skating rink, kiddie carnival rides (the children’s favorite), an aquarium (the moms’ favorite), and a pizza place for lunch. I wouldn’t bother making a trip here if the weather is nice, but it certainly was an entertaining rainy day diversion for the kids.
Karissa and her new crush, Everest, on the indoor carousel at the Museo Historico de la Biblio
When all else fails, go out for ice cream! Another rainy afternoon Karissa and I walked to Haagen Dazs with Debbie (Delicious Baby) and her two sons, Elan (14 months) and Everest (five). My daughter and Everest were quite smitten with each other, so they would have been happy wherever we went. My berries and cream cone, however, kept me happily distracted for awhile.
Old San Juan
Downtown, known as Old San Juan, was a charming, hilly area filled with pastel-colored buildings and cobblestone streets. There were horses clopping through town pulling families and couples in carriages, which looked like a delightful way to take in the sights. We didn’t have much time to explore but I did some serious speed shopping and purchased a Christmas ornament for the family, a pink quartz necklace for me, a small bottle of rum for daddy, and some adorable hair ribbons for Karissa.
El Morro
Puerto Rico’s best known fortress, El Morro, began construction by Spain in 1539. Before heading to El Morro, pick up a kite in town. After exploring the fort’s ramparts and taking in the sweeping views from its rooftop, take advantage of the windswept grassy landscape and soar your kite through the windy skies. Be sure to hold on tight to the string; poor Everest lost his kite to the wind gods and was quite inconsolable afterwards. Luckily a piragua (snow cone) was distraction enough to lift his spirits.
The kids slurping up their piraguas at El Morro
The Mommy-Daughter Experience
It was awesome to have some undistracted one-on-one time with my little girl for a few days. On the airplane, we played a travel version of Hi-Ho Cherry-O and Zingo To Go, created Color Wonder Glitter princess pictures, read books, and watched videos. We splashed together in the swimming pools and rode down the waterslide together. Over meals, we discussed the merits of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse versus Caillou.
That’s my girl!
No matter my travel partner, toward the end of most trips, I’m ready for a break from nonstop closeness. This was even (especially?) true when traveling with an adorable, sweet, loving, whining, fidgety, demanding five-year-old. After awhile, we ran out of cartoons, classmates, and candies to discuss. We sat in silence across each other at lunch in the airport during our layover on our way home. We’d had our fill of time, love, and attention.
In time, though, I won’t remember those last draining 12 hours of travel. I will remember my daughter’s raucous laughter as I swung her through the pool’s water, her squeals of joy as she zipped down the waterslide, and the friendships we forged with the other traveling moms and their kids.
Want to read more about San Juan? Look for my upcoming story on Kid-Friendly Food in Puerto Rico.
Have you gone on a mother-daughter vacation? How’d it go? Please leave a comment below!
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• 7 Tips for a Fabo Cabo Girlfriend Getaway
• 10 Best Family-Friendly Hotel Pools in the World
A note from the Travel Mama: My daughter’s and my flight, accommodations, and many other expenses for this trip were paid for by the San Juan Marriott. I always provide my honest opinions, regardless of who’s footing the bill. ThinkFun also provided us with a free Zingo To Go game.
Tags: beach, carousel, ice cream, marriott, museo historico de la biblio, piragua, pool, Puerto Rico, San Juan, waterslide
Posted in Where to Travel with Kids | 7 Comments »
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010
Last week I asked parents to share their favorite travel tips for a chance to win a Marriott Tots Travel Too gift pack of goodies. From sentimental to practical, here are my top 10 travel tip picks from among the 56 entries.
Sentimental Tip
• “Don’t get bummed because your child/children got cranky or didn’t want to take a picture with their favorite character. Because before you know it they are going to be bigger, older, and not want to do the pictures or vacations. So take lots of pictures with them cranky or not so you and them can remember the moment of when they were young, impressionable, little and still love vacations as long as it is with their parents!” – Chacoy
Generous Idea
• “We buy drinks (for) our fellow travelers in the seats in front and behind us as a thanks for putting up with baby’s ups and downs during the flight.”
- Mena
Timing Tip
“Always plan in an extra half hour or hour. It his hard with little kids to stick to a strict schedule, so take your time.”
- Louis
Impromptu Solution
• “When all else fails grab the airline magazine and search for pictures of dogs. If your toddler loves puppies it works every time.” – Gen
Eating Tip
• “My best travel tip is bring your own snacks and have plenty on water available for your kiddos at all times.” – Kerrie G
Think-Like-A-Kid Tactic
• “When my kids were too young to understand the concept of time, they still asked the question that all parents dread When will we get there? To give them an answer that they could understand, we would tell them in terms of their favorite TV shows. So one half-hour would be, We will be there in one Barney. The answer seemed to satisfy them because they understood how long the Barney show lasted.” – Annette D
Packing Tips
• ”My travelling tip: bring more diapers, wipes, and formula than you think you’ll need. And don’t forget to bring your patience and a sense of humor!” – Sarah V.
• “Lots and lots of baby wipes. You can use them to clean stick hands, clean off a table before lunch or clean up a mess in the car.” – Meredith
• “Make a list of what you need to pack. Make the list way in advance so you can review it several times. As you pack, cross each item off the list as it goes in the bag. Check the list as you walk out the door. That will help you from forgetting things that can only be packed last minute such as a favorite toy, or a sleep machine. You could get fancy and computerize/save the list!” – harmskills
(Hey! Travel Mamas makes this one a cinch! Print out one of our packing lists before your next trip. There are spaces for you to add extra items to meet your family’s needs and to suit your destination.)
Winning Tip
I had a very tough time choosing the best tip from the 56 entries but only one lucky Travel Mama (or Travel Daddy) could win. I tried to pick a tip that was practical and universal, yet unique. Here’s the winner…
• “Keep a stash of fun stuff to do (toys, activities, etc.) that only comes out on long trips, that way the items stay fun and exciting and hold the attention of little ones longer.” – Hattie
Travel Mama Hattie, a mom of two from Minnesota, will receive the Tots Travel Too gift pack from Marriott (pictured above). Congratulations!
Marriott’s Tots Travel Too Program
Marriott makes families comfortable and safe with its Tots Travel Too Program, which provides such amenities as a freshly laundered COVERPLAY travel crib slip cover, outlet covers, nightlights, tot-friendly toiletries, bath toys, and even disposable bibs.
For more travel tips from parents like you, including those submitted for the Travel Mamas contest, check out TheMotherhood!
You might also like:
• Do You Care about Keeping Your Child Safe when Flying?
• Marriott Loves Tots Who Travel
• Travel Tips from the Travel Mama
• Your Travel Questions Answered
A note from the Travel Mama: I am working in partnership with Marriott and Global Influence – a Resourceful Mommy Media network – to cover the Marriott Tots Travel Too program and have received a stipend.
Tags: marriott, tots travel too, travel tips
Posted in How to Travel with Kids, Quick Tips | 5 Comments »
Monday, June 21st, 2010
Marriott is going above and beyond to make sure its youngest guests are welcomed, comfortable, and safe at more than 2,500 Marriott brand hotels with its new Tots Travel Too program. To celebrate, Marriott wants to give you an opportunity to win a Tots Travel Too gift pack! Read on to find out more about the program and how you can enter to win.
The complimentary Tots Travel Too program provides parents with a travel crib and laundered COVERPLAY removable crib slipcover. Outlet covers and nightlights are available to keep baby safe and secure away from home. Even toiletries for tots and disposable bibs are on-hand. Plus Marriott will give your wee one an adorable squirting tub toy for bath-time fun to take home with you.
With many airlines requiring payment for checked baggage, gone are the days when it was easy to just bring along your own travel crib. A few months ago, I recommended COVERPLAY as a convenient way to keep cribs germ-free while traveling in Your Travel Questions Answered.
Now your baby can sleep soundly and healthfully at any Marriott brand hotel in a crib protected with a cover that mom and dad know has been cleaned just for your family. In partnership with COVERPLAY, Marriott has had slipcovers specifically designed to match the décor at all of their brand locations, which include Courtyard, Fairfield Inn & Suites, SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn, and TownePlace Suites.
Enter to Win!
THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. To find out who won, see Top 10 Travel Tips from Parents of Tots.
One lucky Travel Mama or Travel Daddy will win a Tots Travel Too gift pack, which includes:
• COVERPLAY travel crib slipcover and matching sheet in a Marriott-exclusive polka-dot pattern.
• Bibs to Go Book by Dwell, a waterproof pad of 20 full-color illustrations, each of which tears off to become a disposable, tab-closure bib.
• Animal Party Tub Squirties by ElegantBaby made with non-toxic paint and phthalate-free PVC.
To enter, simply leave a comment below with a tip for traveling with babies or children. That’s it!
I will choose the winner based on what I believe is the best travel tip. The deadline for the giveaway is Sunday, June 27, 2010 at 11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time. All tips will be posted at The Motherhood after the contest has concluded. Approximate retail value is $78.
Do You Blog?
You do NOT need to write a blog to enter! But if you do, please be sure to leave your blog name and URL for inclusion the tip list on The Motherhood. Plus, the winner’s blog name and URL will be included a press release.
Do You Tweet?
Be sure to join us for a Twitter Party on July 1 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm Pacific Standard Time where tips from The Motherhood circle will be shared, the Tots Travel Too program will be discussed and you will have a chance to win over $2,000 in prizes! The hashtag for the party is #TotsTravel2.
Another Chance to Win!
Enter another fun Travel Mamas contest for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to JetSetBabies to have supplies like diapers, formula, baby food, and toys sent to your hotel worldwide.
You might also like:
• Best Travel Toys and Activities for Kids, from Babies to Teens
• 10 Most Popular Travel Mamas Blog Posts
• Top 10 Disneyland Rides and Attractions for Babies and Toddlers
• Travel Tips from the Travel Mama
A note from the Travel Mama: I am working in partnership with Marriott and Global Influence – a Resourceful Mommy Media network – to cover the Marriott Tots Travel Too program and have received a stipend.
Tags: bibs to go book by dwell, contest, coverplay, elegantbaby, giveaway, marriott, tots travel too
Posted in Travel Gear & Toys, Where to Travel with Kids | 57 Comments »
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