Key West Itinerary

Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa

Key West Itinerary

Who went on this trip?

One of my favorite qualities about my husband is how spontaneous he is. When he asked me if I wanted to go to Key West with him in five days, I immediately started packing my bags. This trip was all about relaxing, having fun, and spending time together.

Where did we stay?

When it came to choosing a hotel, I had three criteria: location, a pool, and a view of the Gulf. The Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa more than acceded our expectations and we couldn’t think of a better place to stay while in Key West.

Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa

Here’s what we did on our weekend in Key West:

Day 1…The afternoon we arrived:

After exploring the hotel, we went down to the hotel bar, the Blue Mojito Bar and Grill, to enjoy some frozen margaritas and listen to the live music playing.

Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa

Dinner was at the hotel restaurant, Shor. They have an amazing deck that overlooks the Gulf. (Try the seafood coconut lime risotto.)

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September 6, 2022 mytravelingkids.com

Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa

One of my favorite qualities about my husband is how spontaneous he is. When he asked me if I wanted to go to Key West with him in five days, I immediately started packing my bags. When it came to choosing a hotel, I had three criteria: location, a pool, and a view of the Gulf. The Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa more than acceded our expectations and we couldn’t think of a better place to stay while in Key West. Let me tell you all about our romantic getaway.

Click HERE to read about our stay!

August 29, 2022 mytravelingkids.com

To Cruise…or Not To Cruise?

I love travel so much that there are not many places I wouldn’t go. However, one form of travel has always made me nervous… a cruise. People love cruises and the cheap prices you can get should make it a no-brainer. Each time I consider it something holds me back. I feel like I have so many unanswered questions about cruises that I’ve stayed away from them. I decided to ask five friends to give me their honest opinions about cruises. I thought I’d share some of their responses in case anyone has the same questions. Enjoy! (And thanks girls for sharing!!)

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August 22, 2022 mytravelingkids.com

Walking the Breathtaking Marginal Way, Ogunquit, Maine

Marginal Way

Marginal Way, in Ogunquit, is a mile and a quarter long piece of heaven that needs to be experienced. This paved path gets its name from being the margin between the crashing waves of the sea and the tranquil land of this quaint seaside town in Maine.

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August 15, 2022 mytravelingkids.com

10 Tips for a Fun Day at an Amusement Park

Amusement parks can be a great way to spend the day as a family. With a little planning, you can have a stress-free day that everyone can enjoy. Here are 10 tips for a fun day at an amusement park:

CHECK OUT THE MAP

Before you go, look at the park map online. Decide if there are areas you all really want to do and if there are areas you can skip. Give the kids a say in the day.

NO PRESSURE

Kids will do scary rides when they are ready. Let them know there is no pressure for them to go on any rides they don’t feel comfortable with.

MINIMUM HEIGHT REQUIREMENT

Nothing is worse than having your kid wait in line only to find out they are an inch too short to ride. Save the tears and have them check the height requirement and measure them before they go.

Riding roller coasters at Storyland, NH

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August 8, 2022 mytravelingkids.com

Santa’s Village

There’s nothing as magical as the spirit of Christmas and at Santa’s Village your family can experience this feeling even in the middle of summer. So many amusement parks seem the same, but Santa’s Village offer a unique concept. As soon as you walk through the front gate you will be transported into a winter wonderland and you’ll soon forget it’s August! My family has been going to this park for years and it’s become a tradition for us to go on my youngest daughter’s birthday. We loved bringing our friends there this year! Here are 10 things my family loves doing at Santa’s Village:

ELFABET GAME

Ever since my girls were little, this was a nice way to do a scavenger hunt while going about our day. After entering the park, head over to Elf University to pick up your elfabet card. As you walk around the park, you’ll see elves with various letters on them. Simply punch out the letters on your card and bring it back to the university at the end of the day to claim your prize. (Hint…bring it back even if you don’t find them all.)

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August 1, 2022 mytravelingkids.com

10 Things I Look for When Choosing a Resort

Planning a vacation can seem like a daunting task because of the large number of resort options. You may wonder where you even start.

Here are 10 things I look for when choosing a resort:

APPEARANCE

Is the resort attractive and in good condition? Does it look family oriented or geared towards adults? What sets the resort apart from others I’ve looked at? Does it have areas we can walk around or spots where you can relax and hang out? How are the gardens and the lobby? Does it look like it needs major upgrades?

Beaches Resort

SPACE

I can’t stress it enough…my family likes our space! Especially when the girls were younger and had early bed times, we needed a place to unwind for a few hours without waking them up. I’ll never forget when, in Bermuda, my husband sat in the bathroom watching a movie on his iPad so he wouldn’t wake up the kids. A suite with a door to the bedroom is a great solution. That way, you can all sleep in the same room but not have to do it at the same time.

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July 25, 2022 mytravelingkids.com

Tips for Going to Farmers Markets During COVID-19

My weekly trip to the farmers market is one of my favorite things about summer. There’s nothing like it…musicians playing in the background, farmers telling you when the vegetables you’re holding were picked, and hearing the young sons of the fisherman saying they helped catch the tuna we’ll be eating that night. A farmers market is a great place to bring kids/teens. Here are 10 Tips For Going to Farmers Markets:

HELP PLAN MENUS

Kids will be more likely to eat a meal if they had help planning it. Each week, give them a new item off the menu to plan. For example, each week they can plan the main dish, a side, and a dessert. Give them full rein on it and although you can offer suggestions, let them do most of the work. Whatever they plan, they will be responsible for helping cook.

TRY SOMETHING NEW

Give each person in the family the task of choosing something your family has never tasted. Is there a type of cheese that looks interesting? Is there a veggie that looks odd? Have them ask the farmer for suggestions on how to cook it.

PRACTICE RESPONSIBILITY

Give your kids a job while at the market. Give everyone reusable bags and have them hold your purchases. Teach them how to choose ripe produce. Give them the task of paying.

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July 18, 2022 mytravelingkids.com

10 Things Kids Gain from Sleepaway Camp

A few years ago, my friend Julie and I were miserable because our girls went to sleepaway camp for two weeks. We were missing our kiddos, obsessing about whether they were OK, and we started asking ourselves why we even send them. Is it really worth being away from them for such a long time? After feeling sorry for myself (and making a really big mojito) things started to come into perspective. The girls LOVE camp and they are lucky to be able to have this experience. So Julie, as we head into another summer of our girls being gone, let’s think about all the things they gain from sleepaway camp.

INDEPENDENCE

I can be a bit controlling at times (OK…my girls sometimes call me their ‘smother’) so camp gives them a chance to make some decisions on their own. They get to choose what activities they do during free time, when to write home (only once last year for my youngest…big sigh), and when to brush their teeth (I’m embarrassed to tell you how many times that actually happened!). Camp gives them the chance to make unexpected choices like when my older daughter chose to go on a long bike ride with a group of girls she didn’t know and ended up having a great time.

SOCIAL SKILLS

When you are placed in a cabin with 11 other girls, it is a crash course in social skills. You learn to be cooperative, respectful, and empathetic. This is a great chance to learn problem solving since there are bound to be disagreements.

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June 27, 2022 mytravelingkids.com

Stone Zoo

The Stone Zoo is on 26 acres, so it is a small zoo that can easily be enjoyed in a few hours. Since the zoo is only about a half hour from Boston, it is the perfect day trip.