Every once in a while, you discover a hidden gem that you are not sure you want to share with others. The Press Hotel is one of those finds. The Press Hotel is located in what was once the Gannett Building, housing the offices and printing plant of the Portland Press Herald, the state’s largest newspaper. The hotel nods their hat at journalists everywhere and makes you want to get out your laptop and start writing.
I had been wanting to visit The Press Hotel for years, and I finally had my chance to spend four luxurious nights here when I attended the Women in Travel Summit. One of the main reasons I was at this conference was for inspiration, and I couldn’t think of a better place because The Press emits a vibe that screams creativity…plus it will make you wish old-fashioned type writers were still popular.
Wilbur’s of Maine is a classic Maine staple, and during our media trip to Freeport we had the chance to tour their Freeport factory. I know, I know…it’s a tough job but somebody’s got to do it. After some arm twisting, we figured we’d take one for the team and force ourselves to go eat some chocolate…are you kidding??? We actually ran to the factory! Â
We started our tour learning a bit about Tom and Catherine, the founders of this this family-owned company, and their journey of building a successful chocolate factory. What kid in this world has not dreamed of candy-making as their career! Their son, Andy, took over the company in 2016 and has continued to make it one of the most loved candy shops in Maine. While learning about the company, we got to sample some tasty pieces of Heaven!
Our two days in Freeport, Maine were jam-packed with fun experiences, and that was just a sample of what the town has to offer. Here are a few of my favorite memories:
We started our night with a tasty glass of champagne while
we munched on some appetizers… garlic and herb frites and chickpea fritters
with a honey aioli.
In April, I had the privilege of attending a FAM trip to
Freeport, Maine with six other travel writers.
I headed to the Portland train station to meet six strangers and spend
two days traveling with them. This could
have gone completely bad, but it ended up being such an amazing experience with
six fabulous women and I being spoiled rotten in the gorgeous town of
Freeport.
One of my favorite experiences was a trip to Wolfe Neck
Center for Agriculture & the Environment.
I’ve been going to Freeport for years and I can’t believe this hidden
gem was right around the corner from my husband’s grandmother’s home that we
would stay in. Wolfe Neck is a nonprofit
farm with 626 oceanfront acres and 4 miles of Casco Bay shoreline that is open
to the public every day. Although it is only a 10-minute drive from downtown,
you’ll feel like you are miles from civilization. It is an amazing place to bring your family and
visit the animals, have a picnic lunch, rent kayaks, go for a bike ride or take
a hike.
Before the Women in Travel Summit, I had the opportunity to spend the night in Freeport, Maine with 6 other travel writers from across the country. I could not have been more thrilled that the Harraseeket Inn would be hosting our stay. Having stayed there with my daughters once before, I knew we would be in for a treat! As always, the inn did not disappoint.
Click HERE to read all about my first stay at the Harraseeket Inn.
The location
of the Harraseeket was perfect walking distance to our fun activities around
town.
This time I stayed
in a DELUXE KING WITH FIREPLACE AND WHIRLPOOL.
The room was huge and so welcoming! The bed had a lovely quarter canopy
bed with luxurious linens and pillows.
I remember when I was a kid, I was jealous of the characters on Gilligan’s Island because they had this beautiful piece of paradise all to themselves. I dreamed of being Maryanne (Ginger’s voice drove me nuts!) Well, with Sandy Toes, on Rose Island you can live that dream as you spend the day on your own private island.Â
 Your adventure begins when you are picked up at the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal in their double decker catamaran. Since we decided to take a water taxi to cross under the bridge (huge mistake!!!) we ran to catch the ferry because it only leaves once…10:00…after that you’re out of luck. We were thrilled that we made it and with our complimentary rum punch in our hands, we settled in for our ride. Check out where my youngest got to sit.
During
your 25-minute boat ride, you’ll enjoy stunning views of the Bahamas coastline
as the wind blows through your hair. Sit back and watch the crystal blue water
soar under you as you head to Paradise.
The
biggest surprise of the day was that no one else except the people on our boat
would be on the island. We would have
this paradise all to ourselves.
The sand was a white powder and the water was
transparent. The beach was immaculately
clean, which I had wondered about since I knew there were pigs that swam here. We grabbed one of the many lounge chairs and
settled in for a bit before we couldn’t resist the water anymore.
The
crystal-clear water was calling to us and we were so excited to spend our day
basking in the sunshine and having more fun.
After a
quick dip, we decided to hang out in one of the beach hammocks.
As I
lounged, I stared at the rocky coastline and listened to the waves crashing
onto the shore.
It really was Heaven…see…
I could have spent hours there and was considering taking a nap when all of the sudden I saw these cutie pies come out for a swim. I jumped up and ran over to give them a pat. We loved hanging out with these big guys!
And we
fell in love with the 14-week-old piglets!
Seriously…how could you not!!! They were so well-behaved and knew more
tricks than my puppy…sit, stay, come, heal.
It was very impressive.
My girls
got to swim with them
And give
them some love.
We wanted
to take them home with us!! The staff
loves them so much and you can see the care that they take in keeping them
healthy. I love that they never make the
pigs do anything they don’t want to do. These
adorable pigs have been raised here since birth. They are vet checked and cared
for on the regular, and only given the cleanest diet. They are given plenty of love, sunshine,
shade, and even sunscreen!
Since we
had brought snorkel equipment to use at the condo, we decided to bring
them. We had so much fun swimming around
the coral reef and felt comforted that a guide was with us. We saw huge fan
coral, tons of tropical fish, and lots of brain coral. We couldn’t get enough of it, and they didn’t
rush us. They have snorkel equipment
for all ages and they also provide life jackets. This is where we started our snorkeling adventure.
Lunch was served from 1:00-2:00. They had a buffet that served a variety of local cuisine such as barbecue chicken, peas and rice, vegetable pasta salad, hot dogs, garden salad, and fresh rolls. There was a beautiful view from the dining area. There were also lounge chairs if you’re too full to go too far…lol.
The Beach
Bar had sweeping views of the water!
I enjoyed
a frozen margarita…ok ok…I enjoyed three!
And my
girls loved their frozen virgin Pina coladas.
I can’t believe how inexpensive it is to spend the day here!
$119 for
adults and
$75 for
children ages 4-12.
Tips for a perfect day
The
island offers restrooms, changing rooms, and shower facilities.
There is
a gift shop on the island.
Kayaks
are available to rent for $15.
Tubes are
available to rent for $10
You can
purchase a bus transfer from your hotel.
Boat
leaves daily at 10:00 from the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal.
Boat
leaves Rose Island at 3:30 to take you back.
Get there
early so you don’t have to rush like we did!
Take a
cab across the bridge…NOT the water taxi because they only run when they’re
full.
 A warm THANK YOU to Sandy Toes for having us as your guest. We had an incredible last day in the Bahamas and it was the perfect place to sit back, relax, and enjoy all the sun, sand, and water that is so unique to your lovely island. I would recommend it to anyone visiting the Nassau area. As always, all experiences and opinions are 100% that of MyTravelingKids.com.
Who
doesn’t daydream of spending the day on their own private tropical island? A
trip to Blue Lagoon Island will let you live out this dream as you spend the
day lounging on a pristine beach or having water adventures…whatever your heart
desires.
It all starts as soon as you are picked up in their high-speed, double-decker catamaran. We enjoyed stunning views of Nassau Harbor and Paradise Island as crystal blue water soared under us. When we pulled up to the island the sand was a white powder and the lounge chairs called to us as we walked down the dock.
The clear
turquoise waters looked like a scene from a movie and we couldn’t wait to jump
in.
As you lay
in the hammocks, or sit in lounge chairs, you hear the chirping of tropical
birds as the breeze flows through the coconut palm trees…but there was no time
for sitting around because we had some adventures to do first!
When you think of Nassau, it’s hard not to picture the picturesque towers of Atlantis Resort. This 141-acre water scape can be your playground for the day when you buy an Aquaventure Day Pass.
So, what is included in your Atlantis Aquaventure Day Pass?
Water
Slides – 18 thrilling water slides
River
Rides – The Current & The Rapids
Pools –
11 distinctly different pools
Beach –
Miles of white sand & crystal water
The Dig
Aquarium
Lounge
Chairs & Towels
My girls were at Atlantis for one reason…the water park! With 18 different water slides, it was hard to decide which to go on first. Here were some of our favorites:
The days of long layovers where you sit back, enjoy a latte, and lose yourself in a good book seem to disappear after you have kids. Layovers are a lot more work when you now have to entertain little ones. In fact, after having kids I try to avoid layovers as much as possible, but sometimes they can’t be avoided. Here are 10 tips for how I survive a layover:
