LATEST HUFFINGTON POST ARTICLE!
Staying in a hotel can be a really fun experience, however when traveling with kids it can also get a bit tricky. I put a lot more thought into travel when my kids are with me because I know they require some extra thought. Here are 10 tips for staying in a hotel with kids:
New England General Stores
Nothing screams QUAINT more than a New England general store. They are sprinkled across New England and they share many similar features. Even if you don’t need anything specific, it’s worth stopping in for a peek.
Our favorite is the Old Country Store, in Moultonborough, New Hampshire. It has been a store since 1781…237 years! Located near Castle on the Clouds and close to Meredith, and it’s a great stopping point when you’re headed towards the White Mountains. My girls beg me to stop in every time we drive by.
When I think of Florida, I don’t picture Disney. I envision walking across powder white sand collecting shells and shark teeth on the gulf coast. We spend our days doing an excursion for half of the day and enjoying the sunshine at the beach or by the pool for the other half. It really is the perfect vacation scenario and our town of choice in Florida is Sarasota. It has diverse dining, cute boutique shopping, bustling arts and culture, and some of the best beaches in the US.
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport
Tampa International Airport (It is usually cheaper to fly here.) (1 hour drive)
St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (1 hour 15-minute drive)
CLICK HERE TO FIND SOME GREAT FLIGHTS
Here is our itinerary for 5 full days in paradise:
Spend the morning at our favorite place in Sarasota! The best thing about this aquarium is the fact that it’s a working research facility. You’ll love meeting our two favorite manatee…Hugh and Buffett. Also, say hello to our pal Hang Tough, a blind green turtle that lives at Mote because he couldn’t survive in the wild. The aquarium is filled with fish, sharks, eels, otters, crocs, ands more.
Some of you may know that I have a new guy in my life that I’m absolutely crazy about…THIS GUY…
If you’re a dog person, you know how hard it is to not spoil your little friend… they deserve it. Finnegan was more than happy to help review BarkBox, a monthly subscription box for dogs. What I like most about this company is they are crazy dog people like myself. I want to sneak over to their office since they say it’s filled with dogs barking, burping, wrassling and chirping. Now THAT’S an office I could go to each day! Since first launching in 2012, BarkBox has shipped over 50 million toys and treats, so they really know their stuff!
What do I love about this subscription box?
Merry Christmas
From Our Family
To Yours!!
Dear Santa,
What do I most want for Christmas this year? Do you really have to ask? Plane tickets!! If that’s not an option, I have a few more suggestions of what a traveler would like to see under her tree. The following are 15 picks for the perfect present for travelers: (BTW..I have no affiliation with any of these products. They’re just items on my wish list.)
Leather Travel Quote Luggage Tag. I love how classic this tag is and it can be put on anything from your suitcase, overnight bag, camera case, computer bag, etc. My favorite feature is you can customize your favorite quote. (Love the Jane Austen quote!) $26 https://www.etsy.com/listing/232235365/leather-travel-quote-luggage-or-bag-tag?utm_source=Pinterest&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_campaign=Share
SO EXCITED!!!!
I was so sad when Arianna Huffington (she’s my Oprah!) left Huffington Post to start her new website Thrive Global, but I quickly fell in love with it. The whole site is about wellness, productivity, and becoming your best self. Today I had my first feature on it!!! So excited to be a part of this new adventure!
I’ll never forget our nightmare eventful first morning on our trip to Turks and Caicos. I woke up to the sound of birds chirping and waves crashing as I rolled over and wrapped myself up in our fluffy down comforter. Oh, and did I mention it was a white comforter? When suddenly I noticed my sleepy five-year-old standing by my side lean over and throw up all over our bed. Perfect start to our vacation!
You can’t prevent your kids from being sick or getting hurt, but you can be prepared for these vacation hiccups by packing a few supplies. We’ve seen it all…pneumonia in the Turks, ear infection in Florida, stomach bug in St. Lucia, sliced chin in Grand Cayman, jellyfish sting in Santorini, and countless sunburns. (Holy cow…we’ve had some really bad luck!) I’ve learned to pack for many “what if” situations. Here’s what I always carry on vacation for these occasions:
The holiday season is always a time for us to stay closer to home and spend time with friends and family. Every once in a while, cocktails are involved…hahaha…who are we kidding…cocktails are ALWAYS involved! Often, these are last-minute get-togethers and so I always like to be prepared.
When ROOT 23 asked if I wanted to test out some of their simple syrups, I was more than happy to host a few cocktail hours! ROOT 23 specializes in the farm to cocktail movement, using organic sugar and locally sourced ingredients, and they provided two syrups for us to taste along with six cocktail recipes. I decided to divide it into two different tastings (You’re welcome liver).
What syrups did I receive?