Itinerary for 2 Perfect Days in Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth

Itinerary for Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth is one of my favorite coastal towns in New Hampshire.  It is classy, yet welcoming, and the perfect destination for families.  It has it all… beaches, art galleries, lobster boats, seafood restaurants. It holds a special place in my heart since we were married here. Every time I come back; the memories come floating back. Here is an itinerary for 2 perfect days in Portsmouth, NH.

DAY 1

On the way to Portsmouth, stop in the beautiful town of New Castle.

new Castle sign with pumpkins

Head over to the picturesque 32-acre park, Great Island Common.

The park has 2 lighthouses…

The Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse

And Whaleback Light

Whaleback Light

Check into Your Hotel

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Residence Inn Portsmouth Downtown/Waterfront

Photo Credit: Residence Inn Portsmouth Downtown/Waterfront

With school starting up, we have already had a busy fall .  Both girls are now in high school and are busy with sports and theater so, needless to say, there’s lots of running around for this mom. I could not have been more thrilled to spend a night at the Residence Inn Portsmouth Downtown/Waterfront, in the gorgeous seacoast town of Portsmouth, NH.

Portsmouth holds a special place in my heart because we were married here and we have so many fond memories attached to it. I was excited to come back here and see it’s beauty in the same month as my anniversary.

Click here to read all about my stay!

The Palms, Miami

at The Palms, Miami

Photo Credit: The Palms

The Palms Hotel and Spa

Miami, Florida

After decades of traveling, I was finally going on my first cruise.  The ship went out of Miami and since I decided to come in the night before, I was excited to find a hotel that would really wow me.  The Palms Hotel & Spa was the perfect place to call home for the night! Since it is in the heart of South Beach, the location cannot be beat.

READ ALL ABOUT MY STAY!!

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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Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa

Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa

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!

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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10 Tips for a Fun Day at an Amusement Park

Rides at a 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. 

ride at an Amusement park

Riding roller coasters at Storyland, NH

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Santa’s Village


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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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 Jamaica

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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10 Things Kids Gain from Sleepaway Camp


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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