Last October, I ventured to the Caribbean to tour some of the Sandals and Beaches brand resorts in Jamaica.  In early July, I jumped on a plane to Providenciales, the hub of the Turks and Caicos islands in the British West Indies to tour the Beaches brand resort located there.  Talk about an absolutely amazing experience!  The resort was gigantic but not in a bad way!  So much to do for the whole family,  a killer beach, plenty of restaurants, fantastic service, and luxurious accommodations!

So let’s see, other than touring the resort and the various room types — it was a working trip — I spent hours on the beach, floating and swimming around.  The water is crystal clear like a pool and the pure white sand is fluffy soft.  Of course, I came home a little on the sunburned side but it was so worth it.  I spent some time in two of the many pools as well and enjoyed those and their swim-up bars.  The nights were filled with delicious food including yummy sushi and a to-die-for French restaurant that I could’ve eaten at every night.

One morning had an early wake-up call to board the Kitty Katt catamaran tour to snorkel in those beautiful blue waters, visit our own deserted island, and then fly off the back of the boat into the open water on their super fun waterslide.  This was my first experience snorkeling and I had a fantastic time, will definitely do it again!

The resort even has its own waterpark area with five slides, a lazy river, and splash pad!  This area bumps up to the tween/teen fun spot with a diner, kids swim-up pool bar, Xbox lounge, DJ Scratch Academy and kids lounge, and hangout spot with family games.

The grounds are well-kept throughout the resort and you can always find fountains, sitting areas, hammocks, flowers, small geckos, and friendly faces wherever you turn.

This was my view on the way into the islands and as I was taking off to head back to the States.  I hope that I am seeing this view again, sooner rather than later!

After a recent weeklong stay at Ocean Isle Beach in North Carolina, I can confirm that there is such a thing as salt therapy.  It does a body good to plop on the sand, splash in the ocean, and soak in the sun.  Doing so with your family is even better.

Ocean Isle is such a relaxing place with a slower pace that I enjoy so much while recharging from my daily life.  I do work while at the beach but there’s something about doing work on a beach chair in the sand, or from a wicker sofa on a deck in the sun, that really makes the time spent working not so rough.

Normally, Ocean Isle is the place for collecting seashells but this year was pretty much a bust.  We did find a few good specimens but for the most part, the shells were hard to find.  That’s super weird but I chalk it up to high tides all week and the lack of storms in the area that stir up the good stuff.

Speaking of weather, it was perfection!  Warm days, cool nights, no rain… loved it!  I was expecting it to be much more hot and humid than it was but was certainly grateful for the pleasant temps.

The food was good, we hit up all the usual spots that we visit while in the area.  A couple of days at Myrtle Beach for dinner and some time at the outlets rounded out the non-beach time.  This trip was mostly about hanging out at our rental house and spending time together and I think we accomplished that quite well.

Til’ next time!

 

 

It was back to the West Coast over Memorial Day weekend to celebrate Disneyland’s 60th birthday!  The Diamond celebration began last year and I knew that I had to get to Cali to enjoy the festivities in person.

I really thought that I was in for it to be traveling to a place like Disneyland over a holiday weekend.  I was expecting high crowds and balmy temperatures based on my experience with Walt Disney World.  I couldn’t have been more wrong.  The weather was lovely, upper 70s each day and somewhat overcast (my first trip with no sunburn!!)  It was only crowded on our last day in the parks but we had overlapped Grad Night celebrations for local schools.  Even still, the crowds didn’t touch what we have experienced on our prior Florida trips.  We basically walked on most rides with the longest waits being maybe 20 minutes.  We did use FastPasses (paper FastPasses!) so that helped with Hyperspace Mountain, Star Tours, and Radiator Springs Racers but other than that, you didn’t need them.

Our first memorable experience for the trip was getting stuck on top of the biggest hill on California Screamin’, a coaster in Disney’s California Adventure park.  We were climbing the big hill and all of the sudden, the train stopped.  I knew that was not good.  After a bit of a delay, Cast Members came running up the stairs (panting all the way up the 120 feet) to tell us what was going on and to help us out.  Out, as in out of the train!  We had to be released from our harnesses and then walk down the steps back to the park.  At first, there was a bit of freaking out but we did get some great pictures though.  Turns out some younger park-goers somehow missed all of the signs that selfie sticks weren’t allowed in the parks.  While climbing said hill, they felt the need to extend the stick to take that all important selfie and Disney shut the ride down.  At least the stick was confiscated but I think they should’ve taken them out back and…

So let’s see, what else.  We went on the ‘Walk in Walt’s Disneyland Footsteps’ Tour in Disneyland park and all I can say is ‘WOW.’  It was amazing.  In each land, the guide played clips for us of Walt’s dedication speech for that particular section of the park.  You could really feel Walt’s vision throughout park and this was an excellent experience for all of us.  I would consider this a must-do tour for any Disneyphile.  The tour ended with a visit to the Disneyland Dream Suite — the suite you could win a night in during the ‘Year of a Million Dreams’ promotion a few years back.  Talk about swanky.  No pictures were allowed but it was amazing.  They really went all out for this suite with two bedrooms, a parlor, a secluded outdoor patio, a to-die-for bathroom, and a second outdoor patio overlooking New Orleans Square.  I could have spent all day on that patio just watching the guests go by.

We watched the stunning ‘Paint the Night’ parade in Disneyland followed by the ‘Disneyland Forever’ fireworks.  That parade is the best parade I’ve seen on both coasts.  Very energetic and keeps you in the spirit from beginning to end.

On our last trip, we saw some of the ‘World of Color’ nighttime show in California Adventure but didn’t see it up close.  This time around, I decided to purchase tickets to a brand new dessert party offering (I love my desserts) that included seating right at the water for the show.  Our table was perfect and the view, ah-mazing!

Another super trip and I honestly cannot wait to step foot back into Walt’s magical place.  Once there, I’ll be taking another ‘spin’ on these babies…

Where to next?  Wait and see!

Easter week at Disney World — sometimes I have the strangest idea of a good time…

Seriously though, Easter week is not for the faint of heart when talking about a visit to the Mouse.  This is the second busiest time of the year, only falling behind the period between Christmas and New Year’s.  If you’re not into two hour plus waits on the popular rides and nightmarish crowds when leaving the parks in the evening, pick another travel time.  Me though, I laugh at the challenge!  (Not really, I just wanted to keep the peanut from missing any more school this year.)

The first part of the trip featured a stay at the Grand Floridian resort with the bonus of being in a ‘dormer’ room.  These are the rooms on the top floors of the buildings off of the main lobby building.  They are the windows that you see peeking out from under the eaves of the roof, thus being called ‘dormers’, imagine that!  They are like the regular rooms inside except they have tall ceilings and a private balcony.

 

The first order of business was getting ourselves to Hollywood Studios to check out the Star Wars Launch Bay.  We just missed the opening of this new area on our last trip and couldn’t wait to see what all the buzz was about.  Was it great?  Yep!  Meeting Chewbacca and Kylo Ren (super into his character!), seeing all the movie props (lightsabers, Rey’s speeder, costumes), trading with Jawas…  Excitement all around!  That evening, we enjoyed the Symphony in the Stars dessert party, a separate event that featured Star Wars themed food and drink with a reserved viewing area for that night’s Symphony in the Stars fireworks show.  That show was hands down the best fireworks experience (and dessert party too for that matter) that we’ve seen at Disney so far.

 

The next order of business was Typhoon Lagoon.  If the weather suits, on go the suits!  Typhoon Lagoon never disappoints.  Shoot, on this trip, we even got hailed on during a storm while we huddled under our umbrella!  Free ice falling from the sky, thanks Disney! The storm did clear out the wave pool, a rare sight.  We tried out Blizzard Beach later in the week for the first time.  Favorite?  Typhoon Lagoon, hands down.  The wave pool at Blizzard Beach doesn’t even compare and that’s our favorite part of the day.

 

Let’s see, what next?  Ah, Disney Springs.  So Downtown Disney is officially Disney Springs and the construction is really coming along.  We stopped by for some Starbucks, another run through DisneyQuest since it hasn’t closed yet (score!), and to take a few pictures of the construction.  The new bus area and second parking garage are taking shape.  It will be so much easier when the new bus area is up and running and we’re back to two bus stops there instead of just one.  Disney Springs is a sprawling area and that second stop will be so much more convenient.

 

The Grand Floridian stay ended and we moved over to the Polynesian Villas for the rest of the trip.  I love the Poly.  I would say it is my favorite resort now that the construction on the villas is complete and both pools are fully open again.  You can’t beat the location and the vibe of this resort.  It reminds me so much of Aulani.

 

Epcot in the spring means the return of my favorite festival, Flower and Garden.  I love flowers and trees so I love to visit during the festival period.  Disney’s parks and resorts are always impeccable but the work that the horticulture team does at Epcot for this festival is truly breathtaking year after year.  The only negative — ahchoo!  Darn allergies!

 

On our last day, we zipped back over to Magic Kingdom for more fun before we hit the road and stopped by the new Jungle Navigation Co Skipper Canteen restaurant for lunch.  This restaurant has funky decor and the great comedy routine that everyone loves from the Jungle Cruise ride.  I think a shorter name would’ve been a smarter move as would taking reservations more than a day in advance but the food was good and the specialty drinks were delish.  The one with the green apple boba balls on top was mine and that straw was gigantic!  I’m happy to report that I did not choke on any of the bobas, despite apparently trying my best.

Last stop, because you know we can’t ever come straight home, was Disney’s Hilton Head Island resort in South Carolina.  This place truly rocks.  It has the Disney feel but at the beach so you really can relax.  Relax at Disney?  I know, no way!  The resort’s ‘mascot’ is Shadow, a beautiful dog who comes by the resort from time to time to visit with the guests and pose for photos.  She loves belly rubs and pats on the head.  Definitely worth stopping for some snoodling.  Her human even gives autographed pictures out!  Woof!

 

It’s a wrap!  Was it super crowded?  For sure.  Would we do it again?  You bet.