Swimming at The Breakers

One of the few positive consequences of the travel downturn over the past year is that it has forced hotels at every quality level to become more value conscious.

Hoteliers who have been able to figure out how to manage costs while maintaining value for their guests have been able to ride out the storm while keeping occupancy rates higher than the industry average. I’ve seen this trend in action repeatedly through both our booking activity on Ciao Bambino and my own travel experiences.

We stayed at The Breakers in Palm Beach (FL) last month and experienced true luxury at every level. Although The Breakers attracts plenty of the ‘money is no object crowd’, management is still focused on ensuring every guest feels special through continuing their high staff-to-guest ratio (while other luxury hotels are noticeably short-staffed) and a rewards program that gives guests ‘credit’ to spend on the long list of onsite amenities.

Although nightly rates have been dramatically reduced everywhere over the past year, hotels are maintaining high price points during peak periods, weekends, and holidays. In some cases I’m wondering if hoteliers are even charging higher-than-usual rates over times when they know they can fill rooms. The unfortunate consequence of doing this, however, is that in many cases, properties have cut staff, so guests are left paying high rates, but end up with a disappointing travel experience. While understandable, this is not a good strategy for customer satisfaction and loyalty.

We recently stayed at the Inn at Sugar Bowl in the Lake Tahoe area (CA) for the weekend. Our family connector (queen room connected to one with twin beds) was just under $350 per night. While this is not a luxury hotel price point—particularly for a weekend in January—when I spend $700 on lodging, I’m expecting a good-if-not-great experience.

At the end of the stay I’d rate our experience as adequate. The hotel was painfully understaffed at every turn, but the inviting, family-oriented ambiance and ski-out location outweighed the downsides. Interestingly, guest loyalty at Sugar Bowl is strong, but I suspect they lose clients unnecessarily through high pricing paired with average rooms and service snafus.  Note, the Inn at Sugar Bowl remains a great option for families and our family friendly ski resorts portfolio based on the exceptional convenience and kid-oriented amenities.

I always explain to our hotel partners that ask me for pricing feedback that the equation is simple:

The more you charge, the more people will expect, and the harder they will be to please. This is a distinct and always predictable trade-off.

I just looked up room pricing at Cheeca Lodge in the Florida Keys for the upcoming President’s Day Holiday. Their website returned a discounted rate of $674 per night (rack is $749) for an Island View (non-oceanfront) King. I just stayed at there last month and although the oceanfront setting is lovely and the newly renovated main lodge has some top notch features, when families (or anyone) pay $700+ per night for a room, they will expect a complete luxury hotel experience with reliable, exceptional service.

The issue is that Cheeca Lodge just reopened after a fire and subsequent renovation—there are re-opening service pains in progress and those paying top dollar to stay there may end up disappointed.  Also, room quality varies greatly.  Cheeca’s recent Trip Advisor reviews reflect these inconsistencies. As with Sugar Bowl, despite an imperfect experience at Cheeca, I still recommended it as one of the best Florida family hotels; hopefully, management will work hard to create better service consistency for guests.

Why not just keep rates at a level where mistakes are forgiven and every guest feels like they’ve received value for the money? Kids or no kids, travelers continue to demand value and hoteliers need to price rooms and services accordingly, as well as figure out how to provide a strong guest experience with ongoing budget constraints.

I received complimentary lodging at The Breakers, but this had no impact whatsoever on my opinion outlined above that quality at this hotel is exceptional at every level.

Relevant Links:

The extraordinary details of a top luxury hotel

Finding family friendly boutique hotels

Finding the best family hotels in Europe

Things to consider before booking a large resort

Evaluating family all inclusive beach resorts

Getting last minute hotel room discounts

Finding toddler friendly hotels

This is the first post by our new writer, Anne Abouchar.  She lives in London with her husband and four children ages 11, 10, 5 and 4 and has some wonderful and inspiring travel experiences to share. Welcome to Ciao Bambino Anne!

Birds, birds, and more birds

Two long-haul flights, two short-haul flights, and one beautiful ferry ride finally got us to Heron Island on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. The first thing I noticed was the unmistakeable smell of birds—thousands and thousands of them—within seconds my ears caught up to my nose and I was hit by the din of what I later learned was a staggering 70,000 birds!  Heron Island is a sanctuary for the Black Noddy (not the Heron as you might think).

By the time we were taken to the restaurant for lunch I was in despair. How had I got it so wrong? I thought this was a 5-star luxury resort, not a national park. A bird sanctuary is one thing, but to have birds on every branch of every tree, standing all along the paths, and flying so close to our bodies—this was another thing all together. And, to make matters worse I had just been informed that this island had no cell phone service—there was no way to text my 100 closest friends to complain.

The beach

By the time we were on the beach, I immediately forgave the birds because the sand and the water and the sky were absolutely spectacular. My children—all four of them—were in heaven. Of course they were delighted by the birds from the first moment they saw them.

Within seconds we were in the warm, aqua-marine sea. Harmless black-tipped reefsharks came to play, and my two eldest (Lizzy age 11 and Joseph age 10) swam right along side sharks and rays every day we were there. Lizzy got close enough to a baby squid that it squirted her with its ink. She was delighted. The water is shallow and relatively waveless, which was ideal for the younger two (Stephen age 5 and Katherine age 4) as they could just paddle about safely in the water for hours. All the kids got snorkel gear, and, after a quick lesson in the pool with one of the diving instructors, spent the next five days looking at ocean life.

The reef

On our first full day we went out on the reef in a semi-submersible boat. The most surprising thing about the coral is that the water filters out the colour, so with the exception of some blue tones, it looks grey. Only sophisticated photographic equipment was able to capture its rainbow beauty. Nevertheless, it is still impressive, especially when you see the schools of fish dashing about and turtles napping around the coral. My husband has a diving certificate and was able to dive five times on the reef during our stay and thought it was spectacular. This particular area was one of Jacques Cousteau’s favourite.

Heron Island Resort

My children loved the buffet where they could eat only what they liked. Although the rooms are simple, they are right on the beach and angled in a way that provides surprising privacy from one bed to the next. There is a giant chess set outside the bar and Monopoly.

And so, our days glided by with time broken only for meals and games of giant chess and Monopoly. Once we settled into our routine, we had a lovely family time alone without any outside world distractions and appreciated the lack of phone reception.

Stargazing is amazing here as Heron Island is a nature reserve with no artificial lights save those in the resort buildings. The sky is simply a blanket of starlight. We think we saw several famous constellations, but far more exciting was the bright and clear Jupiter. Even the younger children were in awe of seeing the planet so clearly.

Christmas on the Great Barrier Reef

On Christmas Day we woke up at 5 am and crept out of our rooms and onto the beach in search of loggerhead and green turtles laying eggs. After only a few minutes we found a mother digging away in the sand, making her egg chamber, and we watched her silently until the sun rose about 90 minutes later. It was such a unusual experience even the younger ones didn’t get restless. When the turtle had finished she didn’t immediately return to the sea, but paraded around for a bit, almost as though she were posing for us.

Other people have Christmas angels, but we felt very lucky in our Christmas turtle!

Later that morning we were told to gather down on the dock for another special surprise. My 4-year-old had been telling us for days that Santa no longer used a sleigh but came by jet boat. And she was right! As we stood in the warm sunshine swapping stories of our turtle sightings with the other guests there in the distance came a power boat and Santa was standing in the front holding a huge sack of presents! I thought our youngest kids would explode with excitement as he made he way onto the beach, greeted everyone in his jolly Santa manner and led the way to the pool where he handed out gifts to all the children.

Mine couldn’t believe their luck. Santa had not only found them—something their mean mother said might not happen—yet he came by boat with toys. I think next year’s Christmas card picture has already been taken; how can I do better than 4 tanned kids in t-shirts with a sunglassed Santa?

The day after Christmas was our last and we rather extravagantly chose to leave the island by helicopter. As we were preparing to go, Joseph announced his intention of returning to Heron Island to do his gap year and I found myself saying that I thought it was a fantastic idea. As the helicopter flew over the island and the reef and I could see how beautiful it all was, I knew that this vacation had been a great success for everyone. I still may not be the greatest bird fan, but the wildlife experiences we had will be remembered forever. Besides, in the end the birds only pooped on Daddy.

Practical Information:

Heron Island can only be reached by ferry or helicopter. The departure point for both is the airport in Gladstone. Reservations can be made online at HeronIsland.com.  Meals are not included and several meal plans are available. Children of any age may snorkel but the minimum age to dive is 14.  Laundry facilities are available.

For more Photo Friday fun, check out Delicious Baby.

Relevant Links:

Bondi Beach photos

Sydney Taronga Zoo

Planning a family trip to Ireland? Consider spending a number of days in the country’s largest city, Dublin. There is much to recommend Dublin for a family summer holiday. My kids love the long days and ancient feel to the city. And when they’ve had enough of urban life, the countryside—filled with farms, castles and greenery—is just a short jaunt away. Please note that if you’re traveling to Dublin outside of the high season (May – September), some attractions may be closed or have limited hours.

Phoenix Park

Phoenix Park is Europe’s largest enclosed urban park. It boasts a lovely zoo with a wonderful African animal exhibit. Additionally, there are a variety of gardens, a playground, monuments and, of course, a tearoom. Seeing the park on two wheels only adds to the fun. You can rent bicycles from Phoenix Park Bike Hire, located at the entrance to the park around the corner from Heuston Station. Along with bicycles, this company also rents children’s bikes, toddler trailers and tag-alongs.

Viking Splash

Climb aboard Viking Splash—an Amphibious World War II Vehicle—for a kid-friendly tour of Dublin’s historic center and harbor. Learn about city history, architecture, and many of Ireland’s colorful characters (of which there are many) while acting like savage Vikings. Tour drivers ham it up for their audience making this an entertaining way to see the city’s tourist highlights.

Wicklow Mountains

Dublin is a bustling city, so it’s always nice to enjoy a respite in the surrounding countryside. The neighboring county of Wicklow offers a variety of “country” activities for your family. Greenan Farm is located near Rathdrum. A family owned farm and park, it offers a glimpse into farm-life in Ireland with the added bonus of a challenging yet accessible hedge maze. The maze is the prime draw here, but your kids will love the farm animals and nature trail as well. There is also an outdoor green labyrinth and a small museum focused on traditional farming techniques. And, of course there’s a tearoom where one can find delicious scones and sandwiches.

A trip to Greenan can be combined with either a visit to the magical Mt. Usher Gardens in Ashford or Glendalough—home to two beautiful lakes and an ancient monastic city.

Imaginosity

Dublin’s children’s museum—Imaginosity—is the perfect destination on that inevitable day when it’s lashing rain. Interactive exhibits are geared for children from toddler through age 8 and include a “store” a “auto shop” a stage for dress up and performance and much much more. It is imperative that you book your visit at least a day ahead. You can do this by reserving space online or by phoning the museum directly at +353-1-2176130.

Bray Sea Life Aquarium

The Bray Sea Life Aquarium is quaint and my kids love it. Its approximately 90 different species include a plethora of crowd-pleasers including sharks, piranhas, octopus, and sea horses. Its size means that the numerous fish-feeds and naturalist talks feel personal, and there is ample time for Q&A. If you are coming from the City Center, you can take the DART to the Bray station. On your return trip, stop in the seaside village of Dalkey with its medieval castle and charming ambience.

Related Links:

Ciao Bambino recommended Ireland family hotels

Galway with kids

Ashford Castle falconry with kids

Maui for the holidays—what could be better? Especially coming from a very snowy Boston. It was just what our family needed the week after Christmas. It took us only a few minutes after we landed to forget about the long flight from Boston. The warm air, sunshine and palm trees made us feel a world away.

This was our biennial family trip with my father, siblings and children, all in, there were 17 of us. We rented a beautiful home right on Kaanapali Beach and were set to relax. What I love about beach vacations is that there are no intense itineraries to worry about. Your decisions are simple: beach or pool. However, I couldn’t help myself and I did plan a few special activities for the week.

Here are the highlights:

Spa: Let’s be clear, the day after Christmas, forget entertaining the kids, the moms needed a break! All the ladies headed to the Grand Wailea Spa. Wow! Hydrotherapy with multiple aromatic baths, followed by massage therapy—that took care of the damage done during holiday retail therapy!

Luau: We wanted some cultural exposure, however, with little kids, we knew that the length of a formal luau would not work for our group. So we booked CJ Catering to do a private luau—one of the best decisions of the week. Not only was the food outstanding, but so was the entertainment. CJ hired a hysterical entertainer who led a talented ensemble that included hula dancers, singers, and a fire dancer. The crew engaged the kids from the beginning with lei making and continued on with dancing, drumming and, of course, a hula lesson. This was the night that marked the trip and it will always be remember with a chuckle.

Under the Sea: Whales, whales and more whales. They were everywhere. Hands down, being so close to the Humpback whales, hearing them breathe and sing was awe-inspiring. We were able to get near them on both the fishing and snorkel trip we booked. I had heard great things about the Captain Steve’s snorkel trips and booked a trip for our family. Because we rented the whole boat (remember there was 17 of us), we were able to bring the 2 year-olds; otherwise, the kids would have to have been 5 and up to participate. Everyone also enjoyed the snorkeling both on the boat and off the beach. We also visited tide poolswhile waiting for delicious breakfast at the Gazebo.

Land Adventures: From beautiful birds to volcanoes, Maui can keep any naturalist busy. My kids loved the trip up to Haleakala, Maui’s famous volcano. This is not for anyone prone to carsickness. At 10,000 feet, the view is beautiful.

We were lucky enough to have a blue moon on New Year’s Eve and watched the moon set over the ocean early in the morning while drinking our coffee on the deck.

Check out Delicious Baby for more Photo Friday posts.

Relevant Links:

Daily Candy Kids article about Maui

My pre-trip book list

Ciao Bambino recommended Hawaii family hotel

Maui with kids - favorite kids activities on Maui

We’ve been busy bees lately writing custom kid-friendly guides for the NileGuide, a travel planning website where you can research trips and create customized travel guides.  With the help of our travel blogging friends around the world, we created initial guides for London, Hong Kong, Sydney, Rome, Singapore, Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington D.C., San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles. Orlando, Paris, and more will be coming soon.

What makes these guides especially valuable is that they are portable and can be easily loaded into a PDF and/or optimized for mobile phones.  In addition, the guides include all the basic, practical travel information you need for each destination.  That, combined with reliable, kid-friendly perspective, make these guides a great tool for families on the go!

The NileGuide is a wonderful example of a broad travel planning site that has demonstrated that they are truly committed to providing credible family-friendly content.  A refreshing change of pace from most websites that “say” they have kid-friendly information, but in reality, publish irrelevant details, or worse, trips written by people without children.

Cagney Jarvis, an LA Mom of two girls ages 7 and 10, was interviewed for this post.

With temperate weather and year-round activities, Los Angeles is a perfect vacation destination. Families should know that the LA area is sprawling and the best way to approach sightseeing is to divide and conquer. Rent a car, figure out what you want to do, and plan accordingly. Do you want beach, museums, or nature?

The beauty of Los Angeles is that there are many diverse and interesting experiences and attractions within driving distance for a day trip. Note, traffic and parking are notoriously horrible—plan for just 1-2 activities per day. Disneyland, of course, is a main kid-friendly attraction, but is located in Orange County and subsequently excluded from list.

Santa Monica beach and pier

Santa Monica and Venice Beach

The Santa Monica Pier is an iconic Los Angeles landmark – it truly appeals to all ages and is a fun outing for the family. Depending on the kids’ ages you can stroll the pier, take a ride on the carousel or the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel, visit the aquarium or play games in the arcade. After you have exhausted your feet or your wallet, grab a bite to eat at one of the pier restaurants and enjoy the view.

If you still have energy, rent a bike and follow the beach trail south to Venice Beach. This is a gorgeous, quintessential California experience; there is a playground on the beach for the little ones and people watching for everyone else

La Brea Tar Pits

The centrally located La Brea Tar Pits are a popular field trip for school children and families. The museum is home to over 3 million fossils from the last Ice Age; think saber-toothed cats, wholly mammoths and giant ground sloths. Peruse the fossils indoors then walk outside to the tar pits and you may find paleontologists at work excavating Pit 91 (summer months only). The outdoor grounds are perfect for a picnic or drive to the landmark Los Angeles Farmers Market and The Grove LA for a variety of good ethnic and American fast food or sit-down options.

Griffith Park

Griffith Park is LA’s Central Park. It’s an oasis for city residents and many visit simply to hike and take in nature. Highlights of the park include the recently renovated Griffith Park Observatory, the Los Angeles Zoo and the very popular Travel Town which is every train-fascinated child’s dream. The park is large and spread out so it’s a good idea to plan your trip ahead of time.

On your way to or from Griffith Park you may want make a detour and visit the renowned Hollywood Walk of Fame and Mann’s (formerly Grauman’s) Chinese Theater, home to many movie premieres. Dressed up characters like Batman and Spiderman are usually strolling the area, available for photo opportunities. Across the street from the Chinese Theater, the Disney-owned El Capitan Theater always features the latest Disney movie, usually with a live show at the beginning.  If the latest first-run movie is not showing, they play the classics.  A little bit of Disney meets Hollywood, plus the theater is old and beautiful.  Note, the Hollywood area takes on an adult feel at night, so it’s best to visit with children during the day.

Exposition Park

Exposition Park near downtown Los Angeles is surrounded by the USC campus and is home to the Natural History Museum, the California Science Center (free admission) and IMAX theatre and the Rose Garden - a beautiful spot to picnic and burn off some energy. The Discovery Center in the Natural History museum is good first stop with younger children who will have fun digging for dinosaur bones and touching everything, including on special days, some freaky looking insects and reptiles.

Huntington Gardens

This is the first of a series of posts we’ll publish around Spring Break ideas. The trend these days is that families—like other travelers—tend to book vacation plans last minute, i.e. the time is right for deciding where to go.

Our friends at Trekaroo have a network of Moms across the country that review family-friendly destinations—a fantastic resource for Spring Break ideas!

Can you believe that Spring will be here in just a few short months? I know it’s hard to imagine when most of the country is experiencing severe cold weather. However, what better way to keep warm than by planning your Spring Break vacation now? Here are some recommendations from four moms in the Trekaroo community.

A splashing good time in Hawaii

By Kailani, a Trekaroo and the mom behind An Island Life.

Spring is the perfect time to visit Hawaii. The temperatures are usually in the lower 80s which is perfect beach weather. One of our favorite family beaches is the Ko Olina Beach Park on the leeward coast of Oahu. This man-made beach with outer reef is perfect for kids because the water is always calm and clear. Looking for more exciting water fun? Check out the Wet n Wild Hawaii Water Park in Kapolei. Here you’ll find tons of great rides for all ages including a simulated surfing experience! Now what’s a trip to Hawaii without a little surfing?

And while you’re here, don’t forget to taste all the different flavors of Hawaiian cuisine . . . lau lau, kalua pig, poi, haupia, lomi salmon, sweet potato. The best way to do this is by visiting a luau. One of the best ones on the island is at Paradise Cove where you’ll get an authentic experience of different Polynesian cultures, activities and ono (delicious) food!

A hui hou e malama pono (until we meet again, take care)

More activities for kids in Oahu, Hawaii.

Legoland in Mall of America. Photo Credit TwisterMC on Flickr

BIG fun in Minnesota

By Minnemom, a Trekaroo and the mom behind Travels with Children.

When you live in Minnesota, it seems that all of the fun and warm spring break possibilities are far, far away.  Not all of us can travel far and wide (and warm) during Spring Break, so we Minnesotans sometimes do the next best thing and head to Mall of America.  With an indoor amusement park that includes roller coasters and a flume ride as well as other thrills, you can get a taste of the fun of summer without going outside.

Got an extra day? Just down the road, Waterpark of America in the Radisson hotel is billed as America’s largest indoor waterpark.  It has areas for toddlers on up to surfers, a lazy river, and of course, some pretty great waterslides.  For spring break, you don’t have to head south to find fun.  An adventure in Minnesota might just fit the bill.

More activities in the Twin Cities, Minnesota with kids.

Loads of free things to do in Washington DC

By Beth, a Trekaroo and the mom behind Life in the Bat Cave.

Whether you travel by foot, by bike, by car, by train, or by plane, a must-see spring break destination is our nation’s capital.  Why you ask?  Simply, because there is so much to do and most of it is free of cost.  The fact the kids might actually learn something while on break from school doesn’t hurt either!

Our children ages 8, 7 and 5 at the time of our visit last year, loved it and have declared it their favorite vacation spot.  They have frequently asked when we can return.

The weather was beautiful, perfect for walking around town.  If you time it right, you will be treated to the cherry blossoms in full bloom.  We walked to several of the memorials, our favorite of which was the Lincoln Memorial.   If you plan ahead, you can get tickets for the Washington Monument here.

The museums we visited were the Museum of American History, the Air and Space Museum, and the National Museum of the American Indian.  None of these were overly crowded and admission is free.  We took the metro to Arlington Cemetery which was an amazing experience.  I definitely recommend taking the tour.  We also took a tour of the Capital building and you can get tickets from your local Representative in Congress.  We have already begun compiling a list of places to see the next time we visit!

More activities for Kids in DC.

Photo Credit Nancy Solomon

A quintessential Spring Break in San Diego

By Sharlene, a Trekaroo and the mom behind Double the Adventure.

Warm weather, beautiful beaches, and lots of fun. This is what comes mind when I think about Spring Break. Zoos, dinosaurs, and sandcastles—this is what my kids request whenever we make plans for a vacation. Luckily, San Diego provides all of the above in a family friendly atmosphere.

San Diego specializes in wildlife. From its’ world famous zoo to the Wild Animal Park to Sea World, San Diego provides plenty of opportunities to hang with animals. If you are looking for creatures in their natural environment, check out the fabulous tide pools at Cabrillo National Monument or pelicans scooping fish out of the sea at Torrey Pines State Beach. If extinct animals are more your thing, than head on over to Balboa Park and visit the San Diego Natural History Museum. While you are in the park you may also want to check out the Ruben H. Fleet Science Center, the San Diego Museum of Man or even the San Diego Model Railroad Museum. With its abundance of activities and beautiful weather, San Diego is the perfect family Spring Break destination.

Trekaroo is a reviews website dedicated to helping parents explore and travel with kids.

Relevant links on Ciao Bambino:

Hawaii

Maui with kids

Best Hawaii family hotels

Washington DC

Washington DC with kids - favorite online resources

Washington DC with kids - favorite attractions

Best Washington DC family hotels

San Diego

San Diego with kids

San Diego surf camp

Best San Diego family hotels

Every now and then when you’re on a trip you learn something you really feel like you should have known. Something so obvious, it’s embarrassing you didn’t see it sooner.

Mine goes something like this … traveling children, plus animals of any kind, equals happy children. We were in Nerja, Spain last summer when it finally clicked. There are cats everywhere in this fabulous beach-front city. On the street, on the beach, in front of the great ice cream place. It took us less than a day to learn to factor “cat time” into our travels. Not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things. Just planning on a few extra minutes to stop, say hello, and take a hundred pictures. Thank goodness for digital cameras!

Sweaters on Legs

The furry felines got me thinking … about sheep … in Northern Ireland. Better known as “sweaters on legs” in my house. We met them by the beach, at playgrounds and on the road. (More often than not, on the road.) When you’ve got an 8 and 10 year-old in the back seat, passing sheep just isn’t an option. And that’s okay. I wasn’t in any rush to leave the scenic Causeway Coast.

Monkey Business

On the Rock of Gibraltar, we expected to see some monkeys. We didn’t expect to be surrounded by them. From the minute we stepped off the cable car at the summit, we couldn’t move without seeing the tailless barbary macaques. For safety reasons, you’re not supposed to touch the monkeys. But they won’t hesitate to touch you, or any of your things. We saw one monkey jump onto a woman’s shoulder and take a piggy back ride down the road. Another stared in vain at his reflection in mirror on a tour bus. Two young ones needed a nap, after pretending a car antenna was a fire pole. There were animal antics at every turn. It was sheer hunger that finally convinced my girls to leave the reserve.

Camel Caravan

Everyone told us, “Go to Morocco.” Just an hour ferry ride from Spain, the difference between the two worlds is amazing. The beautifully decorated doors inspired me. The smell of herbs and vegetables being sold on the narrow streets is still fresh in my mind.Pictures just can’t do the vibrant mosaic tile work justice. Tangier is a feast for your senses.

But, ask my girls what they liked best and they don’t even have to think about it. The camels! Their one minute, one Euro camel ride made Morocco one of the highlights of our trip.

Slimy French Snails

It was straight out of a fairy tale. The Loire Valley, a blushing bride married in a century old cathedral, followed by a reception at Le Chateau de la Bourdaisiere. (Yes, the same one from reality television show Joe Millionaire fame.) We spent four days roaming the 80 acres of amazing scenery and gardens. They grow an amazing 650 varieties of tomatoes. But it wasn’t the tomatoes or the thousands of flowers that caught my girls’ attention. It was the snails. On plants, under stones, behind rock walls. We spent hours corralling the slippery species, building snail houses, a snail hospital and a snail zoo. (The gardener in me really wanted to step on the whole lot.) Not once did anyone complain about the slime. Not once did I hear “ewww” or “gross.” If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I’d never believe it. Travel magic or temporary insanity, it was just plain fun.

Porky Pandas

When you travel to China, it’s just assumed you’ll see pandas. More likely than not though, you’ll see them at a zoo. Chongqing was the last stop on our Yangtze River cruise and we were spending the morning at the Chongqing Zoo. I’ll admit the thought of a big city zoo was not exactly appealing. I could easily name a list of other places I’d like to explore in the bustling city. It’s just couple of hours I told myself, and the kids will have fun. It was a classic “suck it up and do it for the kids” travel moment.

Wow, am I glad I have kids! My bad attitude disappeared the second I caught my first glimpse of Lingling chewing on a piece of bamboo. My girls were enthralled and so was I. Hours felt like minutes and before we knew it, our morning was gone and it was time to leave.

Lesson Learned

Chalk up another travel lesson learned. The next trip looks like Florida. Move over Mickey, I hear swimming with manatees makes for magical moments too.

For more Photo Friday posts, head over to Delicious Baby.

Other posts by Dana Rebmann:

Touring with kids - Think Outside the Bus

Travel packing tips - The Perfectly Packed Carry-On

Travel packing tips - Packing Smart. Packing Light

Travel Journals for kids - Travelin’ Tales

New York with Kids - Climbing the Crown

Spain with kids - More Paella Por Favor

Spain with kids - Families & Madrid … A Perfect Mix

France with kids - The Delicious Side of Paris

Puerto Vallarta makes a perfect family destination. With so much to do and see, a vacation in this vibrant and inviting region in Mexico (West Coast) is likely to include cultural and learning opportunities, in addition to the requisite relaxation.

Jungle meets ocean as the lush forests of the Sierra Madre mountain range descend to meet the Pacific at Bahía de Banderas (Bay of Flags), or Banderas Bay. Diverse in its terrain, culture and architecture, the Puerto Vallarta region, also known as Costa Vallarta, encompasses the entire Banderas Bay area and 40 miles of coastline.

Head to the beach

Beaches in Puerto Vallarta can be sandy or rocky, and each has its own distinct beauty. Bucerias Beach is ideal for families, with a lengthy stretch of golden sand and a gradual sand shelf—although the surf can be rough. Local Vallartans, especially families, frequent Playa Destiladeras. Sunday is a busy day at this wide sandy beach, and many enjoy fresh seafood at any of the oceanfront palapa-shaded restaurants. Mismaloya Beach may look familiar to you - “Night of the Iguana” was filmed here in 1963, and subsequently, Puerto Vallarta became known an international tourist destination.

Go whale watching

Banderas Bay is home to and calving grounds for many whales and dolphins, and multiple companies offer whale watching tours during the Humpback whale season (November through March). Viewing the massive, graceful, and sometimes playful migrating and calving whales is an amazing and unforgettable experience. Be aware that potentially rough water on a boat for three hours without any guarantee that you’ll see whales may be a disaster with young kids.

Puerto Vallarta Whale Watching Forum recommends tour companies that are all run by working scientists, where all of the money paid for the tour goes directly to supporting humpback whale research in Puerto Vallarta.

A sea tour in the off-season can also be fun. Take a day trip aboard the pirate ship Marigalante—kids can play as pirates while parents get to relax and enjoy “pirate punch” on the boat.

Explore local nature

Local tour companies offer a variety of nature excursions.  Waterfall horseback rides are a favorite and older kids will love gliding through the jungle on a zip-line canopy tour. 4-year-olds can swim with dolphins and sea lions, or help baby sea turtles out to sea. We don’t have a specific tour company to recommend, however, the concierge desk at any of our recommended hotels can suggest reliable options.

One of our featured properties, the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, is offering a Sea Lion Snorkel Encounter that is reported to be a hit with their guests (we haven’t done it). This unique program gives guests ages 5 and up the chance to interact closely with playful sea lions in their natural ocean habitat. The experience begins on Las Cuevas beach with a brief lesson about sea lion physiology and behavior. A short snorkel tour led by trainers through Punta Mita’s clear warm waters ends in the open ocean sea lion area, where participants can touch, pet, play and frolic with these endearing animals.

Check out Sayulita

A day trip to the fishing village and surfer haven, Sayulita, can be spent at one of the expansive local beaches watching surfers, exploring the cute shops in town, and eating lunch at one of the many restaurants right on the water. About an hour (25 km) from Puerto Vallarta, locals, ex-patriot residents and visitors alike all revere this special little town.

Join the locals at the Malecón

Sunday evenings are family night in Puerto Vallarta. Head out with the family (and most of Puerto Vallarta – locals, tourists … everybody!) to the Malecón, the sea-side boardwalk in El Centro, the heart of downtown. The festive atmosphere includes street performers, mimes and clowns performing along the boardwalk., sand sculptors who recreate well-known works of art, and local artisans selling their wares. With a little luck, you may catch one of Los Arcos Amphitheater’s frequent free shows.

Children’s menus are available at many of the Malecón restaurants. After dinner, tempt your sweet tooth and indulge in fried bananas, crepes, or one of many other deserts and sweets found along the Malecón. As a finale, just after the sun goes down, a fireworks display is set off over the water from on board the Marigalante—a perfect end to the evening.

Relevant Links:

Ciao Bambino recommended Puerto Vallarta family resorts

Ciao Bambino recommended Mexico family resorts

Evaluating all inclusive beach resorts

New kid friendly luxury resort in Mexico