Pebble Beach Resorts, a true American landmark coming up on its own 100^th birthday, invites summer travelers to start new family traditions with a special Fourth of July getaway. But you should know that the fun actually starts this weekend.

Pebble Beach Resorts are known for their golf courses, spas and top notch accommodations with amazing views. Starting tomorrow – May 31 2018 you can take advantage of  the resort’s Memorial Day Special Offer, including two nights at The Inn at Spanish Bay from $495 per night (a 37% discount).

Golfers can play on one of Pebble Beach’s epic courses at a special rate – $140 per round at The Links at Spanish Bay, $295 per round at Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and $525 per round at Pebble Beach Golf Links – the number one public golf course in America. And for the ultimate in wellness and rejuvenation, guests can book any service at the Forbes Five Star Spa at a 20% discount.

Other suggestions for Memorial Day Weekend fun:

• Golf enthusiasts and budding players can sharpen their skills during a golf lesson at the Pebble Beach Golf Academy.
• Kayaking adventures launch from Stillwater Cove, where guests will discover extraordinary marine life and likely catch sight of the otters and seals that call the cove their home.
• Nestled amidst 27 miles of riding and hiking trails in the Del Monte Forest, there are ample other ways to explore Pebble Beach Resorts’ surrounds, including by horseback during a Family Forest Ride with the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center.
• And the heated swimming pool and elevated sundeck at The Beach & Tennis Club at Pebble Beach presents another opportunity to relax and enjoy the California sun.

From June 29-July 8, 2017, guests can enjoy a two-night stay at The Inn at Spanish Bay from $495 per night (a 37 percent discount) or The Lodge at Pebble Beach from $625 per night (a 31 percent discount). Golfers can check off a major bucket-list experience as they play on one of Pebble Beach’s epic golf courses at a special rate—$445 at Pebble Beach Golf Links, the world’s No. 1 public golf course, $295 at Spyglass Hill Golf Course or $140 at The Links at Spanish Bay. The offer also includes a 20 percent discount on any service at the Forbes Five Star-rated Spa at Pebble Beach. Golf and spa offers are only available for resort guests with minimum two-night stay; golf offers limited to one round per person, per day.

For more outdoor family fun, visitors can head to Carmel-by-the-Sea for its annual July 4^th celebration. Beginning at noon, Davendorf Park turns red, white and blue with a day full of music, fun and games. Visitors are encouraged to pack a lunch, bring a blanket and enjoy the tunes. Plus, all food, festivities, live music and games are free.

Washington State is a great place to visit, I should know I live here. We have rain, sunshine, beaches, mountains all within driving distance. Oh we even have rainforests, just to let you know. One of our resorts, Blaine’s Semiahmoo Resort, Golf and Spa, is also worth mentioning because they have a lot of fun activities going on this summer.

Caption: Semiahmoo Resort, Golf and Spa (Photo credit: Semiahmoo Resort, Golf and Spa)

We missed the Beachside Beerfest & BBQ. That was a one-day affair, where each attendee received a four-ounce tasting glass along with ten tasting tokens to experience beers of their choice from local breweries such as Skagit River Brewery, Farmstrong Brewery, Pike Brewing Company and others. They also enjoyed a BBQ dinner, live music and games. All proceeds went to Make.Shift, a local organization that provides an all-ages space for art and music. So not only did the adults get to have fun it went to a good cause. I love a good cause.

AND The good news is that there is more opportunities to have fun this summer. We’re hoping to make it up there one weekend before summer is over. There will be live music, games and a family-style dinner on the lawn overlooking the waterfront at each of Semiahmoo’s new weekly events. The resort is also offering monthly five-course Winemaker Dinners, each showcasing a different local winery and immersing guests in the pairing experience from start to finish.

So there will always be something to do.

Seaside Sizzle: A Beachside BBQ

Root beer BBQ pork ribs, BBQ chicken, pulled pork sliders, green chili cheddar corn bread, coleslaw and desserts will be served family style alongside unlimited roasted corn on the cob and bottomless lemonade. Guests can also enjoy beer and wine for an additional charge.

• When: Every Friday evening from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., May 25–August 31, 2018; as well as July 1, July 4 and September 2.
• Price: $26.00 per person for adults; $9.95 per person for children under 12 years old; free for children under 5 years old.

Saturday Seafood Boil

Menu highlights include roasted sockeye salmon, Caesar salad and a traditional seafood boil with prawns, fish, andouille sausage, corn and of course, clams. Beer and wine will also be served for an additional charge.

• When: Every Saturday evening from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., May 26–September 1, 2018
• Price: $28.00 per person for adults; $9.95 per person for children under 12 years old; free for children under 5 years old.

For more information about Semiahmoo Resort Golf and Spa and to purchase tickets, please visit www.semiahmoo.com/upcoming-events.php.

About Packers Bar & Grill

Semiahmoo has streamlined its culinary offerings with the relaunch of Packers Bar & Grill as the new Packers Kitchen + Bar, a classic waterfront eatery where locals and guests can enjoy pub-inspired fare with a seaside twist. The move unites the best of Semiahmoo’s former Pierside Kitchen and Packers Bar & Grill in a casual, lively atmosphere set against expansive views of Semiahmoo Bay and Drayton Harbor. Chef Bruno Feldeisen will curate seasonal menus featuring dishes crafted from local farms and waters, including house favorites like oysters on the half shell and Pacific cod fish-and-chips. Packers Kitchen + Bar is open daily for lunch, happy hour, and dinner.

I love traveling and if a beach is involved count me in. We just received a press release from Dream Inn Santa Cruz. Dream Inn Santa Cruz is pleased to announce the completion of the extensive, multi-million dollar renovation of the legendary, beachfront hotel now managed by Woodside Hotels, the force behind many of Northern California’s most acclaimed independent hotels.  And this one is no exception. It is a short stroll from the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk it is the ultimate vacation spot and a must for anyone looking for the “best summer pool experiences.”

Dream Inn Santa Cruz includes upgrades to all 165 guestrooms and suites, as well as makeovers of the hotel’s lobby and pool area. 

“Dream Inn is an iconic property that personifies the true Central California Coast experience,” said Darren Pound, General Manager of Dream Inn. “Our goal with the head-to-toe renovation was combining a fun, historic beachfront location with comfortable, updated guestrooms, four-star amenities and services, and a casual, laid back ambiance that reflects the beloved Santa Cruz community and its rich and colorful history.”

Just to let you know a little big about the hotel, the refreshed guestrooms are tastefully appointed with retro-chic décor with all new furnishings, tiled entrance, refurnished patios, new wall covering and draperies, as well as new guest corridors.  All guestrooms and suites offer private balconies which is amazing or they have patios with majestic Monterey Bay views. They have HD flat panel televisions, iPod docking stations, complimentary wireless Internet access, luxurious linens and plush bathrobes.

The stylish new lobby features eclectic touches inspired by the vibrant local surf and beach culture.  A soft palette of dark woods and earth tones is spiked with bright bursts of blue, orange and yellow to create a lively space.  A coffee grab and go café featuring local Verve coffee will provide light snacks and morning bites as well as local artisan ice cream bars.

The newly expanded and resurfaced beachfront pool deck with beach access features four outdoor showers, an oversized hot tub and year-round poolside bar.  Complimentary yoga on the pool deck is offered in the summer, and cruiser bikes are available to explore town.

Dream Inn’s waterfront restaurant, Aquarius, which offers a modern and sophisticated take on the American Bistro, specializes in sustainable seafood, top-quality produce and ingredients from local purveyors.  Aquarius features grand wrap-around windows that lend a breezy, open-air feel to the restaurant and offer big-sky vistas of the sun and clouds by day, and the moon and stars in the evening.  A canopy of handmade surfboards and teardrop-shaped latticework lamps hangs languidly from above, while smooth, pebbled flooring in the lounge area transitions to gray slate in the restaurant.  Guests can enjoy a drink at the Jack O’Neil Lounge, lined with historical photographs and personal memorabilia of the Santa Cruz neighbor, legendary surfer, inventor and marine advocate, Jack O’Neill.  The bar at Jack O’Neill Lounge and small outdoor patio provide a convivial setting for enjoying a glass of wine from Aquarius’s extensive wine list, highlighting wines predominately from the surrounding Santa Cruz Mountains and Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties. 

Dream Inn also features 3,500 square feet of flexible meeting space and a spacious pre-function area, state-of-the-art audio and visual technology, and spectacular views of the Monterey Bay – an ideal location for meetings, conferences, banquets and private events.

Dream Inn is located at 175 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, California, 95060.  For more information or to book reservations, please call (831) 426-4330 or toll-free at (866) 774-7735, or visit www.woodshidehotels.com or www.dreaminnsantacruz.com.

I haven’t been to Gatlinburg for quite a few years, but I love going there. Gatlinburg has so many different things to do including exclusive places to stay. And this summer a new resort is opening up, Margaritaville.

Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg, the anticipated new riverfront resort in the heart of downtown Gatlinburg, announced its mid-summer 2018 opening with a new general manager at the helm. Travelers looking to change their latitude and visit the Great Smoky Mountains can book by July 1^st for stays beginning July 2^nd, and receive 20 percent off nightly room rates.* This is a beautiful location, and the Smoky Mountains are named that for a reason!

Ideally situated for endless exploration, Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg is minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and within walking distance of top area attractions such as Anakeesta Outdoor Theme Park, shops, and restaurants. Tons and tons of things to do and see.

When it opens, the five-acre, 163-room resort will incorporate a casual-luxe design found throughout guestrooms and public spaces, including a variety of accommodations with rooms featuring two queen beds or king beds and fireplaces, one and two-bedroom suites and unique family suites with a children’s room.

“We set out to create a mountain oasis, inspired by Margaritaville’s authentic ‘no worries’ vibe, where guests can choose a different way to chill each day, from enjoying the resort’s on-site amenities to having boundary-stretching adventures in the mountains,” said Bob McManus, president and developer of the Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg.

Resort Amenities and Dining

Resort amenities include an indoor pool, hot tub, expansive outdoor pool area with a large two-loop waterslide and splash pad, covered terrace with fireplace and 24-hour fitness center. On-site dining options will include a License to Chill Lobby Bar, LandShark Bar & Grill and Joe Merchant’s Coffee and Provisions. In-room dining will also be available.

St. Somewhere Spa

Combining the breathtaking surroundings of the mountains with Margaritaville’s signature sense of fun and island escapism, Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg will feature a 4,000 square foot, full-service St. Somewhere Spa. Indulgent treatments and services will kick-start a relaxing escape, nurture the body after active outdoor adventures, and pamper guests with beauty treatments. Multiple treatment rooms will offer a selection of massages, facials and skin care, as well as salon services.

Flexible Function Space

The resort will offer more than 3,000 square feet of flexible function space with state-of-the-art technology. A highlight will be the “Edge of Paradise,” an outdoor event space perfect for wedding ceremonies, corporate group events and other special celebrations. Catering menus will be customized to suit each group, with a welcoming team of dedicated event professionals on-hand to manage every detail.

beach photos

Planning an international trip often requires in-depth research and months of preparation. This is especially true if your international travels include children. Keep these planning tips in mind for a child-friendly trip overseas.

Choose an Age-Appropriate Destination

Image via Flickr by orijinal

It is important to choose an international destination that is suited for families with young children. You will want to consider your child’s ages, travel preferences, and hobbies when choosing a destination. You will usually find that children are less irritable and fussy when they are looking forward to the destination. Involve every family member in the travel plans and your children will be just as excited as you are.

Create an Itinerary

Trying to fit every single activity into a vacation can make it feel rushed. It can be helpful to research potential destinations ahead of time and to create an itinerary to make sure you have time for the most important attractions. Pay attention to the average weather during your intended travel time, the transportation, and the specific activities that are available in the area. Involving your children in the itinerary creation and decision-making process will ensure that every family members gets to visit the areas that are most important to them.

Avoid Packing Too Much

Packing with children in tow can make it feel like you are traveling for months. You never know what they might need or want and you often end up bringing too much. Not only do many international airlines have weight limits on luggage, it can be a hassle to transport too many items. It is best to pick one or two favorite toys and just a couple of outfits. You can always purchase additional items when you reach your destination.

Get Everyone’s Documents in Order

It is important to organize and bring along all of the necessary documents when traveling internationally. Be sure to apply for passports months before international travel. This prevents any mistakes or delays from ruining your travel plans. You will also want to speak with your healthcare provider to see if there are any recommended vaccinations or medical paperwork required to travel to your intended destination.

It is also important to have an emergency medical plan. Medical care is different from country to country so never assume that your intended destination accepts your current health coverage plan. Enrolling in a global medical insurance plan like MedjetAssist ensures that your family is covered regardless of location. Programs like MedjetAssist protect international travelers against illnesses, hospitalizations, evacuations, and other emergency situations.

Educate with International Resources

Providing your children with educational international resources ahead of time can prepare them for the upcoming trip. Informative resources can introduce them to the native language, interesting information about the country, and a list of the best activities and sights in the area. Country-specific guides can also increase their excitement about the upcoming trip.

International travel is possible with children as long as you do your research and prepare ahead of time. These tips will help you plan a smooth and memorable international family trip.