3 Ways to Enjoy Craft Beer

September 11, 2019 by Beeb Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored post.

Craft beer has enjoyed an explosion in popularity – especially here in the Pacific Northwest. But for the uninitiated, it can be tricky knowing what to order. If you’re interested in exploring what the craft beer world has to offer, here’s three great ways to get started enjoying it:

1. Tour a Brewery

If you want to learn about a subject, go straight to the source! Taking a tour of a brewery is a great way to learn about the process of brewing beer, learn common terminology, and ask questions. Just as a sommelier can educate you about wine, a brewmaster can help you learn your IPA from your stout. Not only is touring a brewery a fun – and delicious! – activity, but it will give you a good foundation for understanding what goes into the flavor profiles of different beer types, which will make it easier to order beers that you know you’ll enjoy. Plus, you’ll probably have already tasted a few new beers during the tour that you like! Which brings us to:

2. Attend a Beer Festival

Beer festivals are the perfect opportunity to sample a wide variety of beers from different breweries. Every year, the Pacific Northwest Brew Cup takes place in my area right around my birthday – talk about great timing! It’s so much fun – I really love to try new beers and flavors, and I’m the adventurous type who will try a beer simply because I like the name. Beer festivals are a great way to explore without having to commit to a full glass of something. I’ve tasted all kinds of different beers at these type of festivals, including the time I tried a bubblegum flavored beer! It’s great fun, and a perfect place for craft beer newbies to learn more about what they do and don’t like – you’re sure to be introduced to a few new favorites, so make sure you write down the specific breweries and beers that you liked for later! Plus, beer festivals usually have food, music or other activities going on, so you can make a day of it – date night, anyone?

3. Taste While You Travel

One of my favorite things to do when traveling is to experience local food and drink. When I’m visiting a restaurant in a new location, I’ll look for local beers on tap and ask the staff for recommendations. This is a really fun way to try new things and get a taste for the area! And if time allows, you can explore even further by building in a visit to a local brewery during your trip. This is a fun way to make memories and a learn a lot about a place while enjoying beer at the same time! During my first-ever press trip to Wyoming for MomStart, I visited a local brewery in Cody and had so much fun. The next time I’m in the state, I want to head down to Alpine and visit Melvin Brewing to try some of their ExperiMENTAL Series brews. I definitely recommend adding a brewery to your itinerary when planning a vacation!

Are you a craft beer fan, dear reader?

The Oregon Zoo: Your Family Holiday Destination

December 22, 2018 by Beeb Leave a Comment

Thank you to the Oregon Zoo for hosting my family and I!

This weekend is your last opportunity to see ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo before Christmas! If you want a magical night that provides fun for the whole family, head on down to the Oregon Zoo this weekend. Our family went to ZooLights a couple of years back and I can’t wait to experience it again!

The Oregon Zoo is the perfect place to meet up and connect with your loved ones. Over Labor Day weekend, my aunt from Montana came to the Pacific Northwest to visit her daughter who lives in Washington State. Her granddaughter also happens to live in Portland, so the Oregon Zoo was a great location for us to all rendezvous – especially since this was her one-year-old great-grandchild’s first-ever visit to a zoo!

Visiting the zoo with family provides so much entertainment for the whole group. There’s so much to see and enjoy, yet it’s the perfect setting to be able to connect with your loved ones, chat and catch up while you walk the grounds. And the kids won’t get bored of sitting around while the grownups talk, since they’ll be delighting in all the animals and activities just for little ones!

Seeing the wonder of a small child being exposed to new sights and animals for the first time is always very special. Even as an adult, watching these majestic creatures is just awe-inspiring. And the Oregon Zoo’s focus on conservation and education is crucial for young and old alike.

One can’t-miss spot for families is the petting zoo. As MomStart’s resident rabbit lover, I must point out that the petting zoo is home to soft, sweet, and adorable BUNNIES!

BUNNIES!!!

And the buns weren’t the only fun friends we met at the petting zoo:

Our family had a day to remember at the Oregon Zoo. I actually just got a Christmas card from my aunt where she specifically mentioned our zoo trip and thanked me for taking her there – so if you want to create lasting memories with your loved ones, I highly recommend it! Whether you have family traveling in from out of state or just want a fun spot to meet up with your local crew, the Oregon Zoo is the perfect destination to spend quality time. It offers something for all ages, and just gets even more magical this time of year. If your Christmas spirit needs a little pumping up, this will definitely do the trick!

ZooLights runs through January 5th, with the exception of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, when it will be closed for the holiday. For details on hours and tickets, visit OregonZoo.org.

Planning Your Next Family-Friendly Vacation at Palm Springs

October 16, 2018 by Momstart Leave a Comment

Settled prosperously at the base of Mt. San Jacinto, this place is famous for its perennial sunshine, beautiful landscapes, palm stress and of course the architecture. Hollywood stars such as Sinatra, Sonny Bono, and Bob Hope made their residential houses here. Amongst the contemporary stars, we have DiCaprio and Eastwood following their predecessors’ footsteps in settling down here at Palm Springs. Many people are under the impression that Palm Springs is not a great spot for a family vacation, but unfortunately, they are completely unaware of the fact that this place can be perfect for a family retreat. From its glorious art installation to aeroplane museums, this place has family-friendly activities lying all over itself. Palm Springs is easy to reach as it is just a two-hour long drive from LA or San Diego. Get yourself checked in one of the many rental homes in Palm Springs to get your adventure started.

Living Desert Zoo

Families love the zoo and the kids are often fascinated by the number of animals they can see in one place. The living desert that stretches to almost 1200 acre of land is a zoo cum botanical garden. Ranging from different kinds of cacti to a big section for desert foliage, you can expect a rich variety of plants in the botanical section. When it comes to biodiversity this place doesn’t lack any since it is home to numerous species of animals from North America to Africa. Some of the animals are birds, giraffes, lizards, zebras et al. If the heat is too intense and unbearable, visit the animal hospital for a quick tour. If you are tired of walking around the park, hitchhike a tram ride to go around the park. You can expect workshops and other activities if you arrive here in the morning.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

This tramway will elevate you up to around 8516 feet at the top of Santa Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountain with the help of a rotating Tramcar. The floor of the boogie rotates so that the riders can have a complete view of the valley. Once you reach up top, you can expect other activities such as hiking or skiing. If you get tired after the hike, there are eateries that serve great food. The drinks lounge is great for tourists too. Once you reach up top, look for observation kiosk where you can have the panoramic view of the valley and its nearby towns. To be able to ride this tram, you’d need to take a small hike of two minutes to reach here.

Air Museum

This non-profit institution is run by many war veterans who can give you proper tours on the planes showcased there. There are more than eighty functional planes lying in that huge stretch inside the warehouse. You can also look out for artefacts, artworks, and documents related to aeroplanes. You can also talk to the veterans and learn more about each plane. They often share their personal accounts on the war which you wouldn’t find on any written texts. If you want a test flight then there you can try your hands-on simulation. Prices may vary depending on the hours you put in.

Jeep Tour

Kids love adventures as much as adults do. So, get yourself a jeep and book a tour to see the fault lines of San Andreas. The tour can get intense as it will be going through the desert where you can learn a lot about earthquakes, geology, Cahuilla et al. The backdrop of this place is quite amazing so you wouldn’t be bored exactly. The tour guides have a consolidated amount of knowledge about the geographical peculiarities of this place. Be sure to have a guide for your own convenience.

Art Museum

This museum is located at the heart of Palm Springs where art exhibits are shown that came from a diverse set of backgrounds. There are 28 galleries in the museum, all filled with mesmerizing artworks and artefacts. There is a sculpture garden as well which houses some of the best exhibits that this place has to offer. There are over 55,000 recorded objects found in this museum. The art shown here offers a rich cultural insight and also fills you with certain historical highlights.

Splashtopia

Located at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa, this place is the only resort in the area to have this kind of arrangement. There are about 20 water rides, 13 water slides, and other attractions. You can also head to the big pool section where you will be pitted against simulated waves. There is also a designated kid’s area of activity which is highly supervised. Food and other amenities are also being served here.

Walk of the stars

Palm Springs used to Hollywood’s best kept secret and was the getaway spot for many Hollywood stars. So, to pay tribute to these starts, they have made their own walk of the stars. Your kids can walk down the lane while learning about these legendary actors. It is quite obvious of a thing to introduce your children to big names like Sinatra, Rogers et al.

Horse Riding

Exploring the town on the back of the horse is a quite a unique thing to do. Your kids are probably going to love doing that as well. Head to the Smoke Tree Stables for horse rides. The place is quite easy to locate as it is situated right on the heart of Palm Springs. These stables are tidy, kid-friendly and have experts who can help you and your kids with relevant information.

Some of the places that are worth mentioning here are the Elmer’s Restaurant. Cabazon Dinosaur Museum, and Palm Springs Skatepark. This is a comprehensible list of places that you can look out for but obviously, there are activities which haven’t been listed here and neither places for you can discover them by yourself with the help of the locals. When it comes to family-friendly places, Palm Springs is not lagging behind.

Surf’s Up With Club Ed at Dream Inn Santa Cruz!

October 10, 2018 by Beeb Leave a Comment

Club Ed at Dream Inn Santa Cruz

Are you a fan of those fun 1960s beach movies and everything kitschy-cool and retro? Then you will love paying a visit to Dream Inn Santa Cruz! This hotel has been open since 1963, and recently completed a full renovation to bring it back to its roots. Outfitted with dark wood ’60s-eque furnishings, turquoise accents, and retro-surfer décor, staying at the Dream Inn Santa Cruz will make you want to blast the Beach Boys on your transistor radio while you visit the Jack O’Neill Lounge! And since you can see the ocean from each room, every guest has a great view that will get them in the mood to grab their beach blanket. What better cure for the winter blues than escaping to beautiful California?

But don’t just appreciate the surf decor – become a surfer yourself! Dream Inn Santa Cruz is just a minute’s walk from Cowell Beach, which has been recommended by the Travel Channel as one of the top 10 places in the world to learn how surf; so Dream Inn has teamed up with the renowned Club Ed to offer surf and stand-up paddleboard lessons to hotel guests. Club Ed has been teaching thousands of people to surf since the 1980s – the club’s founder, Ed Guzman, was inspired to start surfing by his Grandma, who was the first woman to do a headstand on a surfboard way back in 1915 – wow!

Confession time: Although I live in a surfing community here on the Oregon coast, I’ve never actually been surfing myself! What can I say – the water is much colder here than in Santa Cruz. 😉 I did get a brief stand-up paddle board lesson last year though, and I’d love to try it again; this has gotten me California Dreamin‘!

To learn more about Dream Inn Santa Cruz, be sure to visit their website, Facebook, and Instagram pages. Cowabunga dudes!

5 Tips for Planning a Family Vacation

October 1, 2018 by Momstart Leave a Comment

Bringing the whole family together for a vacation can be a lot more work than you would think. You cannot just throw a few things into a suitcase, throw the suitcase into the back of your car, and then drive off, especially if you plan on vacationing for a week or longer. To have a memorable vacation, you need to plan things out, and there are a lot of factors you’ll have to juggle if you want to keep travel stress to a minimum.

1. Build a Budget

Vacations cost money. There’s fuel if you’re going by car and rental fees if you aren’t taking your personal vehicle. Consider other possible expenses, such as food, lodging, plane tickets, and entertainment costs. You must pay for suitcases and backpacks if you do not have them yet, and if your vacation takes you camping, you’ll need to buy necessary gear and possibly a camping trailer or an RV. You need to have your money on hand both before and during your vacation; therefore, it is wise to add up your expected costs and add approximately 25 percent more for emergencies.

2. Give Your Luggage a Dry Run

When the morning of your big vacation begins, you’ll want to get on the road early, whether it’s to reach an early flight or beat the morning traffic. Due to this, you will not want to waste time trying to fit your baggage into your vehicle. Otherwise, you might find out that you don’t have enough space. Ideally, you should pack as much into your vehicle, as you can, the night before and make sure the extra bags you will add in the morning will fit in the remaining space.

3. Develop Your Itinerary

Image via Flickr by Grand Canyon NPS

Before you head out on your family vacation, you should take some time to research your destination. What are the local tourist destinations? Where are all the best restaurants? Are there any big plays or concerts you’d want to see while you’re in the area? Use the answers to these questions to build your itinerary. Just remember you don’t have to follow it too strictly. You should not stress over fun things. In fact, you may find a hidden gem if you follow your child’s whim instead of your schedule.

4. Check Everyone’s Health

Medical emergencies are never good, but the situation is worse when they happen a thousand miles away from home. If you are going on a weeklong vacation or more, your family should check in with their doctors before they go, especially if they have ongoing health problems. You should also make sure everyone’s vaccines are updated, especially if you plan on going overseas.

It is wise to find out if your health insurance plan covers out of state or out of country doctor visits or emergencies. If possible, find an in-network provider prior to arriving at your destination. In the event you or your family needs medical care, you will know where to go ahead of time. Seniors over 65 can qualify for Medicare coverage and its supplemental insurance plans. Such individuals have an advantage because supplemental Medicare insurance plans allow them to use any Medicare health care provider within the United States.

5. Get Input from Everyone

The whole family should have some say on where they want to go and what they want to do when they get there. Young kids are not very good at planning, but by a certain age, they will know what activities they like and do not like. Older relatives might not be able to keep up if you stay too active, and a museum that is great fun for one person might be dull to everyone else.

A big family vacation can be just as stressful as it is fun, but you can do something about that stress. Plan your schedule and your budget, make sure everyone’s packed and healthy, and always remember to communicate with family members to make sure that all will enjoy the vacation.

Spending Our Anniversary in Tacoma at The Hotel Murano

September 14, 2018 by Beeb 1 Comment

Travel consideration provided.

Jai and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary on August 21st. It’s crazy to us that it’s already been a year; without a doubt, this year has gone by faster than any other. We wanted to do something special to celebrate, but since we’ve already used up so much vacation time and budget this year traveling overseas, we just wanted to take a quick break for a couple of days. Our mind immediately went to Tacoma, which is an easy and affordable roadtrip destination for us – making it the perfect place to cap off a whirlwind year!

We arrived the night before our anniversary and checked into our favorite hotel, Hotel Murano. I’ve raved about this hotel before, but for the uninitiated, Hotel Murano is a luxury boutique hotel conveniently located in the heart of downtown Tacoma.

Hotel Murano is beautifully designed and decorated, filled with stunning glass art. It’s modern, comfortable, and staffed with lovely people who are on hand for anything you might need. Hotel Murano is a wonderfully romantic and relaxing place to celebrate an anniversary!

Our friends at Travel Tacoma left a little goodie bag for us at the hotel, so we unpacked, settled in, and enjoyed a delicious local ale from Narrows Brewing Co. It was the perfect way to kick off our anniversary trip! Pssst…if you’re planning a getaway in Tacoma, TravelTacoma.com

First anniversary cake

Classic wedding tradition dictates that you should save the top layer of your wedding cake and eat it one year later. We had kept the cake in the freezer for the past year, and before we left, packed it into a cooler to take with us to the hotel. This has got to be some of the most well-traveled wedding cake ever – my friends who made the cake for us ended up transporting the cake back and forth through Oregon and Washington to make it, freeze it, take it to the wedding, then take the top layer back to freeze! So how fitting to eat the last of it during another grand road trip adventure?

For lunch on our anniversary, I unpacked the cake and set up a cute little display with a vintage anniversary topper, our cake server and knife from the wedding, and a bottle of eclipse wine that we bought last year, since we got married during the total solar eclipse. While we were getting ready to eat, housekeeping stopped by to see if we needed anything, and we said we’d love some new towels. The housekeeper was super nice, and we all had a laugh when we mentioned we were about to eat our wedding cake and offered year-old cake if she wanted some! Believe it or not, though, the cake tasted as good as on our wedding day!

Funny story: After I posted the photo of our anniversary cake, a friend who also lives in Oregon reached out to let me know that she would be coincidentally checking into the hotel a few hours later. We couldn’t believe the serendipity – what are the odds that we would both be staying at the same hotel in another state, at the same time? Even funnier is the fact that the last time we saw her was exactly one year prior – on our wedding day! How perfect is that?! We made plans to meet up at BITE, and enjoyed catching up over some cocktails. I ordered a specialty cocktail named the Johnny Utah, because as a hardcore Keanu Reeves fan I will order any Keanu-themed drink I see! (It did not disappoint!)

This was just the start of our adventures in Tacoma – every time we visit and think we’ve seen it all, we discover something new and wonderful. Stay tuned to read more about our anniversary getaway!

Give the Gift of Travel

September 7, 2018 by Momstart Leave a Comment

I can’t believe it might be even close to time to considering a holiday gift guide but it is. As we consider items we want to recommend to everyone this year, Travel is my number one. Yes, it’s a little complicated to give travel but it can be done. It just takes a little creativity. And we have a list that we want to share with you of different locations for different kinds of people.

Here is our Travel Location Gift Guide

For the Theater Aficionado: A Broadway weekend at Sofitel New York. This stylish midtown Manhattan hotel’s partnership with Broadway.com means tickets can be purchased directly from the hotel website. Add a room with a view of the city skyline and pre- or post-theater dinner at Sofitel’s Gaby Brasserie Française, and you’ve got a gift any Broadway buff would give a standing ovation. Presentation idea: mock up a Playbill with a photo of the recipient and the headline: “A Whirlwind Trip to NYC, Starring [name].” Inside put the theater tickets, hotel reservation and flight details.
For the Underwater Adventurer: A dive into paradise at Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa. This all-suite resort on Florida’s beautiful Singer Island offers a Capture the Moment package that includes the gift of a GoPro Hero4 Waterproof Action Camera to capture underwater action plus complimentary nonmotorized water sports and beach chairs and umbrella. Located on its own private sandy beach, the resort is right next to Blue Heron Bridge, one of the top diving destinations in the country. Presentation idea: flip flops, beach towel and beach cover-ups, all ready to pack, with the trip details buried in a jar of sand.

For the Fitness Fanatic: A peak hike experience at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa. The Hike Tech package at this boutique Scottsdale resort puts fitness-minded guests on a guided hike along Camelback Mountain’s challenging trails, complete with a GoPro Hero Session (theirs to keep!) to document their adventure. The package also includes a two-night stay for two, daily breakfast, and a 60-minute spa service per person at the exclusive Sanctuary Spa – the perfect reward for a day on the trails. Presentation idea: a pair of new hiking boots or a reusable water bottle with a bag tag attached reading “Destination: Camelback Mountain.”

For the Frequent Flying Golfer: Pebble Beach Resorts’ XOJET Luxury Experience. For the golf traveler who’s been there, done that, up your gift-giving game with a private XOJET luxury jet charter from Los Angeles or New York for up to four guests to Pebble Beach Resorts. They’ll arrive in style via chauffeured Lexus SUV for a three-night stay in a Fairway One Cottage Suite, where they’ll enjoy “First Off” tee times for two rounds on the legendary Pebble Beach Golf Links, private lessons at Pebble Beach Golf Academy, and a private chef wine-tasting dinner in their cottage. Guests fly into Monterey Airport and will have access to a Lexus vehicle throughout their stay. Presentation idea: tickets tucked into a new set of golf clubs in a Pebble Beach-logoed golf bag, or logoed headcover.

For the Snow Lover: A winter wonderland for two at Whiteface Lodge. This all-suite Adirondack resort’s Rustic Romance package sets the mood with chocolate-dipped strawberries and Champagne in-suite on arrival. A Tandem Massage in the award-winning spa is perfect after a morning of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or ice skating on the resort grounds (all equipment complimentary) or a ski day à deux on nearby Whiteface Mountain. Furnished private lean-tos with firepits can be reserved for an evening under the stars complete with cocktail service. Presentation idea: a cozy cashmere wrap or set of snowshoes.

For the Life of the Party: A last-minute New Year’s Eve escape to London or Edinburgh. Whisk that spontaneous someone across the pond to ring in 2019 with CIE Tours International’s Weekender Collection. Five days of adventure in a choice of London (Fireworks and Fun) or Edinburgh (Tartan and Toasts) put visitors in the heart of each city’s New Year’s celebrations. Both tours include hop-on, hop-off tour bus passes to top attractions, and London guests also enjoy a Thames River cruise. Presentation idea: Sparklers with a tin of English tea or a package of Scottish shortbread cookies.

For the Post-Holiday Deals Shopper: A downtown-to-downtown weekend getaway. Big Apple bargains are just a train ride away with a weekend stay at the brand-new Residence Inn by Marriott Stamford Downtown. Opening in late fall 2018, just in time for the holidays, the hotel offers apartment-style accommodations in the heart of downtown and free shuttle service anywhere within city limits (including the Amtrak station to whisk guests into New York City in less than an hour). Presentation idea: carryall bag with a department store gift card and Amtrak train tickets.

For the Pampered Pooch: A dog’s best life in Boston. Even dogs deserve a vacation, and as one of Boston’s most dog-friendly hotels, Aloft Boston Seaport District has an Arf Program that treats Fido to the perfect holiday getaway with his human entourage. Complimentary amenities for man’s best friend include a dog bed, food and water bowls, treats, toys, and maps for dog-friendly trails. Presentation idea: matching bandanas wrapped around trip details (for the humans) and a squeak toy (for Fifi).

For the Adrenaline Junkie: A ride along at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Put a thrill seeker behind the wheel of a real stock car, dragster or Indy car. Nothing will compare to strapping in and speeding off like the stars at Charlotte Motor Speedway and zMAX Dragway, both in North Carolina’s Cabarrus County. Add to the experience with stops at NASCAR race team shops like Hendrick Motorsports and Stewart-Haas Racing. Time the trip with the holidays to enjoy the Speedway’s bonus light show, with more than three million lights, a Christmas Village, and drive-in movie nights. Presentation idea: trip details tucked into a pair of race driving gloves.

For the Low-Key Explorer: Adventures on tap in Syracuse. A new day is dawning in this Central New York renaissance city, as historic buildings find new life (with Marriott Syracuse Downtown in its 1924 landmark building a triumphant example). Visitors are finding Syracuse offers plenty of urban appeals on a more do-able scale and at more affordable prices than a big city getaway. And Marriott Syracuse Downtown is just a short stroll from the city’s top attractions, from Broadway shows at Landmark Theatre and sporting events at the Oncenter to the Historic Armory Square District, Museum of Science and Technology, Everson Museum of Art and ice skating at Clinton Square in winter months. Cap off a day on the town with a local craft beer at the hotel’s own Eleven Waters or Shaughnessy’s Irish Pub, from Beak & Skiff Cider and Ithaca Beer Company to Saranac and Southern Tier. Presentation idea: A copy of “The Soul of Central New York,” with a luggage tag and Saranac-branded bottle opener.

For the Treasure Hunter: Unique finds at Unclaimed Baggage Center. Scottsboro, Alabama might not be the first destination that comes to mind for a once-in-a-lifetime retail experience, but one million adventure shoppers from across the world prove that wrong each year with a pilgrimage to Unclaimed Baggage Center. The one-of-a-kind store is home to 40,000 square feet of unclaimed items airlines have not been able to reunite with their former owners – everything from clothing, musical instruments and electronics to a full suit of armor and an over-the-top showcase item (the current showcase piece is a $42,000 gold and diamond bracelet.) As many as 7,000 new items arrive daily, all discounted from retail prices. Within an hour’s drive are the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, and natural wonders like Ruby Falls. Presentation idea: plane tickets tucked into a new wallet with a credit card prepaid gift card.

Tour Gujarat With Asian Pacific Adventures: Trip of a Lifetime

August 5, 2018 by Beeb 1 Comment

Asian Pacific Adventures Gujarat Tour

Just in time for making those Fall travel plans, Asian Pacific Adventures are offering an unforgettable 17-day tour package in November to Gujarat, India’s westernmost state. The tour will take place from November 10th through the 26th and aims to show travelers remote parts of Gujarat so you can truly experience “The road less traveled”. Travelers will experience amazing scenery as they make their way through Gujarat, and rack up unforgettable, once-in-lifetime experiences, such as:

Viewing the archaeological remains at Champaner, a World Heritage Site;
Stopping in Little Rann of Kutch for birdwatching;
Paying a visit to the best textile museum in India;
Seeing the Sun Temple in Modhera;
Taking a ride in a luxury riverboat

But the highlight of the tour is the Shamlaji Fair. This festival will take place over two weeks in November, and is attended by over 200,000 devotees who have come to pray in the Shamlaji Temple. This temple was built in the 11th century, and sits on the banks of the Meshwo river, a sacred river that visitors bathe in to purge sin. This is a large social event where people visit with their friends and family. The fair is also a place to trade household goods, ornaments and clothing.

Click here to learn more about what this amazing tour includes and view photos. To book this experience of a lifetime with Asian Pacific Adventures, visit their website or call 1-800-825-1680, using tour code: RGF

The price for a 2018 Land Package starts at $5,630 for 2-3 members, $5,490 for 4-5 members, and $5,280 for 6 + members. The 2018 Single Supplement is $1,095, and the approximate internal airfare (Mumbai / Bhuj, Ahmedabad / Delhi) cost is $590. The price includes hotel and corresponding taxes and service charges, along with meals as specified; as well as all transfers, ground transportation, internal airfare, all sightseeing/entrance fees, a regional English speaking guide, and all services as per the itinerary. The price does not include international airfare or visa fees, trip insurance, tips, rerouting charges that may become necessary due to unforeseen circumstances, personal expenses and any meals not mentioned. For full details, be sure to visit Asian Pacific Adventures online or give them a call to get started on the trip of a lifetime!

For more travel news and tips, be sure to bookmark our travel category!

Ninja Escape Room Kids Birthday Party Seattle

August 5, 2018 by Momstart 2 Comments

So a few years ago I participated in my very first escape room and I fell in love with it. I wanted to do it as a family and I couldn’t find a single one that allowed children under the age of 12. That is no longer true. Here in Seattle there are two locations, both Ninja Escape rooms that now host birthday parties for children and we tested it out. There are two Ninja Escape locations in Seattle, one in Freemont and one in Belltown.

Ninja Escape Room offers kids birthday party packages for families and kids. Our games are great for kids when the group is all around the same age, which is what makes birthday parties or group playdates the perfect way to experience our escape room challenges for little ones.

My family, me, my husband and 10 and 11 year old set out to solve the problem and escape like Ninjas. The room we were in was very challenging for people that have never been in an escape room before. I had a few inclinations of what might be a way to solve the problem from my past experiences but we weren’t even close to solving our escape. All the places I had gone to before had two rooms and once you were done with the first room we never went back into it. SO I never would have realized that we needed to go back to the other room. But like I said, we weren’t even close.

Did we have fun?

Yes overall I would say we had fun. It’s such a great way to work together and be a team. I think kids need to do projects like this because it gets them thinking outside the box. Creative thinking is so important. We were often very frustrated though, because we did find the room so challenging. In my honest opinion, for the small group we had and ages we had, I think the room was a little too hard. I suggest a group of at least 8 and they said they could have up to 14 kids in the room I think.

It would make for a very fun birthday party.

Summer Fun For The Family in Tacoma

July 25, 2018 by Beeb Leave a Comment

We’ve become big fans of Tacoma as a PNW spot that’s perfect for a short vacation. If you want to take a break with the family this summer that won’t also break your bank account, check out some of the fun family activities Tacoma has to offer:

Extended families are starting to travel together, but struggle to find those rare destinations that can leave each generation feeling like they had the trip of a lifetime. For its history, museums, natural beauty and affordability, the Tacoma area is ripe for shared experiences.

Your trip to Tacoma and Pierce County could include a ghost tour, gondola ride, zip lining and the only combined zoo and aquarium in the Pacific Northwest. Add to the memories with a unique place to stay, from the glass-art centric Hotel Murano to a nine-person lodge near Mount Rainier.

Visit TravelTacoma.com for suggested itineraries and consider the following activities when your traveling group includes grandparents to toddlers.

Historic tours: Destiny Harbor Tours makes daily boat trips in the waters near Gig Harbor and Tacoma. If your group includes older kids, choose a ghost tour for a memorable perspective of the area. Explore Mount Rainier National Park with the Discover Nature shuttle and tour with naturalist Diann Sheldon.

Adrenaline-packed adventure: From mountains to sea level, you’ll find it all within 90 minutes of Tacoma. Hike at Mount Rainier National Park or zipline at Northwest Trek. Rent kayaks or stand-up paddleboards at multiple spots along Pierce County’s 25 miles of public shoreline.

Memorable transportation: Through Sept. 2 you can hop aboard the trolley from downtown Tacoma to Point Defiance on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (just $1!). Ride the gondola over alpine meadows at Crystal Mountain Resort, stopping at the highest-elevation restaurant in Washington state. Rent bikes, including four-person surreys, at Point Ruston for a ride along the flat, paved waterfront.

Animal encounters: At Northwest Trek Wildlife Park you can take a tram through 435 acres of animals’ free-roaming area, plus see dozens of other animal exhibits. Meet animals up close at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium’s hands-on stingray pool, budgie bird feedings, eye-to-eye shark tank and more. Point Defiance’s new Pacific Seas Aquarium opens Sept. 7.

Walkable museums: Classic cars, a glass art hot shop and hands-on learning for kids—you won’t find stuffy museums here. Tacoma’s walkable Museum District has six museums that will interest family members of all ages. There’s even the only pay-as-you-will children’s museum in the country.

Hungry? When it’s time to eat, try the nostalgic Shake Shake Shake and Frisco Freeze. Families also enjoy the classic choices at Carr’s Restaurant in Lakewood and the Buttered Biscuit in Sumner. Waterfront views and casual dining are plentiful at Point Ruston. Bonus: kids can cool off in the spray park while the adults enjoy a beverage in the shade at Wildfin’s outdoor wine bar.

Start planning your family trip to the Tacoma area at TravelTacoma.com.