Weekend Trip: Pittsburgh, PA

When you're from Cleveland, Pittsburgh is known by many names, most of which are pretty unflattering.  But when you're married to a Steelers fan with lots of friends in Pittsburgh, you learn early on that occasional trips to the Keystone state are a must.  And with every visit, I find myself wishing we could go more often.

What you choose to do in Pittsburgh will greatly depend on who you're traveling with.  A weekend with the family will look a whole lot different than a weekend with friends.  In either case, you'll find more than enough to keep you and your travel companions busy and well entertained.

For a family weekend...

Check out the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, a 77 acre park featuring more than 4,000 animals, including 20 threatened or endangered species.  It's also the home of Kid's Kingdom, which is ranked one of the top children's zoos in the country.

Next up, The National Aviary.  It's America's largest aviary and is the home to over 600 animals. 

For the amusement park lovers, popular stops include Sandcastle Water Park (just minutes from downtown along the Monongahela River, the park features 15 major waterslides, a wave pool, a lazy river, two children's attractions and a bar area.  All are located along a river-view, old-fashioned Boardwalk) and Kennywood (this traditional amusement park features 6 roller coasters, 3 water rides, 9 thrill rides, 10 classic rides, 3 dark rides and 14 Kiddie Land rides, and still has structures and rides dating back to its opening in the early 1900s).

If you and your clan are sports fans, there's sure to be a game going on during your stay.  If you're not interested in checking out the well-known Steelers, Penguins or Pirates, keep an eye out for their soccer and arena football leagues, as well as all of the college teams that play in the Pittsburgh area.

If you're more of an art lover, Pittsburgh is home to the Andy Warhol Museum, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Toonseum, and so many more.

For a fun place with lots to do, check out Station Square.  There are fun family activities like duck boat tours, the Monongahela Incline (cable cars that travel up the side of the mountain with a viewing platform at the top for an amazing view of the city), as well as fountain shows every 20 minutes.  There are plenty of restaurants to choose from, and lots of fun shops, as well.

For a more kid-free, adult-friendly getaway...

Pittsburgh has several neighborhoods throughout the city, each with their own vibe and version of fun.  Depending on your personal preference, you may lean toward any of the following for your night time entertainment:

Downtown: The Downtown area houses all 3 major sports arenas, as well as Rivers Casino.

Strip District: A one-half mile square filled with antiques, unique shops, specialty foods, restaurants and bars.  This neighborhood still has functioning warehouses, but has grown into a fun and funky blend of old and new.

Oakland: A second 'downtown' area with bustling streets, prestigious universities and international cuisine.  For shopping and eating, head to the Craig Street business district.

South Side: You'll definitely want to check out Carson Street - 15 blocks of Victorian architecture filled with boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and live music venues.  With more than 100 bars to choose from, you shouldn't have any trouble finding the kind of nightlife you're looking for.  Also check out SouthSide Works on the upper end of Carson Street for all kinds of great places to eat, drink and shop.

Getting a little more specific on food, there are a few places in Pittsburgh that I highly recommend for your dining pleasure...

Primanti Bros.  These famous sandwiches are served with heaping piles of french fries and coleslaw... not on the side, but on the actual sandwich.  It may sound crazy, but it's a must-try!  Cleveland & Pittsburgh will argue over which is better, Pittsburgh's Primanti or Cleveland's Panini, but either way, you're guaranteed to never leave hungry.  You'll find shops all over the city.

Fat Head's Saloon.  Home of the "headwich", this place has some of the biggest, most amazing sandwiches you could ever imagine.  And, for the beer lover, Fat Head's features 42 continuously rotating taps with craft beers from around the country and all over the world, including their own award-winning ales and lagers.

If you've never had the pleasure of meeting someone from Pittsburgh, be prepared for a whole new language.  Here's a great sample of the kinds of things you might hear during your visit:

Pittsburgh Dad

Tips and tricks for a successful trip to Pittsburgh:

1. Wear comfortable shoes.  No matter where you're headed, odds are pretty good that you'll be doing a lot of walking.  Many neighborhoods only have street parking, so you may find yourself with quite a hike to get to where you're going.

2. Be prepared for hills. Pittsburgh is filled with them and can make your short walk much longer than you'd anticipated.

3. Plan to use GPS and, when that fails (and it sometimes will), be patient and wait to be redirected.  The city is filled with bridges, tunnels and one-way streets and, if you miss your turn, the next intersection might not get you where you need to go.

For more information on planning your trip to Pittsburgh, visit http://www.visitpittsburgh.com/

Happy traveling!

Dream Vacation: Wolf Lake Ranch, Michigan

Following my post on Russia, this probably sounds like a pretty crazy 'dream vacation' for me, but every time I think about this place, I find I can't wait until our son is a little older so that we can enjoy everything it has to offer (not that a 3 year old wouldn't enjoy this trip - but it seems like the kind of place I really want him to remember... plus we need to get beyond the napping stage so we don't miss out on any of the activities offered).

Wolf Lake Ranch is located in western Michigan in the heart of the Manistee Forest.  The ranch, originally known as Wolf Lake Station, was built in 1890 and turned into a guest ranch in 1945.  The 35 acre property offers cabins, hot tub, playground, volleyball courts, rodeo corral, pavilion (for cookouts, games and dances), 50+ horses, twice daily trail rides, a sandy beach on a crystal clear lake, canoeing and paddle-boating, softball, tennis, archery, basketball, ping-pong and horseshoes.  Winter activities include snowmobiling, cross country skiing, hunting and ice fishing. 

Of course, not everyone out there is a seasoned horseback rider... including yours truly.  But I'm assured that the staff is ready for anything, from those with years of experience riding to those beginners (big and small) that want to try their hand at something new. 

And if their website doesn't have you convinced that this is a great family vacation destination, check out their facebook page and read through some of the amazing things their guests have to say about it.  So many people have commented on their annual visits to Wolf Lake Ranch, which is one thing that impresses me greatly... I don't know that I've ever taken a vacation that I couldn't wait to repeat the following year.  Guests have said it's the most relaxing vacation they've ever taken and that the scenery can't be beat.  To top it off, there are nothing but kind words to describe the ranch's owners, Pete & Marlena Libby.

Another selling point for my husband and I: guests have wonderful things to say about all of the friends they make during their stay on the ranch.  We love trips that allow us to meet new people!

As far as their pricing is concerned, one of the great things about it is that their rates are based on age, making it a little more affordable for those with young ones and, even better, kids 5 and under are free.  Their rates are posted here.  Your cost includes meals, riding and all ranch activities, making it an "all-inclusive" sort of vacation and saving you from having to figure out how much spending money you'll need once you're there.  All meals are all-you-can-eat and numerous guests have raved about their menu.

If I'm being totally honest with myself, I'm not sure what I find most appealing about Wolf Lake Ranch: the laid-back atmosphere, the evening campfires, the home-cooked meals or the fact that I might finally have a place to wear my cowboy boots and hat. Regardless of the reason, I can't wait to check it out first-hand.

If you've ever been to Wolf Lake Ranch, please comment and share your experiences below.

Happy traveling!

Dream Vacation: Russian River Cruise

My husband and I daydream on a regular basis about all of the places we want to see.  One of those places is Russia.  But, with so much to see in a short amount of time, we figure a mode of transportation that can get us from one city to the next while we sleep is probably the best way to go.

I'm not going to lie, before my husband's insistence, I would have had zero interest in this kind of trip (well, aside from the cruise ship part).  In fact, all I know of Russia I learned from the movie Anastasia and, while I can vouch for its riveting plot, the fact that it was animated suggests its accuracy may be questionable.

Nevertheless, at his suggestion, I started looking into this 'trip of a lifetime' and, I must admit, I'm pretty excited about doing it... someday...

So, since we're still in the dreaming stage, I figure I might as well go all out and plan for top-of-the-line everything.  In this situation, I would probably choose Viking Cruise Lines above all others.  Why Viking?  One look at their website should tell you all you need to know, but for those who wish to get right to the point, I'll elaborate here:

1. Their river cruise ships are small, accommodating 120-260 guests at a time.  I imagine you leave your vacation feeling like you've actually gotten to know many of the people on your ship.

2. The crew and tour guides all speak English.  I have nothing against anyone that doesn't, but if I couldn't communicate with the cruise line's employees, I'm not sure how enjoyable my trip would be.

3. Viking offers something truly unique in its guided tours.  In addition to the typical sights, museums, historical places, etc, it includes stops at a children's school and a family's home for tea.  Sometimes the most interesting part of a vacation is getting to see what life is actually like for the people who live there.

4. Unlike most other cruise lines, Viking's rates include all meals (including wine, beer and soft drinks) and tours (most cruise lines charge separately for each excursion).

So, back to the planning...

For our cruise, I'd probably take the Waterways of the Czars cruise, which is 13 days and includes a 7 day cruise, 3 days in Moscow and 3 days in St. Petersburg.  Additional stops include Uglich, Yaroslavl, Kuzino and Kizhi.  I won't pretend to know anything about these cities, but that's sort of the point of going there, isn't it? 

During our stay in Moscow, I think I'd be most interested in checking out The Kremlin.  I'd love the chance to see how the Czars and Patriarchs lived and to see some of the places that have been around for hundreds of years.  While it's impressive that some buildings in the U.S. date back to the 1600s, this area of Russia has a history dating back to the the second century, with churches built as early as the 1300s that still stand today.

Another place that interests me is the Lubyanka Building, which was seized by the government and used as the headquarters for the KGB.  The building now has a museum that is open to the public, which I imagine would be pretty interesting.

One place I could skip would be Lenin's Tomb.  While I understand the draw this sort of place might have, I usually keep my cemetery visits limited to people I actually know... and, for the most part, it's only on the day they were buried.  The idea of seeing a body that's been around since 1924 holds very little appeal for me.  However, for those interested in this popular sightseeing stop, keep in mind that you are not allowed to take any kind of camera inside, you are searched by armed police or military guards before entering, and you are forbidden to smoke, talk, wear hats or keep your hands in your pockets during your visit.  Sounds friendly, right?!?

For our stay in St. Petersburg, I'd like to check out the Yusupov Palace (owned by five generations of the Yusupov family and the place where Grigory Rasputin was murdered [this fascination might stem from my previously mentioned interest in Anastasia]), Peter and Paul Fortress (the birthplace of St. Petersburg), The Church of Our Savior on the Spilt Blood (because it looks incredible), and Peterhof (and its amazing fountains - but watch out for the trick fountains, one of which is a bench meant to surprise anyone that sits down to enjoy the surroundings and another disguised as several flowers that sprays only when someone gets close enough).

In looking at the Viking Fleet, it doesn't appear to matter which ship you're on.  They don't bother with all the bells and whistles that some cruise ships boast (you won't find a rock climbing wall or a water slide on these ships), but because the ships are so much smaller, one of the best features is that you can be seated in the middle of the dining room and still appreciate the view of the passing scenery.  They all seem to have a library, observation lounge, restaurants and bars, open air promenade, in-room refrigerators and internet service. What more could you ask for?

And, since it's the vacation of my dreams, I think we'd have to upgrade to a Veranda stateroom (the Suite AA and Jr. Suite are lovely, but just because I'm being frivolous doesn't mean I have to go overboard with my pretend spending).  From past cruise experience, I would have to choose a room that had its own private outdoor space.  I'm not a fan of small, enclosed spaces, and the ability to relax on your own veranda goes a long way in easing those claustrophobic moments.

So, I guess that's it... our dream vacation to Russia.  If you've ever been there, please share your thoughts on what to see and what to skip.

Happy traveling!

Sunny Florida: Perdido Key

I'll admit to being a little skeptical about this vacation.  My father-in-law was spending a month in Perdido Key and, since I'd never heard of it before, I wasn't sure what to expect as far as activities and sightseeing were concerned.  But, when it came to finding things to do, this stretch of beach did not disappoint.

First and foremost, we were there during February and, while it was far better than the snow storms brewing at home up north, it still wasn't warm enough for swimming and sunbathing.  Perdido Key is the western-most point of Florida, right on the ocean, so we were too far north for what you'd typically expect of Florida winter weather, but sunshine and 60s were perfect for all of the things we found to do to stay busy.

By the time we arrived, my father-in-law had already been in Florida for a few weeks, so he became the designated tour guide.  He'd done an amazing job of finding fun things to do, but I can assure you that this location has far more to offer than we ever could have accomplished in the 5 days we were there.

Even with the cooler weather, we managed to spend a few hours at the beach.  This stretch of beach is absolutely gorgeous... white sand and ocean as far as the eye could see.  And even though the water was chilly, we managed to venture in far enough to get our feet wet...

Refreshing!

For our first adventure, we took a day trip to Fort Morgan, which was pretty amazing, even for me... and I'm definitely not someone that gets too excited about history-related sightseeing.  Nevertheless, there was something there for all of us... I got a chance to play with our new camera, my husband got to read about the fort's amazing history and our son had the pleasure of running wild through the tunnels, up the steps and through the fields. 

This is one of my favorite pics from the fort

For our next day trip, we drove the short distance to the Pensacola Naval Air Station for a visit to the National Naval Aviation Museum.  This was a pretty cool trip, as well, and, while our son lost interest in reading about each of these amazing aircraft, he did love that you could actually sit in some of the airplanes.  At 3 years old, he was probably a little young for this museum, but this would be a great visit for anyone with kids over 5.

All smiles in the cockpit

And, of course, when we weren't sightseeing, we were eating.  I can't even begin to tell you about all of the great food we ate that week, but I will specifically mention a few that are definitely worth checking out...

Lambert's Cafe is a MUST SEE!  This restaurant is huge, has a very friendly staff and amazing food!  Not only that, but the servers come by with unlimited side dishes, throw rolls to you from across the room and like to play pranks on unsuspecting patrons (I won't ruin it for anyone, but they're all harmless and absolutely hilarious, even if you're the one they choose to pick on... like me).  And, as if unlimited side dishes weren't enough, their portions were huge. 

This is my rib dinner... served in a skillet

 

 

In nearby Pensacola, you'll find another amazing, must-see restaurant: McGuire's Irish Pub.  This place is massive and filled with more character than you can even imagine, countless dollar bills hanging from the ceiling (the first dollar tip tacked to the bar for good luck in 1977 has been joined by over 1 million more over the years), drinks so strong that patrons are limited to 3 per visit (The Irish Wake), and bean soup for 18 cents (they haven't raised the price since 1977).  The food was fantastic and the service was second to none.

 

Also, if you're a fan of oysters, be prepared to be in heaven during your stay. 

 

With a toddler in tow, we didn't have a chance to experience the nightlife in the area, but if you're looking for more of a party crowd, I strongly recommend heading west into Orange Beach, Alabama.  It was a 3 minute drive from where we were in Florida and appeared to have far more options when it came to bars, restaurants, shopping and nightlife.  

 

Tips and tricks for a successful vacation in Perdido Key:

 

1. This is definitely the kind of place where you'll need a car to get around, so plan to rent one if you're flying in. 

 

2. If you're looking to get a tan, don't count on 80 degree weather during the winter months.  February was a great time to visit, but I look forward to going back sometime during the warmer summer months.

 

3. Plan to eat out!  There were so many great places to eat in the area and you really don't want to miss out.  And as far as your attire is concerned, start the week in your 'skinny clothes' and plan on stretchy waistbands toward the end of your stay.

 

Happy traveling!







Fun on the water: Deep Creek Lake, Maryland

Whether you enjoy camping, water sports, hiking or skiing, Deep Creek Lake in Maryland has something for everyone.  The area is filled with rivers, lakes and mountains, providing an array of activities for every season and every kind of vacationer.

Personally, I've only been there during the warm summer months for trips filled with boating, swimming and maybe a few frosty beverages, but, from what I hear, Deep Creek Lake is also an amazing place for skiing and hiking. 

This website: http://www.visitdeepcreek.com/ can get you started on your search for all that Deep Creek has to offer.

When it comes to finding a place to stay, Deep Creek has many options, including cabins, bed & breakfasts and rental homes.  For us, renting a home is always preferable, so we didn't hesitate to book with the fine people at Railey Mountain Lake Vacations.  They were particularly helpful and their vacation home options were just what we were looking for.

Sunrise over the mountains

During our stay, we decided to rent a pontoon boat and spend a day out on the water.  We rented ours from Bill's and, if you are required to have one, you can obtain a temporary Maryland Boating Safety Certificate on-site.  Check their website for more information on that subject.



Deep Creek Lake

I can't help but think of this song when I look at this picture...
Little Big Town - Pontoon

We spent the day touring the lake (and its 65 miles of shoreline) and checking out some of the amazing homes built there.  We dropped anchor for a little swim, then parked at the dock of Lakeside Creamery for an afternoon treat.  Our favorite spot on the lake was definitely the Honi Honi Bar, a fun bar/restaurant where you can dock your boat, let the kids play in a park-like setting and enjoy live music.  We've been back to Deep Creek a few times now and have managed to squeeze in a trip to the Honi Honi every time :)

That's our son rocking out with the band at the Honi Honi

While there aren't a lot of public beaches in the area, we did manage to find one park that had  everything we were looking for.  Deep Creek Lake State Park was a beautiful area with picnic tables, playgrounds, restrooms and a sandy beach.  They even had activities for kids (I believe they were making tie dyed shirts the day we were there).  There is a cost to enter the park, but I believe the pass was for the whole day and you could come and go as you pleased.  I assume the rates change from season to season, so check their website for more details on the cost.  I will say that it ended up being well worth the price of admission.

One thing to keep in mind about the area is that it's filled with wildlife.  From the deck of the home we rented we could see all kinds of animals... including black bears.  During a stroll through the backyard, I spotted a bear cub in the woods and, while it certainly didn't seem too threatening and had no interest in me whatsoever, I was reminded that, where there is a cub, there is usually a mama bear close by.  Whether you find a pet-friendly place to bring your pooch or have small children vacationing with you, this is something you should be mindful of.

In general, Deep Creek Lake is the kind of place where you can find something to entertain anyone in your group.  Whether you're looking forward to s'mores around a campfire or trying your hand at fly fishing, Deep Creek is definitely worth checking out.

So much to do: Palm Springs, California

Our trip to Palm Springs was the result of a last minute cancellation of a trip scheduled for Mexico.  A hurricane hit the area surrounding the resort where we were supposed to stay and, with flights grounded and tourists stranded, we opted to change our destination.  With only two weeks to plan, our options were limited and Palm Springs sounded like as good a place as any to spend our anniversary.

We were fortunate enough to have planned our trip through RCI, a timeshare owners' organization where you can trade your timeshare weeks for different destinations.  My mom had given us a gift of the use of her timeshare week for our anniversary, which is likely the reason it was so easy to change our destination, so at least we had that going for us.

There weren't a ton of options available to us and we wound up staying at the Lawrence Welk Resort, a place we were concerned would be filled with older guests and handicap accessible units.  We were pleasantly surprised to find the resort was beautiful, had an amazing pool area and was not at all crowded due to our traveling during the off-season.  The resort was surrounded by a golf course, giving us a beautiful view from our balcony.

Once we checked in, we grabbed every flier available to see what we could come up with for activities for the week.  The extensive list of options was a bit overwhelming, but we managed to narrow it down and came up with some great plans.

First on our list was the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.  This rotating tramcar takes you up the side of a mountain for a spectacular view of Palm Springs and the surrounding desert.  With a restaurant at the top (8,516 feet up), we imagined watching the sunset while we dined.  Sadly, we boarded the tram far too late to catch the sunset and, by the time we made it to the top, the sun had set and our gorgeous view was of nothing more than the amazing darkness, which was actually pretty cool considering how hard it is to get completely away from city lights these days.  Nevertheless, while I might consider this a must-see tourist stop, I suggest skipping the excitement of watching the sunset and stick with an afternoon visit instead.

Next, we decided to try a Jeep tour (I believe we went through Desert Adventures) through the Coachella Valley and Joshua Tree National Park.  They loaded 8 of us into an extended jeep and we rode through the desert (and some pretty rough terrain) to see some pretty cool sights and hear all about the history of the area.  Our tour guide provided more information than I ever could have imagined wanting to know about a desert, but the ride was very entertaining.  That being said, I do not recommend such a tour for anyone that isn't sure they can handle the rough terrain (its a very bumpy ride) and, depending on exactly what you're hoping to see, a Joshua Tree, as it turns out, is actually just a very strange looking tree and, spread out through the desert, they're not really much to look at.  Nevertheless, we enjoyed our excursion and the people we met there.

Finally, for our last big adventure, we signed up for a limo tour of Hollywood, including tickets to a taping of the Dr. Phil show.  The tour was handled by the resort, so I don't have a link I can provide you with, but if you're in the Palm Springs area, you're sure to find lots of similar tour options in all different price ranges.  Ours was not a private tour and we shared our limo with a few other couples (most of which turned out to be pretty lame, so we kept ourselves entertained at each of our stops rather than hanging out with the rest of the group).  Our stops included Rodeo Drive, a gorgeous area where I couldn't even imagine entering one of the stores... I would have loved to enjoy my own "Pretty Woman" moment, but our budget wasn't likely to cover the cost of a pair of socks, let alone a shopping spree.  We drove through town for a quick peek at the Hollywood sign, visited an open air market with every kind of food you could imagine, and made our way to the Dr. Phil show taping.  At the time, it was a show that my husband and I frequently watched, so to be in the audience and experience a more behind-the-scenes view of the show was pretty cool.  I imagine many of the show taping options would be equally as entertaining, but I probably would have preferred to be in the audience for an"Oprah's Favorite Things" show :)

In our unscheduled time we did lots of eating and shopping, two things you'll have no trouble finding places for in Palm Springs.  And, from what I hear, it's a great place for spotting all kinds of famous people, although we never did see anyone we recognized.

Truth be told, with all of our exciting excursions, we didn't even begin to scratch the surface of all there is to do in Palm Springs.  For a more complete list of things to see and do, click here.

Tips & tricks for your vacation:

1. Based on our near disaster with the hurricane in Mexico, I suggest that you always give some consideration to travel insurance, if it is offered.  The cost will sometimes outweigh the benefits and, personally, I never pay for it.  However, in this situation, if we'd booked this trip on our own, we would have likely had a much more difficult time making last minute changes to our itinerary.  It's always worth at least looking into.

2. If you're headed to Palm Springs, do plenty of research ahead of time.  There is seriously so much to do there and, particularly if you enjoy tours and excursions, I imagine some of them book pretty quickly and you'll want to make sure you get tickets for anything that you really want to do.

3. Plan to spend some money.  Sure, you can have a relaxing week in Palm Springs, but there are some amazing places and, trust me, you'll want to spend some time outside of your resort.  Consider splurging on things you might not otherwise spend your money on.  Many of the experiences are well worth the extra dough.

Romantic Weekend: Hocking Hills Cabin

I suppose it depends on your idea of romantic, but as far as I'm concerned, a cabin in the woods is about as romantic as it gets.  Of course, I certainly don't mean roughing it in a secluded forest with no heat or running water... I mean a beautiful log cabin with a gorgeous view and a private hot tub on the deck... now that's romance!

One year my husband surprised me with a weekend getaway to Hocking Hills in southern Ohio.  I'd never been to the area and didn't know much about it, but I'd always wanted to check it out.  It was a little off the beaten path (our last few roads were dirt and gravel), but the place was amazing. 

We stayed at a place called Harvest Moon Cottages (we stayed in the Dreamcatcher).  The property has 6 cabins, all fairly close to one another but positioned in such a way that you couldn't see any of the others from your own, giving you the feeling that you had all the privacy in the world.  The Dreamcatcher had 2 bedrooms, a large deck with a hot tub overlooking a wooded area, a full kitchen and a super comfy living room area (and, of course, a bathroom).  We were there in the winter and, I must say, there's something awesome about sitting outside in a hot tub, all toasty warm, watching the snow fall.

The getaway was exciting enough, but my hubby had a few additional tricks up his sleeve for the weekend.  Surprise Number 1: a traveling spa.  Two massage therapists came out to the cottage for a relaxing couples massage.  They moved some furniture, set up in the living room, and brought everything they needed with them to turn our little cabin into our own little spa for the day.  Unfortunately, I don't recall the name of the company, but this website lists two traveling spas in the Hocking Hills area.

Surprise Number 2: a personal chef to cook us dinner in our cabin. Grouse Nest Traveling Chef sent a chef right to our cabin with everything he needed for our dinner.  He prepared and served a four course meal right there in our kitchen and the food was wonderful!

Needless to say, we didn't have much reason to leave our cabin.  However, for the more adventurous types, there is actually quite a bit to do in the area.  This website has tons of suggestions for activities nearby (from wineries and museums to horseback riding and hot air ballooning) and I hear it's a beautiful place to hike.

Keep in mind that there are literally hundreds of cabins for rent in the area and, regardless of what you might be looking for, you're sure to find something to fit your needs.  Google is my best friend when it comes to planning a trip like this :)

Tips & tricks for a successful romantic weekend:

1. As far as the Hocking Hills area is concerned, most of these places are nowhere near the conveniences many of us are used to.  Try to bring everything you might need for the weekend so that you don't have to run to the store for the things you've forgotten.

2. It's meant to be a romantic weekend, if you forget anything that you can live without, try not to worry about it.  Don't bother wasting time with makeup and hair products... it's meant to be quality time together, not alone time primping in the bathroom :)

3. Item number 2, to some extent, includes cell phones, iPads, and all of the other gadgets we've become so dependent upon.  One of the best things about the Hocking Hills area is its lack of wifi and cell reception.   If you're willing to give yourself a few days away from the rest of the world, this is a perfect place to do it.  Besides, you're better off updating your facebook status when you get home.  Bragging about your romantic weekend after the fact gets your husband major bonus points with your friends.  Tweeting about it during the actual weekend suggests you're spending more time on the web than in each other's company.

Happy traveling!

Girls Weekend: Chicago

I had never given much thought to a 'girls only' weekend trip.  I couldn't understand how it could possibly be more fun than spending time with my family.  And then I took a weekend trip with some girlfriends to Chicago.  Now I get it!  I love my family... but sometimes you just need to hang out with the girls.  And Chicago is a great place to do it.

When it comes to picking your hotel, there are far too many to choose from, but I highly recommend finding a place somewhere along the Magnificent Mile (an amazing stretch of Michigan Avenue filled with all kinds of great things to do).  The prices are a little higher, but it was well worth it to be close enough to walk to pretty much anything we wanted to do.  If you choose to stay a little off the beaten path, take into consideration the cost of taking a cab to some of the places you'll want to go (and the distance you'll have to travel back with all of your shopping bags).

Chicago is perfect for anyone who loves shopping, great food, museums, shopping, beautiful buildings, awesome views, and did I mention shopping?  Don't get me wrong... we didn't go there with loads of money to burn, but we still managed to enjoy hours of shopping in some amazing stores.  If you've never had the pleasure to shop with your girlfriends, this is the place to do it.  Nothing compares to hanging out in a dressing room with 8 girlfriends as they tell you how good something looks on you :)

So, aside from shopping, Chicago is an amazing city to do all kinds of great things.  We took the Chicago Architecture Foundation's Boat Tour and, while I won't pretend it was the highlight of my trip, the tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and entertaining, the staff was friendly and the views were amazing.  Our group really enjoyed it.

View from the river on the Boat Tour

The food in Chicago is absolutely amazing.  We planned ahead, asked everyone we knew, and scouted out the best places to eat for the weekend.  Lunch on Saturday was at Pizzeria Due serving the most amazing deep dish pizza you can imagine.  It was an insane amount of food and we didn't come close to finishing what we'd ordered.

AMAZING deep dish pizza

With a ridiculous amount of leftover pizza, and not wanting to have the restaurant throw it away, someone came up with the brilliant suggestion to have it boxed up with the intention of giving it to the first homeless person we saw.  Looking back on it now, maybe it wasn't the brightest idea, but it seemed like the right thing to do at the time.  I can't even tell you the number of people we had to ask before we found someone willing to take it and we wound up carrying the heaviest pizza on the planet for blocks.  Tip for future travelers: cut your losses and leave the leftovers.

When it comes to dinner, Chicago is definitely the kind of place where you'll want to make reservations.  There are too many great restaurants to choose from, but we did some research in advance and picked a few that sounded particularly intriguing and made reservations weeks ahead of time.  Unfortunately, things going the way they sometimes do, we'd made reservations for our first night there at The Shanghai Terrace at The Peninsula, but when we got there we were informed that they didn't have any record of our reservation.  Of course, for a party of 9 trying to find a good place to eat on a Friday night without a reservation... things weren't looking promising.  To their credit, the fine people at The Peninsula called around and managed to find a table for us at Japonais.  I can't say how it would have compared to The Peninsula, but the food was incredible!  I would highly recommend it anyone that likes sushi.

For our second night, we had reservations at Cafe Spiaggia, a restaurant I can not say enough good things about.  The service was phenomenal and the food was absolutely amazing.  A few of us splurged on an insanely high priced bottle of wine and, while I would never treat myself to such things at home, I will say it was worth every penny.

One 'must do' thing on our list was to check out The Signature Lounge at the Hancock.  This restaurant and lounge is located on the 95th and 96th floors of the Hancock Building and boasts some amazing views of the city.  Our plan was to head to the lounge for a few drinks before dinner on Saturday night.  What we didn't count on was the long line of people with the same plan, leaving us with an almost hour long wait just to get on the elevator to the 96th floor.  Sadly, we weren't able to truly appreciate the view because, by the time we got there, the sun had set and none of our photos managed to capture the view of the city lights.  Even sadder than that, by the time we got there, we didn't have time for a drink before heading back down to be sure to make our dinner reservation that night.  While I might agree that this stop is worth the wait, I highly recommend heading there much earlier in the day so that you can check out the city before the sun sets.

Chicago also has some great places to hang out after hours.  With only two nights to work with, we didn't come close to seeing all the Windy City had to offer, but we did enjoy one evening at The Redheaded Piano Bar, a crowded little place with lively music, a small dance floor and friendly staff.  Our second evening was spent on Rush Street, which had bars and restaurants to fit any kind of mood you might be in, from cheesy dive bars advertising free shots (the condom outside should have told us to keep going, but the loud music and flashy lights called to us... or was it the free shots?  Either way, it was terrible... the place was practically empty and the service still managed to be inexplicably slow), to upscale bar/restaurants (we spent some time at Tavern on Rush which had some delicious martinis and was jammed all night long) and everything in between.  We hopped from bar to bar until we found enjoyable music and indoor basketball (She-nannigans House of Beer) where we proceeded to drink too much and likely made complete fools of ourselves on the dance floor.  It was a night to remember and none of us were particularly excited about the flight home the next morning.

The one upside to sitting in the airport (nursing hangovers and blistered feet) was our close proximity to the Garrett Popcorn stand.  I highly recommend trying the Chicago Mix - a half and half combo of caramel and cheese corn, which sounded oddly appealing at that particular moment.  While the price tag was a bit high as far as popcorn is concerned, it was worth it to try out this Chicago tradition and, based on the number of people in line, it was clear that this is a favorite stop for many.

I don't doubt there are tons of great destinations for a girls weekend getaway, but I have to rank Chicago as one of the best.

Tips and tricks for a successful girls weekend:

1. If you're all single, take turns being wing man for one another... no one likes being the only girl not getting hit on.  On the flip side, if you're all married, make a point of watching each other's backs.  It's nice to get hit on from time to time, but when Mr. McCreeperson doesn't take the hint, help a sister out and send the unwanted guest on his way.

2. Have a general game plan and a list of things you want to see and do.  You definitely don't have to stick to a schedule, but you also don't want to wind up sitting around for an hour trying to figure out what to do next.

3. When it's time to get ready to head out as a group, decide on a time when you plan to leave, but designate a meeting place where everyone can leisurely show up whenever they're ready, like a bar across the street from the hotel.  This way, anyone who shows up early can grab a drink to pass the time and no one is left feeling like they were holding everyone else up.

4. And a no-brainer, but still worth mentioning: always stick together.  Our only rule was that no one went anywhere alone.  No matter how safe a city may be, it's always best to err on the side of caution.  Added bonus: if you happen to see something cool or run into someone famous, it's always good to have another witness.

A girls weekend trip to Chicago gets a 10 out of 10 from me!

Happy traveling!

The 'big group' vacation

Traveling with friends.  An exciting, yet scary-as-hell, endeavour not to be taken lightly.

My husband and I have traveled with friends quite a few times over the years.  These group vacations are usually small... two couples, two families, a few random friends.  They always have their ups and downs, but overall, they're always a great time.  So, naturally, when it came to planning a trip with a bigger group of people, we were totally on board.  Of course, when the entire group is made up of your neighbors, it adds a scary twist... would our street be filled with For Sale signs upon our return?  Never having spent more than an evening together, we knew it was a risk.  But we just couldn't resist the potential for serious fun.

My husband and I handled most of the planning, which included lots of research on houses that could accommodate several families and about six thousand emails filled with information.  When all was said and done, we ended up with 6 families (12 adults and 11 kids - YIKES) and an 8-bedroom house in North Carolina.  With that many personalities involved, it's hard to imagine how the details would ever be worked out.  But, somehow, it all came together and we had an amazing week (with the added bonus that we're all still friends).

One of the toughest parts of the planning was getting everyone to make the commitment.  Once you reserve a place, you're on the hook for the cost.  If families start backing out along the way, either everyone is going to owe a lot more money than they'd initially planned on, or the planner loses a nice chunk of change on their deposit.  To protect ourselves as much as possible, we opened a basic checking account so that the group's funds could be kept separate from our personal funds, then we could easily make the scheduled deposits and payments as they became due.  If you're the planner, don't get stuck paying for anything out of your own pocket and never hesitate to remind someone that their payment is due.  Choosing to do all of the work does not mean you should ever have to cover anyone else's costs.  Remember: this is your vacation too!

Finding a house that would accommodate that many people was a little tricky.  Because all of the kids were fairly young (10 and under), everyone agreed each family would share a room (there were lots of kids on air mattresses and in sleeping bags).  This made splitting the cost easy as it was divided 6 ways.  Things may get tricky if you have older kids and intend to use additional rooms for them (most of these big houses have a couple of rooms with bunk beds).  You can charge per person or per bedroom, but regardless of how it's worked out, always take a vote when it comes to making the big financial decisions.  You may be the planner, but it's important for everyone to feel that they have a say if they're paying an equal share.  Not only that, but when you're limited to 2 weeks of vacation per year, you ought to enjoy the vacation you're going on rather than feeling railroaded.  The same is true of your travel companions.

One of the key decisions to make was how to handle groceries.  We didn't have the option of 6 separate refrigerators so that each family could choose what to buy and how much they could eat.  And the idea of labeling each of our items seemed pretty asinine as well.  We decided (after a vote) that we would pool our money and share everything.  This meant that no one had to keep track of how much they ate and they were welcome to anything they wanted.  We charged a flat per person amount ($100 per adult and $50 per child), which was kept in the bank account and used for groceries during the week.  Once the funds ran out, the plan was to split the cost of anything else we needed.  Fortunately, this amount covered almost all of our food and drinks, including alcohol, for the entire week (which says a lot... believe me, we're drinkers).  The only thing it didn't cover was our surf-n-turf dinner splurge for our last night at the house.  After the kids went to bed, the adults enjoyed a few hours of amazing food and good company.  However, the fridge was still packed with loads of food and, had we chosen not to, none of us would have had to spend another penny on food.  As it was, we were all loading leftover non-perishables back into our cars for the trip home.

With a group this size, we gave a lot of thought on how to handle the responsibilities for the week.  The last thing the girls wanted was to be stuck in the kitchen every night cooking a meal for 23 people.  We came up with the following plan, which worked out beautifully: the 12 adults were divided into 4 groups of 3.  You were not in a group with your spouse (this was to assure that at least one parent from each family was free to handle anything kid-related during meal prep time).  Each group had one night to cook, one night to set the table, one night to do the dishes and one night to not do anything at all (i.e. Night 1 - group A set the table, group B cooked dinner, group C did the dishes and group D had the night off.  We rotated responsibilities for the following nights).  For the remaining 3 nights, everyone was on their own so that people had a chance to go out to dinner, order pizza, eat leftovers, etc.  Each group planned ahead for what meal they wanted to make and made a grocery list for their dinner.  For the most part, we stuck with fairly easy meals: burgers & hot dogs on the grill, a pasta dinner and a taco bar.  The surf-n-turf dinner was out of this world and can hardly be classified as an easy meal... major props go to that particular group of chefs :)

Additional tips and tricks for a successful 'big group' vacation:

1. Remember that this is everyone's vacation.  Try to be understanding of everyone's needs without stepping on anyone's toes.  Give everyone a chance to share their opinion.  If not everyone can agree on something, make a decision to go with the majority... even if your idea isn't the winning one.

2. Just because you're on vacation together doesn't mean you have to spend every moment together.  Research the surrounding area and come up with a list of possible activities.  If you want a night alone, don't invite the group to join you.  By the same token, don't be offended if you invite the rest of the group to join you for an activity and they're not interested.  Everyone has different things they enjoy.

3. Figure out who you're vacationing with, what they're looking for and how much they want to spend.  A house with a pool is not the same as a house on the beach.  A need for private bathrooms for each family might be a deal breaker to some people.  Certain amenities might not be a concern to some people that are hoping to save a little cash.  And not everyone can afford an unlimited budget when it comes to vacationing.

4. Plan a year in advance.  Some of these things are easy to work out when it's just a family of four, but these things take time with a larger group and some people can't sit around replying to emails all day.  Even minor details may take longer than you'd anticipate.

5. Remember that this is your vacation.  Yes, you want everyone to have a great time, but don't let it be the cause of stress and frustration.  Head out of town determined that you're going to have fun no matter what and, when all else fails, allow yourself to go do something alone to get away from the crowd for a while.  A house filled with 23 people can be a bit overwhelming at times :)

6. Plan, plan, plan.  Your friends may find all of this talk about details to be a bit much.  I heard more than a few grumbles about how specific I was being when it came to cooking meals and the kinds of foods that people wanted to have for the week.  But, trust me, I received far more compliments when it was all over.  Having all of those things worked out in advance made it so much easier for everyone to know what to expect and to be able to enjoy themselves.  With everyone aware of the expectations, no one felt guilty kicking back on their 'night off' and those pesky dishes got done without hesitation every night.

7. If you're driving, plan ahead for things you can take with you.  We made several bulk food purchases from Costco before we left and everyone was responsible for taking a few items in their car.  This likely saved a good bit of money on our groceries.  We also planned ahead for outdoor games for the kids, some canopies for guaranteed shade, coolers, kiddie pool, stereo, etc.  There's no reason to have 5 or 6 of everything and planning ahead with your fellow travelers can save precious cargo space in your vehicles.

Resources:

When it comes to finding a place to house a large group of people, we've had great success with Vacation Rentals By Owner.  Their search options make it easy to narrow your search and find exactly what you're looking for.  We found the widest selection of large houses in the Outer Banks area of North Carolina.  Whether you're looking for a place on the ocean, a house with a private pool, or both, this area offers tons of options.

We booked this trip through Atlantic Realty and stayed at Imperial Sands.  It was a short walk to the beach, but found it was easier to drive so that we could easily take all of our beach gear.  It had a nice view of the ocean from the upstairs balcony and had a private pool and hot tub.

We were able to rent everything we needed from this place, including strollers and cribs to save ourselves the trouble of packing them in the car.  They delivered them on our date of arrival and picked them up after we checked out.

The area, in general, had lots of options for things to do, including putt-putt, boat rentals, shopping and restaurants. 

All in all, I would say this is one of my favorite and most memorable vacations.  And I have to assume that everyone else had as much fun as we did... there's been some talk about repeating it in 2014 :)

Great Times - Wonderful Friends

Why I'm here...

I'm not sure when it started, but I get the feeling that, in another life, I had a riveting career as a travel agent.  While others might view the vacation planning process as a necessary evil, a means to an end, or just a huge ol' pain in the ass, I find that I enjoy it almost as much as the vacation itself.  It might be that I think of it as an escape from my mundane desk job, but in the 52 week span of my year, I typically spend 50 of them planning for those 2 precious weeks away.  Of course, the odds of me ever being able to take all of the vacations I have imagined is not very likely.  So, instead, I figure I can share my information with the world and hope that someone can someday enjoy the fruits of my labor. 

To those of you who do not enjoy the planning process, please feel free to use the resources I've gathered to make your vacation planning easier.  I'll share my own personal experiences, as well as information I've found doing my own research.

Please feel free to ask questions, make comments and share your own experiences.

Happy traveling :)