Monthly Archives: December 2013

Roaring Twenties New Year’s Eve Gala at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island

The Ritz-Carlton on Amelia Island is offering a chance to celebrate the Gatsby era of the Roaring Twenties with their New Year’s Eve Black and White Gala. From 9pm- 2am you will experience fabulous food buffets, live music and dancing, an open bar, and fireworks. They strongly encourage black and white attire for the event. It is $195 per adult.

Packages for the event are valid December 29, 2013 to January 1, 2014

You will receive a coastal view or ocean view room, champagne and chocolate strawberries on arrival, admission for two to the New Year’s Eve Gala, buffet breakfast for two each morning in Café 4750, and daily valet service.

And they are offering special parties for the kids too. “Glow in the New Year” is an evening of glowing adventures with dinner buffet, disco dance floor, photo booths and neon bubbles. Party is 8pm to 1 am.  Supervised children 5-12 are $90 each. Teens 13-17 are $45 each.

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Filed under Florida, Ritz-Carlton

Valentine Cruise to Benefit The American Heart Association

Princess Cruises is offering a special sailing February 10-15, 2014 that will benefit The American Heart Association. The Ruby Princess sails February 10, 2014 out of Fort Lauderdale and includes the ports of Grand Cayman and Cozumel. The cruise will feature unique activities centered around heart healthy living with cooking demonstrations from a celebrity chef and information on heart disease and stress. There will also be special Valentine Day programming that includes a renewal of vows ceremony. To support the American Heart Association all you have to do is take the cruise. A tax-deductible portion of every cruise fare, up to $300 per person, will be matched by Princess Cruises and donated on your behalf.  Princess offers the perfect Valentine’s Day gift and a chance to help others at the same time!

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Why you should travel with children

Often times we must decide whether our dream vacation has room for the kids or if they, and us, are better off sending the kids to stay with Grandma. There are many times you should vacation alone and reconnect as a couple and often times you choose this too because of expense or a complicated itinerary. But those who take the extra time to plan and include their children will have an infinitely enriched experience, producing life-long memories.

Family time– American children are over scheduled with school activities, sports, and parties. They need to recharge and relax as much as, or more than adults sometimes. Parents also find it hard to have quality family time with the kids running in all directions. A vacation together gives you all a chance to slow down and catch up with one another. Imagine just lying on a beach with your teenage daughter and she actually talks to you about her friends. Imagine having dinner together every night and talking about your day. Imagine your child holding your hand as you stroll through a quaint village or store. We need to slow down and spend time together.

Experience the world through a child’s eyes–  your ideal view of Paris may include museums and fine dining. Your children may enjoy the same but most likely they will allow you to see more of the real city. Travelling with children forces you to seek out interesting things for them and in doing so, you see things you may have never put on your list. Without kids in tow, you may never have found the amazing park and gardens that you enjoyed as much as they did. By looking for a kid’s menu , you may try a restaurant that was not on your radar, but end up with a fantastic meal at a local undiscovered gem. And in looking at art, you may over analyze it while your son tells you why it is pretty and you begin to see it through his eyes.  Children also make friends very easily and will readily talk to locals.

Expose your children to a bigger world– good parents prepare their children for the world. You give them tools and lessons for survival and growth. By exposing them to travel, they become more comfortable with the world. You also instill a sense of curiosity and wonder.  Having a real sense of how things are in other parts of the world can help them in school, work and just their everyday conversations.

Traveling with children can be tricky. You have to plan more, pack more , and spend more. But the return on the investment you make will pay off immensely. My children learn and experience new things on our vacations and I truly love that they have such good memories. Each time they recall a detail from a past trip it tugs at my heartstrings and I know it was worth it.

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Filed under Family Travel