• About Us Header

  
  

• About Us Text & Pix

  We're Traveling Mamas sharing our adventures with the world. We offer tips on great (and not so great) places to visit with children and how to have the best family vacations -- but it's not all about the kids, of course! Romantic escapes, girlfriend getaways, and solo trips are also important to us. Plus, we cover industry news and review travel gear, and we love to give things away!

  
  CajunMama MudslideMama

  
  
  

  DesertMama MountainMama

  
  
• 

•  Subscribe in a reader

  Subscribe by email

• Google 160 wide

• Wotif Exp: 12/21/2009

  
  Qantas
  Singapore Airlines
  Cathay Pacific Flights

• Vacations by the Sea Exp. 12/11/2009

  

• Wotif Exp: 12/21/2009

  Sydney Hotels Bali Hotels Bangkok Hotels

• Wotif Exp: 12/21/2009

  Last minute Brisbane Hotels Last Minute Sydney Hotels Last Minute Melbourne Hotels

Standing on the Corner in Winslow, Arizona

Standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona has been a lot more fun since the Standin’ on the Corner Park came to town – and it’s a great photo op. Yes, this park is in honor of the Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey song Take it Easy made famous by the Eagles.

A bronze statue of a hip 70’s guy, with a guitar propped on the toe of his boot, poses next to the “Standin’ on the Corner” sign. He appears to be gazing at the bright red flatbed Ford parked near the corner. The truck’s “reflection” is painted into the Take it Easy themed, two-story mural. You’ll find the park on the Northwest corner of Kinsley Avenue and Second Street (Route 66). Winslow is about 68 miles east of Flagstaff.

Across from “the corner” is a Standing on the Corner/Route 66 themed gift shop. So be sure to pick up tee or shot glass.

September 26-28, 2008 will be the 10th annual “Standin’ on the Corner” Festival. The event has food, entertainment, and it is family friendly!

Come on, sing along. I know you want to…

We Have a Wednesday Winner!

Congrats go out to Ashley Henley whose name was drawn in our random giveaway of Primal Elements Soaps to Go (and who always travels with her small refillable bottles of shampoo and conditioner).

I’m with all the folks who make sure they pack Q-Tips, baby wipes (though I’m way past the baby stage), and hand sanitizer in their toiletry bags, along with the staples: toothbrushes, toothpaste and deodorant.

Others commented that they absolutely must bring their own shower gel and razor, since the bath soaps and the disposables razors most hotels have on hand just aren’t the same as favorites from home.

I’m intrigued by Spiffles that one reader uses: “They’re tooth wipes that you can use on babies and young children instead of using a toothbrush. Since each one is individually wrapped, they’re great for traveling. And great at home too!”

And another brings along the paper soap products that DesertMama alluded to in an earlier post.

All good stuff! Thanks so much for playing. Keep an eye on Traveling Mamas for more contests coming soon.

Ashley, email me at MountainMama at TravelingMamas dot com and we’ll make arrangements to get you your prize.

The Golf Courses and Spa at La Quinta Resort & Club, Palm Springs

La Quinta Resort & Club, in the Palm Springs area of California, is one of the most beautiful luxury-class resorts I’ve been to. No building here is more than two stories tall, so that A) there are acres upon acres of perfectly landscaped gardens, replete with fruit trees and brightly colored flowers and B) the views of the mountain are always stunning, without the visual block and long shadows that would be cast by taller buildings. There is a day camp for children, so a family vacation can easily be made to feel like a romantic getaway (at least until pick-up time). I recommend reserving at least one half day of the resort camp for kids ages 4 and up; that way, the parents get to experience the spa or golf course – really, much better without kids.

Be warned: This is a 5-star resort hotel, with the prices to match. Even if you find a great deal on Priceline or some such hotel deals website, there are still other expenses. Here, this includes very expensive food, and a resort fee. Resort fees are often an unexpected “gotcha” at luxury destinations like La Quinta. I must say, though, that this is one case in which that fee was really worth it. The $25 dollar resort fee covers parking (is usually around $10/day at equivalent resort hotels), Wi-Fi (which can be around $15/day at equivalent resort hotels), the fitness center, and pool and jacuzzi use. Those pools don’t clean themselves, you know.

The Spa La Quinta - Like Pavlov’s dogs, I am practically salivating at the memory of the outdoor spa experience here. One of Spa La Quinta’s signature treatments is the Celestial Shower; it’s a 10 minute prelude to other treatments, usually, and outdoors. I recommend following the Celestial Shower with either the 50-minute Native Clay treatment, which is a facial mask to hydrate skin (a concurrent scalp massage aids relaxation), or the 50-minute Detoxifying Seaweed Body Mask, full-body treatment which is surprisingly comfortable and pampering. Of course, there’s an array of massages and beauty treatments here as well. If you’re planning to stay at this resort during a peak travel season, book your appointment early; this is a destination spa, and sell-outs are common.

The Golf - La Quinta is, first and foremost, a golf resort. Naturally, it has (or has access to) some of the best golf courses in the Greater Palm Springs area. The five golf courses here are the PGA West Greg Norman Course, PGA West Stadium Golf Course, PGA West Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course, La Quinta Resort Mountain Course, and La Quinta Resort Dunes Course. Nearby SilverRock, a challenging course, is one of the hosts for the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. In keeping with the luxury Palm Spring golf resort that is La Quinta, there is a first-class clubhouse and pro shop on site. Guests of the La Quinta Resort & Club can book a tee time and feel right at home here. The Mountain Course was rated one of the Top 100 Courses You Can Play, by Golf magazine.

Now, there’s also tennis, a fitness center, and 41 semi-private pools. But who has the energy for all that stuff? After a morning of golf or body massage treatments, all a parent really wants to do is pick up the kids from the day camp, and snooze by the pool until dinner. Funny how exhausting a massage can be!

Family Fun at a Great Palm Springs Golf Resort

Do you readers know any golf fans? Or maybe even are one, yourself? I’m not – but I sure know some devoted players who plan entire vacations around golf. These guys (yes, they’re mostly men) book their families into golf club resorts for weeks at a time, without researching whether there are other activities so that, say, the mom and children who don’t golf, have alternatives.

My own daughters’ favorite nearby (well, nearish) resort hotel is actually a golf resort, La Quinta Resort and Club in Palm Springs. And none of us golf! Clearly, La Quinta has several other assets going for it. There are over 40 pools and over 50 jacuzzis, for one thing, not to mention the tennis, the fitness room, and the seemingly always open (and always alluring) gift shop. A quick poll of an established sample group (my kids) showed 100% agreement about the two best activities for children at La Quinta, and they are…the day camp, and the resort restaurants!

Camp La Quinta - My own children prefer resort kids camps that lean more towards the arts-and-crafts end of kiddie activities (such as the JW Marriott Resort & Spa in Palm Desert), but this is a small complaint. They had a great time here. Outdoorsy children and kids who enjoy scavenger hunts have a blast here. Different days have different themes, such as “Desert Discovery” and “La Quinta Oympics.” It’s for kids ages 4 and up, although a few years ago they let my younger child in when she was just three (I think it’s an issue of relative independence more than mere age). Parents can sign their children up for whole or half days, which is the only way that the mamas and papas on vacation can go off and enjoy golf and the spa. I know, I know – we all love family vacations. But time away from the kids is invaluable too, especially when spent getting a luxury massage!

The Resort Restaurants - While La Quinta is a golfer’s paradise, and great for romantic getaways, we were here with the kids. The best restaurant here seemed very adults-only; Azur is an upscale Japanese sushi restaurant with an extensive, award-winning wine list. Dinner starts (hope you’re sitting down!) at $125 per person; that price tag, plus the absence of chicken nuggets on the menu, led us to skip Azur in favor of the more child-friendly La Quinta restaurants.

What we loved, unanimously, were the Adobe Grill and Twenty 6. These two restaurants are perfect for families (but go to Adobe Grill later in the evening for a quieter, more romantic atmosphere). The Adobe Grill has great Mexican food – and truly authentic, it’s not just piles of nachos and refried beans here – along with a children’s menu which tones down the spices. We had the breakfast buffet at Twenty 6 every day of our vacation at La Quinta. Who doesn’t love a fresh, well-tended to, large spread of breakfast items? If the buffet isn’t your style, there’s an a la carte menu as well. Last, snacks are had at the Spa Bistro – this is light food here – and at the golf clubhouses.

We’ve been to La Quinta Resort and Club twice now, and plan to return. That means a lot, coming from a traveling mama who enjoys seeing new places whenever she can. For a 5-star luxury vacation in Palm Springs, you can’t do better.

Carnival of Cities Comes Home to the Mamas

Reading CajunMama’s dispatches from New Orleans, Louisiana, has been such fun over the past few days. (Let the good times roll, Cajun!)

Now it’s time to get the skinny on a number of other cities around the world, since TravelingMamas.com is proudly hosting Home Turf Media’s Carnival of Cities this week.

Without further ado, we suggest you check out the following blog posts for inspiration in planning your next urban trip (or just enjoy the armchair travels across the globe):

The Big Apple wins the popularity contest, with three bloggers chiming in about New York City. SarahSpy dishes on her favorite spots to eat brunch in Manhattan and Brooklyn. I’m salivating just reading some of the menu options.

Meanwhile, GrrlScientist captured some evocative images of New York City enveloped in clouds after a rainstorm earlier this month. And the newly minted Gotham-ite at Only in the Apple tells us how to recognize other New York neophytes and claims that some New York stereotypes are true.

The Traveling Mum relates her day of sightseeing in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Not only were her children in tow, but so was her father, who grew up in the area and remembers walking to the Cathedral every Sunday as a child. The Caribbean island is also the subject of Visit the Coqui, where you can get the scoop on the first-ever PGA tournament on Puerto Rico, scheduled for March.

Karen at Europe a la Carte shares the insider’s scoop on Stirling, Scotland, where she lived for 18 years.

The DC Traveler recaps his Monument Monday posts. If you’re heading to the U.S. capital, and need a primer on the important monuments to visit, as well as some lesser-known sites, check out these chock-full-of-info articles and pretty images.

April at Southern Byways links to dozens of cities in the U.S. South that make great destinations for family travel, from Williamsburg, Va. to San Antonio, Texas.

The ladies at Go Girlfriend explain how Amsterdam officials are cracking down on some of the city’s most alluring attractions. (Hey, for some visitors — not this angelic Mama).

Finally, learn why you should buy a villa in sunny Cyprus, at the Cyprus Informer. And enter to win a cookbook penned by Tom Douglas, Seattle restaurateur extraordinaire, at The Seattle Traveler.

The Carnival of Cities is always looking for bloggers to host the weekly carnival. Or, if you’d like to submit a post for the next edition, click here.

Happy travels!

Rex and Galatoire’s

Mardi Gras isn’t just a trip for adults, it is also a great time for a family vacation. Kids and parents can learn about the history and culture of New Orleans, the event called Mardi Gras, and the food that makes this city so memorable. Take a step inside and old warehouse to discover the mysterious Krewe of Rex and dine on fine cuisine at Galatoire’s, a New Orleans favorite.

Yesterday morning began with a limousine ride to the Rex Den. A den is the place where Krewes build and house their floats. The Rex Den is located in the 9th ward and many of the floats were damaged in Katrina. However, Rex would not let a hurricane bring them down, and they rebuilt their floats and have begun to use their creations for educational purposes. This year’s theme is about rivers, which each float representing a river. School children have been able to come into the den and see these representations of rivers such as the Tiber, The Nile, The Mississippi, and many others. I feel honored to have been invited in to this special place, where the waterline from the flood is still visible on the metal walls.

The Rex visit was followed by a New Orleans favorite, Galatoire’s. This restaurant does not take reservations and a dinner jacket is strongly advised. This landmark begins seating at 11:30, but this does not stop diners from lining up in advanced. Galatoire’s invented Oysters Rockefeller and Crab Sardou, leaving their own mark in culinary history.

Carnival Season in New Orleans is home to so many different Krewes and parades. I was able to catch Shangri-La after lunch, and then a few more after my dinner at Grand Isle Seafood, located on Fulton Street at Harrah’s. Pegasus was the last parade of the evening and I walked back to Harrah’s looking like Santa Claus with an enormous bag of beads thrown over my shoulder.

I was so glad to get back to my room and soak in a hot bath, to prepare myself for the next day of festivities. Thank goodness Harrah’s has a never-ending supply of scalding hot water. Oooohhh!

Brennan’s and the Krewe of Cork

Fine dining is one part of what makes New Orleans and Louisiana appealing to family travelers and couples on romantic vacation. Partaking of a meal isn’t just a meal, it is an event.

Breakfast at Brennan’s is always a treat for me. I always order the Three Course Prix Fixe which starts at $36US. It is customary to start with an “eye-opener” while perusing the menu. My favorite choices are a Brandy Milk Punch, a Mimosa, or a Mr. Funk of New Orleans. There are many other eye-openers to choose from, in typical New Orleans style. The meal itself is an event, taking at least two hours. The purpose is to enjoy your meal in a luxurious setting while visiting with friends. I ended up choosing the New Orleans Turtle Soup (with a splash of sherry), a split of Eggs Benedict and Eggs Shannon, and a grand finale of Bananas Foster, which was invented at this restaurant. In my mind, of course, I’m imagining that the Eggs Shannon was put on the menu just for me. There is an extra charge for the turtle soup and the banana dessert, but it is soooo worth it.

Local editor and author Errol Laborde came to the meal and presented us all with a copy of his book, KREWE, a history of early New Orleans Carnival. It can be purchased on Amazon.com. Only a few of us managed to get up from the table and continue on for the day. We walked through the Mardis Gras museum located next door to St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square.

The rain began and as I strolled down Bourbon Street, a walking parade made its way past me. It was the Krewe of Cork, which pays homage to the vines. After the parade passed, I stopped into my special place, Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, the oldest bar in the US.

The rain poured down even more and the evening parades were cancelled. I made it back to my room at Harrah’s and met the group for dinner in the casino. I was so glad at that moment that I was at Harrah’s Hotel, because there is an underground tunnel that leads to the casino, keeping me out of the cold rain for the night.

Roadtrip to NOLA

Yesterday after work I hopped in RedBugg (my VW) and took a road trip to New Orleans with my man, Kimo. Kimo and I have been on many road trips together, and what I like about him is:

A) He lets me drive him around.

B) He doesn’t mind me singing at the top of my lungs.

C) He smiles all the time.

D) He never wears a shirt.

There is something about driving a vehicle, with the landscape quickly passing by, and learning to just live with you. As a mama, it is hard to find that quiet time to talk to yourself or think about your first kiss, or that time you look REALLY rocking in a particular outfit. Road trips are just wonderful and this is something any mama or a group of mamas should really do at least once. Maybe we secretly desire to be Romy and Michelle or even Thelma and Louise (without the ending).

This particular road trip ended up at Harrah’s new hotel in New Orleans. I’ve met up with a few old friends and I’m making some new ones. We are checking out the hotel, a few restaurants, and definitely going to a few parades.

I was excited to get into my room and pleasantly surprised by the lavish digs that are considered standard here. The colors were toned down rich colors of Mardi Gras, such as aubergine and a creamy mustard. The bath even had a soaking tub with separate shower. I did my “hotel detective” check and found that even the area behind the toilet was immaculate. I give thumbs up for Harrah’s New Orleans.

Dinner last night was in the hotel restaurant, Riche, due to the late flights of most of our group. We met up with Arthur Hardy, who is the voice of Carnival season in New Orleans. He has published the Mardi Gras Guide for the past three decades. He entertained our group with stories of Bob Hope, Sandra Bullock, and many other celebrities who have enjoyed the season in the area.

It was a pleasant start to a full weekend, which includes brunch at Brennan’s, one my favorite restaurants in the entire world.

Mardi Gras in the U.S.

New Orleans is just one of many places that celebrate Maris Gras. Cities such as Mobile, Pensacola, and Baton Rouge offer family parades full of fun.

I’ve been invited to spend a long weekend at Harrah’s New Orleans, a new hotel/resort on the scene. I’m going to eat, drink, and be merry during a time of parades and partying. The first Mardi Gras celebration may have occurred in Mobile, AL, but New Orleans made it big. Other places around the Southeast U.S. celebrate this festive season in their own special ways and they all provide a family atmosphere (even NOLA).

Mobile, AL – This is where the first Mardi Gras was celebrated in 1703. They throw beads and are known for throwing Moon Pies.

Pensacola, FL – These parade participants throw beads, candy and Moon Pies. They offer a family atmosphere and poke fun at New Orleans and Mobile Krewes in a punny way.

New Orleans, LA – Like I stated earlier, they made Mardi Gras big.

Baton Rouge, LA – This capital city is the host of such parades as the Krewe of Mutts and Spanishtown, which features pink flamingos placed in various spots throughout the city during carnival season.

New Roads, LA – They host the oldest Mardi Gras celebration in Louisiana outside of New Orleans. It is also one the the nation’s oldest African-American sponsored event.

Mamou, LA – Masked riders ride horseback from farm to farm to collect the ingredients for a gumbo. This is an old tradition and the climax is the chasing of the chicken.

Lake Charles, LA – This is the center of Southwest Louisiana, which hosts parades in small towns and villages in the area.

This is just a sampling of the many places in the U.S. that celebrate Mardi Gras.

 

Win Primal Elements Travel Soaps

Here at TravelingMamas.com we like to give stuff away. After all, who doesn’t love it when the mail carrier leaves treats in your mailbox that you didn’t pay for?

To kick off an ongoing series of regular giveaways, we want to mail one lucky winner a set of “Girl Stuff” Primal Elements Soaps to Go. This sampler pack has 5 different mini soaps, and each is wrapped in its own acetate clamshell case. They’re great for popping into a toiletry bag for travel, not to mention they are solid soaps, so you can stick them in your carry-on (no 3-oz liquid container or Ziploc quart bag required). All Primal Elements soaps are colorful and fun, and handmade with vegetable glycerin.

Want to enter the giveaway? Just type up a comment below and tell us what your favorite travel toiletry is. Do you always fly with your handy make-up-remover wipes? Never leave home without your two-in-one toothbrush with built-in toothpaste? Share away! We’re always up for learning more travel tips.

We’ll take comments until midnight (EST), January 29, and put all the commenters’ names in a hat to draw one on Winning Wednesday, January 30. Check back then at TravelingMamas.com to find out who gets the prize. Drawing open to U.S. residents only.

Next Page »

• 
• Search for:
• 
  

• Categories

  • Adventure Travel
  • Budget Travel
  • Culinary Travel
  • Destinations
  • Eco Travel
  • Family Travel
  • Flying High
  • Girlfriend Getaways
  • Luxury Travel
  • Mama Interviews
  • Romantic Getaways
  • Spa Getaways
  • The Cookie Jar
  • Travel Gear
  • Travel News
  • Travel Tuesday
  • Videos

• Favorite Posts Header

  

• Text: Favorite Posts

  
  Girlfriend Getaway: RippleCove Inn and Spa
  
  Top Easy Green Travel Trips
  
  Beach Girlfriend Getaway: San Juan Marriott
  
  Hiking for Parents & Children in Hawaii
  
  

• OrlandoEsape.com 11/17/2009

  Book Orlando Hotels, Florida Hotels, and save 70% off on Hotel Reservations. Visit eGruve.com. 

• Silverado Exp 5/01/2010