Southern New Hampshire Vacation Home Rental – Cobb Hill Estate in Harrisville

cobexteriorMy college friends and I rented the best vacation house this summer: Cobb Hill Estate on 750 acres in the Mount Monadnock region of southern New Hampshire. Located less than two miles up a forested hill from the tiny town of Harrisville, this rental property was perfect for our large group of 10 adults and 10 small children. Trust me, we had a heck of a time searching HomeAway.com and VRBO.com to find a house or condominiums that would accommodate us all in a spot in southern New Hampshire or northern Massachusetts (one friend was two weeks from giving birth and needed to be within decent driving range to her hospital).

But in the Cobb Hill Estate, which we did end up finding through VRBO.com (Vacation Rentals by Owner), we had accommodations that were pretty close to ideal for our group. We were coming from as far away as Washington state to gather for a long weekend and simply “hang out.” We didn’t need a lot of bells and whistles or a ton of entertainment for the kids — who ranged in age from 2 months to 9 years.  Our reunion was about being together in a comfortable spot, laughing over silly college memories (we all went to Dartmouth together) and making new ones.

cobguestWith Cobb Hill’s four bedrooms, one bonus room, a pull-out couch in the TV room and a nifty freestanding, un-insulated guest cabin with sleeping loft (at right) there was a ton of room for us all to spread out. The estate sits on 750 acres, so if any of us wanted to escape, it was easy to do just that! The house came with a GPS unit, with some pre-set locations (caves, the treehouse) to find on a hike on the property — unfortunately all the setpoints were about 100 feet off, so that didn’t work out so well (we did alert the owners to the faulty GPS; hopefully it’s fixed).

The kitchen was small and dated, but fully stocked with cooking utensils and service ware (except for a teapot for our tea drinkers). We cooked every single meal over the course of our three-night stay, having assigned a meal or two to each family. That worked out incredibly well; could you imagine taking 10 children out to a restaurant for every meal, had we stayed in a hotel? Instead, we sat the kids around a large dining room table or out on the big deck.

cobviewSpeaking of, the deck was a great place for us to hang out in the evening until the mosquitoes descended as the sun set (the renters information booklet says mosquitoes aren’t a problem, but we beg to differ). A lower deck is outfitted with this totally high-tech, invisible, bug-repelling barrier — but we hated turning it on because it made such an awful buzzing sound.

We also hung out in the big living room, and made a fire in the wood-burning fireplace each night. The ping-pong table in the sunroom provided hours of entertainment for kids and adults alike. The children only watched one DVD in the cozy living room all weekend long, which we thought was pretty impressive, given there was a library of about 100 DVDs for guests to use! A large grassy area outside was the site of a whiffle ball game, and the little ones also played on a small swing set. The preschoolers rode trikes in the driveway.

In all, Cobb Hill Estate is an idyllic setting — as described, we had panoramic mountain views as the house is perched on the edge of the woods facing south. We were totally away from it all, given the winding dirt road we had to take to get to the estate, but we were able to get down to “town” within 10 minutes. Our drive to Keene and a local mini-golf and ice cream stand was less than a half hour.

I suppose our only gripes were the Internet connection going out a couple times (one of my buddies had work to do), and we felt bad asking the nearby caretaker to keep coming by to reset the modem. It’s behind locked doors, so we couldn’t do it ourselves. And we appreciated having staples in the kitchen cabinets, such as spices and sugar and cooking oil; but someone has to go through the pantry and throw out expired food. We found peanut butter from 2005.

Our summer stay at Cobb Hill Estate was really great; we’d rent the property again (I think the owner liked us; we got our $500 security deposit back, no problem). It rents all year round, and this fall, my guess is the views of the surrounding mountains will be utterly gorgeous with the changing leaves. I’d, frankly, be nervous about renting the estate in the winter; I would not want to make the uphill, dirt-road climb in snow.

But for folks who want to get away from it all, and who don’t mind dated furniture, non-fluffy guest towels and the occasional dated box of crackers, I’d recommend Cobb Hill vacation rental, which goes for $500 a night (three night minimum). After all, for communing in New Hampshire nature, it can’t be beat. And the sunsets are divine.

cobsunset

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September 7, 2009 | Filed Under Destinations, Family Travel | 4 Comments 

Best Luxury Resort in Colorado: The Broadmoor

broadmoorviewI’ve stayed at some phenomenal luxury hotels in Colorado — Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, RockResorts’ Osprey, Westin Riverfront, The Little Nell and St. Regis Aspen, in particular, come to mind. But no other Colorado property can truly compare to The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. Its sheer size, fascinating 90-year history, 54 holes of championship golf, brand-new spacious cottages, a million and one places to eat (okay, 18), a full-service spa,  swimming pools and a gorgeous setting on a lake at the base of a mountain are just a few of the reasons I think The Broadmoor is the best luxury resort in Colorado.

My family and I spent one night at The Broadmoor (courtesy of the resort) before we hopped on a plane at the Colorado Springs airport this summer. One night is by no means enough time to truly enjoy all of its amenities, but we packed in as much as we could into, oh, 18 hours there. Here are just a few of the highlights we enjoyed:

The Ambiance: I  felt as though I was dropped right into a scene from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. The manicured grounds, rolling green golf courses and historic decor in the public spaces, to me, exude glamour. We pulled up to the property’s security gate, gave our name, and then continued on to the porte-cochere, where valets greeted us – by name – which gave us a clue to the incredible service we’d receive all weekend. Lots of “How is your stay Mrs. Williams?” and “Whatever we can do to help, Mrs. Williams.” I loved the intricately tiled mosaic floor in the entryway to the lobby, as well as the historic photos, marble staircase, ornate chandelier and brass escalators.

broadmoorrestThe Tavern: The steaks were excellent at this landmark restaurant at The Broadmoor, dating back to 1938. We ate in its enclosed “Garden Room,” filled with lush vegetation and twinkling lights overhead. No fusion foods or unusual entrees here; just favorite hand-cut prime steaks, chops, seafood, prime rib, plus shellfish appetizers, soups and salads. One must-see: Bottle Alley, where all the liquor and wine bottles that were consumed during Prohibition are displayed; check it out just not far from the entrance to The Tavern (also near the main lobby).

broadmoorpoolThe Swimming Pools: We arrived on an unusually chilly and rainy day in July, so we took the kids to The Broadmoor’s indoor heated pool (near the spa, which I wish I had time to experience), with outdoor hot tub and heated lap pool. This is a huge boon for parents who like to be able to keep a close watch on their kids, as the indoor pool is not huge and there are plenty of lounge chairs if you don’t feel like going in yourself! The next day, just hours before we had to get on a plane, we hit the big, outdoor swimming pool, where we were greeted by one of about a dozen staff members whose sole job is to outfit you with fluffy beach towels and lead you to lounge chairs. The outdoor infinity pool is next to Cheyenne Lake, so matter where you are in the pool — or adjacent hot tub — you’ve got great views of the grounds. Two water slides entertained the kids — that is, until my son got sick (yes, puked) in the pool, and closed it down. While that’s an entire blog post in itself, let’s just say that a) it was hugely embarrassing and b) The Broadmoor staff responded quickly and with grace (not making us feel badly at all). And yes, we did make it to our flight and he traveled the rest of the day without incident.

broadmoorbedThe Cottages: We stayed in one of the brand-new (as of May 2009) two-bedroom, one-story cottages just off the 18th fairway of the east golf course. At the same time charming and elegant, these accommodations feature high ceilings, window doors that open to an expansive veranda, heated bathroom floors, and hand-crafted area rugs. We all appreciated the luxurious bedding and the mini fridge to store our drinks and snacks.

Of course all of this luxury does not come cheap. I found standard rooms starting at $270 a night this fall, and the rack rate for the smallest one-bedroom cottage is $1,400 a night. Do ask about summer specials that run through September 30, 2009, and otherwise check out the Specials & Packages page.

Top photo: Courtesy the Broadmoor; others by me!

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September 6, 2009 | Filed Under Family Travel, Luxury Travel, Travel News | 6 Comments 

Help Send MountainMama to NYC, Win Money & Give to Charity

I’m a sucker for entering contests where the prize is a fabulous travel experience. But unlike that “Best Job in the World” promotion sponsored by Queensland Tourism (where more than 34,000 people — including me — created clever videos to enter), I’m now up for a prize that I could actually win.

trazzlerpowellI’m one of 200 semi-finalists (out of about 900 entrants) in the Trazzler #NYCGO writing contest. If enough Trazzler.com members “wish list” my short article (aka “Trazzler trip”) about boating on Lake Powell, I could be one of 10 writers to reach round three, after which judges vote on a grand-prize winner.

The grand-prize? A fabulous $10,000 contract to write 30 more Trazzler trips about New York City. To write said trips, the winner also gets a 2-week trip to New York — courtesy of NYCGO.com, Jet Blue and AKA luxury hotel residences. Killer, right?

But I need your help. And it’s super easy.

Just click on this link, which should take you to my Lake Powell trip. If you are already a Trazzler.com member, all you have to do is sign in, click “add to wishlist” below the photo, and you’re done.

If you are not a Trazzler.com member, you will be guided to a “sign in/sign up,” page, where you can join by entering your username, password, email (you can opt out of receiving Trazzler emails). You can also sign in easily with your Facebook email/password.  Either way, once you sign in, you can click “add to wishlist” on my Lake Powell trip, no problem.

The 10 trips that are most often “wishlisted” by September 14 enter round three. If that happens to me, at the least I’ll earn $250 to write 10 more Trazzler trips, but I’m hoping my prose will wow the judges enough to send me to New York City!

Here’s the kicker: If I do win the grand prize, I’ll donate half of my $10,000 cash prize to charity. I figure I have so much to be thankful for these days, so I’d like to help out some organizations that have been helpful for me in recent weeks. I’ll give $1,000 each to the Prostate Cancer Foundation and my local Valley View Hospital Foundation; the remaining $3,000 I’ll spread among other other non-profit causes I support (nothing political or controversial — our family giving tends to be for charities that support needy children or educational efforts).

The remaining $5,000 from the cash prize (or “fee” for writing 30 NYC Trazzler trips) I’d use to pay taxes on the grand prize (in total it’s valued at nearly $20,000 with the accommodations and plane fare) and to buy off thank my husband and other family members who would step up with child-care duties to allow me to move to New York for two weeks. I suppose I’d need cash to eat and drink in NYC, too.

Thanks so much for helping me advance to the finals of this writing/social-media contest. Just let me know you wishlisted my trip, and I will happily join, click, Stumble, Digg anything for you in the future. I truly believe what goes around comes around. You scratch my back, I’ll absolutely scratch yours.

Any questions? Shoot me an email.

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September 3, 2009 | Filed Under Travel News | Leave a Comment 

Winning Wednesday – SanDisk slotRadio Player

Congrats go out to Bethany, commenter #84, whose number was drawn randomly by Random.org. She won the SanDisk slotRadio Player. I’m not sure if Bethany’s suggestion of “Tom’s Diner” by Suzanne Vega is on any of the music discs that SanDisk produces, but I think it’s a great suggestion. Haven’t listened to Suzanne Vega in years… but her songs bring back good memories for me!

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August 26, 2009 | Filed Under The Cookie Jar | 1 Comment 

Giveaway: Win a SanDisk slotRadio Player

I’d read the mostly positive (with some caveats) reviews of the SanDisk slotRadio Player on The Practical Travel Gear blog and Go Galavanting, so I was happy to sample one myself this week to figure out whether this was a product I’d recommend to other travelers. Indeed, for a non-music-buff like myself (I never know who sings what song, I prefer silence over background tunes, and I probably spend less than $20/year for new songs for my iPod), I think this music player is great.

slotradioThe small (2 inches squared) music player comes with a card that’s preloaded with 1,000 songs from Billboard artists, all arranged in playlists by genre and style: Country, Contemporary, R&B/Hip Hop, Alternative, Rock, Workout and Chillout. You cannot see a list of the songs for each playlist — and they are nowhere to be found online — so you never know what song is coming up next. (This is especially fun when you’re listening to a playlist for the first time.) You cannot re-arrange or go backwards to find a song that has previously played — but you can skip ahead as often as you like. As each song is played, like an iPod, the song title and artist is displayed on a small screen.

At $99.99, the slotRadio is not cheap — but you do get 1,000 songs on the disk; that’s only 10 cents per song (of course, if you hate country, the price per song you’ll listen to goes up). The player is also an FM radio. I think it’s overall a great deal, again for someone isn’t particularly particular about her music.

Other slotRadio cards with 1,000 songs each are available in 80s/90s, Oldies, Country, Hip-Hop/R&B, Rock (with more to come) for $50 a piece. Considering I pay 99 cents per song when I download them from Apple, this is a bargain at 5 cents a song. Note, however, that there’s no back-up like iTunes stored on your hard drive — if you lose the disk, you’re out of luck as there’s no replacement.

I’ll keep close watch on my slotRadio when it accompanies me on my plane trip next month. Aircraft cruising at 35,000 feet is one place I do like to have background music — to drown out plane engines and chatty seatmates. Since I’m not a music fanatic, quite frankly, some of these songs are brand new to me. But some oldies but goodies from The Police, Tom Petty and U2 that bring smiles to my face.

I’d love to see a Traveling Mamas reader enjoy the slotRadio, too! Yep, one lucky reader is going to win their very own music player. Just leave a comment below answering this question, “What one song would you like to see on a SanDisk slotRadio playlist?” I’ll generate a random number from Random.org Tuesday night (you have until 10 p.m. EST, August 25 to enter) to select the winner. U.S. residents only; no immediate family members of the Traveling Mamas.

Good luck!

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August 23, 2009 | Filed Under The Cookie Jar | 129 Comments 

Epic Summer All-Inclusive Family Adventure in the Colorado Mountains

My family indeed had an epic summer filled with all sorts of amazing vacation experiences, from our first (awesome!) stay at a dude ranch to a lengthy, activity-filled trip to New Hampshire. We took short getaways to luxury properties not far from home and spent five nights camping at Utah’s Lake Powell. But that’s not all! Smack dab in the middle of the kids’ summer break from school, we sampled a brand-new type of family adventure from Vail Resorts that’s called, appropriately, Epic Summer.

These 3- or 6-night trips are all-inclusive vacations that introduce families to all of the incredible outdoor activities and the amazing mountain scenery that are associated with some of my state’s best resort areas. Because all of your meals, accommodations, activities and transportation are included, you know the price of your family vacation up front. The value is incredible — if you arranged all of the logistics yourself you’d pay about twice as much as the packaged Epic Summer trips.

epicvanAnd that’s the other great benefit: the daily itinerary is all planned for you! No arguing about who wants to do what that day, no fighting over which restaurant to eat at. Plus, you don’t have to negotiate unfamiliar roads and high mountain passes in a rental car; Epic Summer guests travel between resorts and activities in a comfortable 10-passenger van. Your driver also serves as your tour guide, and the Epic Summer guides are fantastic. These are outdoor enthusiasts who live, work and play in the mountains, and they’re so eager to share their slice of paradise with visitors. They are ultra-friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating folks.

My family participated in the 3-night Epic Summer trip, as I had an assignment to cover the vacation for Vail Resorts’ PEAKS magazine. Our home base was at the Keystone Lodge & Spa, in a comfortable and spacious 2-bedroom condominium. This is where we rested our weary heads each night and enjoyed breakfast (a generous buffet spread) each morning.

epiclovelandHighlights of the 4-day itinerary were driving up to the Continental Divide (Loveland Pass) for some photo ops and a short high-alpine stroll; riding the gondola up to the top of Keystone Mountain for a hike and picnic; touring the Country Boy Mine in Breckenridge; whitewater rafting on the Upper Colorado River; and horseback riding in the aspen groves around Keystone Stables. My 7- and 9-year-olds were the perfect ages to enjoy these active adventures (minimum age for kids is 6); my young son is still raving about how much fun he had engaging other rafts in a water fight on the river.

We had some free time to browse the shops (or grab a beer) in the mountain towns of Breckenridge and Vail, and two of our evening meals were at local town restaurants — again, all of our food was included in the package price.

epicraftTruly, our family had a ball on this activity-centric trip. We’re a family who like to explore the outdoors and try new things and do stuff, as opposed to simply visit museums, tour attractions or shop. It was fun for us to get to know other ski resorts in the summertime, and the other participants on our trip (from Texas and New Jersey) were blown away by Colorado’s beauty, climate and opportunities for outdoor fun in the summertime.

This was the first season for Epic Summer, and like any new product, it will likely be tweaked a bit before the adventures are rolled out in 2010. In my post-trip feedback, I recommended that planners alter the itinerary a bit to include more time, if possible, at the Keystone Lodge. This is a fabulous hotel for families in the summertime, with its two pools, its location on a lake with paddleboats and canoe rentals, as well as a paved bike path that weaves past the resort. We actually arranged for a late check-out just so we could enjoy some of the resort’s amenities before we had to pack up and head home. The days were fairlyregimented, and if families could enjoy some “down time” just to chill out at the hotel, I think everyone would feel more refreshed. (Free time chilling out in the middle of Vail Village is not the same as lying down for a quick cat nap on your hotel bed.)

That said, I’d highly recommend Epic Summer for any out-of-state visitors who are interested in getting to know some of Colorado’s top mountain resort areas — and have a lot of fun and adventures along the way.

epicmtns480

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August 19, 2009 | Filed Under Family Travel | 7 Comments 

Top Evening Entertainment in Glenwood Springs, Colorado: Glenwood Vaudeville Revue

Don’t you love it when you find a treasure in your own backyard?

glenwoodvaudevilleGlenwood Springs, about a half-hour from my mountain home, draws visitors with its fabulous opportunities for hiking (a favorite is Hanging Lake), biking along the recreation path in Glenwood Canyon, the new whitewater kayaking park, the world’s largest hot springs pool and Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. But it’s never been known for its evening entertainment. Until now.

The Glenwood Vaudeville Revue brings together some of the most talented performers in the Roaring Fork Valley for song-and-dance routines and silly skits that had me crying I was laughing so hard. Last night the audience guffawed and giggled through nearly two hours of funny, totally original routines, including a current-day riff on “Who’s On First,” a rap about black bears rifling through downtown restaurant dumpsters (relevant to me, with a recent bear-in-my-garage incident), a hilarious tap-dance number about 1930’s movie production “code” (on-screen kisses can last no more than 6 seconds) and many, many more. The audience gets into the act by guessing lines from popular movies. I won a free drink by shouting out “Steel Magnolias!” (She had me at “M’Lynn”).

I was impressed not only at the number of different skits, but also how many quick costume changes occurred and simply how busy the five actors and actresses were (plus the talented pianist who also hopped up on stage a few times). Not only are the five vaudevillians performing, but they also tend bar and wait tables before and during the show. The “pub style” menu (with full bar) features sandwiches, salads and appetizers like chicken wings and quesadillas. No menu item costs more than $9.

And that’s the beauty of the Glenwood Vaudeville Revue — it’s a cheap night out. Ticket prices are only $18 per adult, $15 per child. While some of the routines included, er, some adult references, nothing was too bawdy for my nine-year-old daughter (no foul language at all). She didn’t fully understand some of the jokes but it didn’t really matter. The performers did such a great job of creating exaggerated characters, just watching their body movements and facial expressions was a hoot. For example, a Masterpiece Theatre-like reading of The Beatles’ “I Am the Eggman” lyrics brought down the house. My daughter didn’t know it was a Beatles song, but thought the silly actor was hysterical.

The Glenwood Vaudeville Revue only runs weekends through September, with Friday and Saturday night and Sunday afternoon performances. Organizers are planning a repeat season next summer, but would like to expand the theater year-round. If you’re in the Glenwood Springs area — even vacationing in Aspen (about 50 minutes away) –  do not miss this top-notch, family-friendly, affordable entertainment. Your funny bone will thank you.

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August 15, 2009 | Filed Under Travel News | 3 Comments 

Your Questions Answered: What to See and Do in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on a Romantic Vacation

Seems as if our readers are keen on traveling to Florida this fall. First, we answered a question about where to stay and what to do in the Florida Keys with kids, then a query about how to buy cheap tickets to Disney World and Universal Orlando. Now, reader Amy Draper writes: “My husband and I will be celebrating our 10th anniversary in September and we’re going to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Can you give us some ideas about places to visit and dine?”

ftlasolasFirst, Amy, congrats on your wedding anniversary! The Florida coast sounds like a great place to enjoy a romantic weekend (or do you get to stay longer?).

I queried some friends on Facebook and Twitter — since none of the Mamas are intimately familiar with Fort Lauderdale — and found out from an old high school friend who spent a couple months there earlier this year that the “Las Olas” area has lots of quaint bistros and high-end shopping boutiques. You’ll find countless seaside restaurants between Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale, all on route A1A (a.k.a. Ocean Boulvevard).

@TravelZoo on Twitter chimed in with these tips: Stroll along 25 miles of beach, tour historic Bonnet House, cruise on the riverfront; had great meal at Chima once

ftairThe  Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau is a wealth of information. (You gotta love the website address: www.sunny.org.) Peruse the site for all sorts of suggestions on things to do and places to eat. If you’re into culture, consider the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District. I think an Everglades airboat ride sounds fun, too.

Francine Mason, VP of Communications at the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB and who is the Tweeter behind the @VisitLauderdale account, suggests Pillars for a romantic inn on the Intracoastal Highway, a few blocks from the beach. If you’ve got money to burn, consider the Ritz Carlton or the Atlantic Hotel “for a luxe retreat.” W is a property for the young and hip (or young at heart, I think).

Depending on your activity level, Francine suggests a moonlit kayak tour; scuba diving or snorkeling; paddle boarding or surfing lessons. But one popular romantic activity, she says, is a gondola ride in the “Venice of America,” gliding past the mega-yachts and waterfront mansions.

For dining and drinking, Francine highlights Johnny V, YOLO or Bova on Las Olas; also consider wine tasting at the Ritz wine room ($25 per person). Finally, two restaurants that get big thumbs’ up on Trip Advisor are the Capital Grille and the Casablanca Cafe. Again, the Mamas haven’t eaten there, but both are recommended for romantic dining, according to the user reviews.

We hope you enjoy your Fort Lauderdale vacation, Amy!

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August 13, 2009 | Filed Under Travel News | 2 Comments 

Your Questions Answered: How to Get Cheap Disney and Universal Tickets

We’ve been inundated with questions from our readers lately — which is GREAT! We’re happy to help you with your queries about saving money on vacation or the best things to do in favorite destinations. We love it when the Traveling Mamas community chimes in with comments offering even more tips and advice.  So, keep those questions (and answers) coming!

One of our latest emails concerns Disney and  Universal Orlando in Florida:

My husband and I (both retired) are looking for tickets to Disney and Universal. I’ve looked online and they are so expensive! Any suggestions for less expensive admission tickets would be appreciated! Thanks, Donna

disneycastleI feel your pain, Donna. A one-day Magic Your Way ticket (admission to just one of the Disney’s four theme parks) is $79 on the online Walt Disney World Ticket Store. That said, if you buy multiple days worth of Magic Your Way or ParkHopper (allowing you to go to multiple parks in one day) tickets, the daily price drops up to 50% when you plan a week’s worth theme park visits. (But, frankly, do you really want to spend 7 days at Disney World? I doubt it!)

Here are some Disney ticket tips I gathered from a little online research and some posts on the Traveling Mamas Twitter account and my personal Facebook page. Thanks to everyone who offered advice!

A high-school classmate who lives in Florida noted that for the remainder of 2009,  you can register online and visit Disney World (or Disneyland) for FREE on your birthday. (Very cool – I hadn’t heard of this.)

She also suggested you find a hotel you’d like to stay at and ask if they have room packages that include discounted park tickets

DeliciousBaby’s Debbie Dubrow recommended checking for tickets through your membership at Costco.

One warning: do not buy park tickets from a third party on eBay. Apparently you cannot confirm how many days are left at the park on the ticket AND there is some sort of high-tech fingerprinting scan (!) used to determine if the ticket has been transferred (which is verboten). Just sounds too risky to me. (Thanks, Suzanne Rowan Kelleher of WeJustGotBack.com, for chiming in on that!)

Writing Travel’s Lanora Mueller says her go-to resource for anything Disney is Mary Waring’s Mousesavers.com. “It’s been my bible for Disney travel for nearly 10 years.” Indeed, Mary’s section on Disney World Tickets & Passes is chock full of advice, tips and tricks.

Lanora also recommends wdwinfo.com, passporter.com and allears.net for more Disney advice.

Regarding Universal Orlando (comprised of Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure), @tsekuech on Twitter says that auto association members can get discounts at the ticket window, so pack your AAA card. According to the ticket page on the official Universal Orlando site, you can save a few bucks by purchasing in advance online and printing tickets at home. And, like Disney, the more you commit — here, to a two-park pass that can be used for up to a week’s time — the more you save.

Good luck, Donna. We hope you have a GREAT vacation!

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August 11, 2009 | Filed Under Budget Travel | 4 Comments 

Your Questions Answered: Where to Go in the Florida Keys for a Family Vacation?

What a great website. I found it while searching for info about the Florida Keys. I am trying to put together a family vacation to the Keys, but I’m finding myself totally confused. I have two boys — ages 8 and 10 — who love to snorkel and be on the beach. My husband and I are both outdoor people and would like any help finding the best location to stay and have a good family time. Thanks for any input, Denise.

First, thanks for the kudos, Denise. We appreciate the compliments!

KEY LARGOI’m actually thinking about a family vacation to the Florida Keys myself, and our kids our similarly aged (mine are 7 and 9). We’re “outdoor people,” too, and we like to be active while we’re vacationing. So, I thought I’d share some site links and information I’ve uncovered in the (very short) time I’ve spent researching the destination.

If you found us via a Google search, you may have already read CajunMama’s posts “Best Family Resorts in the Florida Keys” and “Top Family Activities in the Keys.” She also wrote about Islamorada’s family-friendly Cheeca Lodge, which she gave rave reviews. This resort has actually been closed for the past seven months, since a New Year’s Eve fire; the main lodge has been totally rebuilt and the resort is set to open December 15, 2009, with new “premier oceanfront and island-view rooms.” Cheeca Lodge is definitely on my family’s short list of accommodations.

Another upscale property my friend (also a mom of two) recommended was Hawks Cay on Duck Key. She actually worked there about two decades ago, during a college internship, and has warm memories of the Florida resort. She’s considering it for her family vacation.

If we do all end up in the Keys, we’ll be in good company: The New York Times named the Florida Keys the Family Destination of the Year.

My sort-of local Sunday newspaper travel section, the Denver Post, just ran a comprehensive piece about traveling to Key West; the story by Lindsay H. Jones has some great advice.

Our friends at Away.com have created a Florida Keys Family Travel Guide, chock full of ideas. Finally, peruse all the information on the Official Tourism Council Website for the Florida Keys. Or, if you’d like some firsthand advice and help for planning your family vacation, call 800-FLA-KEYS.

We’d love to hear from locals and frequent visitors to southern Florida — anyone else have ideas for where we should stay and what we should do while we’re in the Florida Keys? Please leave any info in the comment section.

Thanks, Denise, for your question. Let us know where and when you end up visiting the Florida Keys. We hope you have a great family vacation!

Photo by Bob Krist/Florida Keys News Bureau. Key Largo Sunset.

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August 2, 2009 | Filed Under Destinations, Family Travel | 9 Comments 

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