Hawaii CVB's Michael Ni

Guess who came to town last week? Some of my favorite people in the travel and tourism industry, the Hawaii CVB. These are some of the friendliest, most down-to-earth folk you’ll find (wonder how they’ll survive in Los Angeles…), and they’re here to promote travel to the islands of Hawaii. There were a few local journos I’ve met before at this media event, as well as Jessica from the Big Island, and John, Nathan, Darlene and Michael from Oahu.

During the reception, we listened to Joan Namkoong discuss local cuisine and its many international influences – including Russian sturgeon, which surprised me. That explained the caviar that showed up later, at dinner. George Kahumoku, a Grammy-award winner, entertained us with music and hilarious tales if his life on Maui – including the time he flooded the top floors of the Westin Maui in Ka’anipali.

The Mayors of Hawaii, plus John M.

The purpose of this, and similar upcoming events in Portland and Seattle, is naturally to promote Hawaii tourism. Vacations usually get cut from personal budgets during recessions, and the ripple effect is obvious; travel dollars boost the Hawaiian economy and employ thousands of people. But a Hawaiian vacation does more than that. I got just a glimpse of the positive spirit of aloha during this dinner, but it brought back memories of the culture of camaraderie prevalent on the islands. Family vacations and romantic getaways to Hawaii may have different intentions, but they are similar in that the unpretentious, casual and friendly pull of the islands. Be it Maui, Big Island, Kauai or even quiet Lanai, a vacation in Hawaii creates happy memories to last a lifetime. Even in a worrisome economy, it’s an experience worth every penny.

Coconut Macadamia Nut Tart, Kona Coffee Panna Cotta

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.

With 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.

Speaking 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.

Family Approaching Astor's Beechwood Mansion

Ocean View from Astor's Mansion in Newport RI

Astor's Mansion, Newport Rhode Island

I have many more photographs from the Astor’s Beechwood Mansion in Newport, Rhode Island. They’re on my digital camera, though, and I forgot to pack the USB port that lets me upload photos (these ones were taken with my Blackberry). A more detailed post about the actors that made an educational tour fun for kids will have to wait for my eventual return home. In the meantime, enjoy the glimpse of life at the upper-crust of a more sophisticated era!

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

I’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.

Ziplining with Grammie: I couldn’t believe it when my sixty-something mother agreed to go on the Adventure Gorge Zipline Canopy Tour at Tenney Mountain. We zipped down eight cables, walked tightropes, climbed rope ladders and dropped from an auto-belay device. Hubby and I also swung from a Tarzan rope and caught ourselves SpiderMan-like on a giant rope web, but Mom declined that one, fearing she screw up her shoulder and ruin her golf swing, but that’s the only element she missed. So proud of her! And of my kids, who completed the shorter and easier “kids course” (twice) while the grown-ups played. For $65/adult and $35/child, I think this excursion is a steal.

Go-Karts, Batting Cages & Fried Dough: In true vacation indulgence, we spent one morning at all the “honky tonk attractions” (Mom’s words, not mine) on and near the Weirs Beach boardwalk. That meant go-karts, bumper boats, batting cages, bungee trampoline and arcade games, plus two quintessential NH lake vacation foods: fried dough and saltwater taffy. Yum!

Tubing on Lake Winnepesaukee: You can’t stay in the Lakes Region without getting on a boat at least once — even better when you have friends with a boat, tow rope and an blow-up water toy you can use for free. (But you can rent ski boats, water skis and tubes, too.) The two kids, my best friend from high school, my husband and I and even Grammie got on the giant innertube (dubbed “the Couch”) for a ride. Both my mom and I were unprepared to tube and didn’t dress for the occasion (who knew we’d be egged on to participate?), so we hopped in with our clothes on. Great vacation memories right there!

Canobie Lake Park: This amusement park in Salem dates back to 1902 (with a still-operating 1903 carousel). Throughout much of our day there, I reminisced about trips to the park as a kid, “I remember the plexiglass maze!” and “We have pictures of me on those little boats!” It’s grown in size, with some crazy new attractions like the Extreme Frisbee (picture lots of spinning) and massive Boston Tea Party water ride (getting drenched is an understatement). Both kids are getting more adventurous with theme-park rides, and I love that. My son was so proud he conquered the loop-dee-loop roller coaster. Me, too.

Gathering with Favorite Friends: Within our vacation, we had a mini-getaway in southern New Hampshire. I got together for a three-day weekend with a handful of my very best college buddies, their spouses, and their children. Where did we all stay? In a vacation rental home of course. For multiple family gatherings, we’re all firm believers that a house is far superior to several hotel rooms. We were able to cook meals in a fully-stocked kitchen, have private bedrooms, gather in a big living room, play ping pong, and eat on a big deck all together. We took a couple excursions, too. A favorite among the kids: mini golf and humongous ice cream cones at Humdingers on Route 101 in Keene. (Delish!)

Of course, this is only a handful of favorites from this particular trip. In the past couple years, we’ve also spent the day at Whale’s Tale waterpark in Lincoln, Storyland amusement park in Glen and Lost River Gorge in North Woodstock — all fabulous attractions for families in New Hampshire. We absolutely look forward to future trips and more exploration of my childhood state.

Neighborhood: Now, hotels are not resorts; there are no sprawling grounds and golf courses on the Four Seasons George V property. Instead, we get a stay in the 8th arrondissement; this most upscale Paris district extends from the Seine to the Arc d’Triomphe, with the Champ-Elysees, luxury shopping, and views of the Eiffel Tower.

The Staff: From the moment I walked through the large revolving doors, I knew I was in for a hotel experience par excellence. Our luggage was whisked away, and was waiting for us in our room. The staff at the Four Seasons is always exemplary; here, they speak several languages (to accommodate their international guests), have an incredible knowledge about their city, and are unfailingly polite and friendly. The concierge gave us several great restaurant recommendations, made the reservations for us, and gave us a map. Check-in was a breeze, and we were walked through La Galerie (a piano bar area to relax and have tea) to the elevators and our room.

The Rooms: Half the rooms at the Four Seasons have balconies or terraces; while ours did not, we did have a view of the Eiffel Tower. Not too shabby! The rooms are large, which is notable: Most hotels in France, like much of Western Europe, are considerably smaller than what North American tourists may be used to. Here, the large rooms are complemented by equally impressive bathrooms. Marble floors and walls (as with the first floor lobby), double sinks, a separate shower and huge tub, and special Bulgari shampoos and soaps. I have a special affinity for upscale hotel shampoo and soap (other Four Seasons usually have L’Occitane bath products, which I also love), and the Bulgari made me feel pampered and happy. The king-size bed was sumptuous and unbelievably comfortable, with down pillows and duvet, and high thread-count sheets. I don’t always sleep well in hotels beds, but I almost didn’t want to get out of this one!

Fitness Center: Like most Four Seasons hotels, the George V has a first-class fitness center and day spa. If an intense workout isn’t part of you luxury vacation plans, then the massages, body wraps and treatments at the spa are a perfect way to recover from a day of shopping and sightseeing in Paris. Try the Le Tout Chocolate spa package; you won’t regret it.

Dining: I already mentioned La Galerie. This dining and relaxing area, just off the lobby en route to one set of elevators, served light snacks and high tea. I found high tea here to be a sophisticated, mature affair. There are a few highly gifted piano players, whose music adds to the romanic ambiance. They play from 3PM to midnight every day. The Four Seasons Hotel George V also has a Michelin 2-star restaurant. Le Cinq, open from 7AM to 10:30PM, is one of the best hotel-based restaurants in Paris. The food, of course, is French. During the warm months, there is also the Marble Courtyard for outdoor dining within the calmness of the hotel.

Four Seasons Hotel George V is about as perfect as a 5-star hotel can be. It’s no wonder that Zagat named in the Top International Hotel, Daily Telegraph awarded it the Best Hotel in Europe, and Conde Nast Traveler named it the Best International Business Hotel. If you’re planning a top-of-the-line luxury vacation in Paris, you can’t do better than to stay at the Four Seasons Hotel George V. It’s a 5-star oasis in the midst of a bustling Parisian neighborhood – there is no better place to stay for a luxury traveler in the city of lights. It is the best luxury hotel in Paris, in France, and to many, the world.

Top 10 Best Things to Do – Flagstaff, Arizona

Grand Canyon National Park - The Grand Canyon is clearly the biggest draw for travelers considering a vacation in Flagstaff; there are many tour and day trip companies around, but Flagstaff is the best place to stay for the trip. If you stay right near the Grand Canyon (at the famous El Tovar Hotel for example), then your vacation will have to be “all Grand Canyon, all the time.” Stay in fun Flagstaff instead, and make a couple of day trips to the Grand Canyon. Check out the Bright Angel trail, especially if traveling with young children. My kids managed part of it quite well.

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument - Anyone who’s been to Hawaii’s Big Island will be struck by the physical similarities to much of that tropical isle and the terrain around this part of Arizona.  The ground is largely composed of lava rock, with some hardy trees struggling, here and there, for a toehold. It’s so interesting to consider the ancient volcano here, with the Grand Canyon to the north and the Coconino National Forest nearby; northern Arizona is incredibly diverse. The Lava Flow Trail is an easy one-mile loop walk along the base, 1/4 of which is paved.

Humphreys Peak - The highest point in Arizona, Humphreys Peak is a popular tourist destination for outdoorsy folk. If you’re up for a hike, you can get to the peak along Humphreys Trail; it’s around four and a half miles, uphill (consider yourself warned). From the peak, the vista of Northern Arizona is spectacular – the Grand Canyon, Sedona, even the desert mountains way south in Phoenix are visible on clear days. There’s a lot of snow October through May.

Walnut Canyon National Monument - Walnut Canyon is my favorite of these smaller Flagstaff-area National Monuments. Walnut Canyon dates to the same time period as the Grand Canyon, but is much, much smaller . It’s manageable, and the trail takes visitors around the middle level of the canyon. Here you can see Sinagua cliff homes – and even stand in them, respectfully. These cliff dwellings were part of the small Sinagua civilization in Walnut Canyon, built some time in the 1100’s. It’s quieter here than the Grand Canyon, and absolutely worth the trip.

Wupatki National Monument - This ancient pueblo is preserved well, and tended to by archeologists interested in the Wupatki culture. The Wupatki lived here circa 1100, and later merged with the Hopi. No one knows exactly why, but it was a peaceful integration. A short hike and self-guided stroll around the pueblo easily takes under an hour.

Sedona - Frequent readers know that Sedona is one of my top 10 favorite vacation towns in North America. Flagstaff is a great point between Sedona and the Grand Canyon, and I recommend it for a southwestern vacation covering both destinations. There are some great, fun activities in Sedona for a day trip.

Jerome - This town used to be the state capital, and once was the fourth largest city in the Arizona Territory…but that was a long time ago. Once the copper mine closed down (and the “ladies of the evening” moved on), Jerome seemed destined to be an Arizona ghost town. Today, remnants of the Wild West are on display and there is a thriving, lively artist community as well. Like many small towns in America’s Old West, Jerome could have emptied out. As locals like to say, the “hippies” saved Jerome from this fate. Small-town friendliness merge with the progressive attitudes of many artists, creating a welcoming, unsuspicious atmosphere and very interesting art galleries.

Historic Flagstaff - Honestly, I love exploring the town of Historic Flagstaff. Get a map; this is the part of the city where the charming shops, great  restaurants, and upscale chains are. I especially liked finding a “Life is Good” satellite store here, a couple of antique stores with genuine Old West memorabilia, the Flagstaff Brewing Company. and some fantastic southwestern barbeque at Bigfoot BBQ. Brookside Chocolate Company was great; hand-crafted chocolates that vary from delicate to decadent. There are many other places to eat in Historic Flagstaff, of course. What a fun town!

Lowell Observatory - Founded in the 1890’s, this is one of the oldest observatories in the southwest. The staff are very knowledgeable and eager to share their love of the site’s history, collection of old telescopes, and what guests are seeing through more modern telescopes. The Lowell Observatory is open year-round every day except Sunday.

Museum of Northern Arizona/Arizona Historical Society Pioneer Museum - These two museums are very close to each other, and manageable enough in size that a both can be done together. The Museum of Northern Arizona highlights the biology and ancient history of the Colorado Plateau, along with a fine arts gallery.  The Arizona Historical Society Pioneer Museum is Arizona’s oldest historical agency (circa 1864). Besides exhibitions – and it has over 3 million objects in rotation – the Arizona Historical Society offers educational outreach and research regarding Arizona’s long history up through today’s development.

These are my “best top 10″ activities in and around Flagstaff, but there are many more. I hardly mentioned Coconino National Forest, for example.  Within an approximately 50-mile radius, what are some of the things you like to do while on vacation in Flagstaff AZ? I’d love to expand this list.

Honestly, part of me considered keeping quiet about this – giving myself a better chance to win – but then, that wouldn’t be fair. Solage Calistoga, after all, is a beautiful resort that is really child-friendly, somewhat of a rarity in upscale Napa Valley. Wine tastings and romantic getaways are more typical of Napa Valley vacations.

Just fill in this form to enter, and good luck. I entered too. The contest run ends July 17, 2009.

Dazzled by Twilight is a store and tour bus operated by Annette Root, and she’s as passionate a Twilight fan as they come (Team Edward, I believe, but I’m not sure). She hired a fantastic Twilight guide, Travis, to show my group around. Yes, the group was all women – coincidence? I think not. Twilight fans skew strongly female. Check out the video below: Since the Dazzled by Twilight Tour is sure to be every teenager’s highlight of an Olympic National Park family vacation, I don’t give too much away.

Twilight may be why your surly teenager suddenly wants to visit Olympic National Park, but Forks is not only the setting for the incredibly popular vampire romance series. A true story, passed down orally throughout the years, was retold by my group’s travel guide in the Forks Timber Museum – yes, a dose of reality for the family may just cure that sense of being overpowered by vampire lore. For someone like me, that’s just what the doctor ordered.

While I regularly explore Colorado hiking trails on my own, I absolutely see the value in joining a group tour or hiring a experienced guide to lead the way on unfamiliar paths, especially if you’re visiting from out of state. We met up with Nick  Fickling, a legendary hiking guide and ski instructor in these parts, who shared his wealth of knowledge about the area’s flora and fauna for our 3-hour hike on lower Beaver Creek Mountain. Our moderately paced trek took us through aspen groves, across ski runs and along maintenance roads on the mountain that looms above Beaver Creek Village.

Nick works out of the Beaver Creek Hiking Center, which offers not only our scheduled morning hike, but also day-long, more remote Colorado Adventure Hikes, as well as trips to the top of Colorado’s famous “fourteeners” (14,000-foot peaks), historic excursions that include a hike, picnic and driving tour, as well as nordic/fitness walking trips that promise to get your blood pumping.

The Hiking Center provides the use of Saloman day packs and hiking boots, Leki hiking poles, rain gear, bottled water, Gatorade and granola bars; prices vary depending on the length of the adventure — our privately guided morning hike was $60 a person. This fee may sound steep, but, again, for out-of-state visitors who do not know the area or who may not be avid hikers, I think it’s a smart way to spend some vacation cash:  no need to pack gear (making your luggage lighter and potentially avoiding those pesky extra baggage fees), plus the guides we met are extremely personable and so knowledgeable about the entire Beaver Creek area, its history and its ecology.

Flash foward to our afternoon activity: treatments at the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek’s Allegria Spa.  This 30,000-square-foot full-service spa, salon and fitness center was totally remodeled (to the tune of $12 million) in 2006. It absolutely ranks among Colorado’s best spas. Aqua Sanitas, a self-guided water ritual, included in the price for any body treatment. Along the “healing waters” journey, you’ll soothe sore muscles in two different hot tubs, step under a refreshing rainshower, sweat in spruce-scented steam room (my favorite step by far, with its iridescent tiles and twinkling overhead lights), and relax on heated lounges.

My spa service — a Balancing Hot Oil Wrap — combined a full body massage with warm oil and hot stones, and a wrap (to seal in the oil for optimum moisturization) with a neck and scalp massage. At $230 a pop, this is no everyday treatment, but I cannot recommend it enough for an extra-special treat. (If you like a firm touch, ask for Eli.) My fellow travel writers also spoke highly of their services, which included a Warm Milk & Honey Sugar Scrub (yep, real Colorado honey drizzled on your body) and the Ginger Peach Cure.

Still more highlights of our two-night stay in Beaver Creek:

Kinesis fitness class at The Club at Allegria Spa. Kinesis is a full-body workout on a wall cable-and-pulley system that allows users more range of motion than typical dumbbells or strength-training equipment. It’s a wonderfully fast-paced, set-to-music class that really does hit all muscle groups. (I wish this was offered in my neck of the woods; many gyms have the piece of $40,000 equipment, but mine does not!)

Al fresco lunch at the Beaver Creek Chophouse. You can’t miss the bright red umbrellas on the patio at the base of Beaver Creek Mountain. The fish tacos and Tuscan-style grilled chicken sandwich both got a big thumb’s up.

Dinner at Splendido, one of Beaver Creek’s highest-end eateries with a sophisticated atmosphere and a menu to match (think $35 entrees, such as Pan Roasted Rabbit, Prosciutto Wrapped Alaskan Halibut and Roasted Elk Loin). For my personal pocketbook, Splendido is absolutely a special-occasion restaurant. If you’re there when the lobster special is offered — stuffed with Yukon gold mashed potatoes, with the claws removed and roasted in butter — order it.

Overnight at The Osprey, a Rock Resort. This intimate, boutique property has 41 rooms, and was totally remodeled in 2008. It’s a stone’s throw from the plaza in Beaver Creek Village, and winter guests will appreciate its proximity to the chair-lift — The Osprey is actually the closest ski-in/ski-out hotel to a property in all of North America. Learn more about this oustanding Beaver Creek hotel  in this online piece about the Osprey I wrote this winter.