One thing every vacationer must do while visiting the Hawaiian Islands is participating in a luau. While
visiting the island of Kauai, I had the pleasure and enjoyment of going to a luau at the Hyatt Hotel in Poipu. Visiting the hotel itself is a great treat because the grounds alone are worth seeing. It is very lush and green with beautiful flowers everywhere and there are a dozen of spots to take the perfect picture. The luau grounds are set on a lawn with the beach directly behind the stage and entertainment. This sets the scene for a very picturesque and entertaining show; not to mention that there are beautiful pools surrounding the area which make you feel like you are secluded from the rest of the hotel. The setting itself sets a very high precedence for what the event will unfold. Before the show starts there is a lot of entertainment to enjoy and when you enter the luau you are given a choice of a Mai Tai or local beer! The band plays music, children and adults can learn traditional Hawaiian dances, vendors are selling jewelry, and there are Hawaiian tattoo artists! It is a very fun atmosphere which is preceded by delicious food!
The food is amazing. Any and every kind of Hawaiian food is prepared. From the Poi to the smoked pig that is brought in by performers of the luau, it is an impressive spread that exceeded my expectations. Going to an event at a corporate hotel, you don’t expect perfectly prepared and authentic food, but it was a pleasant surprise when trying all of the dishes. I have to say that the island style steak was definitely one of my favorites! Following the delicious entrée dishes are an overwhelming selection of delicious desserts that you can’t have just one of! There is also plenty for children to find appetizing, which always helps when you are trying to enjoy yourself with little ones around. Enjoying the luau also means the adults get to enjoy the selected unlimited drink list, including the fresh mai tai’s and yummy Kona Longboard Beer! After everyone has enjoyed most of the meal the show starts. Top performing dancers enter the stage to join the band for a beautiful display of Polynesian stories through the hula. The girls are beautiful and the men really know how to put on a show. The show takes the audience through each of the South Pacific Islands and tells a story about each island. It really is a special event. After enjoying the show the dancers allow anyone from the audience to take pictures with them. It is a beautiful and memorable event for families and friends to enjoy together, and the Hyatt PoiPu Beach puts on a top notch show! Everything about the evening is fun and beautiful and I don’t think that anyone would have a complaint in the world!
Luau at the Hyatt in Poipu, Kauai
The Portofino Hotel and Yacht Club
Tucked away in the big city of Los Angeles is the quaint boutique Portofino Hotel and Yacht Club. Sitting right in the middle of Redondo Beach, with a beautiful boardwalk and ocean view, this hotel really captures old Los Angeles. It is a smaller hotel with a large amount of property that ties into the harbor and goes great with the nautical theme that they have streaming throughout. Don’t let the word “nautical” fool you; this is not a fisherman’s hang out. The Portofino Hotel and Yacht Club is more of an upscale hotel with crystal chandeliers floating down from the ceiling while the glistening of the ocean sparkles on the pristine granite floors, all comforted by the warmth of a beautiful fireplace. A lot of the rooms have a balcony that sits on top of the water, and at night the local Portofino seals will sing you to sleep. There is elegance to the entire property. The pool sits out on a small bluff and the hot tub overlooks the channel where sailboats are constantly coming in and out. The hotel offers a number of recreational rentals including boats and bikes to explore the beach area. There is no shortage of activities in Redondo Beach; from surfing, to exploring the boardwalk or driving around the Los Angeles area, there is always plenty to do. The hotel is only about 15 minutes from LAX and is very centrally located. The staff is very accommodating and happy to make sure that you have a memorable stay. There is always someone with a smile to answer a question or help you get to where you want to go.
Staying at the Portofino Hotel and Yacht Club also means that you will most likely experience the wonderful food of the restaurant Baleen. This is one of the highlights of the Portofino Hotel, as many people that live in the Los Angeles area will go to enjoy the food and bar atmosphere. The food is amazing, the view is spectacular and the service is a 10. Just be prepared, if going in for dinner, it is not a child friendly environment and it becomes very obvious if you are the only one in there with a highchair! However, even if you are there with a little one they are happy to accommodate you and make sure that you have the best experience at Baleen. Baleen also offers a brunch that is probably a little more child friendly and the food is just as good. The restaurant is not in the hotel, rather across the parking lot over on the dock side of the property where you can see all of the beautiful boats. Walking the grounds of the Portofino Hotel gives you the feel of what southern California is all about. The beautiful weather, the great views, and laid back atmosphere will make a great vacation for anyone. The Hotel Portofino and Yacht Club is a great place for any age. It is very child friendly and yet also has the elegance for a romantic getaway. It is a beautiful hotel with great customer service and post card views.
Hilton Waikoloa Village, HI
The Hilton Waikoloa Village can be described as nothing less than the perfect vacation destination. Located a little bit north of the Kona Coast on the “Big Island” of Hawaii, the Hilton is a destination of its own. Set in such pristine beauty and lush scenery, it is a true paradise for anyone that visits. The hotel itself is so big that it is really two hotels put onto the same property. Now don’t let that drive you away, the building doesn’t get much taller than six floors and there is a beautiful view no matter what room or floor you are on. There is a tram that goes around the whole property to make it convenient for people that don’t feel like doing the walk. There is also a boat service that makes for a relaxing ride to get from one end of the hotel to the other. There are a number of restaurants scattered throughout the property, ranging from fine dining to poolside take out and no matter where you eat you won’t be disappointed with the fresh and delicious food that is prepared. The resort wouldn’t be complete without all of the beautiful swimming pools, each with a gorgeous view of the ocean and a beautiful set up. From a kiddie pool built on sand, a pool with tropical waterfalls and slides, and of course a lazy river, you never want to leave the poolside fun. That is until you visit the salt water lagoon that freshly flows in from the ocean, filled with sea turtles, tropical fish and much more sea life. The recreation activities available for this area consist of all different types of rentals such as paddle boards, kayaks, snorkel equipment and more. There is so much to be explored at the Hilton Waikoloa Village!
Hotel Giraffe, NYC
New York City is one of those cities that is a “must travel to destination” and is also probably the easiest city to travel to. There are a wide variety of hotels to enjoy while visiting as there is something for everyone. It is very easy to travel to New York on a budget and find affordable hotel deals and it is also nice if you have the luxury of being able to stay in an upscale property. The Hotel Giraffe is probably one of New York’s top 10 hotels for luxury, convenience and comfort. This is the perfect place for Mom to have a weekend getaway! Having stayed at the Hotel Giraffe, it is nothing short of all of this. Hotel Giraffe is a luxury hotel right in the heart of Manhattan’s financial district, but there is nothing stuffy about this place at all. The customer service would be rated a perfect 10. The employees are so polite and helpful, and they want to make your stay enjoyable. The amenities that they offer also put the icing on the cake. There is a full valet service, but also free street parking right in front of the hotel on weekends. There is an accessible computer and printer very accessible in the lobby. They also have a complimentary wine and cheese/ snack happy hour, which is so refreshing and relaxing after you have been sightseeing all day long. There is always complimentary biscotti’s to grab for a quick snack or some fresh lemonade as well. These are the simple touches that make traveling really nice.
Annapolis Marriott Waterfront
What a perfect place for a weekend getaway! The Annapolis Marriott Waterfront is set in a beautiful location, right on the water and most of the rooms have the view to prove it. The historic town of Annapolis itself has a lot to offer. The Naval Academy is place right in the middle of town, the State Capitol Building is a few blocks away from that and in between there is a lot of history and quaint little shops to browse around in. Annapolis is located right on the heart of the Chesapeake bay and is a sailor’s hub! The town itself is enough of reason to go and explore the area. And if you are staying at the Marriott you will for sure enjoy your trip! Pusser’s Bar, part of the hotel is located on the dock right on the water. It is the perfect place to watch a sunset and soak up some of the local nautical lifestyle. Boats are allowed to come and moore right there. The bar and restaurant have almost a Key West flavor to them, from the low key attitude, the decor and the live music that they always have going. It is one of the coolest bars in America! The hotel also offers sailing charters on their boats Woodwind I and Woodwind II. They offer this as part of the Annapolis culture of racing sailboats to just a relaxing sunset cruise, either way you will understand what it is to be part of the sailing community. The hotel itself is a very nice and comfortable stay. The rooms are all hypoallergenic with purifiers. A lot of the rooms have a balcony that hangs over the water and gives you that feeling of peace and tranquility on your trip. The lobby and downstairs offers history of the town and is decorated with a colonial flare to all the nautical stuff that is in there. The Annapolis Marriott Waterfront is truly a great place to stay with great scenery, food, and people. Coming to visit here you will be enriched with history and a passion for the water, something that will make your stay memorable and most enjoyable.
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Camping at New Port Dunes
Moms, Go to the National Zoo!
The National Zoo is a great day trip for out of town goers as well as those who live in the metro area. Being from CA, and being someone that held an annual pass to the San Diego Zoo, it is hard for me to not have a high standard and high expectations of what a zoo should be or have. It is great that the National Zoo is free! Of course parking is at least $10 but you can always take the metro and not have to worry about it. It is a great place for moms to take their little one and burn off a few calories while walking around, the zoo has a lot of hills! There is a lot for everyone to see at the zoo. There is a wide range of animals and a petting zoo, “The Children’s Farm.” This is a great spot for children to be interactive with the animals and feed them, learn about them or watch them in a natural habitat. The zoo does a good job with trying to keep the animals habitat as natural as possible, which may be why you might find the animals inside more often then the outside display. It is hard to find the animals when you are first looking because most of them have the inside natural habitat that they can go into so you have to go inside to look through the glass. Most animals have the glass rooms where you can still see them. There was only a select few of the animals that could not be seen.
