Fun Things To Do With Kids in Chester County: Family Vacations

Showing posts with label Family Vacations. Show all posts

Bedford Inn Cape May New Jersey

Fun Things Kids Baby moon , Cape May New Jersey

Cape May, New Jersey, has always been my favorite place. When my husband and I finally had a free weekend to visit our favorite place, we packed our bags and headed down the shore. Of course, during our drive down, it was raining, and I thought our day would be a washout, but during our lunch, the rain moved out, and it was a sunny spring day.

We stayed at the Bedford Inn on Stockton Ave. When we arrived, the innkeeper Paula was so nice, showing us around this beautiful Bed and Breakfast. We stayed in the Frances’ Room on the second floor. Our room had a private bathroom and television. The room was just the right amount of space for us. When chatting with another guest, we all mentioned how nice and quiet the rooms were and how we didn't hear another guest. We also controlled our room's heat and air conditioning, which made our stay comfortable. When Paula checked us in, she explained that any questions we had could be answered by snapping a picture of the QR code; once you do this, it will give you more information about what's available at the Inn. Of course, if you can't find an answer, you can call Paula or ask the staff for help.

Afternoon Snack
Every day around 4 p.m., they serve wine, cheese, cookies, or soft drinks. This is a great opportunity to chat with other guests or relax and read a book in front of the fire.

Breakfast
Paula will also ask what time you would like to have breakfast. We chose the later time so we could have a relaxing morning. We had a delicious breakfast of poppyseed pancakes with a blueberry compote. We enjoyed chatting with the other couples about their plans for the day and the places they had visited.

My favorite room in the Inn was the dining room. It was painted in different scenes of Cape May with dogs in each scene. Another favorite touch the Bedford made was the special black washcloth for makeup. I always panic when I wash my face at a hotel, and my makeup is all over it. There were so many special touches that the Bedford Inn has to make a comfortable stay, including books to read, puzzles, board games to play on a rainy day, beach tags, beach towels, and chairs for you to use during your stay.

The Bedford Inn is the perfect getaway. You can have privacy when you want it or be social with the other guests. From the moment you arrived, the welcoming atmosphere and thoughtful amenities made it feel like a home away from home. I plan to go back soon and visit the Bedford Inn.

For more information: https://www.bedfordinn.com

A Memorable Day Trip to St. Michael's

Fun Things Kids Family Day Trips , Family Vacations

St. Michaels, Maryland, is a charming waterfront town just a short drive from Kent Narrows. Its historic streets, picturesque harbor, and a host of delightful attractions make it the perfect day trip destination. We took the short drive to St. Michaels during our getaway to Kent Narrows. Join us in exploring the highlights of a day trip to from our Kent Narrows base.

Stroll Through History

We started our day with a stroll through St. Michael's historic district. The town is renowned for its well-preserved architecture, and you'll find beautifully restored homes, charming storefronts, and beautiful gardens at every turn.

Wine Tasting at Bordeleau Winery

After walking through the town, we ventured into Bordeleau Winery Tasting Room. We learned about the winemaking process and indulged in a wine-tasting session featuring a variety of their white wines. This was a perfect way to beat the heat and learn more about the town from their exceptionally friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Lunch at Lemonchelo

After our wine tasting, we stopped at Lemonchelo for a delicious lunch. Lemonchelo is known for its fresh and innovative cuisine. It offers a diverse menu that combines Mediterranean flavors with local ingredients. Whether you opt for a seafood dish, a gourmet sandwich, a fresh salad, or your favorite pasta dish, you are in for a treat.

Exploring the Waterfront

After lunch, we took a stroll along the waterfront in St. Michaels. The town's harbor has charming shops, art galleries, and boutiques.

A day trip from Kent Narrows to St. Michaels promises a delightful blend of history, culture, food, and wine. Every moment is memorable, from the morning walk through the town's historic district to the wine tasting at Bordeleau Winery, a mouthwatering lunch at Lemonchelo, and a leisurely exploration of the waterfront. So, set aside a day to discover the charms of St. Michaels.

Family Friendly Travel Review of Virginia Beach

Fun Things Kids Family Friendly Travel , Family Vacations

During a recent break from school my family and I traveled to Virginia Beach, Virginia. Virginia Beach is about a 5 hour drive from the Philadelphia Area depending on traffic and weather conditions. Since we were in Virginia Beach in November it was neat to see how the town was decorated for the holidays. One of the neatest holiday events is McDonalds Holiday Lights at the Beach. This is the one time a year that you can drive your car on the boardwalk to see a half million twinkling lights.

The town is very welcoming and so was everyone we interacted with. Everyone was so helpful and wanted to make sure we discovered everything about this fun beach town. It's also very easy to get around by car, bike, or even walking.

Hotels

We stayed at the Comfort Inn and Suites Oceanfront hotel. Click here to read our review of the hotel.

There are plenty of hotels to choose from for everybody's budget.

Food

We didn't have a bad meal the whole time we were in Virginia Beach. We loved the fresh seafood and there are plenty of choices to choose from. One of our favorite restaurants was Rockafeller’s located on the Rudee Inlet. Rockafeller's the slogan is “Good Eats, Good Spirits!” and they definitely have that there. It was so hard to choose from the selection of food was so large. We had a gorgeous view of the inlet and during the summer months you can watch the boats come in and out of the inlet.

They are known for the Oysters Rockafeller so we had to try them and they were delicious. Since we were down south we had to get some yummy hush puppies. I tried the twin bistro steaks and the portions were so big I had to share it with everyone at my table. We also ordered the crab, shrimp, and seafood pasta, another hit at our table. The kids menu has a nice selection of seafood and traditional kids favorites. And you can't leave Roackafeller's without getting the desert sampler, it has something for everyone.

Other great restaurants:

Big Sams Raw Bar

Tautogs

Doc Taylor's

Waterman's Beachwood Grill

Local Activities
Beach Movie Bistro- great to catch a movie and a bite to eat on rainy days at the beach
Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center

King Neptune Statue

Virginia Beach Town Center

Bike Rentals

Old Coast Guard Station

Old Cape Henry Lighthouse

For more information: please visit the the Virginia Beach & Visitors Bureau's web site, http://www.visitvirginiabeach.com, the official source of travel information for Virginia Beach

Note: Thanks to the Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau for arranging for our review of the Virginia Beach Area and for helping with our travel expenses. As always all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Review of Great Wolf Lodge

Fun Things Kids Family friendly resorts , Family Vacations

Looking for a place to take the kids over Spring Break, or for the perfect summer vacation? Well look no further than the Poconos at Great Wolf Lodge. Recently my family and I went to Great Wolf Lodge to check out what they have to offer for families.

lobby area

When you arrive, the fun starts the minute you step onto the property. Check in was easy and simple. Everyone staying in your room will be given a bracelet that they wear the entire time you are on the property. This serves as your room key and you have the option to charge food on the bracelet too. I like the fact that the bracelet was our room key and I didn't have to worry about carrying a key-card around. My kids loved that they could unlock the door without asking me for the key.

family suite

We had a family suite that had plenty of room for my family of four. We also had a balcony outside that overlooked a mountain that was beautiful. Once we settled in, we hit the water park.

Water Park

The water park is a huge indoor playground for the whole family. It is divided into different sections. There is a water park for the little ones with small slides, and spray and play features. They also have a giant tree house that kids can climb, spray and slide through. Older kids can take a turn on the many slides like the double barrel drop or the hydro plunge. Tweens/Teens will have fun on the Coyote Cannon (think of a toilet bowl because it drops you into a big bowl that you swirl around in and fall out the bottom) or Alberta falls that twists you in and outside of the indoor portion of the water park (even in winter time). The whole family can enjoy Crooked Creak (a lazy river) or take a ride with the family on River Canyon Run. And don't think you won't get wet. If you hear a bell that sounds like a train you may get soaked. I did and my kids loved it!

I was happy to see that the life guards really watched the pools, they walked back and forth constantly looking at the pool. They take safety very seriously at Great Wolf, which made me feel safe while my kids were swimming.

Other Activities

You would think that the only thing to do at Great Wolf is the water park, but you would be wrong. There are plenty of activities for your family to do outside the water park. Each evening there is a story time in the lobby, along with face painting, dance parties and much more. I loved that I saw kids walking around the lodge in their pajamas waiting for story time.

Bowling Alley

There is also indoor Glow Golf, a bowling alley, an arcade, a kids spa, and much more. Something that I saw that kept the kids really engaged was MagiQuest. With MagiQuest you purchase a wand in the store and you go on a magical adventure to unlock clues.

Food

There is a snack bar in the water park area, you can buy drinks, sandwiches and snacks. There is also a sit down restaurant in the lodge, the evening we went it was a buffet and there was plenty of choices even for the picky eaters in your family. If your craving Pizza Hut pizza, or a sweat treat they have you covered. You can also order a pizza and take it back to you room and relax. Oh, and Starbucks lovers don't fear, they even have a Starbucks in the lodge.

Dinner Buffet

Tips:

Go during the week for less crowds
Pack at least 2 bathing suits so if you go back to the water park later in the day you can put a dry bathing suit on
No reason to bring beach towels they have towels in the water park
Once you check out of your room on your departure day, you can stay and enjoy the resort amenities until 9pm.
There is a locker room in the water park to change
You can rent lockers in the water park
Rooms all have small refrigerators in them for drinks and food

Check out some of the highlights from our trip

For more information: http://www.greatwolf.com/poconos/waterpark

Fun Things Visits the DoubleTree Resort in Lancaster, PA

Fun Things Kids DoubleTree Resorts , Family Friendly Travel

Recently I had the opportunity to spend a few days at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton™ in Lancaster, PA. If you are familiar with the area, the DoubleTree Resort was formerly the "Atrium Building" of Willow Valley Resort. This 185-room resort is very family friendly, but it's also perfect for a weekend get away without the kids.

I have always been a big fan of DoubleTree resorts and have stayed in a few of their hotels over the years. The chocolate chip cookie that you receive when you check in almost saved my life once, after a bad experience at another hotel chain and a late night hotel change in Florida. It's amazing what a cookie can do to welcome you and lift your spirits. This was a also a huge hit with my kids! The hotel is about a 10-15 minute drive to the Strasburg Rail Road, Choo Choo Barn and other Lancaster attractions.

Check In: It was easy to check in and we were warmly greeted by the staff. They offered us a room overlooking the atrium but warned us that their would be a wedding there until 10pm and we might hear some of the noise. I loved the fact that they gave us the option to switch rooms, but I knew my kids would love to watch a wedding from their room.

Room: Our room was larger than most and nicely decorated with plenty of towels available and a small refrigerator They had a desk in the room, which is perfect for a business traveler. They had a chair and ottoman in case you wanted to relax and watch some TV. I also loved the free wireless Internet that allowed me to get some work done while the kids were sleeping.

Pool: For kids, this is the highlight of the hotel. The hotel has 2 indoor pools which are perfect for families with kids. The indoor water playground, which is basically one large pool with a large enclosed slide, some water spray attractions and a small slide for young ones, will keep the kids entrained for hours. It beats the basic hotel with a pool but don't expect a large indoor water park. If you want to take a more relaxing swim there is also a large pool adjacent to the indoor water park.

Other Amenities:

Two on-site restaurants

State-of-the-art fitness center
Victorian chapel
9-Hole Golf Course
Lighted tennis courts
Full-size basketball court
Duck Pond
Free bus tour
Horse-drawn wagon rides

Getaway Contest

And if you have stayed at the DoubleTree Lancaster Hotel within the last year, you have a chance to win a 2 night stay. Lancaster Great Family Vacations Getaway Contest announces this summer’s most exciting family vacation giveaway – The Double Treat at DoubleTree Family Vacations Getaway. In celebration of the one-year anniversary of DoubleTree Resort, you can win a 2 night stay at the DoubleTree Hotel in Lancaster

This contest will run from May 13-July 31, 2011. Two winning families will win a grand prize of not one but two two-night stays at DoubleTree Resorts. Visit www.Willowvalley.com/lancaster-pa-doubletree/doubletreat-contest/ for contest details ans more information. Remember this contest is only open to families who have stayed at this resort within the last year.

We really enjoyed our experience at the DoubleTree hotel in Lancaster and I would recommend it to families with children because it is close to all the area attractions and of course you can spend the day at the water playground.

Watch our video to see all the Lancaster DoubleTree hotel has to offer before you go!

Disclosure: My family and I received a complimentary stay at the DoubleTree Resort in Lancaster.

Bedford Inn Cape May New Jersey

A Memorable Day Trip to St. Michael's

Family Friendly Travel Review of Virginia Beach

Review of Great Wolf Lodge

Fun Things Visits the DoubleTree Resort in Lancaster, PA

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