Crazy-fun Water Park Madness

We love pools, we love water and we loooove water parks! This weekend we had the opportunity to visit Orlando’s newest water park attraction, CoCo Key Water Park Resort. I was possibly more excited than my four-year-old to check it out.

This water park resort is situated in the heart of the Orlando attractions area on International Drive. This central location allows easy access to all of Orlando’s attractions. However, you might not want to leave the property once you arrive!

CoCo Key is ideal for families looking for a fun, relaxing and affordable getaway in Orlando. The resort’s water park caps off admittance at around 650, leaving the stigma of typical Orlando theme park crowds behind. We had two water loving girls with us so I was able to see the fun factor from a four-year-old and ten-year-old point of view. The girls raced from slide to slide. I could keep a constant eye on both girls from the comfort of my lounge chair. I even had some fun on the slides myself.

You can never be too wet.

The Minnow Lagoon is covered and shielded from the FL sun. Lots of interactive water fun in the shade!

The rooms at the resort are very modern and cozy. If you are hungry there are multiple choices for snacks or a meal. Besides the water park, there’s a large arcade, fun kids lounge in the lobby, resort pool for more water fun after the park closes and a small sand area for building castles.

Opening rates start at an affordable $89/night for a limited time. Water park access is $19 per room, per day for resort guests and $19.95 per person for day guests. The FL resident day pass is $14.95. If you are headed to the other local theme parks, the resort offers a free shuttle service!

Tip: If you are staying at a different property in the area and are interested in purchasing a day pass to the water park, book online. The park is popular and has been selling out quickly!

In case you need directions… Just follow the tropical red bird in the inner tube.

Um, is this an official state map?

Disclosure: Our family visited CoCo Key as guests of the new resort. The previous post contains my honest opinion on my family’s experience.

The Beach Is Loved By Every Age...

I used to base my travel on the weather. If it was cold where I lived, I went somewhere hot. If it was hot where I lived, I went somewhere cool (as in hip, not chilly). But once you start including diapers and bibs on your packing list, it’s time to put a tad more thought into where you’d like to go.  Depending on your child – their age and temperament  – you can start to develop a timeline for your must-visit list. Some types of trips are more suited to babies, and others are best saved until kiddo is bigger. You have a lifetime of family travel ahead of you, so it’s fun to start dreaming now!

As a first-time mom, I would never have believed that the younger the baby, the easier the trip. But it’s actually true and the world is practically wide open if you want to hit the road when your bundle of joy is still a bundle. Small and immobile babies who are still strictly on a liquid diet can go pretty much anywhere, so long as they are close to you.  If they’re exclusively breastfeeding, it’s even easier.  Yes, of course you are sleep-deprived, but why not be sleep deprived somewhere pleasant? Plus, being away from home and all the looming household chores means you actually could sleep when the baby does.  Your only real concerns at this age are keeping baby safe from the sun (too little for sunscreen before 6mos.), and bug bites (use netting for over the stroller and crib and avoid the outdoors during dawn and dusk).

Once babies are older and mobile, your destination and surroundings require a little more thought.  Baby has probably started solids, and might be leaning more toward a daytime routine.  If you’re lucky, they’re probably going for longer stretches of sleep at night as well.  Do give some thought to baby-proofing your accommodation – a roll of duct tape in the suitcase means you can cover outlets and keep drawers shut.  Plan your outings around baby’s naps – it gives your day some structure. Most types of trips are still suitable at this age and city destinations are ideal, as baby is usually quite content to sit in a stroller or be toted around in a carrier. Meals can be messy when starting solids, so be sure to have an arsenal of bibs & wipes handy.

It’s a whole new ballgame once your cherubic baby becomes a busy toddler.  Pick places that you know will provide the room your tot needs to move. These days you may want to rethink that museum or art gallery, although beach and outdoor activities are ideal, and so much fun.  Again, be vigilant with regard to shoring up things in your room. If staying at a resort, your life will be easier if you choose one that markets itself to families. Not only will they have amenities for your child, which will be useful should you encounter bad weather, but your fellow guests will probably have children with them – or at least be anticipating having kids around them.  Hopefully this will reduce the amount of stink eye you receive if your angel decides to act like a devil – especially at meal time.

Get out and enjoy the world with your little one in tow! You don’t have to fly for hours to have a memorable trip, a night away in the country (or city) still counts. The great part about getting your kids used to travel at a young age is by the time they’re a preschooler and older, they’re great little travelers who enjoy going places with you.

A Different Kind Of Honeymoon

I’m not sure what I was expecting the first time it was suggested that we visit Honeymoon Island while staying with relatives in Florida.  Maybe Niagara Falls by the beach? Tons of neon and beach shops and fringed cover-ups? Nothing could be further from the truth.

On our first visit, my daughter was just 20mos. and we brought our gaggle of nephews, ranging in age at the time from 5-12.  As the boys and my husband headed out to roughouse with a ball, my mermaid/toddler headed straight for the water, and it wasn’t until she’d waded in shoulder-high that she allowed me to take her hand.  The water was calm and warm, and the sand was soft and white.

A little over 2 years later we returned – with her little sandcrab brother in tow. There are lots of shells, so a vigilant eye is necessary for those orally fixated (I’m looking at you, Bub!), and water shoes may help you to relax about the possiblilty of cut feet.  This being November, the water was a little less warm, but it still felt great to have a splash. And, as was our experience with other Gulf Coast beaches (Madeira & Clearwater), we saw dolphins splashing and playing.

Honeymoon Island is actually a state park. You pay a per small, per vehicle fee to enter, and there are lots of trails to explore in addition to the great beach. Chair and umbrella rental is available, there’s a decent snack bar with clean, baby-friendly washrooms, and public showers.  There’s a picnic area and playground towards the North end of the Island. In Florida, it’s the closest I’ve come to a private beach, and the fact that it’s part of a state park means it’s clean, accessible, and well-maintained. There are even recycling bins, something of a rarity in Florida.

One thing to note: our first visit was in August, and they had posted a mosquito warning at the entry. We didn’t notice a single one while we were on the beach, but were fairly swarmed at the end of our day when we were showering and getting ready to go.  Our last visit was in November, and there was no such warning posted. The beach was fine but some of the trails were quite mosquito-y. Definitely bring repellant if you plan on doing some serious hiking.

Playa Pilar

There’s a public bus that goes from resort to resort along Cayo Coco and then Cayo Guillermo, ending up at Playa Pilar. The fare is 5 CUC (roughly $5 USD) return, and kids are free. We were expecting a large coach, which all the tourists were carted around on, but when a 16 passenger van pulled up I gulped at our large beach bag and stroller. Somehow it all fit and we were on our (very bumpy) way. (*Note* the public relations person at our hotel mentioned that if the bus fills up at the resorts previous to yours, they simply won’t stop at your resort. You have no way of knowing if this will happen! Ours was 4th from the top so we took our chances.) The ride from Cayo Coco took about an hour.

Once you leave the bus, you walk along a wooden bridge for a fair bit, and when you come to the end, this is what you see:

Walkway To Playa Pilar

The sand is so very soft, and even though it was quite windy on the day we went, the slope into the water is so extensive that by the time the waves hit the shore they’re very gentle. Apparently, on calmer days, small catamarans and glass bottom boats are there to take you out to the reef. Unfortunately we brought our lifejackets and snorkel gear for nothing.  The wind was cool, but that made the water seem warmer.

Wind Schmind, Into The Water She Goes

Lounge chairs are 1 CUC for the day (approx. $1 USD). The washrooms and showers are very clean.  Bring your own or tip the lovely lady for some toilet paper.  My almost-9-month-old found the sand quite delicious (in spite of my best efforts!), but there’s a restaurant there in case you fancy a snack, a beer, an ice cream, or a coffee.

The Most Delicious Sand

You’re given a schedule for the return bus trips to the resorts. I was a little concerned about what would happen if there were too many people to fit on the bus back, but the woman assured me that we’d be fine. Sure enough, a large coach came for the final departure at 5pm, and we returned back at our hotel by 6.

Adios Playa Pilar

The beach at our resort was lovely, but Playa Pilar was a great little escape for the day.

This post is part of Photo Friday on Delicious Baby.

Friendly Or Fearsome? From afar it's hard to tell...

This was my introduction to Clearwater Beach, Florida.

A little over 2 years later we’d be back with our then 20-month-old daughter. This visit was in the sweltering heat of August and at the time the water wasn’t quite so clear. We visited at the tail end of a delight known as “red tide“, so the water was murky in addition to being as warm as a bath.

Not-So-Clearwater Beach...

However, the past two Novembers when we’ve gone down to Florida we’ve always organized at least one day at Clearwater Beach. The sand is like baby powder, and there are fewer shells than at nearby beaches we’ve visited. I’m not sure if that’s due to a higher population of shell collectors doing their rounds, but regardless it’s nice to worry a little less about stepping on a broken seashell.

Another Little Mermaid...

We’ve always found Clearwater Beach to be a little windy, which is great for keeping cool but it does mask feeling the deceptively strong sun. I recommend renting an umbrella instead of one of the cabanas.  Due to the wind, we couldn’t position the cabana properly for shade or else it would have launched like a parasail.

The playground at Clearwater Beach is extensive and shaded, so it’s a great diversion if you need a break from the water or you need to keep the little ones busy while you shake out the sand and pack up your stuff.  The snack bar (yes, it has high chairs) offers your usual beach fare of hot dogs and french fries, but we did have a salad that wasn’t too bad.  The public washrooms are plentiful and there’s a change table in the washroom of the snack bar.  The showers are chilly and can remove the bulk of your sand but your fine sandy coating is pretty much yours to enjoy until you can attack it with a washcloth!

Clearwater Beach is definitely one of the busier beaches along the Gulf Coast, but it’s certainly fun and very baby/toddler/little kid-friendly.  I really feel lucky that we can make a day or two of it every time we head to Florida to visit our extended family.

Tigger & Pooh & Megan Too

Tigger & Pooh & Megan & Mama Too

I usually can’t stand places that are geared specifically toward “family fun”. I get irritated with the lines, rude people, misbehaving children (yes, my own included), and shockingly expensive (and unhealthy) food.  So, maybe it’s because I was expecting the worst that I was pleasantly surprised. Maybe it’s because it had been a brutal year and we were all just so grateful for an escape together. Maybe it’s because I’m softening my stance as a travel snob and succumbing to the ease and comfort of places that cater to families.  We enjoyed our visit to Walt Disney World – and here’s why…

WHY WE LOVED WALT DISNEY WORLD:
It was clean, spotlessly clean… My usual experiences with theme parks involve accidentally stepping in something sticky and/or gross, risking multiple wasp stings as I try to use the garbage cans, and trying to convince my public-toilet-phobic daughter (in full potty-training mode at the time) that the washroom’s not THAT dirty.  I appreciate the effort all the Cast Members (disney-speak for employees) make in keeping the areas clean, and I’m happy not knowing why there weren’t any stinging bugs.
It was completely accessible… Even the most severely disabled person could enjoy some rides, and because the parks are so accessible for people who really need that access, it made getting around with the minor encumbrance of a stroller a total breeze.  For those traveling with babies and toddlers, each park has a baby-care centre with quiet and cool spots for feeding and changing baby.  The tiny toilets went over extremely well with our potty-training miss.
It had healthy options! And recycling! I was pleasantly surprised at the healthy food options available – they weren’t just an iceberg lettuce afterthought - and all kids’ combos automatically came with veggies and milk instead of fries and pop. During that whole trip, Walt Disney World was the only place in Florida we saw that recycled, and had separate bins for recyclables.
It wasn’t THAT expensive… Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, things at Disney cost money.  However, I was surprised at how often I WASN’T a victim of sticker shock when I looked at a price tag or a menu.  Plus, the quality of Disney stuff is really good, when you compare it to other food and shopping options nearby.

Free Mouse Ears

But it’s not perfect… for the life of me I’ll never understand why a grown woman would butt in line in front of a toddler to hug someone in a Winnie The Pooh costume, why parents would wait for eons in line (in the blazing sun) so their child can get an autograph from a movie character (umm – you know that’s not really Ariel, right?) and I didn’t love that a few rides let out conveniently into a gift shop.

A Waltz With Prince Charming

My advice for Disney skeptics?  Arrive prepared – I learned the hard way that you have to plan for certain things months in advance (ie. character dining), and have an itinerary roughly sorted out beforehand.  Disney is more than just the Magic Kingdom and you’ll need to figure out just what you can and can’t miss.  My friend Sandra runs her own travel agency called ClickTheMouse and I was lucky to have been “armed” with her Tips For Walt Disney World With Toddlers before our visit.

Worth Every Penny...

We somehow managed to visit Florida this year without a visit to the Mouse, but it’s not just my daughter who wants to return.  I can’t wait to see  my little bub in a pair of mouse ears.

A "Feesh"

When my husband and I first started dating, I thought it was a pretty good score that he had a brother who lived in Florida.  A few years later, when his dad moved down, I figured we’d be visiting several times a year – after all, it’s practically a free vacation right?

Well, real life happens, and in the almost 8 years my husband and I have been together, we’ve been 4 times: once pre-kids and 3 times with them.  I learned that living in a vacation destination does not mean you’ve on holiday all the time, and that visiting family does not always a vacation make.

But we love going down to visit Grandpa and Uncle and our cousins! So we’re trying to make it a yearly thing.  In order to preserve everyone’s sanity, we break up the visit by heading out to the beach for a night or two.  Last year our trip was longer, so it was Disney and Treasure Island.  This year we were down for less than a week – so it was a lovely night in Madeira Beach.

As with most of the Gulf Coast, the sand at Madeira Beach is white powder.  There are more shells than at Clearwater Beach, but not as many as Treasure Island.  Be sure to tread carefully and keep a watchful eye on baby – our bub’s motor control was just at the point of grabbing a shell, and of course it was headed for his mouth!  I was ever vigilant about keeping his sandy hands out of his mouth, but a sandy foot went straight in when I turned my head for a second!

Madeira Beach

I was absolutely delighted to see dolphins playing in the water, just a few feet from shore.  My daughter really didn’t seem that impressed, but I’m hoping the memory of it will be more meaningful as she gets a bit older.  I was 29 the first time I saw wild dolphins in Jamaica, and seeing them in Florida again just blew my mind.

In the two miles of coast that makes up Madeira Beach, there are 4 public areas – all of them have parking, 3 of them have restrooms, and two of them have showers.  It’s a really great little stretch of beach that offers many options for families – lots of condos, hotels and motels.  It’s close to both the Tampa and the St. Petersburg airports, and it’s on the little Suncoast Beach Trolley zips right through.

Cinderella's Castle

 
We had dinner with Cinderella, we stayed up late and watched the fireworks, we went on “It’s A Small World” five times. Even cynical ol’ me shed a sentimental tear or two on the trip (and so did my dad when I asked him about our trips to WDW when I was small - weird).  Anyhoo – she remembers that experience with almost alarmingly vivid detail, so we were a little concerned about possible pouting due to this year’s theme park-free trip to Florida.

This year we had neither the time nor the money to trek out to Walt Disney World, or any other theme park in the area for that matter.  At not-quite four years-old, initially she expected that this trip would be a carbon copy of the last, and was planning what she would wear for dinner with Cinderella, and what she would say to Drizella this time around.  We just very matter-of-factly explained that we wouldn’t be going to Disney this year, but we’d try to go again some other time.  

She didn’t react. And she didn’t mention it once while we were there.

A bucket, shovel, and a strange pink plastic floaty were our big expenses for the week.  The Gulf was a little cool, but nothing would keep her out of it. 

Clearwater Beach

When we weren’t at the beach, there’s a beautiful park down the road from my brother-in-law’s house called John Chesnut Sr. Park where we had a cookout one night, and brought Chinese take-out on another. It was wonderful to watch her run around with her cousins while her baby brother enjoyed the breeze off Lake Tarpon, and how it made the drippy trees dance and sway. (Funnily enough, it’s the shelter and playground we used that are on their site’s virtual tour.)

This was a wonderful break for all of us.  I felt a tad guilty taking her out of school for the week, but I think the quality family time was far more valuable for her than 5 days of JK.

Madeira Beach

Currently my head is a jumble of posts and articles. It’ll take a bit to sort them all out, but it’s amazing to see how a few days away can inspire and relax, all at the same time…

However, if you DO decide to check out the Mouse, here are some Family Accomodations in Disney World Area

Why Quebec City?  Well lots of reasons really.  I haven’t seen much of this beautiful country of mine… at just over 2mos. postpartum, I wasn’t terribly eager to hit a beach… and I’ve been totally jonesing for Europe, but that’s just not in the cards right now… I’ve always heard that Quebec City is a little slice of Paris here in Canada, and now I know it’s true.

A beautiful doorstep in Vieux Quebec

One thing that struck me was how lush and green everything is. The rolling green hills of the Plains of Abraham demand to be frolicked on, and the centrepiece of the city, the beautiful Chateau Frontenac, sits atop the city like a princess’ crown.Most of our trips have involved sand and sea, not cobblestones and cannons, but our daughter had a wonderful time.

A princess and her castle...

And the baby?  He just enjoyed the ride…

Riley enjoys his horse & carriage ride...

I WAS a little concerned about how we’d get along with a baby in a stroller when most of the streets were narrow and cobbled and we weren’t bringing our big jogging stroller.  We did bring the carrier, but like his sister, the bub is not happy to be in it for very long.

In spite of the cobbles, Quebec City is quite stroller-friendly.  Even the narrowest streets have some form of sidewalk, and there are always ways around the myriad of staircases.  You’ll definitely get your excercise on some of the hills - but if you absolutely need a break, you can bring your stroller on the Funiculaire so long as it folds. 

It wasn’t that long ago that the typical Quebecois family had 6 or more kids, so it’s no wonder that French Canadians embrace children.  Traveling with a baby so young presents a couple of challenges, but fortunately, feeding him wasn’t one of them.  Since we’re still exclusively breastfeeding, I didn’t have to worry about bottles and formula and sterilizing.  The inclement weather made nursing outside a little uncomfortable at times, but there was nary a stink eye in sight.  In a lot of restaurants, this decal was placed prominently in the window – a welcome sign for those with infants in tow!

Tracey went to Germany with her husband and baby boy.  They rented an apartment for part of their stay, and they had a wonderful time.  Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us, Tracey!

Berlin like a Berliner

Last year my husband and I took a trip to Germany with our 8-month-old son. We had extended family there and we felt it was a great time to travel – before the little guy could walk or voice his displeasure with the choice of activities.

Tracey In Berlin

We knew traveling with a baby was going to be different and we’d have to make some compromises. The little guy had a regular routine at home and we decided the best thing for our trip would be to maintain a couple of key aspects of that schedule. So each day we got to have a relaxing breakfast while he had a quick morning nap. During the day we saw the sites while he happily cat napped in his carrier. And each night we enjoyed a nice home cooked dinner and adult conversation after he went to bed. This worked particularly well when visiting with friends and family.

Our trip included stops in Grunstadt, Chemnitz, Nurenberg, Munich, Berlin and Neuschwanstein in the Bavarian Alps. For most of our trip we were staying with family. But for Berlin we were on our own.

So we booked an apartment instead of a hotel. This gave us a kitchen so we could have a nice breakfast each day, and make dinner each night (although we usually had a late lunch out and didn’t need dinner). An apartment also gave us a bedroom in which the little guy could retire each night while we ate, played cards, people watched, etc.

A late, light dinner on our balcony...

It was easy to find and book an apartment. There was a wide variety of flats throughout Berlin available for all sorts of budgets. We wanted something in central Berlin and close to the metro with a bedroom, laundry, kitchen, crib, high chair, etc. In the end we booked online through Mowitania (an apartment agency). Our cost was very affordable at 80EU a night, including taxes and the agency fee.

Our little 1 bedroom flat was on the 4th floor of an old apartment block in the former East Berlin neighbourhood of Friedrichshain. The building was one of the few in the area that had survived through WWII and communism and it was full of character. The neighbourhood was a real fun eclectic mix of people and right outside our door were grocery stores, street side cafes, restaurants, clubs, shops, coffee, internet, etc. During the day it was just a short metro ride to all the key sites. And we in the evening we enjoyed people watching from our balcony.

Entrance hall to our Berlin apartment...

It was of course a long walk up those stairs with a baby in a carrier after a long day of sightseeing and there was no hotel staff or room service at our beck and call. But we had the freedom to make our own meals, do laundry and make ourselves really at home – all at a lower cost than most hotels. We felt like we were seeing Berlin from a Berliners point of view.
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About Tracey. Tracey regularly blogs about things that interest her at Ramblings of TJR – marketer – mom – tv addict. https://tjrramblings.blogspot.com

Here’s a picture of her as we were leaving…

One Night Inclusive Package-
From Niagara’s only family resort comes Niagara’s only Inclusive Package!

A family of four saves $100!
Your package includes:
Our signature ‘all-you-can-eat’ breakfast buffet for each guest.
One personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut and one fountain drink or one deli sandwich or salad and one fountain drink from Bear Claw Cafe for each guest.
One dinner buffet for each guest.
One game of mini-golf + one $6.00 Cub Club craft + 10 arcade tokens for each child.
2 days of water park play.
FREE parking.
Use promotion code INCLUSIVE when reserving your room

Here’s the lowdown on  GWL’s summer events…

July 1st – Celebrate Canada Day at the Great Wolf Lodge!
*Fireworks show
*Great Wolf Lodge’s own Canada Day parade
*Official cake cutting
*Pie eating contests
*Poolside entertainment

July 31 – August 3 – August Civic Holiday and Wiley’s BBQ Bash!
*Great Wolf fireworks display!
*BBQ fun for the whole family!
*BBQ Bash dance
*Watch the BBQ Bash race for your chance to win a free nights stay
*Pie eating contests, three legged races, pool side games and contests

August 20 – September 4 – It’s a Howl B4U Hit the Books! 
*Cool back to school cub club crafts
*Demos on back to school snacks and fun
*Back-to-school games and activities
*Water safety

For full details, visit Great Wolf Lodge Niagara’s official website at http://www.greatwolf.com/niagara/waterpark

Have Baby Will Travel’s readers sent in their dream destinations, and the top 5 is a very diverse list of places. If it’s truly your dream to go somewhere with your family, make it happen. If money’s the issue, start saving now. If it’s time or distance, start planning now. The experience of traveling with your kids is so worth the effort.

5.   Jamaica…
Beautiful beaches, lush countryside, great coffee and even better rum – Jamaica is a great choice for a family getaway. There are numerous accommodation options – from private villas to family-centred all-inclusive resorts, it’s malaria-free, and there are no language barriers. Jamaica would also be an easy option if it’s your first trip with your tot. A bonus? You’re much less likely to be hassled for ‘herb’ if you’ve got your kids in tow.

4.   Visit Extended Family Overseas…
This dream came up so frequently but for different destinations – and it is a dream of mine as well. For me, it’s Scotland and England, but the Have Baby Will Travel readers are an international bunch, with family in Poland, Bolivia, South Africa, Japan, Czech Republic, France, Pakistan, The Philippines, Holland, Spain, Chile & Croatia! I get why a trip of this nature seems daunting – visiting family often means staying with them and you’re not always sure of the facilities. Add in multiple locations with different family members PLUS the extra time you’d want to spend there and a trip ‘home’ is more of a big deal and probably not an annual event.

3.   Italy…
While there’s no shortage of adult enjoyment to be had there, Italy is a wonderful place to bring your kids – the top reason being that Italians absolutely love children. Art, architecture, history & nature – not to mention the ultimate toddler-friendly food – Italy is well worth a visit with your family in tow!

2.   Australia…
To us North Americans, visiting Australia seems so daunting due to the task of getting there. And since traveling Down Under would take so long, you’d want to extend your stay to make the most of your journey. Once you’re there though, Australia’s possibilities seem endless – both underwater and on dry land.

1.   Walt Disney World…
By a landslide, Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida is Have Baby Will Travel readers’ #1 destination! I have to admit, this really surprised me – or it would have had we not gone just a few months ago. Growing up, I thought Walt Disney World was just another theme park (and I guess I was spoiled since we went a number of times!) On this trip I realized that to fully experience all that WDW has to offer, you need to really plan ahead AND that the costs can really add up. If a trip to The Mouse with the kids is truly your dream, my suggestion is to book with a Disney specialist, who can find ways to save you money, and plan your itinerary so you don’t miss out on anything. Believe it or not, Walt Disney World can be done on a budget!

Wherever your dream destination happens to be, you can bet it will be that much more special once you see it through the eyes of your child!

Book by May 23 Booking window: April 23 – May 23Travel Dates: between May 2 and October 25, 2009   $5599* for a family of 4 2 adults and 2 children (2 – 15 yrs) Taxes and air-inclusive (Air Transat or Canjet) Two choices of reknown family destinations:: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Choose your gateway: Montreal, Toronto Cancun Yucatan, Mexico Choose your gateway: Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton

*Sample price is for a departure from Montreal and Toronto, on June 7 for Punta Cana, for a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children between 2 & 15 yrs old) lodging in the same room (Family Club), air and taxes included, for 7 nights. Offer valid for new bookings made between April 23 & May 23, 2009. Offer applicable to families of 4 (2 adults and 2 children between 2 & 15 yrs). Some booking restrictions/blackout dates apply depending on resort. Departures are on Saturday or Sunday. Not combinable with any other offer. Subject to availability at time of reservation. Not applicable to group bookings. Offer is subject to capacity control and can be withdrawn/changed at any time without notice. Club Med membership fees of $60 per adult and $30 per child are extra. Other restrictions apply including current brochure Terms and cancellation/change fees. Applicable in Canada only. Quebec permit.

Enjoying the sand on Jibacoa Beach in Cuba - 2007.

When I was about 7 or 8, my mom took me to Cuba for a week’s holiday with her friend and her 2 kids close in age to me.  I don’t remember much, but I do remember strange, orange, hard plastic seats on the plane, a pretty spartan room with twin beds, intermittent power and water outages throughout the day, and incredibly friendly people that only spoke Spanish.  I also remember fantastic fun at the beach & pool, trying frog’s legs (they did taste like chicken!), and everyone enjoying a laid-back week in the sun.

Cuba’s come a long way in catering to visitors since the late-’70s (did I just give away my age?), and truly you won’t find a place that will embrace your children more.  These days, Cubana was one of the more civilized flights I’ve taken recently (the offer of a complimentary baby meal!), rooms come in varying degrees of size and luxury, the power and water’s been sorted out, and a large number of Cubans speak English or French (certainly those working in tourism do).  Best of all, you can still enjoy that laid back week in the sun.

With President Obama lifting restrictions for Cuban Americans to visit their families, I think the time will soon arrive that all our American friends will have the (legal) chance to experience what we Canadians (and Brits, and Europeans, and Aussies, and everyone else…) have been able to keep for ourselves for decades – the opportunity to visit Cuba.

We’ve been there twice with our daughter, and wouldn’t hesitate to go back again.  If you’re thinking about taking your family to Cuba, here are some articles that you may find useful.

Have Baby Will Travel - my first adventure in family travel…
Have Baby Will Travel – Una Vez Mas! – this time she’s a toddler…
Cuba Trip Reports - first hand reviews from parents who’ve been to Cuba with their babies and toddlers…

We’re hoping to go again as a family of 4 next winter, and my husband and I are planning a long weekend in Havana for an upcoming big birthday of mine – yes, it’s the new 30!

It’s never occurred to me to not bring my daughter along when we’ve gone away.   Now that she’s here (and another’s on the way) we’ve had to alter our ‘dream’ destination list for a while, spend a little more thought and money on suitable accommodations (suitable for her and comfortable for us), and learn the ins and outs of flight booking to find the best flights times for the best prices.  The work’s been worth it, though.  Our journeys as a family aren’t particularly adventurous YET, but with every trip my daughter becomes a better and more seasoned traveler, and I hope the same will be true once our family expands to four. 

Every trip has taken A LOT more planning than my previous baby-free jaunts.  After all, this little human being relies on us 24-7, and none of us will enjoy ourselves if some basics aren’t looked after.  We’ve already looked at some nice-to-have gear for eating and sleeping while you’re traveling – but what about playing?

Playing:
A great thing about travel with babies and toddlers is that the new places, faces, and food are usually enough to them interested and occupied and you don’t have to think about amusing them constantly or providing them with toys to keep them busy.  However, being cooped up in a plane, train or an automobile DOES require distractions that will last for longer than 10 seconds, and once you are out and about, there may not always be somewhere safe and/or clean to sit down and play… 

The Mommy Mat by agent mommy:

The Mommy Mat is a two-sided large play mat measuring 50″x50″.  It comes in either bold prints of cotton blend or hemp/cotton on one side and polyester knit sandwiched with a waterproof, non PVC coating on the other. The Mommy Mat is machine washable and dryer safe.  For greater versatility, it rolls up easily and can be  placed into the rain or shine tube for travel. It has hooks for attaching to stroller buddy clips and a shoulder strap for when no stroller is needed. The mat with its travel case is ideal for trips to the park, the beach, a play-date or dinner party.

The Mommy Mat will find many uses in the home and anywhere mommies want the baby or toddler to have a safe play space.

The Snack & Play Travel Tray by Star Kids:

How many times have you contorted yourself in an airplane seat to retrieve an errant crayon, or seriously compromised your safety by reaching for a dropped sippy while driving? The Snack & Play Travel Tray helps eliminate all that by providing a flat, safe area for children to eat and play.

Snack & Play Travel Tray is ideal for short and long trips. It smunches up small and weighs less than 1lb – works for strollers too!

Aqua Doodle Travel ‘N Doodle by Spinmaster:

When it is time to hit the road, you can keep your little one occupied on the go with Travel ‘N Doodle. It is the same Aquadoodle fun in an easy-to-carry, compact format. Travel Doodle features 2 doodle surfaces and a doodle pen for mess free fun. Watch the designs disappear in minutes for a clean doodle surface.

Aquadoodle’s Travel Doodle folds up to the size of a book and the pens are filled with plain water, so there’s no mess to worry about when your tot decides the walls of the plane need some decoration!

Don’t forget to check out my article Howling When It’s Time To Leave to survive your visit there!

Niagara’s One Night Inclusive Package!
A family of four saves $100!

Your package includes:           

Our signature ‘all-you-can-eat’ breakfast buffet
One personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut and one fountain drink for each person
Dinner buffet
2 days of water park play
FREE parking
Use promotion code INCLUSIVE when reserving your room.

Niagara’s Two Night Inclusive Package!
Stay two consecutive nights and your meals are FREE.

Your package includes:       

Our signature ‘all-you-can-eat’ breakfast buffet each morning
One personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut and one fountain drink for each person each day
Dinner buffet each evening
3 days of waterpark play
FREE parking
Use promotion code TWOINCLUSIVE when reserving your room.

The Ultimate Inclusive Package!
A family of four saves over $140!

Your package includes:           

Our signature ‘all-you-can-eat’ breakfast buffet
One personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut and one fountain drink for each person
Dinner buffet
One keep sake photo & frame
One waterpark tube (yours to keep)
Unlimited mini-golf
One Cub Club craft and 20 arcade tokens for each child
2 days of waterpark play
FREE parking
Use promotion code ULTIMATE when reserving your room.

Offer valid only at Niagara Falls, Ontario  location, March 23 – April 30, 2009, must be mentioned at time of  reservation. Limited number of rooms available for each date. May not  be valid during holiday and blackout periods or combined with any other  discount or promotional offers. Multiple night minimum stay may apply.  Offer may end at any time without notice. Must have one individual 21 years of age or older staying at the resort.

Check out more Family Things to do in Niagara Falls…

Now some of the other lakes you may be familiar with, even if you’ve never been… The top of Lake Joseph is called ‘Billionaire’s Row’.  Pretty much every single Toronto Maple Leaf has a place on Lake Muskoka. Goldie Hawn & Kurt Russell, Steven Spielberg, Martin Short, and Tom Hanks all have properties on Lake Rosseau – and now you can stay there too!

Whether guests are looking for a romantic getaway under the stars or an outdoor adventure, The Rosseau, the newly opened JW Marriott Resort & Spa in the heart of Muskoka, offers a number of great activities the whole family will love, not only on Valentine’s Day weekend, but throughout the month of February. 

Set high on a bluff overlooking picturesque Lake Rosseau, The Rosseau offers guests a spectacular winter escape with activities, restaurants, spa services, amenities, stunning scenery and exceptional service that are sure to beat the winter blues.

“In addition to the breathtaking views to soothe the mind and soul, we have a number of winter activities that will bring out the nature lover in anyone,” says Leah Leslie, Director of Sales and Marketing, The Rosseau. “But if indoors is more your thing, The Rosseau offers an unpretentious surrounding that engages guests with our simple, organic foods, spa services and workshops with local artisans, authors and craftspeople. We want our guests to experience nature on their terms.”

In surroundings of comfortable luxury, The Rosseau appeals to those seeking a unique atmosphere in a grand hotel setting.

Just two and a half hours away from Toronto, the JW Marriott is located in the heart of Muskoka”s Red Leaves resort community. Guests of The Rosseau will appreciate the unspoiled beauty of pristine Northern Ontario.

Some activities planned throughout February include:

February 14 and 15

Family Ice Fishing Excursions  -  February 14 & 15

No fishing license required – Departing every hour from Wallace Marina, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Make Your Own Fishing Rod - February 14 & 15 – Wallace Marina, 10:30 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.В 

Miniature Boat Building  - February 14 – At Butson Boats, 2:00 p.m.

Classical Guitar with Dr. Alvin Tung – February 14 – Muskoka Room, The Rosseau, 8:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.  

Fishing Lure Lecture - February 15 – Wallace Marina with Dr. Alvin Tung, 10:00 a.m. & 12:00 p.m.

Chocolate Making  -  February 15 – The Rosseau, 3:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m.

February 20 & 22

“Beat the February Blues” weekend

Snowmobile Safari to the Village of Rosseau for the Annual Dog Sled Run

February 21, 10:30 a.m. & 12:00 p.m. 

Live Blues Music at the Marina