Trip Review: Winter Wonderland

When your Florida teens have never seen snow, it is time to plan a trip to The Rockies!  The Getsy family of 4 (2 adults and 2 teens age 16 and 13) traveled to Jackson, WY this month to celebrate a special wedding anniversary. They had a great time experiencing winter and snow with various adventures, including snow tubing, chair lift, and alpine sliding at the Snow Mountain Ski Resort; snowmobiling through the Gros Ventre Mountains; sleigh riding in an Elk Refuge; making snowmen at the hotel, and more during their stay.  There was no need to snow ski to appreciate this winter wonderland.  The family stayed at the Rustic Inn Creekside Resort & Spa in two peaceful creekside rooms with fireplaces (which proved to be quite hot, but good for drying towels). This upscale property, across from the National Elk Refuge, showcases a 7-acre nature preserve and is just a few blocks from downtown Jackson for plenty of dining and shopping options. There is a shuttle to town as well. Mind-blowing bacon and a nice variety of food options made breakfast a hotel highlight. Their favorite meal out was at the White Buffalo Club in Jackson. Pricey, but worthwhile to taste delicious and fresh bison and venison. Trio, The Kitchen, and The Blue Lion also received praises and Bin 22 was a good spot for buying and sipping wine. Their vacation package featured a free (and thanks to COVID), private excursion! They chose Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris’ Best of Jackson Hole tour with a visit to nearby Grand Teton National Park, a windy National Elk Refuge (dress extra warm), and the Wildlife Art Museum along with light breakfast, lunch, and a sleigh ride. In Grand Teton, their excellent guide helped them spot moose, coyotes, rams, buffalo, and various birds of prey. They also loved their Granite Hot Springs snowmobile experience with the Teton Tour Co. that included an excellent guide and dip in the hot springs. The teens also had a chance to take the snowmobiles for a spin in the beautiful wilderness. Thankfully cold-weather outerwear was also included.  Overall, the trip was a great success for a fun and first snow encounter.

Travel Tip: COVID Test with Miles

American Airlines is now allowing AAdvantage members to redeem miles for COVID-19 tests. For only 12,000 miles, you can order an at-home COVID-19 testing kit through LetsGetChecked. The company is a direct-to-consumer at-home health testing business. Their test incorporates a nasal swab at-home which you mail to the lab for PCR analysis. Typically, a test result is available on-line within 24-72 hours . The test is Federal Drug Administration approved under emergency use authorization provisions.  Just be sure this lab is an approved one for your specific destination.

Trip Review: Cancun Celebration

Nadia and Jahmal from Philadelphia enjoyed an adult escape to Cancun for a special birthday celebration with their stay at Live Aqua, an all-inclusive and adult-only property in the Hotel Zone.  The couple enjoyed their Aqua Suite which was a quiet corner room.  They loved how the curtains opened automatically when they walked into the suite revealing gorgeous ocean views!  Their extra spacious balcony was accessible from both the living room and bedroom and they appreciated having two bathrooms.  Wine and macrons were waiting for them in the suite on arrival for Jahmal’s birthday celebration.  They found the resort food to be tasty and food service to be excellent.  Highlights included a yummy burger stand by the pool, waiter recommended fried fish and shrimp tacos for lunch at the Sea Corner restaurant (with a surprise birthday song from the staff) and an Asian dinner tucked away amongst the trees at the Hidden Garden restaurant.  They also found the COVID protocols to be excellent.  Staff wore masks and shields, hand sanitizer and soap were plentiful, pool and beach chairs regularly sprayed, and getting their test to return to the US was easy and well-arranged through the concierge.  They had some fun adventures off property including a yacht trip to Isla Mujeres; an adventure tour with zip lining, ATV rides, cenote swim/dive, and tequila tasting in the Riviera Maya, and also went parasailing.  Overall, they had no issues during their 4-night stay and found the staff very friendly and helpful.  They look forward to returning!

Travel Tip: World Education

We love showcasing efforts to expand our children’s exposure to the world and all its amazing culture. Such an effort is available through Planet Classroom, a global network for youth by youth.  They recently announced their first-ever multicultural channel for youth voices.  Season 1 programming will represent creators from over 50 countries and include over 150 films, dance, music, video game, and art videos as well as VidOps and workshops featuring innovative youth start-ups.  Planet Classroom brings together musicians, dancers, video game creators, filmmakers, innovators, and emerging technologists to entertain, educate and engage through YouTube, podcasts, and social media.  Check out and share https://www.planetclassroom.world/browse/.

Travel Tip: New Testing Requirements

As you may be reading, pandemic travel requirements are constantly changing based on new CDC rules, individual state mandates, and regulations in other countries. Feel confident that we are constantly keeping on top of the situation. The latest requirement for antigen tests to return to the US from another country begins today!  Currently, there are two types of diagnostic tests– molecular tests, such as RT-PCR tests, that detect the virus’s genetic material, and antigen tests that detect specific proteins from the virus. Antigen tests are generally less expensive. Our tour operator partners are continually updating what the hotels and resorts are offering and charging for testing and your quarantine option…should you test positive.  As with any travel during this time, whether in or out of the country, there are some risks, but many of our favorite hotels and resorts are offering free tests and free stays if you need to quarantine.  Some destinations require you to purchase, for a minimal price, a COVID protection insurance plan to cover costs should you get sick while traveling.  Many countries also require a PCR test within 72 hours (or other date frames) to enter. Our travel insurance partners are also still determining the full amount of coverages for this constantly evolving situation as this is new for them as well.   Without a travel agent…you are on your own.

Trip Review: Holiday Ski Getaway

The Sedaka Family of New York City (2 adults and 3 children ages 8, 6, and 4) drove to Hunter Mountain this winter break for some outdoor recreation and relaxation and to celebrate the New Year!  They stayed in a spacious condo at the Kaatskill Mountain Club which sits at the base of the ski mountain.  The family let us know it was a perfect accommodation for young children.  It was ski-out and mostly ski-in (unless conditions were bad or for beginner skiers as you had to walk up a hill to get back to the lodge vs. going up the lift and skiing directly into the lodge).  Their 3-bedroom condo was well designed and spacious with Roku televisions (and basic cable).  Unfortunately, the internet connection was lousy; so they did depart earlier than planned.  The heated outdoor pool was large and warm, and the children swam daily.  The property took pool reservations to limit the capacity.  The spa, gym, hot tubs, and firepits were unfortunately closed due to COVID. The property also had a restaurant called Van Winkles which was only open to guests.  They had a decent meal there and said the waitstaff was excellent.  Grocery and prepared food delivery services were also available to order online and then delivered right to your condo.  They also appreciated the warm and accommodating front desk staff.  The family also noted that the ski school staff was also very friendly and helpful, but there were some issues with getting the number of lessons they wanted due to the new state protocols. The ski school was on the opposite side of the lodge and down a hill.  Getting there and back was a little challenging.  A trip highlight was getting cooked-to-order donuts, coffee, and tea at Twin Peaks Coffee and Donuts in nearby Tannersville. Overall a fun time was had by all and they plan to return in the spring to use up their prepaid nights.

Travel Tip: Snacks from Around the World

One of our favorite parts of traveling is experiencing the local cuisine…especially the snack food!  Tasting a variety of local foods provides an authentic and inside look into culture and is especially fun and engaging for children. Now your family can taste the world from the comforts of your home. Universal Yums sends you a box of snacks and candies from a different country every month. The products they select are delicious, unique, and often extremely difficult (or even impossible) to find in the United States. Each box also comes with an interactive guidebook to steer your culinary adventure and to learn more about the country – including trivia, games, recipes, culture, and more!

Trip Review: USVI Boat Charter

The Silverstein Family from Parkland, FL are avid boaters and understand that a private boat charter is an ideal and popular way to have a socially distanced family vacation. The family of 8 gathered this month in St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands for a week-long sailing around St. Thomas and St. John. They explained that their arrival at the St. Thomas airport was very efficient. Health forms and test results were sent in advance with temperatures taken and test results reconfirmed at the airport. The boat sailed to a variety of bays (including beautiful Magan’s Bay, Maho Bay, and Princess Bay) where they anchored and used the ship’s 38 ft. dinghy to reach land for their daily activities. Highlights of the trip are plentiful. They appreciated having all of their recreation, food, drink, and even laundry needs met by the ship staff who even arranged special birthday and Hannukah celebrations. They let us know that the food service was 5-star with all of their different needs considered. The family group ate their meals outdoors at the versatile table at the back of the boat and used the upper deck/bar area for pre-dinner drinks and appetizers. They really enjoyed the variety of activities and getting some exercise to help alleviate the guilt of eating so much wonderful food.  The ship was nicely decked out with two dinghies, snorkel equipment, kayaks, paddleboards, wakeboards, and seabobs (cool water sleds that can be used above and below water). The family are avid hikers and were surprised by the variety of trails on each island (St. John is actually 60 percent national park). They especially enjoyed the mountain hikes and didn’t mind swimming to land to reach one of the remote trails. They hiked Cinnamon Bay, Annaberg, and Leinster Bay; all with amazing island views. Wildlife sightings on their hikes included deer and wild donkeys while on one of their snorkel outings, they saw squid and sea turtles.  For relaxation and much-needed downtime, the ship had a large hot tub and several sunbathing areas. Inside the salon, there was another large table for gathering and large couches for watching movies on the pop-up TV with movie theater-quality surround sound. Overall, the family really enjoyed the relaxed pace of this trip and spending quality time together. The trip was exactly what they wanted in a vacation! Since the charter is all-inclusive, it is actually a good value for large families and family groups traveling together.

Travel Tip: Podcasts for the Road

Looking for some family friendly entertainment for your next long drive (or hopefully a flight someday soon)? Here is a list of recommended and engaging podcasts from families who travel the globe. Enjoy a creative array of stories, learn about world geography, and have a few laughs!

Grandpa’s Globe: Purple Rocket (https://purplerocketpodcast.com/category/grandpas-globe/): Travel the world with twins Sawyer and Suzie using their Grandpa’s magical globe, explore the universe aboard the Space Train, fly with fairies, discover an underground civilization with Digger, and so much more!

Brains On (https://www.brainson.org/): This science podcast for curious children and adults from American Public Radio finds answers to fascinating questions about the world sent in by listeners.

Six Minutes (https://app.kidslisten.org/pod/Six-Minutes): A mystery unfolds in Alaska in just six-minute episodes, twice a week…all year long.

Story Pirates (https://www.storypirates.com/podcast): A group of world-class actors, comedians, improvisers, and
musicians adapt stories written by children into sketch comedy and musical
theater. 

Wow in the World (https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510321/wow-in-the-world): Journey into the wonders of the world around you.

Little Stories for Tiny People (https://www.littlestoriestinypeople.com/): Features original children’s stories lovingly written and performed with attention to the whimsical senses of humor children often possess.

Trip Review: A Look Back

Traveling is transformative, especially when you experience new places and cultures as a child.  It’s why we love family travel so much as our own parents taught this to us through their love of exploring and appreciation for world culture.  Exposing children to the way others live gives them a greater perspective on our own lives and where they fit into this world.  It’s humbling.  We thought it would be nice to showcase some of our own favorite family trips and why they were so memorable and meaningful to us. Lauren’s most favorite and transformative family trip was her first to Israel at age 16.  Mindy and Lauren’s father was very active in Jewish fundraising and had been to Israel many times as part of charitable missions as well as to sell the family candy. His list of friends in Israel was rapidly extending in many different directions. Our parents decided to take our family of 6 to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary with a grand party at the Dan Accadia Hotel in Herzliya, Israel.  Afterward, we traveled around to many parts of the country with a private guide. Touring this small country with a private guide is still our favorite way to book Israel for our families. Guides are a prized profession there; so only the best make it through the rigorous training with all its detailed and illustrious history dating back to biblical times.  Creating custom itineraries sets the pace that makes sense for your family’s needs and travel style.  After a few days of beach time (always good after the long flight) and all the generous hospitality from family friends, we headed north to explore the Sea of Galilee, the Golan Heights, Safed, Rosh Hanikrah, Nazareth, Haifa, Acre as well as taking in multiple archeological sites, synagogues, churches, and national parks. We then headed to Jerusalem to spend several nights at the fabulous and historical King David Hotel and to explore the Old City, the three major religions, and the city’s surroundings.  A day trip down to Jericho as well as Masada and the Dead Sea were also included. The experience was truly magical for us as a family.  We were in a place where our father had dedicated so much of his time to aid and had developed relationships with so many wonderful people.  We understood and felt his passion.  We learned so much about the country’s history, our ancestors, our religion, other religions, and Zionism which helped create the State of Israel.  We amassed so many fond memories of our shared travel experience. The country definitely affected Lauren who would end up returning to Israel another 13 times experiencing a variety of youth, college, and volunteer programs as well as a year-long study/work program post-college.  And she cannot wait for her next trip to Israel!