Trip Review: A Quebec Experience

Lauren and her husband Evan traveled north of the border to Montreal and Quebec City in August.  Their trip began in Montreal for Lauren to compete in the World Masters Weightlifting Championships held in one of the 1976 Olympic venues.  We enjoyed exploring the Olympic sites and a visit to the top of the Montreal Tower for amazing city views.  At an astonishing 45-degree angle, it holds the Guinness World Record as the tallest inclined tower in the world.  Nearby are excellent dining options in Hochelega neighborhood.  We also explored Montreal’s Old Town with its vibrant shops, cafes, waterfront promenade along with several important churches, squares, government buildings and parks.  Our reason to visit the Historic Jewish section of the city was twofold: to see the myriad of murals that are painted on buildings as part of the annual Mural Festival each June and to eat smoked meat at the famous Schwartz’s Deli!  We also ventured into nearby Mont Royal park.  A fun activity was maneuvering through Montreal’s underground city with 20 miles worth of tunnels.  Our stay at the Le Westin Montreal proved to be an ideal location between the Old Town and newer city sections.  It offers an indoor pool, nice gym and several dining options.  Unfortunately our Heavenly Bed was not so heavenly, but our very spacious room was comfortable otherwise.

We took the train from Montreal to Quebec City; an easy 3-hour ride with nice bathrooms, foodservice and free internet.  We stayed in the hipster St. Roch neighborhood at the Best Western City Centre; a good 4-star hotel with a friendly and helpful staff, restaurant, indoor pool and small gym.  This area showcases lots of dining and shopping options.  It was an easy, 25-minute walk (uphill) to the Old Town.  They have an elevator part way if the stairs are too much.  We enjoyed exploring the quaint Old Town and its charming gates, street performers, cafes, shops, parks and historical buildings including a visit to the Citadel fortress.  Our walk along the Governors Promenade was enjoyable as well. This giant boardwalk facing the St. Lawrence River connects the Plains of Abraham Park to the Dufferin Terrace.  The highlight of our time in Quebec City was a half day bike ride to the Montmorency Falls with Cyclo Services.  We traveled through the beautiful Quebec countryside.  At Montmorency, we took a cable car to the top and walked across the suspended bridge over the falls.  The ride ended with some time in the Old Port area of Quebec.  This region showcases over 3,000 miles of bike paths (Rue Verte); an awesome opportunity for exploring on your own as well.  Overall the trip was a delight!

Trip Review: An Amsterdam Getaway

The Brucker family of Plymouth Meeting near Philadelphia (2 adults and 1 son, age 18) traveled to Amsterdam this summer for 5 days to celebrate a high school graduation.  The quick getaway was too short to get to multiple destinations, but they found the long stay in Amsterdam an opportunity to explore every inch of the city.  The graduate really loves history, culture, food and art; so it was very easy for the entire family to enjoy a variety of experiences.  The trio took in the Dutch city with several guided tours and museum visits along with excellent dining.  They were lucky as well with perfect weather.  A guided canal boat as well as a bike tour gave them varying views of the city’s highlights.  The guide on their canal boat tour with Those Dam Boat Guys was both funny and knowledgeable.  This cheeky ride around the city’s canals is in a 10-seater electric boat.  Their Yellow Bike tour was really fun as well as an authentic Amsterdam experience.  This company is the first and original company in Amsterdam for such tours.  Food wise they enjoyed a wonderful Secret Food tour that included plenty of history along with Dutch tastes.  They also visited the Heineken Experience which proved to be touristy, but a well-done interactive journey about this local beer. Amsterdam also showcases amazing museums.  The family said that their guided tour of the Van Gogh Museum was super interesting and valuable while the Anne Frank House is not to be missed. The family also loved the Moco Museum which opened in 2016.  This boutique museum showcases modern art, contemporary art and street art.  The family was sorry they skipped the Rijksmuseum. Digging more into Amsterdam culture, the highlight tour for the family turned out to be a Red-Light District Tour.  They found it very interesting and informative as they learned about the history and culture of the district, the protections, the controversy…they were really glad they did this tour.   The family stayed at the NH Grand Krasnapolsky; centrally located right on Dam Square.  The location was ideal for seeing all that the city has to offer.  They said that the service and staff were very good.   Overall a successful trip for all before sending their first child off the college!

Trip Review: An Alaska Family Reunion

The Glickman and Kaplan families from Jacksonville, FL and Woodbury, CT ventured to Alaska this summer for a two-week land tour through Alaska’s South Central, Southwest and Interior regions.  The trip included a wonderful variety of outdoor adventures to witness the state’s amazing beauty and wildlife.  The three generations ranged from age 11-81!  They flew into Anchorage and drove themselves to Girdwood to decompress for a few nights at the Carriage House.  This was their favorite accommodation of the trip with an excellent breakfast as well as kitchens in their spacious cottage rooms. They went to the Aleyska Resort to ride the tram that affords spectacular views.  At the top they took a walk to see the snow, and got to see where the melt was just emerging… the very beginning of a creek!  They also did a bunch of hikes and some geocaching in Girdwood, as well as visited the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. They were able to see the iconic animals up close and learn about them before they encountered them in the wild.

The trip moved south to Seward with a stay at the Seward Windsong Lodge.  They thoroughly explored the Kenai Peninsula with a fjords boat trip, sea kayaking, hiking and a visit to a dog sledding kennel owned by Iditarod winners.  The family explained that the fjords trip was a highlight and a very rich experience due to the number of animals they saw (eagles, whales, sea lions, puffins, sea otters and more).  They even saw a calving glacier! Their self-guided hike to a view from the top of Exit Glacier and the start of the Harding Ice Fields was also awesome despite the uphill and 7 ½ mile climb.  Unfortunately, their sea kayaking trip was a little short on water time.

From Seward, they drove back to Anchorage and stayed at the Lakefront Anchorage Hotel.  They appreciated the hotel going out of their way to honor a family birthday with cake and a “guest of the day” designation!  The following day they flew to Katmai for an awesome and once-in-a-lifetime bear viewing experience that included up-close encounters, watching the bears fish for salmon, playing on the beach and a seeing a mother and her cubs.  The travel to this remote peninsula was its own adventure.  The children got to sit right next to the pilot for the smooth flight! Some of them also visited the Alaska Heritage Center in Anchorage where they learned so much about the native peoples and saw some indigenous performances.

They boarded the Alaska Railroad train in Anchorage for a 7 ½ hour journey in the dome car to Denali National Park.  The 2^nd deck afforded them great views of animals, mountains, and rivers throughout the ride.  The train ride even included their own bartender and dedicated tour guide.  They enjoyed their meal in the dining car commenting on the excellent service.  Denali Park Village hotel was their home for the next few nights.  Not their favorite accommodation as it was several miles away from the park entrance without many food options nearby, but it was the only property available for their needs and dates.  Their activities included the full day Denali Backcountry Adventure through the park, ATV rides, a float trip, self-guided hikes and an interpretive hike through Rock Creek.  Evidentially, the ATV ride was only fun for the young adults in the group who enjoyed the speed.  The trails were unexpectedly dry and dusty and there wasn’t much wildlife in the area, but the float trip down the Nenana River was really lovely and they enjoyed the guides on their hike.  The Backcountry bus ride through the park is done on school buses.  Not the most comfortable for a 92-mile ride, but they explained that their driver was very knowledgeable and spotted bears, moose, caribou, eagles and other animals. The family noted that the parks in Alaska (and elsewhere around the US) are created for the animals; not for the tourists.  Experiencing the parks is not always easy.  Sadly, the weather did not cooperate for a view of Mount Denali even with a 4-night stay!

From Denali they took the 4-hour train to Fairbank for a night before flying home.  They stayed at the River’s Edge Resort.

Overall the family said it was an incredible trip and that they could not have organized it on their own.  Grandpa, who had been to Alaska before and done some of the same activities, said that the quality of tour operators used on this this tour made the trip extra special.  They thanked the Family Traveler for a family trip of a lifetime!

Trip Review: Viva Puerto Rico

Jen recently returned from a Girls Getaway to Puerto Rico.  She stayed in a large villa on the grounds of the Wyndham Rio Mar; a favorite property for our families at both the resort and condos next door.  The sprawling property offers excellent golf, tennis, pools, watersports, spa, gym, restaurants and more.  The self-catering villa where Jen stayed included a private pool, golf carts to get around the resort and a private chef to assist with the cooking for 24 people…ideal for multi-generational groups; especially those with special food needs. The group explored the diverse island with a variety of activities.  A highlight was kayaking in the bioluminescent bay.  Jen appreciated the peacefulness of the lagoon at night and racing the kayaks through the mangroves.  It was a full moon; so they used tarps in order to see the bioluminescence. A guided hike in El Yunque rainforest was beautiful and also showcased how much the national park has regrown.   A guided tour of quaint Old San Juan proved to be both informative and enjoyable.  The group even to the forts and also went to the bar that invented pina coladas.  They were delicious!   The women also volunteered at a new school set to open this August and assisted with various building projects and purchasing supplies for the school as well.  Lunch at the Luquillo Kiosks was also a highlight with so many amazing food choices to enjoy with beach views.  Overall Jen really enjoyed her trip, using US dollars, no passports or customs and immigration and the fact the English is widely spoken.  She found the people to be very warm and inviting and thankful that tourists are returning post-hurricane.

Trip Review: Central Europe Sojourn

Lauren and her husband, Evan, traveled to Central Europe for two weeks last month.  The highlight was visiting Lauren’s daughter and global citizen, who is now living and working in Prague.  The trip also included Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Paris!

Thanks to the Holy Roman Empire, much of Central Europe has a shared history. These countries also have very different pasts and very different presents.  Like many places in Europe, there is an abundance of Jewish and World War II history.  Travel between cities is easy by train or with a private driver or a combination of both.  Lauren trained from Prague to Vienna and took the car service, Day Trip, from Vienna to Budapest with a two hour stop to explore Bratislava.  She flew onto Paris from Budapest.  Each city was beautiful in its own way with lots of castles, river views, museums, historical sights, gardens and plenty of charm.

Prague is a friendly and inexpensive city as it is not on the euro.  The city’s highlight, the Prague Castle, offers their own hour long, guided tours.  Lauren enjoyed the excellent guide.  There are so many different churches, government buildings, gardens, halls, villages, shops and more in this massive complex that it would be easy to spend an entire day there and its location affords great city views.  On the other side of the river, a visit to the Vysherad Fortress complex included beautiful churches, the cemetery for famous Czechs, gardens, sculptures and awesome views.  The Jewish Museum complex in Prague is also outstanding with several synagogues, cemetery, ceremonial halls and one of the largest collections of Jewish artifacts in the world.  Prague is easy to explore on foot and this way Lauren saw many of its unique bridges, buildings, theaters, museums, government buildings, street markets and more.  Special street fairs were in abundance in celebration for the Easter holiday which provided lots of local food and handicrafts.  Her stay at the boutique Emblem Hotel near the Jewish Quarter and Old Town Square with the famous Astronomical Clock was ideal.  Small rooms, but the hotel offered several lounges, nice spa and gym, evening wine and cheese along with a delicious breakfast buffet included.  The staff went out of their way to please.

Lauren’s time in Vienna centered around its Imperial history with visits to government palaces, library and burial sites with a knowledgeable private guide from Tours by Locals.  A group tour offered by the Vienna Opera House was a treat with a backstage tour as well as time spent in Vienna’s Jewish Museums.  The main market was a bit of a disappointment except for the array of restaurant choices!  A stay at the Vienna Marriott with a view overlooking the Stadtpark was very comfortable and a good location for getting around Vienna on foot.  It also offered an extensive fitness and wellness center with indoor pool.

A short time in Bratislava included time to enjoy its quirky street art, walk through its Old Town and up to its palace for great view of the city and Danube. The Slovakian driver from Day Trip was not a licensed guide, but offered up plenty of interesting details about life in her country and its history.

Lauren truly enjoyed her private Jewish tour of Budapest from long time supplier Private Tours Budapest where she also learned a lot about this country’s current political issues and desire to rewrite its history.  It’s worthwhile to read about before a visit.  This city is also quite inexpensive and not on the euro.  Like Prague, this city is vibrant on both sides of the river.  Walking up to the Buda Castle complex over the Chain Bridge was fun and the funicular was a nice way to return.  This castle complex included the Fisherman’s Bastion and beautiful Matthias Church.  Easter street fairs were also prevalent with many tasty treats!  A lovely Danube River cruise with Legenda in one of their bubble boats provided excellent views of the city sights, bridges and Margaret Island.  Lauren’s stay at the New York Palace Hotel was very comfortable and included a meal at their famous cafe where many writers and poets spent their days at the turn of the century until the communists took ownership of the building.

The last stop in Paris included time in the Louvre, a trip to the top of both the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, wine tasting and a lovely stay at the Raffle’s Le Royal Monceau.  Not a huge fan of the quirky and mismatched Philippe Starck decor, but the location down the street from the Arc de Triomphe, the fitness and wellness center with indoor pool and awesome service levels were terrific.

Overall the trip provided an expansive view and history of Central Europe.  Visiting 5 countries in two weeks was a bit of a whirlwind, but was done with relative ease with just two people.  Critical was preplanning tours, entries and activities as all the cities are very popular with tourists from around the world.

Trip Review: Maui and Kauai

The Wollack Family of 6 from Philadelphia (2 adults and 4 children ages 5, 12, 14 and 16) ventured to    Hawaii this past winter break visiting both Kauai and Maui.  Their first stop was Kauai which they found to be overall a wonderful experience for their family since its less crowded and there was more to do closer to their hotel.  They stayed at the lovely Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa.  Jen secured the family connecting rooms and they said this 600-room property never felt crowded.  They especially had fun at the pools, the salt water lagoon and the beach.  The family recommends wearing water shoes at the beach as there are some rocks close to the shore.  The water is rough in front of the resort, but a swimmable beach is nearby.  Their outdoor adventures on Kauai included the Kipu Zipline, Surf Lessons on Poipu Beach, Mountain Tubing and taking a boat to the gorgeous Napili Coast.  Each activity was an opportunity to see and explore this beautiful island from various vantage points.  The family ate in several local restaurants and had their best meal at Plantation Gardens where the children had room to run around in their garden while the food was prepared.  They also recommend the new Kiawe Roots. Then they moved onto Maui, but didn’t rave about their hotel, the Grand Wailea.  They had connecting rooms, but said that they were a bit small and the resort was quite huge with 787 rooms.  But the children loved the awesome complex of pools and water slides despite the strict rules to help keep this area for guests only.  The family had fun learning about Hawaiian culture at the Old Lahaina Luau and ate at several local restaurants.  They recommend Mama’s Fish House, Ka’ana Kitchen and Monekypod Kitchen.  They also found some tasty, prepared foods at The Market, an upscale grocery store near the hotel.  Despite the long day, they also enjoyed their trip out to Hana on the other side of the island for all the amazing views.  Aloha!

Trip Review: Savannah Getaway

Lauren made a repeat visit to Savannah’s Historic District recently for a long week-end getaway.  Filled with Southern charm; this lovely city offers families a variety of cultural experiences, great food and family-friendly accommodations.  Add some time in nearby Tybee Island, Hilton Head or Charleston for a week long family getaway.  Lauren enjoyed walking through the multitude of city squares, visiting the Savannah College of Art and Design’s Museum, strolling and dining along the Riverwalk, shopping at a local craft market and seeing the city by trolley.  She stayed at the newly opened Perry Lane Hotel; part of the Luxury Collection from Marriott.  The hotel is split into two separate buildings with three dining options, large gym, bike rentals, lending library and a rooftop pool with lounge and lawn games that provides awesome city views.  You can even have a private yoga session there! Throughout the year the hotels features unique experiences to help you better understand the city: everything from artist in residence and art programs, concerts by local musicians, visiting authors, behind the scenes tours of the Bryd cookie bakery (you will find their cookies in your room!) and more.  This is an experiential trend we hope to see grow at hotels around the world.

Trip Review: Mindy’s Arizona Adventure

Earlier this month, Mindy and her family (parents and two college aged children) traveled to Arizona for their family vacation.  They flew into Flagstaff and started at the Grand Canyon which was still open, uncrowded and free due to the government shutdown.  Their Pink Jeep Desert View Tour was a highlight of their canyon experience.  It was a 3-hour tour that took them to various vantage points; some with no crowds at all.  They had an awesome guide and there are only 8 people in each heated jeep.  They were gifted with crystal clear views…even the guide commented that it had been months since he has seen so clearly to other side of canyon and across the Mojave Desert.  They also saw he IMAX movie in town which was included with the jeep tour.  The family stayed at the Grand Hotel in nearby Tusayan which was clean and comfortable.  The biggest issue with this region is the lack of food affordable choices.  Everything is rather expensive (including the 2^nd most expensive Big Mac in the world), but their jeep guide helped them navigate the best choices including dinner at the Best Western in town.  Who would have thought?

Their next stop was Sedona which was the highlight of their trip.  The red rock town has become quite touristy; so the family enjoyed their stay at a vacation rental in quieter West Sedona.  It was a great location since it was close to the most popular trail heads.  They took another Pink Jeep Tour for 2 hours to Coyote Canyon and really enjoyed it and their knowledgeable guide.  They paid close attention to how the guide handled the jeep going over rocks and boulders, because the next day, they had planned to rent out their own ATVs.  Their half-day ATV ride to the ancient ruins of Honanki was their favorite activity of the trip.  The rental company provided maps with photos with turn by turn instructions.  The cliff dwellings and rock art site from the Sinagua people (ancestors of the Hopi) are located in the Coconino National Forest and date back 700 years.  The family hiked around to explore the centuries-old pictographs and petroglyphs.  Unfortunately there were no guides there due to the government shutdown.  They circled back and went through Diamondback Gulch, a 10 story ravine that slices through the land. It was a harrowing ride (best for families with previous ATV experience) similar to a roller coaster, but very muddy, wet and terribly fun!

The trip ended in Scottsdale where they stayed in a vacation rental and spent time with friends who showed them around the region.  They enjoyed courtside seats at a Phoenix Suns game and visited the beautiful Desert Botanical Gardens.  They learned all about the endless varieties of cacti and succulents.  They went back in the evening for the Electric Desert; a unique illumination show.

Overall the children thought this was one of the best family trips they had ever taken which made them all realize that more active vacations are on the docket for the future.

Trip Review: Utah Adventure

The Ronca/Shumskas Family of 5 from Pipersville, PA (with children ages 19, 15 and 9) traveled to Utah for Thanksgiving for an awesome outdoor adventure through our national parks.  They flew into Las Vegas and headed to Bryce Canyon with a stay in a suite at the slightly worn, but well-located Ruby’s Inn.  In this park, the family recommends going past the crowded overlooks with a hike into the canyon. They said that even 100 yards past the lookouts are well beyond the crowds.  The family really enjoyed hiking both the Fairyland Trail and the Outer Rim Trail.  They found both to be beautiful hikes and a great way to get down into the hoodoos (the tall and thin spire of rocks that is caused by the weather and erosion).  The family then spent a day hiking in the Escalante National Monument which has a more open landscape and offers grand, sweeping views. Then they moved onto Zion National Park with a stay at the lovely Cliffrose Lodge.  They really enjoyed this hotel, spreading out into two rooms with beautiful views of the mountains.  For Thanksgiving, they opted to cook steaks on the grill since most restaurants were closed, but there was a market nearby.  Zion is also a very popular and crowded park; getting out on the trails is very worthwhile. Here they hiked to Observation Point which was a scenic, but strenuous 8-mile hike with 2500 ft of elevation gain. And last they did the Narrows Hike with a guide from Zion Adventures which is in a deep canyon and requires hiking in the water with proper gear depending on the time of year.  The family wore dry suits and dry boots since the water is in the 30’s. This hike proved to be an interesting experience. The trip ended with a night at The Mirage in Las Vegas due to their return flight home.  They really enjoyed Utah in the fall because the temperatures were great for hiking.  The sheer scale of the views was also breathtaking, and the trip kept three children of very different ages both excited and engaged; a true success!

Trip Review: Symphony of the Seas Debut

Trip Review: Symphony of the Seas Debut

The Family Traveler was invited this month to experience one of the inaugural sailings and naming ceremony of the newest ship for Royal Caribbean and now the largest cruise ship in the world by gross tonnage, the Symphony of the Seas.  When completely full, the boat will sail with 6,680 passengers, but there is plenty of space aboard for everyone!

Our balcony cabin offered enough room, storage and good bathroom space for up to four people with one large bed (can be converted to two beds) and a day bed with a trundle.  Some of these cabins even have the bed located next to the balcony for lovely sea views, but not as good if you use the trundle since it would be too close to the bathroom.  The highlight of the Symphony is definitely the suites which are amazing; especially the bathrooms!  So many choices from spacious junior suites to up to 4-bedroom suites that sleep up to 14!   A multi-gen dream.  This cabin features 2 Master bedrooms each with a Master bath, 2 other bedrooms that have Pullman folding down beds along with one large or twin beds, another full bathroom, dining room, living room and large balcony with a private dining area and hot tub.  There is also one amazing Ultimate Family Suite which includes a slide from the children’s bedroom to the living room downstairs, a dedicated game room, kid-friendly bathroom with bathtub, hot tub on the balcony and more.  The top Star Class suites are actually a good value as they also include free specialty dining, beverage packages, bottled water, tips, internet, priority seating and entrance to shows and other on board activities, suite lounge and Sun Deck access and more.  Another unique cabin option is the Inside Virtual Balcony cabin with a floor to ceiling screen that shows you live what is happening outside as well as a larger ocean view cabin with a set of bunk beds.

This ship excels in its variety and the quality of dining, recreation and entertainment.  There is definitely something for everyone and for all ages.  It features an easily navigable neighborhood concept, which includes Central Park, Entertainment Place and the Boardwalk with plenty of touch screens and ship deck plans to help you find your way around.  Dining is always close by with several free dining outlets for any time of the day; many with grab and go items you could take back to keep in your cabin’s mini fridge.  We had dinner in the three-level main dining room where we found a varied menu and quality wait staff.  The ship also features several specialty restaurants for an added fee, Starbucks Coffee, sports bar, candy shop, room service and more.  There’s even a bar where a robot makes your drinks!

Recreation abounds and we took full advantage of the three water slides and one dry slide along with the rock climbing wall and gym (which offers a variety of fee-added fitness classes).  There is also a full-size sport court; mini golf; laser tag; baby, kids and teen clubs; pools and hot tubs, escape room, ice skating, two surf pools, carousel and boardwalk games, spa and beauty salon and a peaceful adult-only solarium (with full buffet restaurant).

Evening entertainment could leave you sleepless with family-friendly and adult-options throughout the night.  Broadway shows (Hairspray is currently playing along with an original production about the history of flying), comedy clubs, ice skating shows, water shows, Royal Promenade parade, live music of every genre and more are offered.  We particularly enjoyed the roaming piano player who showed up a few times in the elevator!!

Symphony of the Seas, like many of the line’s ships, is also “zero to landfill” meaning no waste is left behind. A new program has banned plastic straws (although we still saw a few in the bars) and is actually 25 percent more energy-efficient than other large ships from RCCL.

We are happy to learn and witness that Royal Caribbean is listening to its passengers to determine what elements work best and used the feedback to design and create this new ship experience.