Category Archives: North America

Celebration Staycation – Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa

BonBon September 14, 2018 21 Comments

Our favorite man in the house was celebrating his 45th birthday last month and since the kids’ school starts around his birthday; we made it almost a family tradition to have a “celebration staycation.” Our family loves to explore and we are happiest when we are discovering new places and things; meeting new friends and celebrating the small moments in life. So, this year to celebrate his birthday we had the great idea of having a staycation at the one of the most luxurious family resorts in Texas.

Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa – just about 3.5 hours drive from our home in Plano, TX – is famous for its great amenities and the Texas Hill Country setting. It offers tons of activities for the whole family, most especially for the kids, however, you can also just relax and soak in the beautiful nature if that’s your thing.

Relaxing at the lazy river — **Birthday boy relaxing at the lazy river**

There are so many things that we love about this resort; however, I wanted to share with you our TOP 5.

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Women Rock – Dallas Symphony Orchestra

BonBon September 8, 2018 12 Comments

Are you overdue for a date night or maybe a girls’ night out this weekend? Maybe you should consider going to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra at Meyerson Symphony Center for an evening of ~~Classical~~ Rock n’ Roll music. This weekend, September 8-9, you can watch a concert at a different venue than you are probably used to and pay homage to the most influential singers and songwriters who change rock n’ roll forever.

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents “Women Rock”, conducted by Grammy award winner and pops conductor, Jeff Tyzik, and along with the powerful voices of Cassidy Catanzaro, Katrina Rose, and Shayna Steele, it will surely make your evening an extraordinary one.

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Springtime in the Texas Hill Country: Fredericksburg, TX

BonBon March 11, 2018 23 Comments

There is no better time to visit Texas Hill Country than in springtime. With the help of the spring rains the wildflowers bloom around the towns and along the highways. The temperatures are mild this time of year and great to enjoy all the festivals that are happening.

We visited Texas Hill Country during a long weekend holiday last year with friends. It was a fun and enjoyable journey filled with very picturesque scenes and cool adventures. The trip gave us a different perspective of Texas and it’s cultural heritage. Definitely a MUST do road trip if you are in the South. Aside from the beautiful scenery as you drive all throughout the hills; did I mention, plenty of vineyards and wines to choose from, too?

Take a look at some areas we’ve visited:

Fredericksburg Downtown Stroll – Main St.

You gotta have a stroll on the Main Street in Fredericksburg! What a little charmer in the middle of Texas… lots of shops, restaurants, art galleries, and wine-tasting rooms.

Wine. Spirit. Popcorn. HA!!! There's something for the whole family:) — **Wine. Spirit. Popcorn. HA!!! There’s something for the whole family:)**

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The Beautiful and The Scary, Horseshoe Bend

BonBon January 9, 2018 15 Comments

Horseshoe Bend is definitely one of the most amazing natural wonders in the world. Yes, you want to visit to see it’s unique beauty. Yes, it is so worth the trip and the hike. And yes, you wanted to take photos…. a lot of them. However, you probably didn’t realize how dangerous it may be to get that perfect shot.

Well… I was so excited to visit this place after looking at all the photos on social media, I had this plan in my head on how to get that perfect shot; I would have this perfect pose, that perfect angle, and of course with the perfect lighting. Oh boy…. little did I think that to get that perfect shot, I would have to be on an uneven surface with slippery footing on the edge of a cliff with a 1000ft (305M) drop on the other side. I do have a bit of a fear of heights but more so for my kids’ safety… I had 2 fearless kids with me on this trip who, by the way, didn’t hesitate to stand on the edge of this 1000ft cliff. I also have an adventurous husband who, by the way, may be very analytical but when it comes to adventures, he seems to have lost the logical part of his brain. I was hysterical… well… I was really nervous!

So, after walking in a sandy desert trail with nothing much to see. We finally stopped on the edge of the cliff… no signs, no warnings, no hand railings. And then, I heard my kids shouted, “OMG!!!”.

Jaw dropping scenery — **The famous, Horseshoe Bend**

GoPro has a wide lense which gives you a better shot of the whole place. — **Yup… I got that hibbie jibbies feeling**

My hubby with my boy... He first went to Dad and I was surprised since he is a very cautious person. — **My hubby with my boy… He first went to Dad and I was surprised since he is a very cautious person.**

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The Mesmerizing Bryce Canyon

BonBon December 29, 2017 17 Comments

I have seen so many photos of Bryce Canyon over the years and always thought the canyon was really beautiful. But you know, more often than not, the place sometimes just doesn’t live up to what you have seen in photos (thanks to photoshop). Well… Bryce Canyon is totally the opposite. Photographs just don’t do it any justice. But yes…photos show beautiful scenery but when you visit this place, it will not only show you it’s beauty but it will make you feel the presence of old-time past and will leave you breathless. There is no place like Bryce Canyon!!!

When you visit this place, be prepared to be mesmerized. The Hoodoos, odd-shaped pillars of rock left standing from the forces of erosion, are so beautiful. Hoodoos can be found in other places, but the Bryce Canyon National Park has the largest collection of hoodoos in the world.

AMPHITHEATER

The Bryce Amphitheater area is the most visited part of the park since it has very convenient access and contains many of the most famous formations. My family spent few hours in this area and we wish we had more time to explore. But we did the most of our time.

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Puerto Rico, Your All-Star Island

BonBon March 29, 2017 33 Comments

It took 11 years since we moved to the US for my husband and me to visit this island. It used to be on the top of our US places to visit list but since there are so many islands in the Caribbean to visit we thought… Puerto Rico can wait. Oh boy… little did we know that we were missing so much and if we had known better then we have flown there the moment we had the chance.

I am from the Philippines, a beautiful tropical island while my husband originates from Cape Town, one of the most charming cities on earth so you should figure out that yes, we would know what a perfect travel destination looks like. In that regard, we have to say that yes… Puerto Rico definitely counts as one…

Let me start with the weather, ease, and security

Puerto Rico is a tropical destination so expect to get warm weather whole year round but also a fair bit of rain. Yes, it rains almost every day somewhere on the island even if it’s just for a couple of hours. The Islands of Puerto Rico travel guide gives you great information on the weather which can help you to plan your travel.

For those of you who are US based, you should rejoice, after all, it is a US territory. There are non-stop and direct flights from all over the US to the main airport of San Juan and double easy because you don’t need a passport (your US Driver’s License or State ID should do but it is still recommended for foreigners to bring proof of immigration status). Additionally, you don’t need to change currency, there are no foreign transaction fees, they speak English – even though the main language of the island is Spanish – and your phone works without those nasty roaming charges. Yay! Even your health insurance should still cover you while you’re there so likely the travel insurance you have with a credit card will suffice (I always recommend you have some level of travel insurance to cover those unexpected events that can happen while on the road).

Puerto Rico is generally safe but of course, you have to exercise some precautions. We felt very safe as we walked around San Juan and also while we were driving around the island.The local driving habits are laid back island style but without that disregard for traffic laws often associated with Latin America and the Caribean so I can say it is a pretty pleasant experience and is well within the comfort zone of all but the most timid of drivers. I recommend that you consider hiring a car which will open up more possibilities to explore and discover the island – as well as getting those impulsive photo shots along the way.

Back to the issue of safety… here are few suggestions to keep you safe during your trip:

Always be on alert with your belongings. I always suggest using a sling or belt bag and keeping a low profile. People wearing high-end name brands or expensive jewelry are often the targets of opportunistic thieves.
Take tours from reliable operators; you can get a suggested list from the tourism office or your travel agent can help you find one.
For health and safety use insect repellents to avoid the spread of the likes of the Zika virus.

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The Beautiful Gaylord Opryland

BonBon December 28, 2016 14 Comments

For this year’s Thanksgiving, my family decided to take our longest road trip yet. Our itinerary was from Dallas to Memphis and Nashville in Tennessee and onward to Bentonville in Arkansas before heading back home to Dallas. It was definitely an amazing trip – educational, fun and an unforgettable one. Lots to talk about from this trip but allow me to first share with you our stay at the famous Gaylord Opryland Resort.

I have learned that it is one of the largest hotels in the world and the largest non-casino hotel in the United States. However, it wasn’t just HUGE but also a really beautiful resort. We stayed for 4 nights to give time for my kids and my mom (their first time in Nashville) to explore this huge resort and surrounding areas; we thought it would need a few days of exploring and how right we were.

This hotel is not just a place to stay, it is itself a destination and an experience unto itself.

There were many things that WOWed us which made our stay so special and unforgettable; here are a few of them: Read More

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Autumn Aloft – Park City, Utah

BonBon November 4, 2016 21 Comments

Park City, Utah…. I had heard about the place but was never really interested in planning a vacation to there since I thought of it as more of a winter destination; and as an island girl I am a little adversed to the cold. However, some years back we bought a Hilton Grand Vacations timeshare and of course they have a resort in Park City. First, I thought…. well… maybe it’s about time to hit the slopes (talking about getting out of your comfort zone, right?) but when I started researching I found out that Fall is a great time to visit Utah too, especially Park City.

I got very excited when I learned about their Balloon Festival. I knew from a previous Plano Balloon Festival (our city Balloon Festival) that my kids are crazy for hot air balloons and as my mom was also in town, I knew I had just found the perfect fall getaway for my family. Lock and load… room booked and plane tickets reserved and off we go!

So, we got a warm welcome as we arrived Sunrise Lodge by Hilton Grand Vacations. If you are an owner, you get to have a free valet parking as a bonus. Beautiful property in a charming mountainside village of the Canyons Resort. You know, if you are a family of 4 or 5 then the space offered by a 2 bedroom suite will just be far way better than to squeeze into a hotel room. This is one reason for buying into a timeshare. Read More

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The Beautiful Texas Frontier – Big Bend National Park

BonBon September 11, 2016 19 Comments

There’s an old saying, “everything is bigger in Texas” and the Big Bend National Park definitely meets the criteria. I have been wanting to visit this park ever since I moved to Texas. However, I was adverse to the idea of the road trip to the park since it is far and I thought there would be nothing much to do on the way. When my cousin told me that they were moving to the US and would be based in Odessa; I immediately looked at a map and learned that Odessa was not too far from the Park. So now I had the motive to get on the road and go.

So, Labor Day weekend came round and we got the chance to visit my cousin (which I hadn’t met in a decade) and visit the park.

Our drive to the park from Odessa was surprisingly interesting. We couldn’t resist stopping the car a number of times for a photo op.