St. Marteen and St. Martin offers a lot of things for travelers and the beaches won’t disappoint you. Like most Caribbean islands, it’s a destination to relax, enjoy the sand, sun, and crystal clear blue waters. These are some of the beaches that we visited during our stay.
The Beautiful Gaylord Opryland
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
Autumn Aloft – Park City, Utah
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.
The Beautiful Texas Frontier – Big Bend National Park
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.
Summer in Arkansas
My family and friends spent the last Labor day weekend in Mountain View, AR, it is located deep in the Ozarks surrounded by mountains and rivers which offers an exciting outdoor adventure for the whole family. We had an amazing time and it’s one of those trips that you just don’t want to end; half way back home the kids were still asking when were we going back to the house on the mountain.
During this recent trip, we stayed at Overlook Lodge. It is perfect for a big family who wants to get out of the city, to relax and enjoy nature. The lodge sits on forty acres atop a mountain overlooking the Ozarks National Forest and White River. It’s Gorgeous!!! Plus, nothing to worry because it’s a gated property with security access and got cameras in the surrounding grounds.
Tip: Hummingbirds are our frequent visitors so bring table sugar or something they prefer to eat to make them happy and they’ll sing for you all day long:)
End of Summer Vacation
There is no secret on when is the best time to travel; timing and information are the keys. We all know peak season is the summer months. Most families with school-going kids are planning getaways in summer and all are looking at the same destinations. Many families in this situation will feel their choices are limited and the best advice is try book your vacation far in advance and hope everyone will have a great time.
The beach is a popular destination during summer and as expected you will be looking at crowded beaches, theme parks, restaurants with unfortunately costly accommodation, plane tickets, transfers and tours. However, if you have the option to delay the vacation to the shoulder seasons (typically when school is out in your state but other states not) you might be in for a good treat. We did!!!