The 10 Rides Your Family MUST Try at Universal Orlando Resort

March 29, 2017 by Kathryn 35 Comments

My first visit to Universal Orlando Resort two years ago was a little like discovering a magical portal to another world. I hadn’t really known much about the park, so the rides, attractions and restaurants were all completely new to me, and I loved every one of them. After visiting, I shared my 7 Must-Try Unique Experiences at Universal Orlando Resort.

And this year, I had the chance to introduce my boys to the fun of Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure for the first time too! So a few weeks ago, my husband, his parents, the boys and I packed up a few snacks and got ready to spend a day of fun and excitement at the two parks that comprise Universal Orlando Resort. Wondering what rides you won’t want to miss? These were our family’s top 10 picks!

Universal’s Islands of Adventure

1) The Incredible Hulk

Our family loves roller coasters, and The Incredible Hulk is definitely a new favourite for all of us! Unlike a classic coaster with a slow climb followed by a speedy ride down, The Incredible Hulk launches the cars out at top speed right off the bat! Zackary was so excited to try this roller coaster for the first time and was grinning ear to ear when he stepped off at the end. He loved the speed, thrills and spins of the bright green coaster, and insisted on riding multiple times.

2) The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man

This ride was one of the first 4D attractions at Islands of Adventure and personally, it’s still one of my favourites. I knew my boys would love it just as much and expected Benjamin especially to be a big fan. I wasn’t disappointed. From avoiding the heat of the flames shot by villains to feeling the spray of water when splashing into a lake, travelling with Spider-Man was nonstop excitement and the boys couldn’t get enough of it. [Read more…]

Plan the Perfect All-Inclusive Family Vacation this Winter with These 4 Tips

November 10, 2016 by Kathryn 32 Comments

I’ve always believed that travel provides endless enriching opportunities for both adults and children, so travel has always been a priority for my boys and me. From a simple road trip to an exotic cruise, we’ve had the chance to enjoy all kinds of adventures together. But one of my favourite travel getaways with my boys has always been a trip to an all-inclusive resort. I love the hassle-free experience of knowing all our food, drinks and entertainment are included with our stay, while still having ample opportunities to explore the local attractions on day trips and excursions.

But like any vacation, proper planning helps to turn a good vacation into a great one! And if you’re considering escaping the cold this winter on your own all-inclusive family getaway, these four tips will help ensure that your trip to one of the best all inclusive resorts is the best one ever!

Vacation with Friends

If you have close friends with kids, consider vacationing together as a group! Not only do extra people make the vacation more fun, but many resorts will offer a discount to larger groups. That means you save money, your kids have more friends to play with and you can plan extra activities like a ladies’ spa day or a big group breakfast get-together! Make sure to also check for special deals that allow kids to stay and eat for free to save even more money! [Read more…]

Las Vegas as a Family-Friendly Destination

November 10, 2016 by Kathryn 1 Comment

The stereotyped image of Las Vegas is as the home of casinos and all-night gambling but in recent years, it has attempted to balance this with a reputation for more family-oriented activities. Vegas is easy to get to by plane these days and boasts a hot climate that appeals to many holidaymakers, meaning there are plenty who are eager to enjoy its family-friendly fun. Wondering what your family could do in the city that never sleeps? Check out these fun and family-oriented activities!

Tournament of Kings at Excalibur

This Las Vegas show gives you the opportunity to witness some spectacular action while also enjoying a fabulous meal. Costing $59 per person, with children aged three or below admitted free of charge, it sees medieval knights on horses jousting with each other, ensuring an action-packed event. Once you get inside you will be assigned a seating area and asked to select one of the knights to support as he engages in sword battles against his opponents. Food consists of a three-course meal that you eat with fingers and soft drinks are served in flagons, making this an ideal day out for the whole family. [Read more…]

3 Memorable Monuments Everyone Should Visit on a South Dakota Family Vacation

August 26, 2016 by Kathryn 32 Comments

One of the things that often amazes me about travelling is discovering how many majestic places are hiding just a short distance away from our own home. This summer, Jeremy and I decided to discover some of those places by driving to the Black Hills region in South Dakota to check out some of the wonders it had to offer. From our home in Southern Saskatchewan, the drive is less than eight hours.

We had the chance to take the brand new 2016 Ford Edge on our adventure and it made every minute of our trip a smooth, comfortable experience for both us and the boys. Once we were there, I only wished we’d visited sooner! If you’re planning on making a trip to the region, these three mind-blowing monuments should be on your family’s must-visit list. [Read more…]

Falling in Love with Belize on the Carnival Cruise Altun Ha Mayan Site and River Wallace Excursion

August 13, 2016 by Kathryn 23 Comments

There are some places that win my heart as soon as I set foot on the land. The look and feel of the area awakens something deep inside, and I find myself feeling like I’ve come home to a place that I never knew existed. For me, Belize was one of those countries and thanks to the Carnival Cruise Altun Ha Mayan Site and River Wallace Excursion, I had the opportunity to experience the some of the beauty and history of the country up close and personal. The excursion lasted about six hours and by the end, I knew I’d be coming back to see more of the country some day.

Our adventure started before the excursion even began, as we enjoyed a boat ride from the cruise ship to the port in Belize City. Belize doesn’t have a dock for cruise ships, so we enjoyed the extra fun of being able to speed away from our ship towards the shore, enjoying the fresh air and splashes of water as we did. Once we reached the port, we met up with our excursion leader, a fun and friendly woman named Simone. She herded our group towards another boat and we hopped on board to enjoy a cruise down the River Wallace.

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Planning a Cruise? 4 Reasons You Should Be Booking with Carnival Cruise Lines!

August 9, 2016 by Kathryn 16 Comments

For quite a few years now, I’ve dreamed of taking my boys on a cruise. I loved the idea of visiting multiple exotic locations at once while also having the fun of sailing the ocean in a massive ship. This summer, my dream came true when my entire family had the chance to take a 7-Day Western Caribbean Cruise with Carnival Cruise Lines. I’d only ever been on one cruise before, and I was ten years old at the time. My fiancé had gone on a Caribbean cruise a few years ago, but hadn’t enjoyed it much. Zackary and Benjamin were stepping onto a cruise ship for the first time. Needless to say, none of us were sure quite what to expect. And within the first day, all of us were in love with Carnival Cruise Line.

There are a lot of different cruise lines to choose from, so what makes Carnival different? Well really, it was almost everything! Food, entertainment, staff and activities had all four of us enjoying every second on board. For me, these four features of the Carnival Magic ship stood out to me as being highlights of our cruise. If you’re planning a cruise, these are the reasons you should be booking with Carnival!

High Energy Fun 24 Hours a Day

While I wasn’t sure what kind of dynamic to expect from our Carnival cruise, Jeremy noticed at once that the Carnival Magic ship offered nonstop fun. On his previous cruise, entertainment had been limited and had generally ended in the evening. Carnival offered the exact opposite experience: a ship that never slept and offered endless entertainment options for all ages. From live musicians in the pubs to theme nights at the dance club to family-friendly magic shows on the main stage, it was no surprise to us that people seemed to be wandering the ship talking and laughing long into the night.

Since Jeremy and I are big comedy fans, we especially enjoyed the nightly shows at the Punchliner Comedy Club. We had the chance to see four different comedians during our seven-day cruise and even made time to take the boys to one of the comedian’s PG show. While some of the performers were better than others, we were both impressed by the high calibre of talent on the Carnival Magic. [Read more…]

Get a Little Bad with a Bad Moms Prize Pack from Chatters Salon and eOne Films-Giveaway

July 28, 2016 by Kathryn 105 Comments

Being a mom. It’s exhausting, frustrating and often thankless. There are days a mom can’t help but feel like she has no idea what she’s doing. There are days that a mom just wants to drop everything, grab a few good friends and run away from the responsibilities of parenthood…if only for a few hours. But then there are those moments when we look at our children, feel our hearts swell with love and pride, and know that becoming a mother was the best decision we ever made.

Still, taking time for ourselves is important. It helps keep us focused, relaxed and able to deal with the many frustrations that parenting brings. And a few weeks ago, Entertainment One gave me the chance to recharge my own mom batteries with a trip to Los Angeles to attend an exclusive premiere screening of Bad Moms, this summer’s hit comedy that will have moms across North America laughing, bonding and connecting like never before. [Read more…]

Step Into the Ontario Cottage Life Affordably with Great Blue Resorts

July 22, 2016 by Kathryn 3 Comments

Last year my fiancé and I took the boys on a trip to Ontario to stay with his family for a few weeks and explore the area. We had a great time visiting zoos, checking out some of Toronto’s top attractions and meeting extended family members. But for me, the highlight of the visit was spending time at the family’s gorgeous cabin on the lake. The location was so peaceful and serene, and there was nothing better than waking up and sitting outside by the water with a steaming cup of coffee, or even going for a morning swim.

Ever since that moment, I’ve dreamed of owning a cottage of my own. But for the average working couple, buying property in cottage country is a costly luxury. A two-bedroom cottage in a prime location currently often sells for half a million dollars or more. More affordable options often mean buying property much further away or taking on a lengthy renovation of a fixer-upper. What’s a family that wants to get away from it all to do?

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