vacations

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…]

Don’t Miss These 3 Must-Experience Family Attractions in Toronto, Ontario

March 4, 2016 by Kathryn 29 Comments

Canada has many popular cities when it comes to family vacations, but Toronto is easily one of the top choices for travel…and with good reason! From museums and art galleries to theatres and shopping malls, the city has something to please everyone.

But there are some Toronto experiences that absolutely cannot be missed, especially for families visiting the city for the first time. If you have a trip to Toronto in your future, these are three attractions that you’ll want to make sure you fit into your schedule!

The CN Tower

The tower that helped make the Toronto skyline (and the city itself) stand out among other world capitals is a place that everyone should visit when in the city. While it may seem like the CN Tower doesn’t have a whole lot to impress children, the speedy ride in the elevator is something kids of all ages will love, and the glass floor that lets visitors look down and see just how high above the ground they are is sure to thrill…and maybe even terrify a little! [Read more…]

Finding Our Disney Side at the Disneyland Theme Park

January 20, 2014 by Kathryn 44 Comments

Visiting a Disney theme park was something that I always dreamed about as a child. I was lucky enough to travel quite a bit in my youth, but going to Disneyland was one adventure I never had the chance to experience. Last year that all changed when my boys and I flew off for a five-day trip to Disneyland to discover our Disney side for the first time.

What’s your Disney side? Well that’s simple. It’s the magic that fills you up and takes over your heart the second your family steps through the gates of a Disney theme park. As we prepared for our trip, I heard from friends about that moment their Disney side took over. For one father, it was seeing the way his little girls’ faces lit up when they saw the Mickey Mouse flower garden just inside the Disneyland entrance. For a mom friend, it was rushing off to take that first thrilling ride on Indiana Jones Adventure with her teenage son after arriving.

[Read more…]

Lighthouse Bay Resort is Giving You a Chance to Win the Ultimate Caribbean Vacation

December 10, 2013 by Kathryn 16 Comments

If there’s one ultimate dream vacation, it has to be the beauty and relaxation of escaping to a tropical paradise. And there’s no escape more luxurious than a trip to the beautiful Lighthouse Bay Resort on the island of Barbuda. While there are many different resorts to choose from when planning a vacation, Lighthouse Bay takes luxury to a whole new level!

Featuring gourmet dining and a bevy of included luxuries such as spa services, restaurant and bar services and a private sand beach, a trip to Lighthouse Bay Resort is the ultimate getaway experience. And now, a vacation on this beautiful Caribbean island could be your destiny! [Read more…]

Avoid Stomach Troubles on Vacation with Bio-K+ Probiotic Capsules

September 3, 2013 by Kathryn 4 Comments

This post brought to you by Bio-K+. All opinions are 100% mine.

There's nothing more frustrating than having a vacation ruined by stomach troubles. Whether you're spending your time shopping in the city or lounging on a beach, traveller's diarrhea, food poisoning and other stomach upsets can take the fun out of the experience pretty quickly.

That's why Bio-K+ Travel Protection Probiotic Capsules are the perfect choice for any world traveller that isn't willing to let stomach upset slow them down. A good friend actually told me a story about attending a gourmet food tour and getting a stomachache from the incredibly rich food. Fortunately, another attendee had a supply of probiotics to share. The next day, my friend felt great and was ready for adventure!

[Read more…]

Attractions, Entertainment and Retail Therapy Await at the West Edmonton Mall

August 27, 2013 by Kathryn 7 Comments

Edmonton is a vibrant city with a rich history and plenty of amazing attractions, but one of the largest and best known has to be the famed West Edmonton Mall. So much more than a place to shop, the mall features a variety of family-friendly attractions that make it a top destination spot for tourists from all over the world.

west edmonton mall

The last time I was in the West Edmonton Mall, I was just a child and so I couldn’t resist returning and experiencing it once more after so many years. And the mall has changed a lot and added even more fabulous attractions since my last visit. Of course, family-friendly fun is always on the agenda!

Get Active with Hit Attractions

Part of what makes the West Edmonton Mall such a great family destination is the large number of activities and attractions available. The World Waterpark features seventeen waterslides, a toddler water playground and the world’s largest indoor wave pool. Older children and teens will love sliding down the thrill slides including the Cyclone and the Tornado, while younger children will happily jump in the waves for hours.

world waterpark west edmonton mall

For those that prefer to stay out of the water, the Galaxyland Amusement Park contains twenty-four fun-filled rides and play areas for hours of amusement park fun in a colourful indoor setting. Take a spin on one of the four unique roller coasters!

west edmonton mall galaxyland [Read more…]

Edmonton, Alberta-The City of Festivals

August 14, 2013 by Kathryn 13 Comments

Edmonton is a vibrant city with a rich history and plenty of attractions for families, but one of the things that makes Edmonton an especially attractive family destination is its many events and festivals. Recently I visited the city to experience some of those special events for myself and I was lucky enough to attend not just one but two of the city’s top summer festivals.

Foodie Indulgence at Taste of Edmonton

Taste of Edmonton is the city’s yearly celebration of the many fabulous restaurants and food trucks in Edmonton. The festival runs for ten days and patrons can purchase food tickets for the event in advance. While Taste of Edmonton features free admission and entertainment, tickets are purchased and traded to sample the delectable fare offered.

taste of edmonton festival [Read more…]

Aruba has Activities to Excite the Whole Family

July 10, 2013 by Kathryn 10 Comments

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Aruba Tourism Authority for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

When I choose a vacation destination, one of my top priorities is finding a location that has activities the entire family can enjoy. I love an exotic beach vacation and honestly I could likely be happy just relaxing on a chair by the water sipping ice-cold beverages for a week. But my boys like action and adventure and if I don’t give them a way to burn off their almost inexhaustible energy, I always end up regretting it.

Aruba has just the type of dynamic, fun-filled atmosphere that I need for my family vacations and the more I learn about the various activities this beautiful little island has to offer, the more excited I get about making it our next vacation destination. [Read more…]