12 1/2 hours on the road with a my Tinys included 5 potty stops, 3 DVDs, 2 McDonald's visits, 3 diaper changes, and one really big Coke (hubs and I drove all night).  When we rolled into the Port Hueneme Country Inns and Suites, poised right on the California coast, we were in need of some serious relaxation!  Check-in was fast and easy, especially because the kiddos were completely enamoured by the "help yourself" cookie jar sitting in the lobby.

Immediately we were off to good start!  More pleasant surprises awaited us in our suite - a full kitchen, spacious sitting room (with couch/hideaway bed, rocking chair recliner and even a fireplace) and a private master bedroom.

It was obvious right away that Country Inns and Suites had designed these rooms with families in mind.  Two sinks and vanities (one inside the bathroom, one out) made it easy for all of us to freshen up after our long drive.  Thanks to a door that shut off the bedroom, I was able to catch a quick nap while my husband entertained the kids in the sitting area.  The main room was so big that they played duck-duck-goose!

When it was Brett's turn to nap, I took the kids down to visit the in-hotel library.  They were just as impressed as I was!  Country Inns and Suites' "Read It and Return" program encourages guests to borrow from a variety of books kept on a cozy shelf in the lobby.  While I was a little bummed that we couldn't find any picture books for my Tinys, it was fun to see titles like "Peter Pan" and "Treasure Island" available for bedtime stories.

After another stop at the cookie jar (the friendly front-desk staff never even batted an eyelash as my children helped themselves for 5 days straight!) we changed into our swim suits.  One of the benefits of staying at a less-touristy location is that we had the pool pretty much all to ourselves!  However, the water wasn't heated and was too cold for a morning or evening dip.  We spent most of our time in the hot tub.

Still, you can't beat poolside breakfast, which we enjoyed every morning.  Country Inns and Suites laid out a lovely spread of both hot and cold options and my Tinys loved being able to choose and eat as much as they liked.  I loved not having to cook, do dishes, or hunt down a restaurant.  And my budget-conscious husband loved the fact that it's all complimentary!

All in all, our experience at Country Inns and Suites was excellent and I want to thank Marissa and the top-notch staff in Port Hueneme  for going the extra-mile to look after us.  The kiddos were delighted by the Welcome Beach Bucket full of treats and toys that greated us when we arrived!  The room we stayed in was very clean and well-cared for (housekeeping even folded "woobies" and lined up our childrens' stuffed animals each day after they made the beds).  Two TVs in our room made it easy for the kids to enjoy cartoons before bedtime while Brett and I cuddled up and watched a movie in the bedroom.  And we woke up each morning well rested - well, most of us did...