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When planningyour summer road trip don't overlook Devil's Tower, Wyoming. It is one of my favorite side trips and possibly one of the most overlooked National Parks. The first time...
When we travel thoughts of disasters are far from our mind. But with the news of natural disasters, especially numerous tornadoes in Oklahoma and the Midwest -- as well as...
Planning your family vacation can be overwhelming--where to go, what to do, how to get there, you name it. There are a lot of details to planning a summer vacation....
Vegetarian travel gets easier in the summer, when farmers markets and their bounteous produce draw tourists and local chefs. Summer is also know for outdoor eating, and New York City...
Anyone who has ever pumped diesel gasoline into their tank knows just how critical it is that it’s DIESEL that makes it into the tank, not regular, not premium, but...
How do you keep the kids -- and yourself -- healthy and happy when traveling? Do you look for hotels that provide special activities that keep your kids active and...
Father's Day can be a great day to get out in nature and take a special hike or walk, like this family is doing at San Elijo Lagoon, in San...
Memorial Day Weekend kicks off the summer season for Disney Parks everywhere. My family and I recently managed to get to three Disney Parks in three weeks, finishing with a...
Martinique Beach Provincial Park is a treasure of the Eastern Shore in Nova Scotia, and is one of many delightful discoveries I made during a road trip along Marine Drive...
Billing itself as “The Best Free Show on Broadway,” n’s Stardust Dineras been open since the 80’s, but it’s décor, memorabilia and food will take you back to the 50’s. However, what are you really going to see at this popular tourist destination in the heart of Times Square? [ ... ]
Relax at the Qua Bath and Spa, play the slots and dress to the nines to party at the Pool After Dark. This is just part of a Caesers Atlantic City girlfriend getaway. Located on the Boardwalk and the Atlantic Ocean, Caesers offers entertainment and fabulous dining.
Reserve a room, depending on the [ ... ]
Cozy is the word my son used to describe our room at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Not the first word that usually comes to mind when you describe a 22-acre property with 3,500 rooms. It’s a testament to Hilton’s commitment to creating a family friendly environment at their enormous p [ ... ]
Disney makes the magic look easy, but there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes. I am always inspired by the team of people who create the masterful new Disney experiences. One of the pleasures of my job is getting to spend time talking with and learning from these incredibly creative [ ... ]
Who says you can’t surf in the desert? The Kierland FlowRider opened last year at the Westin Kierland Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. It’s the first of its kind in Arizona and one of the main reasons why I think the Westin Kierland rocks for kids and anyone else that loves to have fun. Kierl [ ... ]
Context Travel is a Rome-based tour company that offers educational walking tours for a number of European destinations. What makes Context Travel unique is its intellectual and educational focus, with experts from a variety of disciplines, including literature, history and art, leading the tours an [ ... ]
Most of us have a memory of getting lost as a young child. I remember the first time I couldn’t find my parents. I was probably about six years old and I was playing in the Barbie section at K-Mart. My Mom kept telling me it was time to go but obviously, as a five-year-old child, I was too b [ ... ]
Located on the Grand Traverse Bay near Lake Michigan, Traverse City, Mich., provides more than just water activities. Fine dining restaurants, spa treatments, hotels for every budget, and wine tours are just some of the activities a girls' getaway trip can include.
Resort and Beach Accommodations
The Traverse City area offers more than 5,000 guest rooms, including bed and breakfasts, full-service resorts and vacation rentals – some within walking distance to shops and restaurants. For a girlfriends' getaway, consider a hotel right on the beach that provides striking views and the optimal location for sunbathing or swimming. We stayed at the Grand Beach Resort, located on Grand Traverse Bay. Our ground-floor room had a private patio perfect for watching and listening to the waves crash, and was steps from the sandy beach. Complimentary high-speed wireless Internet and an in-room fridge and microwave made it easy to check email and stay hydrated without having to stray far from the sandy shores.
Traverse City a Foodie Town
Traverse City offers a number of dining choices, from bistros and taverns to gourmet “slow food” restaurants. Trattoria Stella (pictured, right) offers a different menu each day, with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients and an extensive wine list created by owner and sommelier Amanda Danielson. The restaurant is located in the Village at Grand Traverse Commons, a century-old campus that offers several restaurants, shops and galleries in a very walkable setting.
For a quick bite, visit Bubba's Restaurant and Bar on East Front Street for burgers and Tex-Mex, or Don’s Drive In near the East Bay for burgers and shakes (my family loved the fresh strawberry shakes) in a fun, 50s diner setting.
Spa Treatments
Elements Spa at Great Wolf Lodge resort provides massages, manicures and pedicures, facials, and waxing. The Radiant Skin Facial is a favorite for moms (including this one), as it includes not only a skin-smoothing facial treatment, but a scalp, shoulder, and foot massage. With several treatment rooms, the spa can host girls' getaway parties, as well as birthdays and other special occasions.
The hotel is also home to Scooops, a kids' spa specializing in treatments for kids ages 4-12. Treatments are offered in three ice-cream-themed flavors: chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. For mother-daughter treatments, the Scoops services are also available in Elements.
Wine Tastings on the Old Mission and Leelanau Peninsulas
No trip to Traverse City is complete without a drive up and down the peninsulas – and a stop at a vineyard or two. As Cherry Capitol of the World, the area offers a number of cherry wines, as well as dessert wines, ports, and ice wines. Visit Chateau Grand Traverse and try one of their six cherry wines, including a cherry sangria, or the cranberry Riesling.
My husband and I always make a point of visiting Chateau Chantal (left), where you can sample their wines and purchase a glass or a bottle – along with cheeses they've selected to pair with their wines – and sit and enjoy sweeping views of the bay or the orchard. The vineyard also offers cooking classes, tapas tours, and has an on-site bed and breakfast with 11 units.
Disclosure: I was provided a complimentary stay at Grand Beach Resort Hotel and a spa treatment at Great Wolf Lodge.
Teresa Shaw writes about family travels in and around Southeast Michigan. Follow her on Twitter at @Teresashaw or visit her website at teresajshaw.com
I may be a bit biased, but I think Texas has the most beautiful Capitol building in the country. Built almost entirely out of Texas Hill Country red granite and sitting taller [ ... ]
One glimpse of Skagway and it’s easy to see why this quaint Alaskan town is a popular port for cruise ships sailing along Alaska’s Inside Passage. Skagway offers beautiful [ ... ]
Grapevine, Texas celebrates summer Texas style, with Grapevine’s 5th annual SummerBlastrunning Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.
Grapevine, 20 miles from Dal [ ... ]
