You may have noticed how beautiful and romantic Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai’i (O’ahu) is. It’s hard to miss. However, just because Disney has taken the best of Hawai’i and sprinkled it with pixie dust, doesn’t mean that it’s all walks on the beach and drinks with umbrellas (not that there is anything wrong with that). There’s plenty of fun for the kids, too!

In addition to the natural wonders of Hawai’i and the popular tourist sites of the island, the resort offers an array of family fun. Most of it is wet.

There are two water slides, a lazy river, snorkeling (in a mouse-made reef), and a water play area.  There are also indoor places to play, relax and hang out — some of which are no parents allowed! Well, I suppose they’re allowed, but they don’t have to be there, which is nice.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with many of the Aulani cast members and Walt Disney Imagineers that created the resort, and they shared some interesting facts and stories about the area. Videos below. Read More »

Trade comfort for speed

Famous for being the location of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, nestled at the armpit of the San Gabriel Valley, San Dimas, CA is also home to one of the area’s famous water parks, Raging Waters.  Since Southern California is so prone to heatwaves, one should always have a water park in one’s back pocket as an alternate activity for the children.  (Also, children are a good thing to have when you just want to go to a water park but you feel ridiculous going without them).

Far less pricey than other famous area amusement parks, a day ticket to Raging Waters (also with locations in Sacramento and San Jose – only “S” towns allowed) is only Read More »

The Saco River

The Amtrak Downeaster Rail begins in Portland, Maine and ends in Boston, Massachusetts. In between there are stops in Old Orchard Beach ME, Saco ME, Wells ME, Dover NH, Durham NH, Exeter NH, Haverhill MA, and Woburn MA. For this series of articles I will expound upon the merits of each stop along the Downeaster Amtrak tour.

The next stop on the tour is Saco. Rhymes with “taco”. The train lets you off in the Downtown/Main Street area, from which you can walk to shopping and dining destinations. A quick cab ride can take you to many area attractions, such as the Aquaboggan Water Park, Funtown/Splashtown USA, or the Saco Museum. Or, go canoeing down the Saco River.

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Summer vacations are officially here. I read that on the internet, so you know it’s true. Speaking of the internet, welcome to it. We’ve been expecting you.

This is where the travel happens, and to a lesser extent, the magic. Enjoy.

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Have you ever been conned by a hotel? It happens. Oyster can help you avoid the sneaky stuff.

LEGOLAND has added a water park. No assembly required.

Flying through Houston? Hungry? There’s a new La Salsa in town.

Win a trip to Shanghai! Seriously.

The Euro is down, rent a villa!

A nerd’s eye view on Moloka’i.

Are you ready to party, Columbus? The Park Street Festival is coming!

See the top beach houses. Rent them.

The Gulf feels the oil spill right in the wallet (and elsewhere).

Oahu is all about the pampering — and we’re not talking diapers.

Starwood Preferred Guests get free stuff! Are you one?

Pottery Games? Not in the house.

Kaua’i is all about the golfing — and we’re not talking, wait, yes, we’re talking about golf.

Winter Park, Colorado has gone to the jazz.

Tomorrow is Oceans Day — see what Disney is doing.

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And that, as they say, is that. They know who they are.

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