ATV adventures and snorkeling with Punta Venado

January 20, 2014 By

There are as many Riviera Maya eco-tours as there are amazing natural wonders along this part of the Caribbean, and each offer something a little bit different. We’ve reviewed the fast-action activities with Alltournative, but for a change of pace, a day with Punta Venado offers both ATV adventures and snorkeling, plus relaxation.

blue venado beach club

Don’t worry: the kids will still be highly entertained with Punta Venado, located on almost 2000 acres and along 2.5 miles of pristine private beach. But you’ll enjoy some downtime as well. The eco-park is comprised of two sections: the Punta Venado ranch, with activities ranging from horseback riding, ATV-riding, and snorkeling, to the Blue Venado Beach Club, which sits on pristine white sand and offers a lovely open-air restaurant, cabanas, and miles of coastline. Families looking to get the most of their stay will take advantage of both.

punta venado

We started our day at Punta Venado with an ATV tour through the jungle. Since we experienced a brief downpour during our tour, the dirt paths were nice and muddy…perfect for some messy fun! The ATVs seat two, and adults must drive (age 16 and up). A guide takes your through the jungle to a dry cenote cave, where you get off the ATVs to explore a bit. If you’ve been swimming in cenotes earlier in your trip, this field trip isn’t too big of a thrill, but still fun. We then continued on ATVs to a cenote pool, where we jumped into the fresh water to cool off and wash the mud off our legs from the drive. This pool was very fun for the kids to explore, as it included a small creek-like waterway at one end, surrounded by jungle.

We rode on to Punta Venado’s private beach (as pretty as any along the Riviera Maya) where their snorkel and dive shop team outfitted us to snorkel on the Mayan Reef. The reef sits only feet off the shore at this location, making Punta Venado the only place we knew of in the Riviera Maya to snorkel the reef directly from shore. Even though the water was choppy after the morning storm, we were able to reach the reef area fairly easily (we were given fins and life jackets in addition to snorkels and masks), and our guide offered recycled water bottles filled with soggy tortillas…perfect fish food! The tropical fish surrounded us to access the food (which is squeezed from the bottle), making for a very impressive showing.

punta venado

On a calmer day, we could have accessed more of the reef, but even in not-ideal conditions, we saw hundreds of fish. We swam back to shore to ride the ATVs back to the ranch area.

When booking a Punta Venado tour, families can choose between a menu of options: in addition to ATVing and snorkeling, we opted for lunch at the Blue Venado Beach Club, a short dirt road drive away. This private beach club is directly on the water, offers bathrooms, showers, a restaurant, a bar, and beach cabanas. After lunch, you’re invited to stay as long as you’d like. If you have your own snorkel gear, you could certainly snorkel off the shore here as well, and if not, the body surfing is great.

Tip: Eco-tours are expensive: if you want a more economical day, opt for the beach club only. Access is free: we were told the only requirement is to buy $20 worth of food or drinks per person from the restaurant. At $20/person, this is the cheapest excursion in Riviera Maya. If you have a car or rent a taxi, access to the beach club is directly off the coastal highway linking Cancun to Tulum.

Date last visited:

August 2013

Cost:

Punta Venado ATV tours are $83/per person. They also have an option called All In, which includes everything on offer for $150/per person.

Directions:

Look for the Punta Venado and Blue Venado Beach Club sign right after Calica on the Riviera Maya.

Disclaimer: we experienced Punta Venado as guests of the tour company, for the purpose of review. All opinions are our own.

What to do in Playa del Carmen, Mexico

January 15, 2014 By

Wondering what to do in Playa del Carmen? Our family loves outdoor excursions, but we like fun city adventures as well. While in Riviera Maya, we wanted to give our kids a taste of local city life as well as geological wonders, so we spent an evening on Playa del Carmen‘s safe 5th Avenue. This pedestrian-only street spans approximately 10 blocks and is lined with shops, restaurants, bars, and souvenir stands. You can find everything from authentic Mexican handicrafts to cheap touristy t-shirts along 5th Ave, plus glimpse plenty of local color, street performers, and live music.

shopping in playa del carmen

Have your cab driver drop you off at the beach and playground area at the top of 5th Avenue (any driver will know to take your there), and start with a snack of fruit kabobs or watermelon spears from a vendor while admiring the sand sculptures on the beach and watching the cruise ships off the shore. Kids will enjoying playing on the large beach play structure, and teens can poke around the open-air shops lining the beach.

Playa del Carmen beach

Continue down 5th Avenue stopping in stores along the way. Our sons used the experience to souvenir shop with their own money, which meant a lesson in bartering with street vendors. After some successful purchases, we headed into some of the high end shops lining the avenue to window shop as well. Look for ‘fish spas’ where tiny fish nibble at your toes for $15 (didn’t try it for that price!) and avoid posing with exotic animals (their handlers will try to persuade you to buy photos of your kids with them, and the practice perpetuates illegal animal trafficking).

Playa del Carmen

Throughout 5th Avenue, you’ll find street performers such as Mayan dancers and magicians, and plenty of restaurants vying for your patronage. For the most authentic Mexican cuisine, head all the way down the avenue to the end (you’ll know the block by the large fountain in the center of the intersection) and eat at La Cueva del Chango.

fruit stand

La Cueva del Chango is tucked away down a side street at Calle 38 and known (and loved) by locals. The ambiance of the restaurant is as big a draw as the food: diners enter a lush garden setting where they’re seated either in the shade of beautiful vegetation or under the open-air thatched roof building of the main restaurant. With only a few dozen tables, the location is intimate. The open kitchen is fun to view, and the wait staff is bilingual, the better to help you make your selections.

La Cueva del ChangoThey offer breakfast all day (a good option for kids who may be pickier eaters) but our waitress was excellent about steering us toward good options for the kids on the dinner menu, too. (Kids can also order amazing smoothies.) I ate the most delicious halapeno cream soup, then finished with grilled tuna steak. The kids settled on a Mexican specialty: molletes. This dish is simply grilled cheese with pinto beans, which can be topped with salsa and/or guacamole. Everything we ate was amazing, and in the glow of candlelight in our (seemingly) own Mexican garden, we felt worlds away from lively 5th Avenue.

Date last visited:

August 2013

Directions:

Getting here is easy. Hire a cab for about $10 from any Playa del Carmen or Playacar location, and pick up another from any of the many taxi stands located at cross-streets along 5th Avenue.

Disclaimer: as I disclose whenever applicable, our family ate at La Cueva del Chango as guests of the restaurant, for the purpose of review. This hospitality came with no expectation of a positive review.

Photo credit: Homeaway.com

A day with Alltournative tours: Tulum and Jungle Maya adventure with tweens and teens

January 13, 2014 By

Mexico’s Riviera Maya is rich with geological and cultural excursions for active families. It’s system of cenotes (underground rivers) and abundance of Mayan ruins are accessed by many tour operators, but which one to pick? We spent the day with Alltournative Tours, a leading eco-archaeological guide service specializing in active, adventurous tours.

Like most local tour companies, Alltournative works with Mayan property owners and archaeological sites to gain access to some of the most impressive (and most fun) sites along the Yucatan peninsula. We opted for their Tulum and Jungle Maya tour, which offers a history lesson at ancient Tulum and explorative fun in the jungle in their Mayan eco park.

We started the day at Tulum, the beautiful Mayan ruins on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea. (Alltournative will pick up from most Cancun and Riviera Maya hotels.) Right away, we knew our bilingual guide, Robbie, would be fantastic: a native of Mexico City who is part-Mayan himself, Robbie was passionate about the Mayan culture, knowledgeable about their history, and great about tailoring the educational content to kids. Tulum is open to the public and easy to access on your own, but once on-site, we saw the value of a guide: many of the sites have little information in English to explain their significance. Without Robbie, we wouldn’t have known what we were looking at most of the time. We toured the sites for approximately 45 minutes, then Robbie left us to explore on our own for another hour. We opted to take a much-needed dip in the ocean at the beach on-site (voted by National Geographic as one of the most beautiful in the world!) then took advantage of some photo ops.

Tulum

We rejoined Robbie and the Alltourative transportation and drove the short distance to the Sac-Actun xenote cave system. Located on Mayan property at a small eco park run by Alltournative, we were given lockers, took showers to rinse off, then met the Mayan family who owns the property for a short purifying ceremony in the Mayan language. (The cenotes are spiritual to the Mayans, and treated with upmost respect.)

rappel into cenote

 

We were then led to an opening in the underground xenote system, where we rappelled down to swim in the cool, fresh water. Popping out through a cave entrance a few meters away, we climbed into the back of a Mercedes Benz all-terrain truck called an Unimog and enjoyed a bumpy ride through the jungle to Alltournative’s series of zip lines.

cenote

I expected this jungle ride to be merely a means to an end (the park is divided into two sections), but instead, it was one of the kids’ favorite parts, due to driver Willi’s sense of fun. Willi took the Unimog along the pot-holed dirt road at a rolling pace, to the delight of the boys.

Once we’d departed the vehicle, we were outfitted for zip-lining (still with our faithful guide Robbie) and shown how to climb the steep ramps to the zip line towers. We took two lines across the jungle, then were surprised by an entirely new-to-us zip-line experience: zipping into water. The last line concluded in the cool water of an open xenote, which was all kinds of fun. We swam to the shore, then grabbed snorkels and masks for a swim through the Nohoch Nah Chiich cenote cavern. Note: If this itinerary seems whirlwind, that’s because it is! We recommend Alltournative to families who have active kids looking for fast-paced outdoor fun.

alltournative activities

The Nohoch Nah Chiich is renown to divers (scuba is offered at this location for cave-certified divers), but for snorkelers, it’s a pretty easy swim through open-air caves with the guide. The swim takes about 15 minutes, and stalactites and stalagmites are pointed out along the way, in addition to hanging bats. Using your mask, it’s an unique experience to see the cave bottom as well as look up at the ceiling.

By this time in our day, we’d worked up quite an appetite. Last but not least, we were shown to the Mayan dining area and kitchen on-site, where the family owning the land prepares authentic Mayan cuisine. Tables as communal, and food is buffet-style, with a traditional Mayan soup, empanadas, beans, rice, chicken, and tortillas. Beware the hot sauce…it’s truly hot!

zip line with alltournative

After the meal, guests are returned to the first section of the park to retrieve the items in their locker, offered a MAYArita (their version of a margarita), and invited to rest a while in the many hanging hammocks and lounge chairs dotting the landscaped jungle space.

Alltournative has photographers who shadow you during your tour, and they ask you to view your photos on computer stations before leaving. The photo packages are expensive, but if you don’t have your own underwater camera or video camera to capture the action, they may well be worth it. (You can always take your own photos.)

A word about sustainability and ecotourism: We were impressed by how well the flora and fauna were cared for at the Alltournative eco park site, and liked hearing how our ecotourism aided the Mayan people who owned the land. The xenotes here are spotless, and while they don’t have a completely ‘wild’ feel due to being part of a tour, they are clearly authentic (as opposed to aided by human construction at the large eco parks along the coast). If you have dive experience, you can certainly seek out more isolated xenotes on your own, but for an introductory family experience in a safe environment, Alltournative will fit the bill nicely.

A note about Coba: Alltournative also offers a tour of Coba, the Mayan ruins further inland. This tour does take longer, with a longer drive, which is why we opted to tour Tulum instead. However, it is still possible to climb the ruins in Coba, which can be a draw to families.

Date last visited:

August 2013

Cost:

the Tulum and Jungle Maya tour we experienced runs $129 for adults and $99 for kids. Alternatively, families can book the Jungle Maya only for less, but we don’t recommend skipping Tulum.

Directions:

It’s not possible to drive to Alltournative’s eco park on your own, so leave the rental car at your hotel and let them pick you up.

Disclaimer: we experienced Alltournative as guests of the tour company, for the purpose of review. All opinions are our own.

Swim with whale sharks in Cancun Mexico

January 8, 2014 By

One of the most memorable excursions in Cancun for my family was to swim with whale sharks. These harmless giants can be found in the open water approximately 20 miles off the coast of Cancun (past Isla Mujeres) from May to September, and if you’re visiting the Riviera Maya area during this time period with older kids and teens, it’s definitely an activity to consider.

swim with whale sharks

Who to book with:

We booked our swim with whale shark excursion with Solo Buceo, a dive and snorkel operation located in Dreams Cancun. The dive shop is located in the heart of the Cancun hotel zone across the street from the hotel (right on the water) and is easy to reach via taxi from most area resorts.

We liked that Solo Buceo departs directly from their shop for the whale shark areas, so there’s no shuttle transfers to waste any time. The shop is scenic in itself, set against the bay with plenty of thatch roof cabanas to sit under while getting ready, signing waivers, and the like. The staff was all very friendly during our visit, and very efficient. Our reservation was listed on a dry erase board behind the counter with our guide already assigned to us before we even approached the counter. Our guide Santiago was fluently bilingual, and the whole experience was very professional.

At Solo Buceo, whale shark excursions leave early in the morning. Our boat departed promptly at 7 am, which meant a 5 am wake up call at our Puerto Morelos hotel room. It’s not fun to get up so early on vacation, but the early departure had a purpose: we were the first boat to set out in search of the whale sharks, and when we arrived at the snorkel site, only one additional boat had beat us there. By the time we left, we were surrounded by a dozen or more boats, with more arriving by the minute. A whale shark excursion is not cheap, so we appreciated this added touch of a semi-private experience.

solo buceo

What to expect:

Our guide Santiago explained some of what we should expect before we got on the boat: whale sharks are gentle and harmless, but they’re also wild animals…it may take time to find them, and there’s no guarantee of a sighting. The boat ride out to the open water where they swim takes approximately an hour, and snacks and drinks are provided. The small boats hold about 10 passengers max.

What we were not told: the ride through the open water can be very choppy, and it’s very easy to get seasick. I had read reviews suggesting a motion-sickness remedy, so we did have sea-bands on, but they were of little help. While we didn’t get too sick on the ride out, our stomachs were queasy enough that once in the water, a few of us felt quite sick. Remember, this is open ocean, so it’s not possible to see the bottom of the ocean floor: once you have a mask on and are looking down, you’re bobbing on the water (with some significant waves) without the aid of a horizon to orient yourself. This combination makes seasickness more likely. I was not surprised to feel seasick, as I succumb to motion sickness easily, but even the more hearty in our group were affected, as well as several additional people on our boat. The remedy: lose your breakfast in the ocean, not the boat, please!

Swim with whale sharks:

Seasick or not, swimming with the whale sharks was an amazing experience. About an hour out into open ocean, we spotted a group of about 30-40 sharks and entered the water. Our guide went with us and was invaluable in his help pointing out where the sharks were (look down!, under you!, over you!) and keeping kids (and adults) out of their way. Swimmers may not touch the sharks (doing so purposefully will get you a seat back on the boat), but it’s sometimes hard to get out of their way! By avoiding the tail, we got the hang of it eventually.

We spent approximately 1 hour in the water, taking breaks in the boat as needed, allowing the whale sharks to swim under us, around us, and even over us. When in a lucky position, it was possible to see their huge, gaping mouths open to eat the baleen they feast on, and we even spotted manta rays as well. We were given life jackets to wear (it’s optional to upgrade to wet suits at an additional cost), so even the youngest among us (age 8) had no trouble on the open water. We appreciated that all the child equipment fit well (not always the case) and that all our masks and snorkels were in great working order. Younger children might be afraid given the open ocean and depth (not to mention the huge animals) but once we’d taken the plunge, all our worries were put to rest. These whale sharks are truly peaceful to swim with, and our guide in the water was very attentive, helping to keep kids close.

On the return trip to Cancun, sandwiches and sodas or waters were handed out to those of us who could keep a lunch down, and we stopped for 15-20 minutes just off Isla Mujeres to take a warm-water dip in the crystal clear, shallow water off the island. For those of us who had felt ill, this swim was very refreshing.

swim with whale sharks

When we arrived back into the bay, we could still see boats departing for the whale shark area, and were so glad to have spent time with these giants solo. Expect to spend about four hours total from the time you depart the bay to the time you return.

Tip: Bring an underwater camera, and wear biodegradable sun screen. For some reason, sun screen cannot be applied in the boat, so remember to apply while still on the dock. It’s easy to burn in the morning sun.

Date last visited:

August 2013

Cost:

$119 for adults, $89 for kids

Directions:

Any taxi can take you to Dreams Cancun, where the doorman or bell services staff can point out Solo Buceo. From Puerto Morelos, the ride was $40 US (though this rate had to be negotiated ahead of time…when we made the mistake of asking only at the end of our drive, the rate had climbed to $90).

Disclaimer: we experienced swimming with whale sharks as guests of Solo Buceo, for the purpose of review. All opinions are our own.

Deer Lodge Lake Louise: Where to stay near the lake

November 18, 2013 By

When arriving at Lake Louise, it’s impossible to overlook massive Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise planted directly at the lake shore. However, en route to the lake, you’ll drive directly past the much more modest, historic, and beautiful Deer Lodge, operated by Canadian Rockies Mountain Resorts. This is where you want to be.

deer lodge

Why? Deer Lodge is fits its surroundings perfectly: its log-hewn buildings nestle against a backdrop of evergreen, its wooden deck overlooks the single road to the lake, and its stone chimney puffs woodsmoke, reminding visitors that just inside lies a cozy sitting room with stone fireplace. And it’s still lakeside: guests can walk to Lake Louise in under five minutes.

It’s the lodge that should sit on the lakeshore, calling to mind the storied mountaineering history of the Banff Lake Louise area. During summer, guests can sit out on the deck under shade umbrellas, and in autumn or winter, the craggy mountain views from the rooftop hot tub absolutely cannot be beat. The hotel is aged, to be sure (expect the usual quirks of an old building, including creaks and temperamental heating and plumbing), but with age comes charm you won’t find elsewhere in small Lake Louise.

Deer Lodge

Amenities:

The Deer Lodge sitting room is the place to be in the evening before dinner; sit by the fire with a good book, or play a game of chess or checkers by the windows. There’s also a smaller sitting room with a piano guests are permitted to play, and a game room downstairs featuring a pool table and the lodge’s only TV (complete with couches and DVD library).

Deer Lodge fireplace

The best feature of Deer Lodge has to be its hot tub: situated on the roof, it’s nothing fancy, but its simplicity is breathtaking. The views of the surrounding mountains are amazing, and the crisp air feels great as you soak. Guests will find hooks to hang their towels on, and changing rooms downstairs below the hot tub access. During our autumn visit, the hot tub was open 10 am to 11 pm; seasonal hours apply.

Deer Lodge hot tub

Rooms:

Rooms at Deer Lodge are modest, but there is a newer addition to the building with larger floor plans. Either way, expect a lack of TVs in the rooms, though guests do enjoy free wifi. Our room featured a shower with tub and plenty of counter and sink space in the bathroom, and a nicely sized balcony. The only amenity I wished we had was a mini fridge; I didn’t mind the lack of a TV, but could have used the ability to store leftover food and snacks.

Deer Lodge

Dining:

The dining room at Deer Lodge is excellent. We loved the atmosphere in the evening–cozy yet elegant–and the food is outstanding. It’s also expensive, so look for the lounge menu, which is available even when dining in the main dining room. Breakfast is served as well, though still pricey; out of practicality, families may opt to walk the short distance to the Fairmont to pick up muffins and other bakery goods at their quick service coffee shop. (It’s also possible to pick up sandwiches here to take with you for a picnic.)

From Deer Lodge, hiking at and around Lake Louise is only steps away (don’t bother with your car) or Banff is only a 30-45 minute drive.

Distance from the interstate:

Deer Lodge is located just minutes from Highway 93 (Icefields Parkway).

Room rates:

At the time of our visit, room rates for a standard room were listed at approximately $125. Rates vary by season.

Directions:

From 93, take the Lake Louise exit and stay on Lake Louise Drive. The lake (and Deer Lodge) is approximately 4 km up the road.

As I disclose whenever applicable, we experienced Deer Lodge as guests of the resort, for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

Lake Louise Alberta hiking: Lake Agnes Tea House

October 30, 2013 By

The wilderness surrounding Lake Louise, Alberta may be the most stunningly beautiful in the greater Banff-Lake Louise area. And if you’ve been to Banff, you know that’s saying something. Plenty of backcountry treks depart from Lake Louise and its next-door neighbor, Lake Moraine, making Lake Louise Alberta hiking some of the best in the Canadian Rockies. Our favorite–to the Lake Agnes Tea House–is also one of the most family-friendly. Side note: does this photo even look real? I assure you it is!

Lake Louise hiking

The ascent to Lake Agnes is just that…an ascent. Hikers start at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and take the well-marked Lake Agnes trail, which climbs for the entire 3.5 km. (This is good news for the hike back, of course.) The way may be steadily uphill, but it’s not unmanageable for kids, and because the entire trip is only 7 km, families can take their time.

The first section of the trail parallels Lake Louise, but without the views: the way is dense forest. Once the end of the lake is reached, however, the forest clears for nice views of the far end of Lake Louise before the trail turns into a short series of switchbacks. This takes hikers to a stop at tiny Mirror Lake, then to a turnoff for Little Beehive. Turn here for a fairly easy ascent to a nice viewpoint of the valley, including great views of Lake Louise in her entirety. If you go this route, simply backtrack after checking out the Little Beehive view and return to the turnoff. If you opt to continue on to Lake Agnes, the trail takes you back into the forest for a short distance to a cascading waterfall and set of wooden stairs leading to the lake and tea house.

Beehive from Mirror Lake

The Lake Agnes Tea House sits perched directly on the edge of the lake, with spectacular views of the big Beehive (a beehive-shaped slab of rock you cannot miss) and the mountain crags surrounding the small lake. Take a few minutes to sit at a table on the Tea House deck to take in the view, or head inside the cozy dining room with wood-burning stove to order a pot of tea or French pressed coffee. Kids can order hot chocolate or cider, and if you arrive at lunch time, the Tea House has a selection of sandwiches, soups, and bakery goods that are made fresh daily on-site.

Lake Agnes tea house

Take a few minutes to talk with the Tea House staff; most are young men and women from around the world, working for the season, and all live on-site. All supplies (and trash) are packing in and out of Lake Agnes on foot or horseback, and staffers are very knowledgable about area hikes and peak ascents.

The Tea House is a destination in itself, but if you’re up for more hiking, take the trail around the circumference of Lake Agnes to the series of switchbacks to the Beehive lookout. This trail is short but steep, with drop-offs in some locations. The switchbacks take you to the saddle of the ridge, which you follow to the lookout structure at the edge. The saddle is wide enough that there’s no fear of falling, but it’s essential children follow directions and stay on the trail. The views are as amazing as you’d expect.

Lake Agnes

Adding either or both Beehive to your Lake Agnes hike will add approximately 2 km to your trip, but the descent back to Lake Louise is a breeze. If you’re up for even more, the longer trail to Six Glaciers (and its own tea house) connects at Lake Agnes.

Note: The Lake Agnes Tea House is open mid-April to mid-October, and takes cash only. Seasonal hours vary, but during our off-season (fall) visit, it as open 10 am to 5 pm.

For additional hiking, check out trails departing from Lake Moraine, or go to Banff Lake Louise for more info.

Trips to Ireland with kids: tips for exploring Dublin, Cork, and Galway

October 5, 2013 By

Our Pit Stops for Kids international travel tips section is growing! Have you noticed? While the bulk of our travel focus remains on US and Canadian destinations, we encourage families to expand to international travel as well. Trips to Ireland with kids is often recommended because, in our experience, Ireland is one of the most accessible countries to visit with kids, and an easy place to start your international travel journey.

ireland with kids

In this post, we offer general tips for travel through some of the most popular destinations in Ireland–Dublin, Cork, and Galway–in typical Pit Stops for Kids’ fashion…by road trip!

Whether you’re a lover of the island or you’re a complete newbie, taking your children for an Irish adventure will be incredibly rewarding. Rather than choosing to stay static in one place, consider renting a car and exploring as much as possible – that way, your kids won’t get bored with a city break and they’ll have plenty of experiences along the way.

For example, start your journey in Dublin, drive down the coast to Cork and finish off on the west coast at one of the hotels in Galway. Incorporate plenty of child-friendly activities in your itinerary as well as those that the grownups want to do – that way, everyone in your party will be happy! We love that Ireland is filled with outdoor splendor in the form of hikes, caves, and castles…kids and adults enjoy the history and beauty, and kids get plenty of exercise.

If you chose to start your road trip in Dublin, book a couple of nights in your first hotel rather than feeling like you’ve barely seen the city. While much of a city break focuses around adults and their interests, you’d be surprised at how much the Irish capital has to offer for little ones too. From exploring Dublin Castle and all its medieval delights to Dublin Zoo, located inside the massive Phoenix Park, youngsters will be happy with a couple of days here before heading off towards Cork.

The great thing about driving along the coast is there are always places to stop a while to absorb the beauty of what’s around you. Make sure you pack travel bags with plenty of goodies for your children to play with and snack on, to keep them occupied on the drive. Games consoles, coloring books and portable DVD players are ideal to keep them quiet! Think of some family games for the drive too – there’s nothing with a traditional round of I-Spy!

During your stay in Cork, stop by the Fota Wildlife Park, found on Fota Island – the only wildlife park in the country and well worth a visit to see the animals roam free.

Once you’ve made your way around the southern tip of Ireland, you’re on the home stretch towards County Galway, home to the incredible Connemara National Park and the Aran Islands, great trips with plenty of hiking for active kids. Bring your hiking or walking shoes!

While the drive between these cities will take less than three hours per leg of the journey, what can be found in between adds to the holiday even more. A week exploring as much as you can will be ideal, although if you want to see as much as possible, perhaps a fortnight would be better.

Photo credit.

Top three hidden gems of the Caribbean for families

July 22, 2013 By

As a top destination for cruises and tours, the Caribbean has no shortage of enticing tropical landscapes and attractions. The region’s predictably warm, balmy weather and aquamarine sea attract visitors year-round. And yet, the Caribbean still harbors some lesser-known places which can offer a more low-key excursion. These are not the types of places you’ll find all-you-can-eat buffets or “tourist trap” restaurants and souvenir stands. These are hidden gems.

Away from the attractions most tourists flock to, these three places still exude untouched natural beauty. Visitors can dine in solitude or swim in pristine waterfalls. These three quiet escapes provide alluring tranquility amid the natural beauty of the islands.

the Caribbean for families

1. Dominica: Isle of Delights

Dominica is an island whose beauty is founded on its unspoiled natural setting. The island has been subjected to much less development than many of its island neighbors. Made up mostly of rainforest, the island is known for the abundance of deep green jungles filled with exotic flora and fauna. The island boasts over 365 waterfalls, springs and rivers, all of which beckon visitors inland from its soft sandy swaths of beach.

The island’s rugged inland terrain is marked by volcanic activity, providing warmth for several hot springs and even a boiling lake unfit for swimming but frequented by intrepid hikers. The Morne Trois Pitons National Park is a World Heritage Site that features a mix of Dominica’s tropical flora and fauna and volcanic rock formations. The hit film “Pirates of the Caribbean” was filmed on and around Dominica, adding to its mystique as an island of intrigue and drama. Those hoping to catch a glimpse of Captain Jack Sparrow might be disappointed — he is, after all, a fictional character — but might be delighted by the actual sparrows in the sky, as Dominica is a hotbed for tropical bird-watching.

2. Saba: Suspended in Time

Because the island of Saba receives fewer than 25,000 visitors a year, it manages to maintain a timeless natural mystique. The nearby islands, St. Maarten and St. Bart’s, just a stone’s throw away, are both frequented by major cruise companies making them far more crowded than Saba. Visitors will first notice that Saba is lacking in resorts and fancy shops. There are no designer retailers to be found. However, Saba makes up for the lack of posh shopping by offering up its own variety of lushness in the form of gorgeous nature and eco-tourism.

Saba represents the original, raw beauty of the Caribbean, prior to commercialism and human intervention. The beauty of Saba is not limited to its lush hills or secluded beaches — it extends underwater to the surrounding sea. Saba is actually one of the world’s top destinations for scuba diving and is considered among the best spots on earth for underwater exploration. For such a tiny island, Saba boasts a dizzying diversity of beautiful aquatic life. Adventurous visitors can spend the morning underwater exploring Saba’s rocky reefs, and then in the afternoon ascend its tallest peak, Mount Scenery. Above water and below, Saba’s ecology is inspiring, timeless and well-preserved. Its beauty highlights the fragility of a region impacted by heavy tourism.

3. Los Roques: Radiant and Lovely

Officially under the jurisdiction of Venezuela, Los Roques is an archipelago that is designated as a national park. The magnificent marine ecosystem of Los Roques is protected by the national park status, and is just a short hop from the capital city of Caracas. Los Roques has become a popular destination for nature lovers seeking to explore its unique flora and fauna. The island welcomes tourists who support its small local economy and offers several friendly inns. Visitors can also opt to stay in posadas, which are former houses of island fishermen and have been renovated for use by tourists. The Los Roques experience is both more rugged — and more radiant — than many other destinations in the Caribbean.

 

About the Author: Louise Barnes is a travel writer and author of several books about Caribbean history. She enjoys exploring options for Caribbean excursions on Expedia where she finds deals on vacation packages.

 Photo credit.

Top 10 Toronto kid-friendly activities for families

July 12, 2013 By

We love Toronto kid-friendly activities! Don’t let this bustling center for business and commerce intimidate you! Families visiting Toronto will find much to do with kids, and much to love amid the busy streets and lively waterfront. Plus, Toronto public transit is very intuitive and affordable: with only two major subway lines, you won’t get lost! Leave your car at the hotel, and ride, boat, or walk to all of the following top Toronto attractions. Don’t forget to buy a Toronto CityPASS or Go Card to save cash while you play!

Tip! Save up to 43% on Toronto’s 5 best attractions at CityPASS. Shop Now!

Click on the arrow on the right of the first image to play the slideshow.

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Photo credit: Pit Stops for Kids, Bobolink, waterfronttoronto.ca

Toronto on Dwellable

A walk through Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market

July 10, 2013 By

The historic St. Lawrence Hall houses the St. Lawrence Market, a farmer’s market nirvana teaming with the freshest local produce, fruits, berries, and homemade jams, syrups, and crafts. Families will also find stalls selling local meats, desserts and pastries, fresh sandwiches, and just about anything else you can imagine. The St. Lawrence Market is a great place to spend a rainy or cold day in Toronto, or the best spot to pick up a picnic or to-go lunch to eat along the Waterfront or over on Centre Island.

St. Lawrence Market

 

St. Lawrence Market

 

There are two levels within the market building, plus tents selling wares in nice weather outside. If you get there early (before 8 am), you can usually see trucks dropping off the day’s produce from Ontario farms. The main floor level sells aisle after aisle of produce, berries, fruits, and meats, as well stalls with bakery goods and ethics foods (we saw Indian, Thai, and Chinese foods while we were there). Seating is scarce, so you’re better off taking food to go.

St. Lawrence Market

While you could certainly spend the better part of an hour sampling the fruit, veggies, hams, bacon, and cheese upstairs, don’t leave without checking out the downstairs section. This part of the market is primarily reserved for rare or speciality items, making it both educational and fun for kids (and adults). Check out row after row of exotic spices (most of which you may never have heard of!), gourmet cheeses and meats, speciality candies, and local homemade goods such as pure maple syrup. There are a few fabric and toy stalls as well, and random offerings of trinkets here and there, but St. Lawrence is primarily about the food!

St. Lawrence Market

Hours of operation:

Check the website for up-to-date hours, as they change seasonally. During the time of our visit (early summer), St. Lawrence is open weekends from 5 am to 3 pm.

Directions:

The market is located at St. Lawrence Hall at the corner of Front Street and Jarvis.

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