Many thanks to See Monterey for sponsoring today’s story and encouraging me to experience all that Monterey County has to offer.

Monterey, California is easily one of the best vacation destinations that I’ve visited on the California coast.  On our family trip this past week we decided that Monterey was the perfect place to stay and play with its abundance of family activities, natural beauty and tremendous food and wine.  We made the mistake of only booking three days in Monterey, probably our only regret from the entire trip as we merely scratched the surface of all that Monterey County has to offer.  Visit See Monterey and see for yourself the wide variety of adventures that this gem of a destination offers.  Below are just a few of our recommended vacation sites of Monterey that have the kids and adults in our family eager for a return visit:

Monterey Bay Aquarium:

This was not our first time to the Monterey Bay Aquarium yet every time we go it is every bit as exciting and enchanting.  This is easily one of the top must-see destinations for kids in the country, but you don’t have to be a youngster to get swept away with wonder and awe as you navigate the landmark location nestled at the edge of the gorgeous Monterey Bay.  The aquarium can easily take up a full day of your time as it offers so many exhibits on everything from sea otters to penguins, sharks to octopuses.  The aquarium is extremely interactive, with touch tanks in multiple areas, feeding sessions with audience Q&A, hands-on learning and even a number of designated ocean-labyrinth play areas.  The best thing about the Monterey Bay Aquarium is that they don’t just showcase the ocean’s wildlife, they entrench you in it with massive, wonderful tanks that transport the ocean creatures and visitors alike to the far reaches of the ocean deep.

Carmel-by-the-Sea:

The Monterey to Carmel drive took about 10 minutes and we were then in a coastal paradise of what are arguably California’s prettiest beaches.  We nestled in to the tranquil area of Carmel Beach (and got a helpful tip on parking from See Monterey).  We didn’t catch one of the famous sunsets or sandcastle competitions but it was nonetheless breathtaking.  The homes in the area are charming, it seems almost as though each resident is also a part-time gardener and florist.   Point Lobos State Reserve offered more spectacular views with hikes, including Cypress Grove which every bit lived up to its hype.

The Fisherman’s Wharf:

 As a seafood lover it’s no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed walking the pier and trying to find Monterey’s best bowl of clam chowder.  There were plenty to choose from and we had two great meals out on the pier, loosing track of time with the inlet to the bay and the harbor boats as a beautiful backdrop.  Whale watching tours depart regularly throughout the day and there are fun shops lined on both sides with a good number of tourists enjoying Fisherman’s Warf any time of the day.

Cannery Row:  

It comes as no surprise that Cannery Row has a rich history, you can just feel it in the air when walking around.  With references to the late, great author John Steinbeck and the old sardine cannery buildings still in-tact, it’s bursting with character and history.  Shopping in Cannery Row was phenomenal, two of my favorite shops were Monterey’s Tasty Olive Bar (boasting over 70 types of olive oils and balsamics), and the Cannery Row Antique Mall (which has the Largest Antique & Collectibles Mall on the Central Coast, all set in a beautiful historic building).

Pacific Grove:  

we didn’t do this cute area justice but did catch their farmer’s market with lively music, ocean views and plenty of luscious organic fruits and vegetables.

For kid-friendly lodging in Monterey there’s no better place than the Portola Hotel and Spa.  We enjoyed its great views overlooking Fisherman’s Wharf and steps to the heart of walkable, downtown Monterey and the Monterey Old Town Historic District.  This may be the most kid-friendly hotel I’ve ever visited as even during check-in the kids received fresh-baked cookies and kicked off their Portola Pirate Program (with pirate gifts!).   Our kids’ paradise continued outside with Candyland (pretty much heaven on earth for candy lovers), Crepes by Brittany (kids’ fav was Nutella and strawberry), and  Dennis the Menace Playground just a few minutes away.  There’s a huge town square outside of the hotel which had a lively kids street fair on one day and a free concert on the next.  As a foodie I was in good hands with Jack’s and Peter B’s Brewpub right onsite at the hotel (both under new Executive Chef Danny Abbruzzese).  The food was on another level, as were the beers and martinis!

Giveaway :

See Monterey will be giving away (1) complete trip package, including 2 nights at Monterey Tides, 2 tickets to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and a wine blending at Joullian Vineyards.

To enter :

1. Visit See Monterey website  :
2. Where is your favorite destination in Monterey? Please leave your comment below
3. See Monterey will be randomly selecting the winner from the comments.
4. Ends 10/31

Thank you to Radisson Blu for sponsoring today’s post and inspiring me to dream up my trip around the world!

Are you looking for some ideas for best travel destinations in the world.  How about winning a trip around the world? The most anticipated #PaperCity contest by Radisson Blu® is finally here. If you haven’t played the game visit Paper City by Raddison Blu  to start your journey and discover fun facts/clues about each location, helping you to guess the city.  The best part is that participants will have a chance to win a trip around the world, including 30 nights stay at any 5 Radisson Blu® in the world + Airfare for two. Sounds pretty amazing right? No Purchase Necessary. Official Rules Apply. Ends 10/12/16.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE PAPERCITY CONTEST!

Today I am going to share some of my personal pics for the best travel destinations in the world.  I’m pretty sure that some of these you may know of but hopefully at least one will be a new one for your list.  Please keep reading to find out which travel destinations should be added to your bucket list.

There are so many beautiful places to visit in the world but finding the right vacation spots can be really challenging.  Especially when traveling to a foreign country, there is so much to think about. Some of the key factors that influenced our travel decisions, include: cost, safety/security, reputation and of course the main purpose of our travel (such as family getaway, honeymoon, photography work or solo travel). Imagine taking 30 days to travel around the world!  What 5 destinations would be on your itinerary?

Check out my hand picked for best travel destinations to indulge in the world:

• Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is the capital city of Hungary and offers an amazing historical city with amazing stories behind many of the structures.  The unparalleled bathhouses originally designed for Turkish emperors.  There’s quite a live music scene here including opera and classical and great festivals throughout the year.  The dollar goes a long way in Budapest, too.

Where to Stay in Budapest : RADISSON BLU BEKE HOTEL, BUDAPEST 

• Prague, Czech Republic

Prague is many a travelers favorite city and for good reason.  A stroll through the city in any direction will surely bring some of the prettiest architecture one has ever laid eyes on, from cathedrals to bridges, unique towers and immaculate places of worship.  The city is very much alive and modern with tons of fine dining options and a vibrant nightlife.

Where to Stay in Praque : RADISSON BLU ALCRON HOTEL, PRAGUE

• Malta 

Not enough people make it to Malta but those that do quickly realize it’s the perfect mix of island life, culture and history.  The sun and views of the sea couldn’t be better, especially with the memorable skylines that Malta offers.  The island is very rich in culture and history too, with many different groups throughout history calling this small archipelago home.  Make sure you explore the temples, coves and venture into the surrounding sea.

Where to Stay in Malta : RADISSON BLU RESORT & SPA, MALTA GOLDEN SANDS

•  Western Ghats, Sahyadri Mountains, India 

Western Ghats, also known as Sahyadri Range has everything one could ask for in nature, from mountainous national parks to tiger reserves, and enchanted and wildlife-rich forests.    The area is rich with many rivers which stretch-on for what seems like an endless paradise.  This biodiverse area is home to tigers, elephants and over 5000 species of amphibians, mammals, birds and other wildlife.

Where to Stay in Western Ghats: RADISSON BLU RESORT & SPA KARJAT

• Lomé, Togo

Lomé was once considered the Paris of West Africa.  That alone should pique your interest and get you curious to check out some pictures of the city, and that might be all it takes to get you to start planning a trip to this charming city.  The city boasts calm beaches to an exciting nightlife, with great crafts, markets and welcoming locals.  Lomé is one of the safest places to visit in Africa.

Where to Stay in Lome, Togo: RADISSON BLU HOTEL 2 FEVRIER, LOME

• Shanghai, China 

Shanghai is one of the most exciting places I’ve ever visited, with a futuristic and exciting metropolis sprouting up while still maintaining some old-world charm and traditions.  Ballroom dancing in the park at night is one of the things I observed in Shanhai and other parts of China, it was magical.  Enjoy strolling through the walking part of the city and taking in views of one of the best skylines in the world.  Excitement is all around in Shanghai.

Where to Stay in Shanghai: RADISSON BLU SHANGHAI HONGQIAO

Radisson Blu® is one of the world’s leading hotel brands with nearly 300 hotels in operation in 69 countries and territories. Radisson Blu is a part of Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, which also includes Quorvus Collection, Radisson®, Radisson RED, Park Plaza®, Park Inn® by Radisson and Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM

The Ultimate Holiday Packing List for Teens

Teenagers can be extremely picky, even when it comes down to packing for an upcoming holiday away from home. Therefore, they may need a little bit of guidance so that they can determine what they really need to take with them and what can be left at home. After all, you don’t want your teen to pack so much that they end up with luggage that exceeds the weight limit of your airline. Continue reading for a few helpful guidelines that you can use to create the ultimate holiday packing list for any teenager.

Start Off with the Right Luggage

First off, you need to give your teen the chance to pack for themselves, but they also need to have the right suitcase to put everything in. An easy way to limit just how much your teen ends up packing is by providing them with a smaller suitcase. This will also ensure that your teen won’t end up packing a super heavy suitcase. Just be sure to keep your teen happy by allowing them to shop with you at sources like globalluggage.co.uk, where they’ll be able to find some really stylish luggage that they’ll be happy to carry themselves as they make their way through the airport.

Traveling with Tech

When it comes to teens, there are only two things that they’ll care about when packing for a holiday: clothing and technology. They’re going to want to look good, but they’re also going to want to take all of their digital devices with them.

Rather than fighting with your teen on what they should or shouldn’t bring, just make sure that they have the essentials. If they have a separate portable gaming system other than their smartphone, for example, make sure they pack that, especially because long plane rides or car trips can get boring for them, and it’s better to have them playing on a device that won’t use up mobile phone data.

Also, a separate MP3 player, such as an iPod, makes it easy for teens to tune out whatever the family is listening to in the car, as well as the drone of a plane’s engine, without having to make everyone else listen to their favourite songs. Of course, if your teen is one of the few who isn’t constantly connected to their electronics, a pad and paper is great for those who like to sketch or write stories to pass the time.

Appropriate Clothing

When it comes to fashion, you want to be sure that your teen will be dressing appropriately during your holiday, especially if you’re going to be in a place with a conservative culture. Let your teen decide upon their own personal style, but make sure that they also pack for the type of weather that you’ll experience while at your destination.

By following the simple strategies above, you can make it easier for your teen to pack for an upcoming holiday. They’ll know exactly what they need to take with them and what they can leave behind, and you can rest assured that you won’t pay extra fees for heavy luggage at the airport.

“Stay and Play in San Jose” + Win a 2 night stay at any Country Inns and Suites in USA and Canada

Calling San Jose a travel destination probably wasn’t too common twenty-five years back, and back then you wouldn’t hear of people vacationing in San Jose nearly as often as you do today.  Well as they say “times are a changin”, and the transformation in San Jose and the surrounding areas has made the city an absolutely exciting place to stay.  San Jose has always been on the map for my family as we love its great architecture and charm, and  the fact that it’s one of the premier places to stay while visiting San Francisco.  Since it’s also close to Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay and other Northern California tourist destinations it always made sense for us to stay in San Jose.  On our last trip up however we really embraced the growth that the city has gone through, and the many amazing things to do, eat and see that are sprouting up all around.

Here’s a short Travel Guide on San Jose, including our favorites:   Where to Stay, , Where to Eat and What to See:

Where to Stay in San Jose: Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM

This hotel has it all: a pool, nice fitness center, free Internet, a 24-hour business center and a tasty complimentary, hot breakfast!  It was conveniently located 4 minutes from the airport and a block from the Light Rail so we could easily hop up to San Francisco.  The service there is great and they have shuttles to make your stay easy, whether you’re in San Jose on business for a big tech meeting or pleasure to see the sights or root on (or in our case against) the San Jose Sharks.  The rooms have a nice color palette that are refreshing and make the room pop.  I liked how our room was broken out into different areas with a good sized workspace and even a couch to lounge on.  What’s unique?  They have a read it and return library!  

Where to Eat in San Jose: Gochi Japanese Fusion Tapas

This was no easy choice for us… the diversity of people in San Jose and highest standards of restaurants in the area brings about more great restaurants than we could cover in a month.  If we had to pick one restaurant though it would have to be Gochi.  The most popular item on the menu may be their pork clay pot, it’s even better than those I tried in Asia.  Traditional items like tempura are showcased and presented beautifully, and unique items like Hokkai Fusion Pizza or Gyutan Kakuni (Braised Beef Tongue) will give your taste buds a wonderful adventure.    What’s unique?  Find me an item on the menu that isn’t unique!  It’s Japanese gastronomy at its finest.

What to do in San Jose: San Jose Municipal Rose Garden

This place has been give the award of America’s best rose garden and will not disappoint!  There are the most beautiful roses I’ve ever seen packed into this beautiful space (make sure to have your camera charged)!  I love how this is one of those destinations that you can almost stumble upon and visit on the same day as another big attraction (like a trip out to one of the many national parks in the area, the coast or up to the Stanford University campus).  We went in without expectations but our entire family (of 3 generations) had an amazing time that day walking the grounds and taking in the sights and smells.  It’s a hidden gem that to me exemplifies the pride that San Jose residents take in their city.  What’s unique?  The collection of roses is unmatched, you’ll surely see colors and shapes that you’ve never seen anywhere else.  The surrounding area also has a lot of character, we enjoyed walking around and looking at the nearby homes.

You’d probably have to be off the grid to not know about Silicon Valley, and the thousands of tech companies that are based in the San Jose area.  From Apple to Google, Facebook to Yahoo, just about every big tech company you can imagine is based in or near the San Jose area.  This has obviously brought phenomenal growth to the area.  I’m happy to see that San Jose and the surrounding cities put so much thought into expanding those cities tastefully.  From restaurants to parks there is so much character in the area, and natural beauty of rolling hills all around and gorgeous ocean views a quick drive away make it very special.  Come discover for yourself why San Jose is now a destination city for all types of travelers.

Win a two-night stay good for any Country Inns and Suites hotel in the US and Canada.

How to enter : 

(1) Visit San Jose Country Inn & Suites website

(2) You must leave a comment with your answer. Tell us one of your favorite amenities from the San Jose Country Inn & Suites website

(3) Tweet the message below (please copy and paste)

 I just entered a giveaway {Prize: 2 night stay at any #CountryInns in US/Canada}==>https://ooh.li/373db8b @thedealmatch @countryinns #ad

(4) Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook and Twitter 

Our sponsor will randomly pick a winner from the comment box below. Ends August 1st, 2016

Country Inns & Suites By Carlson is a part of Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, which also includes Quorvus Collection, Radisson Blu®, Radisson®, Radisson RED, Park Plaza® and Park Inn® by Radisson. For reservations and more information visit, www.countryinns.com

The renowned San Diego Zoo rightfully stakes its claim on any list of best family attractions in the United States and even the best family attractions in the World. With San Diego’s perfect year-round weather there’s never a bad time to visit, but going on right now is the extremely special San Diego Zoo Nighttime Zoo: Centennial Summer.  The zoo is going all-out to celebrate the 100 year mark, a century rich in awe-inspiring experiences and protection of the Earth’s beautiful creatures.

Learn more about the San Diego Zoo Centennial celebration at this beautiful, interactive website: http://sandiegozoo100.org  My kids and I had a great time navigating through the site and learning about the zoo, from its beginnings in 1916 as Dr. Harry Wegeforth heard a lion’s roar, and through the decades showing the zoo’s incredible story.  It’s neat to see the journey through time that the zoo has taken, and learn about some of its favorite animals (I loved hearing about the monkey from the 1920s named Irish the Flirt, ha!).

You can also see all of the activities going on for the San Diego Zoo Nighttime Zoo: Centennial Summer.  I love the huge variety of entertaining acts going on, with big brass bands, rock groups, hip-hop dance troops, an and absolutely stunning parade of massive animal puppets.

The San Diego Zoo Nighttime Zoo: Centennial Summer celebration has extended hours (until 9 pm), so your family will be set with entertainment at the zoo for both day and night.  There’s a lot more, check out this video and list of activities so you can start planning your trip! I love going to the San Diego Zoo at night not only for the interactive and exciting activities going on, but also to see the animals at night.  During those later hours some of the animals are very active.  I recently watchedthe gazelles running around and giving chase for what seemed to be a game of tag before dark, it was magical!

If you haven’t been to the San Diego Zoo, trust me when I tell you that it is awe inspiring in so many ways, below I’m listing just a handful that come to mind:

–          First and foremost I must mention the awesome collection of thousands of animals.  The different species hale from Africa to Asia, the arctic to the desert planes.  Visitors can see panda bears, tigers, polar bears, elephants camels and so much more, all in the same day.

–          The San Diego Zoo rescues many animals from extinction, and thanks to the zoo leading important international efforts many are back on the road surviving as a species and even flourishing in numbers.  The San Diego Zoo has a huge membership community and is well integrated with many other zoological and other societies that help take a stance in the world to protect the creatures of our planet and the environments in which they thrive.  Learn more and get involved: http://www.endextinction.org/

–          A day at the San Diego Zoo is extremely educational for all ages!  As a parent I love seeing my different aged kids learn about the different animals and see which ones they love the most.  They learn about geography, biology and so much more, all with huge smiles on their faces.  I myself learn a lot too, with the guided tours, shows and knowledgeable staff at every turn.  It’s clear to see how passionate the employees are about these animals and their survival, and they want to pass on their knowledge so that people like us will help carry the torch.

–          Each time I go to the San Diego Zoo I fall in love with a different animal.  Who ever thought that giant hippos could be so graceful when they swim, lunging out their legs and tippy toes?  Or that observing an animal I’d never heard of before like the bonobo monkey could make me laugh and not want to leave for 30 minutes?  The animals are full of surprises.

–          The unexpected exhibits can wow people the most.  When I bring friends to visit this zoo they are usually most excited to see koala bears, lions, zebras or other popular animals.  Their faces often light up also for thing they didn’t even know were at the zoo, like the huge assortments of massive snakes (cobras, pythons, even an anaconda).  The otters are always so playful and another favorite amongst my friends.  Right now the San Diego Zoo Insect House is the exhibit my kids talk about the most and is the first thing they want to see.

–          The San Diego Zoo location is spread out over 99 lush acres of Balboa Park (located right in the heart of San Diego).  Seeing all of the trees and plants are worth the price of admission themselves, and there’s so much else to do and see without having to leave Balboa Park.

–          The San Diego Zoo’s activities for kids are spectacular.  From petting zoos to playgrounds, 4D Movie experiences to the Skyfari® Aerial Tram (a cable-car experience that gives a treetop view of the zoo and the entire city)… there’s just so much good stuff going on!

–          At the zoo you won’t spend your day standing in lines.  I’ve been on the busiest day of the year and still saw every animal I had set out to see.

So plan out your trip and see for yourself what all the excitement is about. There’s no better time than right now to visit with this special anniversary and the San Diego Zoo Nighttime Zoo: Centennial Summer celebration going on.  I’ll be there for sure dancing along with all of the fun activities, watching more of my favorite animals and finding new ones to fall in love with!

Many thanks to San Diego Zoo for sponsoring today’s story and encouraging me to visit the San Diego Zoo Nighttime Zoo: Centennial Summer!

Today’s post is sponsored by brand, by my love for their San Diego Zoo Nighttime Zoo option is all my own!

Many thanks to See Monterey for sponsoring today’s story and encouraging me to experience all that Monterey County has to offer.
Today’s post is sponsored by See Monterey, but my love for Monterey County is all my own!

Planning for a summer getaway for your family?  Or maybe you are still looking for the perfect place to spend your big summer vacation? It is so important to treat ourselves and our family to vacations and experiences that truly are unforgettable.

Vacations give memories that will last forever and help shape us as people, and strengthen the bonds we have with loved ones.  Variety is the spice of life and it’s fun to mix it up from one vacation to the next, from road trips to island getaways, art museums to outdoor activities.  We have the most amazing country in the world with so much to offer in all of these areas, and a vacation right here in America can be as pleasurable as anywhere else in the world.

my mom and my niece 🙂

One of my favorite places to visit during the summer is Monterey, which is located on the southern edge of Monterey Bay, on Central California’s Pacific Coast.  It lies about 120 miles south of San Francisco. Monterey offers everything: beaches, gorgeous park, forest terrain, unique museums, and the best of the best in activities like golf, its aquarium and more. Monterey is also a great destination for families and kids because it offers so many kid friendly activities.  I always enjoy our road trips to Monterey because it’s a gorgeous drive up from Southern California.

We have a couple of ways to get there, and time permitting we’ll take the scenic route with spectacular views along the coastline.  In fact, for our stays in Monterey we make sure to clear our itinerary for at least one full day and drive around with our cameras to check out all of the fabulous neighboring spots like Salinas, Pebble Beach, Big Sur, and Carmel.  My sister lives in San Francisco and with it being so close to Monterey it’s a great 1-2 punch combination of cities to guarantee an awesome vacation.  Why not follow up one of the prettiest places in the world with one of the best big cities in the world?  The only hard part is deciding what to do in each.

One of my favorite things to do with my kids in Monterey is to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  It is mind-blowing, a true gateway to an underwater world. Every exhibit seems to be well thought out there and the size of the aquarium is so much bigger than others I’ve visited.  In-fact it has over 35,000 creatures representing over 550 sea life and marine species.  A couple of our favorites are the sea otters and octopus, but each time the kids seem to latch onto a different exhibit that they find beautiful or cool.  Last time we were going to Monterey we would get the kids pumped up for the trip by checking out their live cam of the Open Sea exhibit  with one million gallons and everything from sharks to sea turtles it is in a word, awesome.  Seeing it in-person is the only way to do it justice… the cam just wets our appetites.  There’s a lot of other special exhibits include the Kelp Forest and Splash Zone. You can visit their website to check out schedule for daily shows and feedings. If you are planning for multiple visits, I would recommend the annual pass to save money for the whole family.  Places like these often cater nicely to the locals so the season passes are a great deal and can make sense to buy even if you don’t live in the area.

Sightseeing right in Monterey Bay is a must. . This is a fantastic bay for kayaking, boating & hiking, sunset cruises and more.  Be sure to make time for either a whale watching or kayaking tour.   Always bring your camera to take some great shots of the cliffs and coast, even with a medium-grade pocket camera some of our pics came out nice enough to hang up.  There’s a lot of wildlife in the area so keep an eye out for otters and sea lions too!

When available it is often much better to go through an official, local travel website to keep up on what to see and do.  They will have the latest updates and special notices that other sites miss.  You have a great one of this area at SeeMonterey.com, which has official travel info for Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Big Sur, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Carmel Valley, Salinas Valley, Moss Landing, Marina, Sand City, Seaside, Del Rey Oaks and Salinas.  I would highly recommend to check out their site before your travel to Monterey so you can make the best itinerary that works the best for you and your family.

Here are a few of quick tips for a Highway One road trip around Monterey:  

–       Plan ahead for your trip and decide whether getting to Monterey by car or plane makes more sense.

–       If you go to Monterey by plane you may want to rent a car for part of the trip, especially for a cruse down the famous Highway One at some part of your trip.

–       Check that you have a full tank of gas beforehand as you will want to keep the tour going and it can be many miles before you see the next gas station.

–       Drive slowly, you’ll take more in and stay safe on the beautiful, winding roads.

–       For the full road trip to Monterey itinerary, visit SeeMonterey website.

For your trip to Monterey I also suggest checking out the FREE MST Trolley. It’s a great way to get around the town without worrying about parking.  The route serves Downtown Monterey, Fisherman’s Wharf, Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It’s clean, safe and gave us more time for planning out the next day’s attractions.

Our family has many great memories from trips to Monterey and with so much to see and do we can’t wait to revisit.  If you’ve never been you must check it out, and if you’ve already been you’ll know why a trip back there should be high on the list.

See Monterey will be selecting the top 5 comments to determine the winner. Tickets to expire 7/31/16
Here’s how to enter :
(1) Visit SeeMonterey
(2) Leave a comment below: What are your summer plans?

 Thank you to Radisson for sponsoring today’s post and inspiring me to getaway!

San Diego proudly calls itself America’s Finest City, and I find it to be quite a fitting nickname.  Tourists flock to the city for its perfect weather, family-friendly attractions, pristine beaches, and overall good vibes.  One of the prettiest parts of San Diego is Rancho Bernardo with winding golf courses at every turn and gorgeous mountains as a backdrop.  Rancho Bernardo is a stone’s throw away from the San Diego Safari Park and a quick drive from Legoland in the northern part of the city.  With quick access to the highways you’ll be at the zoo, whale watching or at the beach faster than you can say “lobster burrito”!

We stayed in the Rancho Bernardo Radisson this past weekend and were very impressed with everything it had to offer.  As you can see the room had plenty of space, with spread out sections of the room for sleeping, relaxing and working.  The room had a modern appeal throughout, with nice design and pretty orange accents.

A check in the plus column for the room was that the big flat-screen had 5 HBO channels (and tons more).  The premium soaps and lotions that Radisson carries are something I always notice and welcome.

The Rancho Bernardo Radisson heated pool and hot-tub felt great and soaked up most of our afternoon.  San Diego has pool weather almost every day of the year so picking a hotel with a nice pool is a must.  We also tried out breakfast at the C3 Restaurant and Bar which is located in the patio area next to the pool.  Great breakfast, they make bacon better than me which I felt bad about for only a few seconds (as I then stuffed myself with more bacon and felt great).

Rancho Bernardo is itself a destination.  There is a modern business park with big companies like Sony, Hewlett Packard, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems, all just minutes away from the Rancho Bernardo Radisson.  Golf courses like the Country Club of Rancho Bernardo are outstanding and very well maintained.  I recommend trying a meal or two at C3 Restaurant (which had great service by the way), then venturing out to Brothers Provisions for craft beers, cheeses other delights.   There’s no shortage of restaurants nearby, ranging from flavorful ethnic food at Erawan Thai Cuisine to a fancy night out at Carver’s Steak and Chops.

Rancho Bernardo (or RB as the locals call it) blends the peaceful with the modern, mountains with the close-by ocean, and business with pleasure.  When you come to San Diego keep RB in-mind, and make sure to check out the Rancho Bernardo Radisson.

To enter the Radisson #TakeMeThere Sweepstakes, simply visit the campaign landing page and create a virtual postcard to share on Twitter.

 Thanks to Ontario Mills for hosting our trip

Ontario Mills: an Outlet Mall with Class 

Ontario Mills is an outlet mall with class.  The first thing you’ll notice are the fresh and hip stores at Ontario Mills, from to Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5^thto Nordstrom Rack, Coach to Forever 21, Puma to Guess.  There’s nothing worse than driving to an outlet mall only to find dated brands and stores that you wouldn’t normally shop.  Not the case here.  They not only have the best stores, Ontario Mills has amazingly low prices.  I purchased some dresses and tops from Neiman Marcus Last Call marked down over 70% off!  That’s actually another one of my pet-peeves, when you drive to an outlet mall only to find the prices are the same as a normal store.  Ontario Mills is different in that a large percentage of their stores are outlets.  The great brands and prices are enough to bring me here, but that’s not all that Ontario Mills has to offer.

ONTARIO MILLS EXTENDS WRAP IT UP SUPER SALE  THROUGH DECEMBER 20

A Family Friendly Ontario Mills Mall  

Ontario Mills is my kids’ new favorite mall, with three stores in particular that could have easily filled their Christmas lists: The LEGO Store, Disney Store and Build-A-Bear Workshop. The LEGO Store was raging, with tons of kids and adults taking in the setups all around the store and the custom build area.  The big Mickey Ears drew us into Disney Store, where we found great discounts and geared up on Frozen and Star Wars.  Speaking of Star Wars, if you haven’t been to a Build-A-Bear Workshop for a while you need to check out their adorable Stormtrooper™, Chewbacca Bear ™, and others from both new and old Star Wars movies.  How adorable!

The Paw Patrol Bears were really cute too, I love this place.  With Carter’s Stride Rite, The Children’s Place Outlet and a lot of other kid stores I was also able to fill out their wardrobes for the winter months ahead.  On-top of the stores there are more kid-friendly kiosks than other malls.  Custom-made posters were a hit for our kids with their names written in calligraphy.  There was also fun eye-candy throughout the mall that they enjoyed (such as the VW van driven by Looney Tunes characters, and a gorgeous Ferrari).

Holiday Season Shopping at Ontario Mills 

Ontario Mills is the perfect mall for holiday shopping.  The stores already have insane prices, and many add big additional promotions for the holidays (I caught the Wrap It Up Super Sale with some stores shaving 70% off their prices).  On top of the holiday deals, Ontario Mills as mentioned it’s a mall with Santa Clause all setup for the kids.  With his winter wonderland setting you’ll walk away with some great pictures as did we.

Another reason that makes Ontario Mills the best mall for the holidays is that there are tons of things to do right inside the mall.  Break up a marathon day of shopping with a movie at the attached AMC, or better yet with some games and food at Dave and Buster’s.  We enjoyed a delicious lunch there with my family that included steak, burgers and a killer version of a fire grilled salmon.  The kids stayed and “had the most fun ever” with daddy playing games, giving me a couple of hours to knock out shopping for their gifts.

Location of the Ontario Mills Mall

The Ontario Mills mall is located close to Los Angeles, Orange County and of course the Inland Empire.  We came up from San Diego and found it was an easy, straight shot up Interstate 15.  Knowing this will definitely change the course of our future shopping as the deals at Ontario Mills are unbeatable.  It will also be the perfect stop on the way home from Las Vegas road trip, (assuming we don’t blow all of our savings at the blackjack table).

The X-Factors that Makes Ontario Mills Unique

When I go to a mall the last thing that I want is a drab, stale feeling.  Ontario Mills has a lot of unique stores to make the shopping experience fun and fresh.  Some of the places I already mentioned like the LEGO Store and Dave and Buster’s are obvious slam dunks, but there are a lot of other stores that make Ontario Mills stand out.  Here are just a few:

The Rainforest Café: with its simulated and thunderstorms and huge animals even if you don’t eat there it’s fun to spend time there.

Pin Up Bootique: Vintage looking dresses and other rockabilly items… very fun.

Sam Ash Music Stores – Guitars, drums and other instruments as far as the eye can see (the store is huge).

Ghirardelli Chocolate – This store is beautiful, and it’s one of my favorite chocolate companies.

Tuttimellon  – I am so hooked on self-serve froyo, and theirs is great.

Shoes Shoes Shoes!  There are tons of options whether picking up some skater shoes at Vans or old school Chuck Taylors at Converse, or maybe some newer school Crocs they have at least 10 stores just for shoes.

Whether you are a tourist or a local I recommend spending some time at Ontario Mills mall.  You may intend to only spend an hour or two but don’t be surprised if you have a blast and stay the whole day, as that’s exactly what happened to me!

Due to customer demand, Ontario Mills is extending its Wrap It Up Super Sale for an additional week –now through Sunday, December 20!

Ontario Mills is located at the intersection of Interstates 10 & 15 in Ontario, CA, 38 miles east of Los Angeles and within driving distance west of Palm Springs and north of San Diego. It is open regularly from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Mon-Sat, and 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Sunday. For more information on Ontario Mills, please call (909) 484-8300, visit www.OntarioMills.com or follow Ontario Mills on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OntarioMills or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ShopOntario.

Don’t forget to take holiday photos with Santa! Click here for more details

Big thanks to Tom Ham’s Lighthouse  for inviting me to review their restaurant.
All pictures are PoshJournal’s and opinions and viewpoints are based on our own experiences.

For your next visit to America’s Finest City I highly recommend that the first thing you do is follow these quick steps:

Step 1:  Take the 3 minute cab ride from the airport over to the San Diego Bay.

Step 2:  Grab a seat at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse and enjoy the sweeping views of downtown San Diego, Coronado Island and the glistening bay itself.

Step 3:  Order up some of their heavenly seafood and other extraordinary dishes.

Step 4:  Savor every bite.

And there you have it, four quick steps to pure bliss.

Tom Ham’s Lighthouse has been a landmark restaurant in San Diego for over 40 years.  You’ll know you’re at the right place as it is based in an actual lighthouse, nestled up against the bay in a jewel of a location.  The commanding  views are simply outstanding day or night, with the downtown skyline, bypassing sailboats and other bay activity to soothingly observe.  The restaurant takes full advantage of this setting with massive windows and an outdoor seating deck, and especially after their 2013 renovations there isn’t a bad seat in the house.

We have been fans of the restaurant for many years, but noticed that since the remodeling took place the menu and food itself were both elevated to new heights.  Much of this is due to the restaurant seriously upping their game by hiring Executive Chef Kyle Kovar and an overall new crew that really modernized the food, which could best be described as Local Mediterranean.

Chef Kyle broke away from his artistic craft to speak to us about their approach.  One thing he stressed is that they don’t base a dish off of the protein or the vegetable, but rather make the entire dish the focal point.  After eating at Tom Ham’s you’ll see this makes perfect sense as the tastes are well rounded and intelligent.  A cheese plate at another restaurant is just that, but at Tom Ham’s it is a triumph of flavors: sheep cheese, goat cheese, blue cheese, an amazing chutney, champagne mango liquid gel, fennel fronds and even a corn an scallion ash.

He also spoke of the premium ingredients being locally sourced, from places such as Point Loma Farms for much of their organic fruits and vegetables.  The food that cannot be sourced locally have an equally impressive path. For example Chef Kyle spoke of the Peruvian scallops (on the shell) which are about as fresh as you can get.  Their texture and buttery taste are some of the best I’ve ever eaten.

The rest of the seafood at Tom Ham’s is right on-par: delicious mussels from right up the coast in Carlsbad, huge Baja Tiger Shrimp, and the finest clams, oysters Maine lobster and Dungeness crab:

A popular seafood dish is the Seared Wild Caught Salmon.  The presentation is simply beautiful with salmon skins, fennel saffron aioli, black garlic puree and asparagus.  The salmon rest atop an asparagus infused white grits with burrata cheese.

Some may think they don’t like octopus, but have never tried it like this:

Ahi Crudo: Citrus, California Olive Oil, Sea Salt

Chef Kyle mentioned that it isn’t just their selection of the best seafood, but also their inspection process that sets them apart.  Their goal is to make sure every plate of every dish has the same excellent quality.  This is tough but necessary when working with seafood like oysters, which are extremely fickle.  At Tom Ham’s they check to make sure each is completely clean and has the perfect freshness.

To be honest in all of my times going to Tom Ham’s Lighthouse I had only ordered seafood entrees.  I’m sure this is true of many customers, but I urge you to try out their Prime New York grass-fed steak, with a pepper mushroom sauce and mustard greens that are sautéed to perfection.  I enjoyed this so much, the combinations on the plate would be a tour de force for a fine steakhouse and really shows off the restaurant’s versatility.

I love that Tom Ham’s has been family owned and managed ever since it opened in 1971.  We were fortunate enough to meet one of the General Managers, Andy Baumann, who is the grandson of the late Tom Ham.  Andy spoke with such pride in telling the story of his grandfather and that of the restaurant, then and now.  Andy’s personality shines and also sets the tone for the friendly service from the hostess to the servers, to those working behind the bar.  The atmosphere is anything but stuffy, and feels welcoming whether someone is there for a big anniversary or just for an impromptu get-together with friends.

A few other tidbits on Tom Ham’s:

–         A lot of places use chicken stock on some of their items. Tom Ham’s uses a superb fresh vegetable stock.

–         There is a ton of free parking.

–          Tom Ham’s is a sought after location for weddings and other gatherings.  They have indoor and outdoor reception areas, all with the same pristine food and views.

–          The bar has over 30 craft beers on tap, including many from San Diego’s flourishing breweries.

A lot of travelers take a taxi to Tom Ham’s Lighthouse immediately before or after a flight.  I’m guessing those that stop by the restaurant after flying into San Diego make it a point to also pay a visit on their way out.  What a perfect way to round out a vacation.

Tom Ham’s Lighthouse
2150 Harbor Island Drive
San Diego, CA 92101

 Want to be featured on PoshJournal? Email me via poshjournal@gmail.com

A bit north of San Diego and south of Los Angeles is Newport Beach, a gem of a city that has something for everyone.  No trip to Southern California is complete without at least a couple of days there, though you could easily stay for a week and only have scratched the surface of things to do.  We have lived in Southern California for many years and Newport Beach is one of our favorite places as it has such versatility in all that it has to offer.  I love elegant dinners and shopping while my husband loves hiking and beach bonfires… Newport Beach has the best of both worlds.  Over the course of many visits we have developed some favorite activities and places to stay that we feel should be high on your list:

Fashion Island is a luxurious, outdoor mall with all the top shops one could ask for.  There are plenty of fashion forward stores, two of my favorites in G-Star and Anthropologie.  There’s a Kate Spade to accessorize your outfits with the perfect handbag, Restoration Hardware to accessorize your house, and Tesla motors to accessorize your driveway.  It was nice to visit Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, Macy’s and Nordstrom’s all in one place.  The mall has beautiful fountains and also plenty of eating options.  Dining options right in the mall have served us extremely well, like custom-made Blaze Pizzas and delicious Hawaiian fusion at Roy’s.

Fashion Island
TRUE FOOD KITCHEN – Visit Newport Beach

The beach is usually where my husband wants to go following a day at the mall, and Newport Beach has some of the nicest around (this is actually official, they have 5-star ratings from the Natural Resources Defense Council).  What we like about the Newport Beach coastline is the diversity.  Some days we feel like breaking away from the crowds to go tide pooling and hiking, while others we want to people-watch on the boardwalk and hang out by the pier where there is an abundance of energy and excitement.  Quick tips: it’s fun to rent a bike rental and cruise down the boardwalk, or if you’re lucky to reserve one of the rings, have an unforgettable bonfire on the Corona del Mar State Beach at night.

Balboa Island is different from anywhere I’ve ever been.  The man-made island has streets lined with top-notch restaurants (seafood, Italian and a lot of other ethnic food), shops and galleries.  Grab an ice-cream and take in the priceless ocean views.  We sometimes take a detour down a random street and take in the charming character of Balboa Island’s beautiful homes.

The spas of Newport Beach know how to treat a person right.  They cater to some of the rich and famous, but in my experiences were friendly and welcoming all the same. I have broken away for some much needed “me time” on two different occasions, once at Spa Gregorie’s and another at Toni & Guy Hair Salon.   Spa Gregorie’s treated me to the perfect day, with many different rooms to relax in (two of my favs were the mani/pedi room and the thermal sauna room).  They also have a top-notch staff, the aesthetician I saw was a genius.  Toni & Guy Hair Salon saved me that trip as my hair was in bad shape (my hair is very fine, and when mixed with a bad highlight job it can be a nightmare).  They fixed my bad dew and gave me a great mid-length style that I didn’t know my hair could pull off.  It was worth spending extra compared to my normal salon, my stylist was a true artist and my confidence level was way up.  While staying at the Fairmont Newport Beach I also spent a few hours at The Spa Santé and Salon which is right inside the hotel.  This was so convenient and blissful, with a hot stone massage and facial (they offered much more, wish I could have stayed longer).

FAIRMONT NEWPORT BEACH – Visit Newport Beach

For accommodations, The Airport District has treated us extremely well on each of our visits.  It is just 5 miles from the beach and the rest of the attractions of your Newport Beach getaway.  As mentioned above we most recently stayed at The Fairmont Newport Beach, and spent a lot of time on the sundeck enjoying the outdoor heated pool and the private cabanas with flat screen TVs (something that may normally cost hundreds of dollars to rent but was absolutely free  at this hotel).  The Radisson Newport Beach and Hyatt Regency Newport Beach are other great choices, and like The Fairmont is surrounded by a plethora of restaurant options.

Hyatt Regency Newport Beach – Visit Newport Beach

Visit Newport Beach is THE authority on everything Newport Beach.  They have information on everything from attractions to dining to hotels.  They also have a Newport Beach Events calendar, a blog and some great offers that you should check on while planning your trip.

Check out deals and special offers from Visit Newport Beach

Thank you to Visit Newport Beach for sponsoring today’s post and inspiring me to visit myself!

Big thanks to The Pub at Chino Hills for inviting me to review their restaurant. All pictures are PoshJournal’s and opinions and viewpoints are based on our own experiences. Want to be featured on PoshJournal? Email me via poshjournal@gmail.com

Chino Hills is a city that blends together some very different beats of the drum.  It is in the suburbs of Los Angeles and therefore at close range to one of the world’s focal points for glitz, glam and excitement.  Also nearby are some of the nicest beaches of Southern California, and all that they have to offer.  The city itself offers much of its own entertainment with gorgeous views of the San Gabriel Mountains, and a hilly terrain that offers biking, horseback riding and other activities for those that love hitting the trails.  Chino Hills is therefore a nice blend of very different things.  While visiting make it a point to stop in at The Pub at Chino Hills.  It too brings together a couple of my favorite things that aren’t normally found together: a kick butt bar and a classy restaurant menu.

We visited on Saturday and the first thing my husband noticed was all the TVs, plenty of college football games to keep him happy.  The first thing that I noticed on the other hand is that they have a nice variety of places to hang out: a popular spot to sit at was the big U-shaped bar with tons of drinks close at hand.  They also had large seating areas with tables and standup tables, a cool loungy area and  a big patio with some amazing views.  There was an event going on in the back room, and in looking at their Facebook page it looks like they have a lot of events going on there, from painting lessons to playoff baseball viewings, and parties with live music to celebrate the uncorking of rare and sought after bottles.

My husband got a flight of beers that were outstanding (one local brew, two from Oregon and a grapefruit beer that he now wants to buy in bulk!).   I ordered a Bloody Mary and was not let down in the slightest.  The drinks here are rock-solid and are alone worth a visit.  They have a killer variety of food as well.  We started off with pork belly bites, something that went hand-in-hand with a tasty beverage.  From there we had some chorizo duck tacos that blended together unique flavors in a way that I’ve rarely seen before.

Their list of burgers and sandwiches is long and tempting.  They offer a Cuban sandwich, one of my weaknesses, but  this time I opted for a burger.  I thoroughly enjoyed my Turkey & Poblano Burger, which had hormone free ground turkey, poblano chiles, gouda and roasted red onions.  Yum!  For burgers they also offer a grass fed Buffalo burger and a wild caught Salmon burger, among others.

The Pub has other dishes that also have their signature flavors and ingredients and truly set them apart and under the “gastropub status”.  Here are some pics of the Gumbo and other shrimp dish we chose.

Based on recommendations we have only scratched the surface of their food menu and plethora of beers.  We’re looking forward to visiting Chino Hills much more often with its memorable landscape and views.  We are looking forward to making a tradition of visiting The Pub at Chino Hills each time.

You can download the Pub at Chino Hills full menu

The Pub at Chino Hills 

5771 PINE AVE CHINO HILLS, CA 91709

(909) 597-2224

Anaheim, California, like the rest of Southern California presents many sites to see, attractions to visit and things to do. With so many options presented, making a decision can be tough. For example, my family was faced with the question of whether we spend more time at Disneyland or take a day to see California Adventure. Difficult choices! When trying to plan out the perfect vacation choosing the right hotel is probably the most crucial decision and could make or break the trip. We knew that the Anaheim Marriott was one of the most popular and highly regarded hotels in the area, and were excited to stay there and decide for ourselves whether it was up to snuff. Below is a detailed review on many different facets of the hotel, I hope you find them helpful. A quick note: The Anaheim Marriott paid for our room and the meals that we tried at nFuse Bar and Restaurant, but no compensation was exchanged for this review, and all viewpoints and expressions are that of Posh Journal.

Anaheim Marriott Location:
The hotel is tucked between Disneyland which is a just a few blocks away and the Anaheim Convention Center which is right next to the hotel. Most people visiting Anaheim have their sights set on Disneyland, and finding a hotel that’s walking distance or with shuttle service makes logistics exponentially easier. Foregoing all of the driving, the parking, the extra corralling and headaches, and instead just walking or letting someone else drive you is very enticing and a big draw for the Anaheim Marriott. It could relieve a lot of stress from your trip, both in the morning to beat the rush and again at night. For those visiting the Anaheim Convention Center (for BlizzCon, Disney’s D23, VidCon or one of the many other big conferences), the Anaheim Marriott is a stone’s throw away. If you’re up for a stroll there are a variety of restaurants at all price ranges very close by. Knott’s Berry Farm is another legendary amusement park that you can get to in a jiffy.

Anaheim Marriott – Hotel Lobby
Normally I would bring up a hotel’s lobby much later in the review, but this one warrants an earlier mention. Upon arriving at the hotel we entered the sweeping, upscale lobby which made a great first impression on us and put us in the right vacation mood from the start. I loved the high ceilings, artsy wall fixtures and lighting, but also how many different hang-out spots there were with couches, chairs and tables. It was itself a destination, not just an area to pass through. During our stay I found it to be a nice getaway for me to do work (especially after grabbing a Starbucks from inside the hotel… I’ll touch on that more later). The lobby had a definite energy with people always hanging out or passing through on their way to the bar, pool, restaurants or gym, and it made the hotel feel very alive with some Grand Central Station excitement and appeal.

Anaheim Marriott – Room
Our room was spacious and like the lobby had a very modern feel to it, from the wall art to the lamps and the flat-screen TV. The desk area was very nice and had a great lumbar chair. The bed, comforter and pillows were extremely clean and some of the most comfortable that I’ve slept on in my travels. They were similar to hotels in the $500/night price range. After a long day at Disneyland or a convention I would hate to sleep on a sub-par bed and I wouldn’t anticipate to see too many people having an issue with these.

A few other plusses about the room: it had a decent amount of TV channels (including HBO), plush bathrobes, and a coffee machine with complimentary coffee.
It had a large balcony with chairs, and a view of the mountains, Angels Stadium and a few other landmarks. I appreciated that there was a deadbolt very high up so we wouldn’t have to worry about the kids getting out there. Very smart and kudos to Marriott for doing those small things that make a huge difference.
One opportunity for improvement is the bathroom. It did have quality soaps and lotions and a bathtub that the kids liked, but the décor and color of the bathroom was lacking and it did not have the flash or beauty of the room or the rest of the hotel.

Anaheim Marriott – Pool
The pool at the Anaheim Marriott is fabulous. It is a large L-shape and half of it is under a giant wooden canopy where folks can swim or relax without taking in any sun, while the other half is in the open under the sun. This proved great for us, as we both like the sun but in limited quantities (my husband has never had a tan in his life, he goes from white to red). There was ample space around the pool with plenty of beach chairs and recliners. Nice jacuzzi hot tub, too. My favorite part of the pool is that it had a massive shallow water area where our two toddlers (ages 2 and 4) could walk around and touch the bottom without issue. It made our pool time that much more relaxing and they had more fun, too. We went for a night swim and thought the blue lighting made the whole area enchanting and gave a kind of Gatsby or Disneyesque feel that was memorable.

Anaheim Marriott – nFuse Restaurant
Hotel restaurants are always interesting to check out. From our experience too many have average food, décor and service yet manage to get a lot of business based simply on convenience. nFuse was on the other end of the spectrum and is a place we would actually visit even if we weren’t staying at the hotel.

Here’s a breakdown:
nFuse has three different areas to eat: a comfortable (yet chic) lounge area, a swanky formal restaurant area, and an outdoor fireside/poolside area. I have been to other restaurants that offer this too, but none that have the same full menu offered in each place. You could go to nFuse a few days/nights in a row and experience each different area, yet not have the area dictate what you can eat.
The art, flowers and lighting give a contemporary feel, yet the restaurant is very spacious and comfortable. This is something my husband loved, as we felt like we could enjoy a fancier dining atmosphere but weren’t cramped (like most fancy restuarants, where you don’t always feel comfortable brining small children).

The breakfast buffet was very good with many hotplate options, omelette stations, and more. Here are a some pics, we shamelessly overindulged:

Service at nFuse dinner was phenomenal. Our waiter was attentive and funny. Service at nFuse breakfast was ok. Our waiter was friendly but he was taking on a lot of tables and a stretched a bit thin, so coffee refills and getting our check took an extra few minutes.

The nFuse bar had a ton of beers, some great brews local to California. They also had an impressive selection of whiskey as displayed on their whiskey wall. I liked that the bar was pretty happening with a good crowd, yet I had no trouble finding a place to sit down. There was a section with a big screen TV for sports fans, but it didn’t take over to make it a sports bar. The nFuse lounge next to the bar also gets some very good live music talent such as Katie Stump and Jesse Macht.

Anaheim Marriott – Elevator
Why am I mentioning the elevator in our review? Because it was possibly my kids’ favorite part of the hotel. It was the first button-less elevator I have ever been in. From the lobby just type in your floor number and it will direct you to whichever elevator will get you to your floor fastest.  Hop in and get to your floor lightning quick. I have only mentioned hotel elevators when they’re bad and take forever; this is the only one we’ve ever talked about after our stay. It’s just one more thing that brings convenience and fun to your trip, and shows how this hotel wants to set itself apart. Here’s a quick video:

Anaheim Marriott – Gym
The gym is a gem. Clean, modern, big, it’s what I’m hoping to find when going for a workout. The cardio machines are plentiful and partitioned off in a room adjacent to the main gym area. Free weights, high-end machines and more cardio equipment are in other room with good sized TVs and wall-sized of mirrors. The gym is open and airy. There are complimentary headphones, towels and fresh fruit.

Anaheim Marriott – Concierge Lounge
Fried shrimp with a delicious mango sauce was what was served in the lounge the night we stopped by, along with cheeses, fruits, nuts, drinks and more. The lounge was well staffed and they were rotating the food much faster than similar lounges I’ve been to, so food was always hot. The lounge had a comfortable feel to it with internet access on a couple of computers and a TV area. There was a nicely stocked cash bar.

Anaheim Marriott – Starbucks, Pizza Hut, Hertz, FedEx Office
Having Starbucks right in the hotel is clutch. I need my morning fix and as if the hotel’s lobby right next door wasn’t an enjoyable enough place to sip on my drink the Starbucks itself is one of the nicest I’ve visited, fireplace and all.  Pizza Hut onsite is a big plus too, especially when in a rush or after an exhausting day.
We didn’t use the Hertz rental car or FedEx Office so I can’t speak to them too much, but having both right in the hotel is impressive.

Anaheim Marriott – Service
I think the below picture is pretty indicative of the service you can expect at Anaheim Marriott.
The hotel was well staffed with genuinely friendly people. Check-in, check-out, concierge and housekeeping were all kind. Marriotts have a solid reputation in this area but I think the Anaheim Marriott goes above and beyond a bit, especially in how they treated my kids. It wouldn’t surprise me if they have extra training / standards for interaction with youngsters since the hotel caters to so many families.

Other Mentionables:
The banquet halls were huge and had character from the colorful carpets up to the lighting on the ceiling. There were luxurious bathrooms in this area (fit for a bride).
Parking is in a connected lot for a fee. This isn’t ideal of course but very common in California.
WiFi is available in the lobby, and in the rooms for a fee.
There is also a very large giftshop.

Overall Summary: A very memorable hotel. Even down to the elevators the Anaheim Marriott tries hard to make your stay in the hotel an experience in and of itself; a place you’ll remember and want to come back to rather than just a convenient place to stay. I advise you to stay an extra day and soak up the pool, and to try at least a couple of meals at nFuse (you’ll be hooked). The hotel has charm and elegance that will work for a couple on a getaway, lots of amenities that work great for business travelers and convention-goers, and as in our case is on the money for families with kids. I highly recommend staying at this hotel.

Anaheim Marriott
700 West Convention Way Anaheim California 92802 USA