Meet the Mermaid

Montage Laguna Beach has a fun way to entertain your children this summer with a Meet the Mermaid experience for children ages 6-12.  Even your little ones can take part (ages 3-5) with parental supervision.  The program is free on Sundays from noon to 2:00 pm and is available on other days with an added fee.  The 45-minute session includes the use of a mermaid tail, special mermaid snacks, and treasures…all under the supervision of a Red Cross CPR Certified instructor.  Families can also explore under the sea with a unique VR diving experience.  Explore shipwrecks, coral reefs, and even the Lost City of Atlantis as a mermaid with virtual reality snorkeling.  These activities take place at the resort’s Mosaic Pool which also offers cabana rentals and an adjacent children’s pool and play area.  In and around the resort, your family can find plenty of watersports, hiking, boat trips, and golf, along with half-day, full-day, and evening children’s programs for ages 5-12.  Hourly care is available for ages 2-5.  A variety of promotions currently offer breakfast, resort credits, and more.

Disney 100

Attention Disney fans…the world premiere of the Disney 100 exhibit is now open through August 27 at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.  This massive exhibition is made up of 10 immersive galleries, each with a distinct theme relating to the history and inner workings of the House of Mouse.  More than 250 rare artifacts from The Walt Disney Archives are on display! Tickets are date and time specific for daytime entries with full museum access and evenings without. A flex ticket option is also available if you are not sure when you can go.  Over 35 hotels in the city are offering overnight packages with tickets and parking included.  The Logan, the hotel closest to the exhibition, is offering a truly magical package that includes a stay in their 2,500 sq. ft. Presidential Suite, exhibit tickets, and a special themed dinner menu in your suite that includes dishes from some of Disney’s famous movies.  Your family can wrap up your night with Disney in-room trivia and access to Disney + to watch all of your favorite movies.  The 391-room hotel is part of Hilton’s Curio Collection and was formerly the Four Seasons.  There is a rooftop lounge, indoor pool, gym, spa, and several dining options.

Glamping Takes it Up a Notch

Under Canvas has just launched ULUM, an upscale, safari-inspired, and eco-friendly outdoor resort that recently began welcoming guests in Moab, Utah just steps from the Southwest’s Looking Glass Arch.  Carefully integrated into 200 acres of desert landscape, this unique resort is surrounded by 100-foot cliffs on three sides and opens to expansive views of Canyonlands National Park. ULUM offers all-suite, safari-inspired tents, but with the amenities of a luxury hotel! Facilities and recreation include a lobby, restaurant, outdoor lounge areas, hot and cool dipping pools, fire pits, a yoga deck, and more.  Resort programming includes complimentary yoga, stargazing, onsite hiking, live music, and evening s’mores.  Each 360-square-foot Suite Tent has a private 70-square-foot deck. The family-friendly tents have a bedroom with king size bed, a lounge area with a queen-size sofa-bed, and an en-suite bathroom. And all built and operated in the most eco-friendly way possible.  The inaugural season for ULUM Moab is through October 23, 2023, and this location also provides easy access to Arches National Park.

Sweeten Your Stay

The Arizona Biltmore, part of the Waldorf collection of resorts, is offering a $100 daily resort credit for your stay through December 31, 2023, with their Sweeten Your Stay promotion.  You can use your daily credit for the hotel’s myriad of restaurants, expansive spa, gift shop, pool cabana rentals, and racket sports (tennis and pickleball).  Some blackout dates apply.  This luxury resort built on the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural style, opened in 1929 and was recently fully renovated.  It showcases 740 rooms, suites, one and two-bedroom villas, and cottages. There are also two golf courses and seven pools (one with a 65′ triple waterslide). The resort’s daily resort fee includes fitness classes, same-day replay at their golf club, bike rentals, two bottles of water daily, lawn games, and more.  In addition to its luxurious accommodations, the Arizona Biltmore also boasts a rich history and is often referred to as the “Jewel of the Desert.” Historical tours are even available from Friday to Sunday. With Camelback Mountain as its backdrop, its beautiful architecture, lush gardens, and top-notch service have made it a popular destination for families seeking a luxurious and unique vacation experience.

Rewewed Grande Lakes

Renovations and additions abound at the JW Marriott Orlando and Ritz Carlton Orlando in Grande Lakes.  An updated and expanded 500-acre water park recently reopened next to the JW Marriott for hours of family fun. The park now has six different zones including a lazy river, a tower with three waterslides, an obstacle course, a restaurant, a VIP firepit lounge, and 12 private, full-service cabanas including some with private plunge pools.  The JW Marriott has recently undergone major renovations and added larger Executive Family Suites.  These two and three-bedroom suites with a bathroom for each bedroom include bunk beds for the children, a separate living room with a sofa bed, and can accommodate up to 12 people!  Great for multi-generational families.  At the newly renovated Ritz Carlton, a new heated pool with cabanas has recently opened.  To celebrate, both hotels are offering a Family Escape and Family Suite Package with guaranteed connecting rooms (king to two queen beds) and a 2:00 pm checkout.  The suite package also includes valet parking.  There is also a package at the JW Marriott with the new Executive Family Suites that includes a VIP check-in experience, games and toys, a nightly amenity, and more.  The resorts also showcase great golf, pools, restaurants, spas, gyms, children’s programs, and family activities along with a fishing school and eco-tours.  Enjoy a luxury resort stay in Orlando!

Montage Twenty

Montage Hotels & Resorts is celebrating 20 years in business with a Montage Twenty promotion. As their gift to you, reserve two or more nights and receive a $100 resort credit ($150 for suites, $200 for residences) per night in addition to a complimentary view upgrade at the time of check-in (based upon availability) for bookings through December 18, 2023.  These family-friendly resorts, many with large residential-style accommodations and great children’s programming, are located in Big Sky and Deer Valley for great skiing and summer adventures, Healdsburg for great wine, and Kapalua Bay, Laguna Beach, and Palmetto Bluff for a relaxing beach destination. Their motto is Life Well Lived!

Mario Bros. at Universal

Super Nintendo World will officially open at Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles in February 2023 following its success in Japan. This all-new land will be located within a newly expanded area of the park.  The journey into this unique world begins on entering Peach’s Castle before venturing further into the colorful Mushroom Kingdom.  You will also find the towering landmark of Mount Beanpole, Bowser’s Castle, and various interactive gameplay activities.  Themed dining and shopping too!  The highlight is Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge which has been described as one of the most complex rides ever built. The multi-sensory ride invites your family to navigate familiar environs through the creative use and integration of head-mountain augmented reality (AR) goggles!  Each time you ride, the outcome will be different.  With the purchase of a Power-Up Band wearable, your family will be able to keep score throughout the land as you take on key challenges, collect digital coins, and experience special interactions with Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach.  Universal is planning a third, even larger version at its theme park in Florida. No dates for its completion have been announced, though it’s not expected until 2025.

Holidays in Chicago

Celebrate the holiday season in suite-style along The Magnificent Mile with a stay at The Peninsula Chicago.  With an array of holiday activities for guests of all ages, their Holly Jolly Family Holiday package will make your season bright.  Your package includes:

• In-room holiday tree or menorah
• Daily Peninsula Breakfast for up to 2 adults and 2 children (12 years old and under)
• Daily complimentary valet parking for one vehicle
• Holiday welcome amenity
• Access to a library of holiday-themed movies and games

This festive package is available from now through the end of the year in most of their one-bedroom suites that can sleep up to 5 including their newly renovated Grand Deluxe Suites.  Your family can enjoy a variety of holiday meals, activities, and performances along with an indoor swimming pool and a gym.  Plus you can check in as early as 6:00 am and check out as late as 10:00 pm!

Big Sky Holiday

Big Sky Holiday

Celebrate the holidays this winter at Lone Mountain Ranch in Big Sky, Montana. From December 22-January 7, your family can enjoy their Holiday Discovery Package. This festive package includes:

• All meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Authentic cabin lodging
• Sleigh Ride Dinner
• Morning Yoga
• Nordic Ski Gear Rentals & Passes (over 50 miles of trails!)
• Ski concierge and shuttle to Big Sky Resort
• Grand Christmas Day feast
• Skiing with Santa
• Gingerbread house making and holiday festivities
• New Year’s Eve toast with fireworks
• Western music in the Saloon
• Bozeman airport transfers

Other winter activities nearby include dog sledding, snowshoeing, back-country skiing, and even fly fishing! The ranch is an hour from the Bozeman airport and an hour from West Yellowstone.  Your family can explore the national park’s winter wonderland with special snow vehicles or snowmobiles. Lone Mountain Ranch’s accommodations range from one to six-bedroom log cabins. Ideal for large families and multiple generations!

Ocean Explorers

The Hotel del Coronado in San Diego recently debuted its Ocean Explorers program for ages 5-12.  This is an immersive and unique living classroom, with experiences designed to help your children learn about preserving the ocean and all of its amazing marine life. Classroom lesson themes include ocean science, seashells, tidepools, sharks, ocean preservation, and even a Beach Olympics, and are designed to stoke creativity, curiosity, and imagination.  The facility offers a spectacular underwater world, filled with amazing sea creatures, creative activities, one-of-a-kind adventures, an underwater aquarium with an interactive touch tank, and more. Both half-day and full-day sessions are offered along with special evening experiences on Fridays and Saturdays with dinner.  The resort’s history with ocean studies dates back to 1903 when it offered its boathouse to a visionary biologist whose research attracted publisher E.W. Scripps who helped form the Marine Biological Association of San Diego.  Soon this became the famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 1905.