So you’re ready to start traveling again, and you’ll be flying to your destination. But if this will be your first flight experience since COVID happened, be prepared that things have changed a bit since you last were on an airplane. Knowing what to expect – and how to continue to protect yourself and your family are important, so let’s chat about that today. Read more
As you plan that long-delayed family vacation this year, deciding where to go can be hard – there are so many choices (and so little time)! But if you’ve decided that a theme park vacation isn’t right for your family, and you’re not sure about heading to the Caribbean this year, it may be that checking out some amazing vacation spots here in the USA may be perfect for you.
In fact, some of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States collectively make up what we know as America’s National Parks. Fifty-eight in all, starting with the first national park, Yellowstone in 1872, they provide an incredible treasure to all who visit. Ranging from breathtaking glaciers, to incredible canyons, to mountain ranges, and underwater vistas, there is a national park in every part of the United States, and a destination for every interest! Read more
If you have a family with kids who love the idea of visiting a theme park – especially if they (or you!) are Harry Potter fans – planning a vacation at Universal Orlando Resort is probably on your vacation bucket list. And if it isn’t (yet), here’s why it should be.
Why Everyone Will Love It
Universal Orlando Resort is made up of 3 theme parks – Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and the Volcano Bay water theme park – along with City Walk, a fabulous and fun shopping and dining district. Located within both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure is the amazing and incredible Wizarding World of Harry Potter, where every wizard or muggle can enter a magical world that literally comes to life from the books and movies. For families with children that are multiple ages – but especially with older kids – the thrills and excitement of the many rides and attractions make this an ideal vacation destination.
In addition to the Wizarding World (more about that in a minute), Marvel fans will find plenty to love at Marvel Super Hero Island, a stylized metropolis area that has many larger-than-life superheroes doing battle with a legion of supervillains. Or, for fans of the Simpsons, check out Springfield, USA where you can enjoy restaurants and types of food from the show (try Duff Beer, a Krusty Burger, or a (non-alcoholic) Flaming Moe). And while Universal Orlando has plenty of thrills, little ones will love Seuss Landing, an adorable area that feels like a Dr. Seuss illustration come to life. Be sure to find the Lorax amongst the Truffula trees. While many of the rides in this area are designed for a younger crowd, for anyone who loves Dr. Seuss, exploring this area is a lot of fun.
Of course, for Harry Potter fans, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the highlight. This incredible area is made of two separate areas: Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure, and Diagon Alley in Universal Studios. These two sections are created with painstaking attention to detail and anyone who has loved the books or movies can – and will – spend hours enjoying all that these areas have to offer.
The Hogsmeade section of the Wizarding World makes it feel as though you’re walking through narrow streets of shops, with Hogwarts seated majestically on the hill at the end of the road. Be sure to pay attention to all of the shop windows. Want to enter Hogwarts? Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is located in this magical building, and even if you’re not going to ride, the queue is not to be missed.
Although Hogsmeade has wonderful theming, there’s even more attention to detail in Diagon Alley, the “other” section of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios. Go inside the shops, explore hidden corners, and don’t miss Knockturn Alley. Again, even if you’re not keen to ride Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, the queue is an experience in itself with some amazing animatronics. And don’t miss the fire-breathing dragon!
Both areas offer plenty when it comes to food and drink, with dining available at Three Broomsticks or the Leaky Cauldron. Or grab a butterbeer when you’re thirsty, or pick up some chocolate frogs for a fun snack. Best of all – and truly not-to-be-missed – be sure to visit Ollivander’s Wand Shop and see what kind of wand chooses you! When you’re ready to travel from Hogsmeade to Diagon Alley – and back again – just hop on the Hogwarts Express, as it travels between the two areas.
What Else is Included
With 3 theme parks including the new and exciting Volcano Bay water theme park, as well as City Walk shopping and dining, there’s still a lot to enjoy on the rest of the Universal Orlando Resort. Seven different hotels provide a variety of fun themes from the Italian Riviera, to the South Pacific, to rock and roll, to the Caribbean, and even a fun and funky 60’s theme – so there is truly something for everyone! Elaborate pools, great dining, along with some surprising details make each resort fun to explore even if you’re not staying there. Why you’ll even find a bowling alley. And with everything – including the parks – being so close together, getting around to explore is super easy! The Universal resorts all provide a number of great perks as well including Early Entry to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and 3 of the resorts even include Universal’s Express Pass, which provides front-of-the-line access to many of the most popular rides. Because who wants to spend their entire vacation standing in line?
If a super-fun theme park experience is on your family’s travel bucket list – one that will have everyone saying “whoa!” throughout the day – Universal Orlando Resort is a great choice for a truly incredible summer vacation!
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It’s March, and while it almost doesn’t seem possible, we are coming up on the one-year anniversary of *that week* – when the pandemic became a reality, and our lives changed.
A lot could be written about what a horrible year this past year has been – but you already know all that. You know that you and your family dealt with at-home school in all its stressful variations throughout the year. You’ve had to work from home and help your kids learn – often all at the same time.
And you probably cancelled, or at least changed, your family vacation plans from last year.
I mention all of this, not to dwell on all that we went through over the past year, but to point out one very important thing that I bet you will agree with: Your family has earned a vacation “reward” this summer. As things continue to (hopefully) improve, and vaccinations increase, studies show that optimism about travel this summer is skyrocketing, with many folks realizing that it’s time to make up for last year by making some vacation memories this year.
And not only vacation memories but “bucket list” vacation memories. Read more
Planning a romantic vacation for a special anniversary can be a wonderful way to celebrate such a milestone and whether you’re looking for an all-inclusive tropical island, a secluded mountain getaway – or even something that seems less “traditionally romantic” – there are many options for the perfect vacation filled with romance.
There’s a lot that goes into deciding where to go though. Of course, whether you’re looking for beaches or mountains, or “something else” is a start, and will be one of the first things your travel agent will want to know. When you want to travel is another obvious consideration. But after those two things, the next big things to discuss usually center around variations of the following: