Venice Apartments that Inspire a Trip to Venice

I haven't taken Clara to Venice yet. I know she'd love it, but I just haven't been dying to go there. Until now. I just discovered this website of amazing apartments in Venice, and I think I'd go there even if just for them. This is the first one I clicked on--it's 1025 euros for a week, but can be booked for shorter stays. 

And how about this one ...I just sent an email to the company to see what's available during spring break!

Winter Break Fantasy: Carlisle Bay Antigua

We've been lucky to make it to Carlisle Bay in Antigua twice. I think it's one of our favorite hotels in the Caribbean. And llthough it's not cheap, they frequently have packages that make it not astronomically expensive, although still in the expensive category. When the package is offered, it's something like $850 per night for a family room and that includes all meals, and $50 per night in drinks. If you consider that most hotels would charge around $500 for a family room (meaning a separate room for the parents), and this is one that is smack on the beach, and includes all your meals, plus afternoon tea (it's British!), and that the food is primarily organic and local, not some crappy buffet, you'll start thinking it's a deal. While it isn't as easy to get to as the islands that are nonstop flights (Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Barbados, St. Lucia), it is so worth it. (And depending on the day you fly, there are sometimes nonstop flights here on Continental--I think on Saturdays.)  Here's why we love it so much:

1. The food is so good. And that is not something you can say for most resorts in the Caribbean. They pride themselves on having great relationships with local farmers, and having local and organic food on vacation is a huge plus.  They also have two restaurants--one is on the beach, more casual and has more standard fare, and the other, East, is only open for dinner, and is Asian influenced. Just the kind of food that goes perfectly with being at the beach--I've always wondered why there are resorts serving big steaks and potatoes on their menus and not doing little skewers and pad thai. If you have a really little one and don't want to go out in the evening, they will do room service, and you can eat on your patio which butts up to the sand, looking out over the sea, and feel like you are out to dinner.  For kids, they have a fantastic early dinner that is served buffet-style around 5:30-7. with everything from the usual suspects of pasta and chicken to local fruits and well cooked vegetables. This hour functions like a cocktail mixer, as the parents all meet each other while their kids eat and run around. I love this about Carlisle Bay--there are lots of opportunities to meet other nice parents, in a non-forced way.

2. The pool is fantastic, even for toddlers. It has a ledge around most of it, which is about 10 inches below the water, where you can sit with your baby, or have your toddler resting on it while you stand in deeper water. There are pool toys for the kids, and lots of chaise lounges in the shade, should someone need a nap. The staff come by all the time with little fruit snacks or drinks and towels, all complimentary.

3. The kids club is perfect. It has a nice playground, and a little completely shaded pool, and great staff.

4. There's plenty to do if your kid is in the club--morning yoga/pilates, a fantastic spa, a library with books you actually want to look at, and great hikes just out the door of the hotel.

5. The beach is lovely. Water is calm, and there are no jet skis zooming about.

6. The room is well-designed for families. The beachfront suites, which is what is offered to families, are on the ground level, and they have a huge front bedroom with living room area, and a sliding glass door out to the private patio which is one the beach. The front room has the closet, and is where the children sleep. They can put a crib in, or make it up with a twin bed, or whatever you need. I don't know that it could accommodate more than two kids, but you can call and check. Then there's a huge bathroom and a hall between that room and yours, so you aren't on top of each other, but you're also not having them in an adjoining room, where you can't hear them if the door shuts. The suite also has an espresso machine, which is a lovely thing to behold when you wake up and don't want to walk to the restaurant to get your coffee, or to wait for one to be delivered.

 local jams and honey

 local yogurt and fresh juices every morning

 kids club

I Love: Hotels With Organic Gardens, Part 3

I wrote about Mar Vista last March, as a spring break idea, and am reminding you of it now, since I'm in this 'hotel with organic garden' mode. We went to Mar Vista a couple of years ago, and it was such a great trip.  We had our own little cottage, with a fully equipped kitchen, and a porch, and plenty of space around it so we never felt like our neighbors would be inconvenienced if Clara was having a meltdown (or if we were). All of the cottages are all situated around a large grassy meadow and garden, with tons of room for kids to run, a rope swing, animals to look at, and a fantastic soaking tub. Then there are the chickens to gather eggs from, and the organic edible garden to harvest whatever is in season. (It's also where Clara pulled her first food out of the ground.) Across the road is the Pacific Ocean, so you have views of it from the property, and in five minutes walk, you are on the beach. Yes, it's a schlep from San Francisco (close to three hours), but it's so worth it, as long as you build in plenty of time to get there, and some stops along the way in Point Reyes to pick up some provisions for your kitchen at Mar Vista at Tomales Bay Foods and Toby's Feed Barn. After all, this is the kind of place you won't want to leave--you'll probably eat breakfast and dinner at the property, and go out for lunch and a little adventure. 

Easter, Once Upon A Time

I was just going through my Easter pictures from a trip to Paris a couple of years ago.  We were lucky enough to be there on a scouting trip for Cookie Magazine, and even luckier, to be staying at the Ritz. What a different time that seems to be now.  If you happen to find yourself in Paris over spring break some year, (and I'm not assuming you would be staying at the Ritz), consider springing for a crazy Easter brunch there. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience--very old-school French decadent food, an Easter egg hunt complete with live bunnies, and then a tour of the pastry kitchen, and a chance to make chocolate eggs, bunnies, and roosters.

Easter at...The Greenbrier

I love an Easter egg hunt. And Easter egg baskets, filled with chocolates. I think Easter at the Greenbrier, in the Allegheny Mountains in West Virginia, pictured above, must be pretty idyllic.  

Check out what they have going on for Easter weekend:

"Greenious H. Brier, The Greenbrier’s very own holiday hare, to preside over the Easter Fun Fest and Egg Hunt. Live children’s theatre performance and jelly bean guessing contest. Hippity Hop Dinner Dance Party, a dinner buffet on Saturday. Easter Sunday Brunch..."

Spring Break Ideas

(photo by Matthew Hranek , at Diamante Beach in DR)

My friend Jennifer has asked me for ideas for March spring break, a beach trip--good food, kid friendly...not too expensive, and not cheesy.  Okay, here are some ideas:

Casa Sandra in Holbox, Mexico:  this is an island off of the Yucatan, about a 2 hour drive from the Cancun airport, and then a short ferry ride.  It's supposed to be so great--not overly touristy like Isla Mujeres or Cozumel.  We wrote about it in Cookie, and both the writer and the photographer, who weren't there together, said they loved it.  Clara's former preschool teacher also went there, and loved it.  Very laid back, lots of nature, and lots of sun.

(from the casa sandra website)

Small Hope Bay Lodge on Andros Island in the Bahamas:  Another place we wrote about in Cookie, that my husband loved, and another editor at the magazine liked so much, she went twice.  I see from their website that they have a package for a beachfront 2 bedroom all inclusive that is $3550 in high season for 5 nights/six days.

(photo by ditte isager, of beach at small hope bay lodge, andros)

Morgan's Rock in Nicaragua:  This is a spot that a writer had pitched to me, and she had gone there with her family, and loved it.  It's an eco-lodge right on the sea, that has its own farm, so most of what you are served is super fresh, and the fish is what is caught that day. It works out, in high season, to be about $700 night all inclusive (even includes local beer), with adults being $196 per day, and kids being $136 per day.

Zamas in Tulum:  I haven't been to Tulum in ages, but all of my friends still go, and love it.  This place has been there for a long time, and still people say great things about it.  It has great food, and is well priced, which I know because I remember, not because it says so on the web site.  If they listed prices, I would tell you...

(beach in DR, shot by Matthew Hranek)

La Catalina in the Dominican Republic:  We came to this very sweet hotel with Cynthia Rowley, last spring, and loved it.  It's about an hour and a half drive from the Punta Cana airport, and you just arrange to have the hotel pick you up (the taxi service is so cheap, but you have to be prepared that no one has car seats or boosters).  The staff is so warm, the rooms are very comfortable (not luxe, but everything you need), there are two pools, and it has a great view to the sea.  To go to the beach, you do have to get in a car.  You can either get a taxi, or you can have the hotel arrange a rental car for you.  Read the article we wrote in Cookie to know more about it (the website is still up!)...The rooms are in the $100 night range, and the food is so good, and so cheap.  You kind of can't believe that it can be so good, and that cheap.