The Wandering Kellers

Vacations We Did When Our Kids Were Young That We Think You Should Consider #1- Alaska

We are parents in our 40’s with two teenage boys. We have travelled with our kids since they were small. We are lucky in that our boys have the same flare for travel and adventurous cuisine that we do. When they were very young, most of our vacations were short trips to the beach or down to Disneyworld due to convenience. As the kids grew older and out of diapers, we took several very memorable trips with them. In these next few posts we will discuss the 3 best experiences/trips we took.

The first favorite family trip was a cruise to southeastern Alaska when our boys were 7 and 9. This was a trip we all had wanted to do for several years but wanted to wait until we had the money to do it properly and the kids were old enough to participate in the appropriate activities. At my children’s school, the third grade class follows the Iditarod race as part of a unit in social studies, so the boys had some context of where we were going. We left out of Philadelphia International airport and flew through Dallas (of all places) to land in Vancouver.

We arrived three days before the departure of the cruise which left us with a few days to explore prior to heading out to sea. We stayed at the Fairmount Hotel Vancouver which was just up the hill from the port. It was a wonderful place to stay and centrally located for the attractions in Vancouver.

We ate twice on our short time there at the Tap and Barrel at Convention Centre right near the pier. It has beautiful views of the seaplanes taking off in the port and great food and beverages. Make sure you try to edamame – a family favorite we had there. And the local wines tapped directly from their barrels were a fun add. A must do in our opinion.

sea-plane-ride

We had not planned to do this, but while in Vancouver decided to take a seaplane ride above the city. It turned out to be a wonderful experience conveniently located in the port. The feeling of taking off and landing in the water is something you won’t soon forget.

In the port area there is a tourist booth where you can buy tickets for any attractions and most pick up and drop off right there in the port as well. We decided to go to the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, which we highly recommend.

The morning of the cruise we walked down the hill with our luggage. We would recommend a taxi or ride share unless you pack light, but it is close enough to walk. We were able to get right on the boat after dropping off our luggage and waiting only a few minutes. We chose Disney Cruise Line as we had a done a few cruises with them before and have done many since. We have never been disappointed, and with younger kids the many amenities they offer make the small increase in price well worth it as we can get 1 room for the 4 of us. We typically stay on deck 4, 5 or 7 depending on the size of the ship.

As it is colder there that time of year, we didn’t change into bathing suits immediately upon getting on the ship and instead attended a small lunch and headed to our rooms which are usually available between 1 and 1:30. We attended the muster drill that Disney makes incredibly efficient and then the Sailing Away show where the boat sailed right under the bridge (a really cool experience) while the boys played soccer on the sports deck and then headed back to for dinner. We hit the hay early to save up energy for what would be a very full week of adventure.

The next day was a day at sea so we slept in a bit (still trying to adjust to the time change) and then headed out on deck for a small breakfast and to start to explore the ship. The ship has two kids’ clubs, appropriately set for children of the ages 3-11. My kids love to spend time there and always make many great friends that stick with them for the cruise and sometimes longer. That night after dinner the kids spent time at the kids’ club again, and we went to the piano bar for a quiet glass of champagne and some good music. The staff at the bars rotates every two weeks, so if you frequent the same bar, they are very interactive and talkative as the week goes on. One thing to note is that if you want something you don’t see on the menu either at a bar or a restaurant, definitely ask for it as they will be more than willing to get that item for you if it’s within their power. Also, if you get great service don’t forget to make note of the employee on the comment card at the end of the cruise as that makes a difference when it comes to their compensation and promotion.

The next day we were off to Tracy Arm fjord and glacier. The captain did a masterful job navigating these narrow waters. In addition to the great captain, Disney had an expert on wildlife and Alaska on board who quietly explained things on the loudspeaker as we passed by, and did several lectures throughout the week to let us know what we were seeing and what to watch for, as well as how to respect and protect the wildlife and wilderness we would encounter. They even had blankets out on deck so you could cozy up with a hot beverage and your family to watch as we approached. As we approached the glacier, we definitely were not prepared for the awesomeness of what we would see and the shear enormity and beauty of the wilderness and glacier. The captain spun the ship around (slowly of course) so both sides were able to take full advantage of this once in a lifetime experience.

Bald Eagle with a salmon fresh plucked from the stream in its talons

On day 4, we docked in Skagway and took a ferry to Haines, Alaska where we boarded a bus to drive out into the wilderness to see wildlife and meet some of the people who live in these areas. On the way, we saw many bald eagles as well as a mama brown bear and her cubs playing on the opposite riverbank. We then took a nature walk and got to see the salmon running to their spawning grounds. After a long eventful day, we got to bed early after dinner, the show, and a little free time.

The next port of call was Juneau where we had another exceptional experience. This time we did one of Disney’s “Signature” shore excursions where we boarded a helicopter to fly to a glacier and visit a working dog camp where Iditarod racers board and train their dogs in the summer. It was a beautiful ride up into the mountain and the pilot flew us closer to the mountain and the glacial lakes than one could ever imagine. When we landed, we got a chance to explore the camp and learn all about the dogs, how they are cared for, how they train and then for the penultimate experience – the sled ride! Each of us was able to take turns “driving” the sled while the dogs pulled us on a short ride around the glacier. The working dogs at this camp were so well taken care of, getting good food, sunblock on their noses, and the loving care of those who depend upon them for the race and their livelihood. It was a truly remarkable experience. It was also a thrill when my kids realized the musher they had followed in school, Linwood Fiedler, was there for them to meet and talk to. What a rush! He even took them on a short snowmobile ride around the glacier. We ate in one of the camp tents on the glacier and then headed back in our helicopter for Juneau.

The last port of call was Ketchikan, a town known for getting 140-160 inches of rain per year. We were extremely lucky with weather all week, but especially here, and had one the few sunny days that month to explore a black bear sanctuary where black bears roam wild and guides take small select groups through a part of the sanctuary to witness black bears in their natural habitat. We were able witness a mother and her cubs playing in a nearby stream. We also saw a salmon hatchery. They also had a few injured eagles they were helping to rehabilitate and release back into the wild. What gorgeous animals! This relatively shorter trip allowed us to get on the boat for lunch and have the rest of the day to explore the ship and relax before dinner and the show that night.

The last day was a day at sea and we went to the pool for a little while and the kids hit the kids’ club. As with all cruises, this was the day where we finally felt settled in and, of course, it was the last day before we got off.

The last day we got up early, ate breakfast and walked our bags across the street to the Fairmount Waterfront hotel which is literally across the street. We had rented a car and the rental service dropped it off at the hotel that morning, so we checked our bags and picked up the keys and were off to the Sea to Sky Highway and Whistler-Blackcomb. We took the gondola up the mountain to the restaurant and had lunch and a glass of wine. The kids were able to stand on the Olympic podium and watch some of the mountain bikers. We then went up to the peak on the ski lift and took pictures from the top. It is definitely not for the faint of heart, but the views are incredible. After that, we did the Peak to Peak gondola ride and explored the town before driving back to the hotel to relax, eat one more time at Tap and Barrel and prepare for our trip home the next day.

What made this trip so phenomenal:

1. There were planned and unplanned experiences that kept your eyes peeled and even the littles kids at attention as you never knew when an animal or beautiful vista would pop up. And they did – over and over. This made even longer boat and bus rides during the shore excursions tolerable for the kids.

2. The tour guides were knowledgeable, nice, and clearly cared about respecting the animals, the environment and trying to leave the fewest footprints possible. We never felt like we were at a zoo or that hundreds of people were being herded through, but instead the tour sizes were small and appropriate for the environment.

3. The ship (the Wonder) and all the facilities were spectacular. Having been on the larger Disney cruise ships prior to this, we ended up loving the smaller size and coziness of the boat, as well as the lower number of people. The addition of a great naturalist on the boat who did special shorter and more interactive family presentations increased the educational component for everyone.

4. Vancouver is a spectacular city and we are so glad we spent some time on the front end exploring there. Unlike many port cities, this wasn’t a city just to leave from, but a very memorable part of the vacation.

What we wish we had done that we didn’t: Honestly, we think for the time and budget we hit this one out of the park. The only thing that may have been nice would be to have spent another day in Vancouver on the front end.

Was this truly kid appropriate and kid approved: Definitely. The kids still remember this vacation and honestly, we would love to be able to go back, but now that we have teens this may be a bit slow paced. 7 and 9 were just about the perfect age. We think the perfect age for this trip is 7-11 with an appreciation range of 6-13.

A few tips:

Bring binoculars for the kids. Although not necessary, they definitely kept the kids entertained when animal spotting.
Make sure you leave some time for adjusting to the time change if you are coming from the East Coast. You want to make sure you are rested and able to enjoy everything the cruise and ports have to offer.
Don’t feel bad about sending the kids to the kids’ club from time to time. The cast members there are truly loving and engage the kids in activities that also reflect the places you visit. And while they are there, make sure you check out the Cove Café for a warm beverage while you watch the amazing scenery pass by.
Make sure you catch the day the captain pulls a piece of ice out of the water to put on deck and allow the kids to look at the various layers and colors. It was really cool to watch them pull it out of the water too.
Bring layers to wear. While it was chilly from time to time, it was also warmer on some days. You’ll want to have layers in addition to hats and gloves so you can shed layers as the day gets warmer. You will also definitely want to bring a rain jacket. The pool is heated so the kids will definitely want to bring bathing suits. Not many adults were brave enough to take a swim.
If you are prone to seasickness, or want to do a test cruise to see how the kids do, this is the perfect cruise for you! The water is calmer than any other place we have sailed. There was not a single time we felt the boat rocking. The water often looked like a sheet of glass it was so still.

Northeast Skiing- Camelback Mountain and Sérénité

We live in the Pennsylvania area, so during the winter our favorite place to go for a short weekend ski trip is Camelback Mountain. We have skied other places in Pennsylvania, including Elk and Blue Mountains. Both are great and each has their unique advantages, but due to the lack of lodging and restaurants in the area, they tend to lend themselves to day trips and locals. Camelback, on the other hand, has a great lodge, multiple eating venues, as well as an indoor waterpark with a FloRider. For those that don’t enjoy the slopes, the hotel also has a spa, escape room, laser tag and indoor ropes course and climbing wall. There are numerous communities within a mile or two of the mountain where you can own or rent a home, and several good restaurants near the mountain as well.

A new, recently opened option, is Sérénité. Sérénité is a private vacation club with a location that overlooks the mountain and is a quick, four-minute drive to the slopes. There will be private homes on site, but the best part is the buildings holding 1, 2 and 3 bedroom vacation units. The community is still in its infancy, but as soon as we heard about it, we decided to become a part of this family-owned and operated vacation experience. The units are beautiful and kept pristine with high-end appliances and conveniences. Also, the fact that ownership uses a points-based system (like that of DVC), allows you to book nights instead of weeks at a time. We will discuss Sérénité in more detail later in the post, but it is really a great addition to the Camelback scene.

Camelback Mountain recently changed its ownership to EPR Properties in 2019 and the new owners appear to be investing heavily in the resort. The fact that they own 12 other ski resorts and numerous waterparks should bring a wealth of new ideas and experience to this area of Pennsylvania. Just since their purchase of the resort, they have redone all of the hotel rooms and added new lifts at the Sunbowl (a beginner slope), new snowmaking equipment and new chair padding on the two express lifts, just to name just a few.

There are three options on the mountain to sit down and eat. Trails End Pub & Grille, Berelli’s Italian Chophouse and Kartrite’s Summit House are all ski in ski out. They also have several quick service areas on the mountain, including the Waffle Cabin, a BBQ place and some food trucks. There are also a few restaurants in the hotel as well. Overall, you wouldn’t ever have to leave the mountain and everyone could find food they enjoy, but there is plenty just beyond the mountain with Desaki, for sushi and hibachi, and Barley Creek Brewing Company to name just a few.

Camelback has 39 trails, 3 terrain parks and 2 high speed lifts. As far as skiing goes, they do a great job not just making snow, but also grooming the slopes to give you the best skiing conditions one can get in the Poconos. This year has brought 75 inches of fresh powder which has made the skiing even more pleasant than usual. The 39 slopes (18 green, 11 blue, 6 black and 2 double black, plus the 3 terrain parks) are well distributed for skiers of all levels to enjoy themselves, and even when the mountain gets crowded you can still find quiet areas to take a run. The Nile Mile is the longest and most enjoyable run on the mountain and though it’s a blue, skiers of even modest ability find that the wide slope with multiple areas to stop a challenge but very achievable. Birches, on the other side of the mountain, is a long green that all skiers regardless of ability will find enjoyable and a great way to warm up in the morning. We often start there and then move our way across the mountain following the perfectly groomed trails as it gets busier.

Now for a little more about Sérénité. This mountaintop resort is really a gem amongst beautiful surroundings. Every room has a high-end appliance appointed kitchen with all the dishes, pots, pans, and utensils you would expect to have at home, a Keurig, smart lights powered by Alexa, Sonos speakers, blazing fast Wi-Fi, a porch with comfortable furniture, a fireplace in the den and master, heated bathroom floors and toilet seats (the high-tech toilets provide amusement for any teens in the group), bottled water and numerous other amenities. In this time of social distancing and beyond, it allows you to have all the comforts of home while you are away. In our opinion, these are some of the finest accommodations I have ever experienced and the staff at the sales center is five star. (If you go in for a tour of the facilities make sure to ask for Liz – she is great!) With plans for a clubhouse with many amenities, as well as an indoor/outdoor pool, walking trails and other activities, this place is only going to improve as it grows.

Overall, Camelback Mountain and the surrounding area is expanding and improving year after year. If you or your family and friends are looking for a place in the Poconos to go for a long weekend to ski and vacation, Camelback has everything you need for everyone in your party to have a great time.

Disney During a Pandemic and 3 Amazing DVC Resorts Part 3

Now on to food. We chose to eat counter service in the parks a few times. All of the open counter service restaurants are doing online ordering through the My Disney Experience app. You place and pay for your order on the application and then when you arrive in the area of the restaurant (during your pick up time), they begin to prepare your order. Once it is ready, the app lets you know and you can go into the restaurant to pick it up. This allows you to do other things for a bit until it’s time for your order pick up and allows Disney to minimize the crowds inside the restaurant and increase social distancing. While the menus are a bit more limited it’s not that inconvenient once you get the hang of it and seating wasn’t hard to come by as the traffic is metered well by the staff. We felt the visitors did a good job with social distancing and the table set up by Disney was mostly appropriate and felt safe. The one restaurant that felt a bit crowded was Pecos Bills in Magic Kingdom.

We also ate at a few sit down restaurants for lunch, specifically Via Napoli in Italy (Epcot) and The Yak & Yeti in Animal Kingdom. Both had their normal wonderful food and great service that we have come to expect. A quick aside. If you aren’t a Landry’s Select Club member, become one. It is a one-time, $25 fee and is totally worth it as the restaurant recognizes you as a VIP and you can get a table when you show up at the Yak & Yeti without a reservation. You basically jump to the front of the line and earn rewards you can use on future meals. The rewards are good not only at Yak & Yeti but also other Landry’s restaurants around the country.

Our best meal was at Capa, which can be found rooftop at the Four Seasons. For those that don’t know, the Four Seasons is nestled back in the new Golden Oaks neighborhood on Disney property. The food has a Spanish focus and many of the appetizers are served tapas style. You can make a meal on the appetizers/small plates alone – and we did! It’s a great way to have your teens try new foods as well without wasting money on an entire entrée. The food and wine are absolutely tremendous. The service is as one would expect from the Four Seasons – top notch. You are treated like royalty. They even had Ziploc bags for each of us at our table to place our masks in. This is a treasure and one that for those looking for a luxurious meal in a prime location cannot be matched anywhere on property except maybe Victoria and Alberts. To top it all off our waiter, a fellow Penn State alumni, made us a special dessert.

A few tips:

Plan ahead as reservations go quickly. This applies event absent Covid, but now that you have to choose your park early and capacity is limited at the restaurants, if you don’t plan you will likely not get anything but counter service.
Many of the restaurants (sit-down as well) are doing take out. Some of the sit-down restaurants even let you order ahead through the app. If they don’t, just call guest services and have them put you through directly to the restaurant. Trattoria al Forno did not advertise take out on their website, but when we called, they were more than happy to have you show up to the hostess desk, place an order, and take it to go.
The Yak & Yeti is a gem and not to be missed in Animal Kingdom. If they are crowded, the bar will allow sit-down and food service so it’s another way to grab a bite. Its first come first serve and kids may sit at the bar. Our teens enjoy sitting at the bar and getting one of their non-alcoholic fruit smoothies.
Sanaa in Kidani Village at the Animal Kingdom Lodge is also a hidden gem and does great take out as well as eat in. If you are a fan of wine, pick up a bottle of the South African Black Pearl red wine in the shop upstairs. It pairs excellently with the African cuisine, or if eating in the restaurant, order the South African wine flight. The bread service is simply amazing — it will not disappoint and all the entrees can be shared family style.

Finally, the parks. We spent 2 days each in Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios and a day a piece in Animal Kingdom and Epcot.

At Hollywood Studios, Star Wars Land is crazy and is the most crowded area in all the parks right now which is not unexpected. The land is spectacular, and the rides are amazing. Smugglers Run is incredibly immersive and lets you and your “crew” drive the Millennium Falcon while battling the Empire. On top of that, each time you ride it is different because your actions determine the outcome. Even the queue is fully immersive, so you don’t mind waiting. Rise of the Resistance, however, takes theme park attractions to another level as you literally feel like you are in a movie. We won’t spoil anything, but it’s the closest thing to being in the Star Wars universe you can get. We managed to get in the virtual queue twice. The virtual queue for Rise of the Resistance “sells out” literally in 1 second so being on time to sign up is important. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is a fun and immersive ride with amazing new technology as well and is especially good for those who love the cartoons and families with kids of all ages. This was our first time riding and even our teen boys enjoyed it enough to ride it twice. As sad as we were to see the Great Movie Ride go, this was a great replacement. The characters are not out at specific times but they do come around randomly to add to the magic of the parks. We were lucky enough to catch Buzz and Edna in Hollywood Studios and Pooh in Epcot.

Epcot, typically our favorite park, was celebrating the Festival of the Arts while we were there. This is a smaller version of Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival and Flower and Garden Festival with the addition of both local and famous artist kiosks. While we love the kiosks with small bites and interesting drinks, the mask rules prohibit you from eating or drinking when not stationary, so it was a slightly different experience.

It rained briefly the day we were in Animal Kingdom, but Flight of Passage was as amazing as always and stands the test even with the new Star Wars rides. The Kilimanjaro Safari impressed as usual also and a trip out to Rafiki’s Planet Watch was worth it as the animals were out and interactive. And if you are a fan of the Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom on Disney+, you will recognize the veterinary observation area. Cast members told us if you want to try and catch an actual procedure, it is better to try early in the morning near park opening. Kali River Rapids was closed but the line for Expedition Everest was the shortest we have ever seen it (absent Early Magic Hours).

Magic Kingdom was the most manageable of the four parks as it has so many attractions the crowds were more spread out. There is a lot of construction going on in Magic Kingdom in advance of this year’s 50^th Anniversary Celebration but we never felt it hindered the experience. The new Tron coaster scaffolding is all up and that is the one ride we are really looking forward to experiencing when it opens. The new paint job on Cinderella’s Castle was truly breath-taking and really makes it stand out against the clear blue Florida skies.

A few points about the parks:

There are no Fast Passes, so expect to wait for all the rides. The lines look long due to 6 feet of social distancing and an attempt to keep as much of the line outside as possible, but don’t be scared off by the line. We found most wait times to be an overestimate with many lines being 10-20 minutes shorter than posted.
Get to the parks 30 minutes before opening as they are not making people wait at the turnstiles to avoid crowding because of the pandemic. You will have your temperature taken when getting off the bus or onto the ferry or monorail. When you get to the park go to whatever ride you most want to ride first as that will likely be the shortest line most of the day. If you get there later than opening or at park opening, consider doing other rides first as everyone is likely in line for the most popular attractions.
Plan on taking some time in the middle of the day to enjoy the resorts or expect to wait a long time for many rides – not peak summer wait times, but longer than you might want to wait. The rides are not able to fill up due to Covid capacity and distancing restrictions.

Overall, our trip to Disney was enjoyable but different. We put more focus on riding only the rides we really wanted to go on most, but retreated to the room and resort in the afternoon to relax and avoid the crowds. We went back in later in the evening a few nights when crowds were a bit smaller, especially on the less popular attractions. If you have teens or tweens who are not as interested in pictures with the characters or the parades and shows, now is a great time to go. For first-timers, though, we would recommend waiting until the parks are back to normal so you can really enjoy the true Disney experience.

Disney During a Pandemic and Three Amazing DVC Resorts Part 2

Our trip continued when after two nights at the Riviera Resort, we switched locations to Copper Creek at the Wilderness Lodge and stayed in one of the DVC cabins. What a change in scenery it was! We left what felt like a 5^th Avenue penthouse to a luxurious cabin secluded in the woods of the Pacific Northwest.

The boat transportation to Magic Kingdom makes this resort very convenient and our teens were able to pop back to the park at night while we took advantage of some adult relaxation in the hot tub and at the Grand Floridian for a glass of wine in the Enchanted Rose library. The cabins have a spectacular screened in porch with two-sided gas fireplace and a beautiful great room which for those traveling with more than four family members has a comfortable pull out sofa and chair that make sleeping accommodations very convenient. The second bedroom also has a twin murphy bed pull down (with some added Disney magic) to accommodate an extra person.

We ate lunch the first day at the Whispering Canyon Café restaurant and the food is not only southern BBQ excellent, but the servers make it so magical. MT, our server, was a riot and made the meal all the better with her banter and attentive service. I recommend the traditional all you care to enjoy skillet but the bison burger was also spectacular. The Whispering Canyon Cafe is a must do for anyone staying at Wilderness Lodge.

After two nights in our cabin, we once again employed the wonderful bell service cast members to transfer our luggage to the over-the-water bungalows at the Polynesian Resort. Again, what a change of scenery! The bungalows make you feel as though you are almost staying in the park, but at the same time, on a secluded Polynesian island. The Electric Light Parade passes right past the bungalows and performs what feels like a personal show at night. The plunge pool is small, but great for the kids to get wet and relax in or just to dangle your feet in and cool off. The bungalow, like the cabin, has a single and double pull out and the second bedroom a single pull down under the TV so there is plenty of space to not only spread out, but also sleep. Unfortunately, much of the Polynesian is under construction right now for its conversion to more of a Moana-themed resort, so Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto and its fun, themed beverages and enthusiastic servers was closed (as was the monorail stop at the hotel), but with the bungalow and the Barefoot pool bar we were just fine. Of course, the Dole Whip beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) were a favorite of all!

We visited the Magic Kingdom from the Polynesian and it was so convenient with the boat (and monorail when running) and with only a short walk to the Transportation and Ticket Center, anything at Disney is right at your fingertips. Many ask whether the bungalows are worth it, and we would answer — it depends. Though all three DVC rooms we stayed in were pricey as far as dollars or points go, if traveling with a large group and if you plan to spend a decent amount of time in the room, we think it’s definitely worth a few nights at any of the rooms we stayed in.

A few final thoughts on the resorts:

The Skyliner is much more convenient than we ever thought it would be.
The attention to detail and the artwork at the Riviera Resort is unbelievable.
The nostalgia of seeing Cinderella’s Castle and Space Mountain from your porch in the bungalows never gets old.
The peace and serenity after a long day in the parks of sitting in your own hot tub or on the porch and feeling like you could be in the middle of the mountains or in Tahiti cannot be overstated.
The bell staff at all the resorts does not get enough kudos! They are amazing!

Disney During a Pandemic and Three Amazing DVC Resorts Part 1

We have been to Disney many times — but never during a pandemic. We were lucky enough to recently spend a few days there with some friends and experience some new hotels and dining options. There are a lot tips out there on how to navigate Disney in the Covid-world, but we will focus during our next few posts on what you can do to make your stay enjoyable including some things that worked, and unfortunately, some things that didn’t.

As Disney Vacation Club members, we had the privilege of being able to book some of the best villas on property for this trip. Our first stop was Disney’s new Riviera Resort. This was our first time staying at this hotel and we had a great room that overlooked the new Skyliner and the lake. The Skyliner may be our new favorite mode of park transportation, especially when going to Epcot as it’s a straight 10 minute ride. But since you need to transfer cars to get to Hollywood Studios, and that’s where Star Wars land and (at least for right now) half the crowd is, you must plan to leave your room early. We made this mistake the first day and waited at the transfer point in line for 30 minutes and therefore our arrival to the park 20 minutes after opening.

Riviera is clean and beautiful with amazing accommodations. We stayed in a 3-bedroom villa which our kids noted was larger than most apartments.

We ate one night at the Riviera’s rooftop restaurant, Topolino, which has wonderful food and service and a large outside deck area with a beautiful view of the grounds. Though the food was not quite as good as Capa at the Four Seasons (more on that later) it was exceptionally good, and we will definitely eat there every time we stay at the resort. We might even travel from another resort to eat there if staying somewhere else. We had the filet and the duck appetizer, and both were perfectly cooked. Our teen son had the tomahawk pork chop and in addition to enjoying the sheer size and fun Flintstone-like look of the cut of meat, devoured the entire chop. The service and wine selection was also amazing and the social distancing of the tables made us feel comfortable. We took advantage of the huge table in our room to eat in one night and the food we picked up from Trattoria al Forno on the Boardwalk was superb.

While at the Riviera Resort we took advantage of proximity to visit Epcot and Hollywood Studios. The bell service cast members were spectacular transferring not only our luggage but keeping our groceries cold and then refrigerated on the transfer. We always tip the bell people well as they do a spectacular job and go above and beyond what you would expect.

What our blog is about and why we are different:

There are a lot of travel blogs out there and many of them are quite good. Why start another travel blog? Well, we believe that we are different. We are working parents in our 40’s with two teen boys. That in and of itself may not be unique, but the fact that our kids want to hang out with us, look forward to our trips, and we are able to continue to plan vacations that the whole family enjoys, just might be.

Another aspect that makes us different is that we have diverse travel experiences and interests that take us from the slopes to the seashore, from Europe to the Caribbean, to Walt Disneyworld, Disneyland, Yellowstone, Whistler, Hawaii and back. We sail, we ski, we hike, and we certainly eat. Some trips are luxurious, and others are rustic. One day the restaurant we eat in may have a Michelin star, the next, a place few except the locals can even find where the food is great but served on paper plates.

We work hard and we also play hard. We believe that life is out there and as Russell from UP® told us, “The wilderness must be explored.”

We hope you enjoy this blog and more importantly tell us what you do and don’t like so we can keep the good stuff coming.