Travel

Our Trip to the Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island, Bahamas

The first trip we ever won was to Paradise Island in the Bahamas. The trip was a 4-day, 3-night stay at the Atlantis Resort. We won the trip from the Discovery Channel during Shark Week. I remember that sweepstakes well because it was our first ever trip and we were going to get to swim with sharks. I was like, not by the hairs of my chiny, chin, chin, was I getting in water with sharks. In the end we talked them into giving us food vouchers instead of that experience, which suited me perfectly. I’m more of a – let’s eat our way through this trip – than let’s go out and live dangerously. I like adventures but I’m not the outdoorsy, extremist, mountaineer-kind of person. I’m not the high society, shopping all day kind of person either. I’m somewhere in the middle I guess.

When we won this trip our kids were young and this was the first trip Greg and I took alone without the boys. From what I remember we flew on a full-size airplane to the Florida and from there we took one of those small airplanes, you know, the kind with cardboard seats. It was cramped to say the least and a little scary. When we got over the island I can remember how blue, green, and crystal clear the water was. I had never seen such water in my life.

Arriving at the resort we walked into the foyer and it was grand and magnificent with high ceilings and intricate carvings and paintings on the walls. Nowadays that is kind of commonplace but back when we won this trip, 1999, it was something new and fabulous to us.

On the other side of this vast foyer area was a restaurant below that was surrounded by a living fish tank. The fish tank was underground and you could walk through tunnels to see sharks and eels and every manner of fish.

If you continued through the tunnels it would take you outside where you could walk through a tube and the fish would be swimming overhead. Once you were completely outside you could then look down and see the fish swimming below. An ingenious setup that allows the visitors to get a full sense of the water and the creatures that live there and feel immersed in nature without getting to close to it – see paragraph one.

If you stay around long enough you will see divers cleaning the tanks and feeding the fish.

We stayed in one of the towers, I believe it was on the 14th floor. I remember them telling us that the large building that attached one tower to another went for $25,000 a night and had been stayed in by Michael Jackson at the time. I am sure it probably costs a lot more now. I really don’t have anything to say about the room because from what I remember it was just average. You don’t go somewhere like this and worry too much about the room because what you came to see is outside anyhow.

I used to wear overalls a lot back then and my hair was short. Wow, was I really ever that young?

The resort is surrounded by lagoons, hidden hot tubs and waterfalls, lush vegetation and flowers, palm trees, and wildlife. You have your pick or beaches, shallow swimming pools, and water slides. During the day they had native bands that would play by the pools for entertainment.

Since we had food vouchers we got to try out several of their restaurants but our favorite was the main dining hall. It’s been quite awhile since we went on this trip but I still remember their all-you-can eat buffet and fresh Belgium waffles. It was the first time I had waffles like that with strawberries on top and whipped cream. And, the best part, the waiters and waitresses would stop at certain times and start singing, clapping, dancing, and beating drums. I just loved it.

There was a casino in the center of the resort but we were never interested in gambling so we only went in it a couple of time. That would change now if we went back and I would be sitting there playing penny slots. I do remember that most things closed up shop early, like 8 pm. I guess they figure most visitors want to get up early to enjoy the sun, surf, hand gliding, para-sailing, canoeing, and other fun things the resort has to offer.

The beaches are so pure and clean. The water crystal clear and brilliant blue/green. It is so amazing how clean it is. You never want to leave.

Okay, so I was mushy back in those days.

We did spend one day going over to the main land and walking the street of the Bahamas. I remember children getting out of school wearing their uniforms and the market in the center of town that sold everything a tourist would need. On the way back we took a ferry and had a guided tour of the history of the Bahamas.

Greg and I have always been what I would call “middle class” so when we went to Paradise Island it was a real treat for us. We stood in front of this yacht saying some day we were going to own one. Well, that hasn’t happened but it’s okay because I don’t really need a boat anyhow and who needs that kind of money. The more you have the more you have to worry about. And, I love entering to win fabulous trips like this one to the Atlantis Resort because you have the thrill of that winning letter coming to your house and the memories you get to make without having to spend a dime of your own money or worry that you have cut into your household budget.

There’s something about winning a trip, the memories seem just a little bit sweeter.

We would love to go back to the Atlantis Resort and see how it has changed. I have a much better camera now and more experience as a traveler so I know what to look for and do when I am there. When it is your first trip you don’t really know what you are doing other than you landed in a new place. If you ever get to experience the Atlantis Resort make sure you try the Belgium Waffle, yuumm!

Paradise Island

Reflections of Our Trip to France

It’s been awhile since we traveled to France. We won a fabulous trip to France back in 2001 and took the trip in 2002. We won it through a sweepstakes I entered from Forbes magazine as part of my sweepstakes hobby. This hobby has afforded us many things – free food, a truck, fabulous trips, Smartphones and tablets, new furniture and appliances, and lots more. We win at least once a week. The trips are the best by far because the memories go on and on.

The trip to France had to be the icing on the cake for this hobby and now since my friend Zippy is in France it made me think how much I loved that trip and how much I would like to go back. So today I sat reflecting on what we experienced while in France.

Thinking of Zippy sitting in a bistro in the Marais, window shopping on the Champs Elysees, or trying on dresses at Galeries Lafayette or Printemps, brought back great memories for sure.

Here are some of the most vivid memories from that fabulous trip to France.

The trip to France included all of these things for FREE – business class travel, BMW rental car, a stay in a castle – Chateau de Balleroy in Normandy (owned by the Forbes family), a stay in Paris, and $6,500 in cash. It is the only way to travel – Free everything! We even had our own cook in the chateau.

The chateau is not available for the public to stay in. Since it is owned (or was owned, I’m not sure now) by the Forbes family, it was a family home and they would use it for corporate events and family gatherings only. The public could pay to tour the castle but that’s it. This trip gave us an opportunity to do something even money couldn’t buy.

Man I looked young here!

What a beautiful site. The clouds were amazing.

When we arrived in France we picked up our BMW at the airport and from there we drove to Normandy. I think it was about a 3 hour drive. I don’t remember so much because I was taking in the beautiful countryside and then we spotted about 7 Porches coming up behind us. Let’s follow them I thought, so I told Greg to “step on it!” He got the car up to about 100 mph and then we lost them. We like driving fast in America but I am not sure we are ready to chase Porches at stop speed. It was fun though.

This is our actual speedometer while he was chasing those cars. They calculate it in kilometers so I guess we were going about 111 mph. Sweet huh!

Once we arrived at the Chateau I couldn’t believe my eyes. We’re staying in that? We drove up to the front of it and said, this must be a mistake. Where is the hotel or the tiny building we are staying in? We went to the front door – the door that was like 40 feet up and knocked. It had one of those huge door knockers you think of when you watch the Adams Family. You expect to see Herman Munster coming to greet you.

This is what we saw when we drove up.

This is the back of the castle.

Just to prove that we actually stayed in this castle I had Greg take a picture of me waving from our bedroom.

Here is the actual skeleton key they gave us to open this giant 40-foot front door each night.

Little did we know but we had the ENTIRE castle to ourselves and we would be treated like royalty with someone cooking for us twice a day. She even gave us a complete tour of the castle and showed us the secret tunnels underneath. This chateau was 400 years old and was a part of a tour so in the morning we would hear people being led around and the guide giving them the history.

We stayed on the top floor and had to climb 72 marbles steps – with luggage – to our room. No elevators in this house.

Look at these beautiful marble steps. Greg took this looking down from the top.

At night we would eat in a small dining room. We feasted on Salmon crepes, fresh salad, and a selection of French cheeses each night. The food was amazing. The last night we had French champagne.

Some other memorable things we did on this trip to France was to visit the beaches of Normandy. This land is rich with history and you can feel what it was like during the battles on the beaches.

One day we visited Honfleur. I caught someone painting the scene and had to snap his picture. We sat in an outside cafe sipping coffee once again and taking in the view.

We also took an afternoon to go to Monte Saint Michel. It is basically a village on an island. When the tide goes out you’re stuck on the island but not to worry because there are pubs, cafes, shops, and hotels up and through the winding cobblestones streets. At the top is a monastery and you can look out for miles.

Did I mention we love to eat and drink coffee?

After our stay was over in Normandy we stayed in Paris for 3 days where we walked the streets of Paris, saw the Eiffel tower and drank coffee in French street cafes. We decided to get a better look at France that we should sign up for a tour. The concierge at our hotel was super and helped us find one that was perfect. It did cost a lot but it was worth it. A tour gives you the opportunity to try things you wouldn’t find on your own.

The tour we picked included a dinner at La Coppola. We met a couple, Peter and Sue, who came with us on the entire tour and they dined with us at the restaurant. We also took a boat ride down the River Seine and our last stop was a night at the Moulin Rouge.

This is not your average Las Vegas show. It was high class all the way. We sat at little tables and drank champagne. The front row of ladies were topless and the back row were not. It was like you had to work your way up the ladder to get topless, not the other way around. The costumes were over the top and fabulous and so was the dancing and entertainment (think NY Rockettes just without tops). By tour tickets got us into the Moulin Rouge and if we hadn’t been a part of the tour they say you would never have gotten tickets because they are always sold out. Just another reason to be a part of a tour.

The tables and people were packed in like sardines, but everywhere you go in France it is the same. They pull the table out, seat you, and push it back in. Americans like their space and don’t want anyone in it but when in France you need to be ready to rub elbows with someone next to you that you don’t know. Just say Bonjour and you’re all set.

Okay, I admit it, I’m a crazy person. Yes, I ran out in traffic and stood in the middle of the Champs Elysees, Paris’ more prestigious and busiest Avenue (we would call it highway – think New York City). I had to be in the middle to take this picture.

There was so much more I didn’t include. It’s hard to fit it all into words. The memories are there in my mind though. This was me just walking down memory lane and a reminder why we enter sweepstakes. For me it is to create lasting memories from trips I would never be able to afford and couldn’t even buy if I had the money.

Happy Sweeping!

Paris

Normandy

Dinner at Legal Seafoods Boston at Long Wharf

Recently, while in Boston, Massachusetts attending a Ford event, we decided to eat dinner at a Legal Seafoods restaurant. We have never eaten at a Legal Seafoods so this was going to be a new experience for us. The decision to eat there was also driven by the fact that we had won $200 in gift certificates for Legal Seafoods from a sweepstakes that Wendy entered as part of her sweepstakes hobby.

Prior to our trip, I was researching Legal Seafoods locations in Boston trying to decide which one was closes to our hotel and had the best reviews. I decided upon the one located at Long Wharf. The actual address is: 255 State Street, Boston, MA. I picked this one because it was a short “T” ride from the hotel and was located on the water. I thought it would be nice to have a good meal why enjoying a pleasant mid-summer evening near the water. Legal Seafoods has restaurants in most of the states along the East Coast.

While looking at their website, I noticed that I could make reservations online. I find that interesting and thought it is an excellent way to use technology. I am not sure how many other restaurants offer that capability. So, I went ahead and made our reservations using their site. Even though we had reservations, we still had to wait about 10 minutes to get a table, but that was probably due to the fact that we decided to sit outside as it was a nice evening. Luckily, the predicted rain held off and did not damper the evening. We would have kept dry as the outside dining area is covered.

After a short bus (the first two stops on our route were under construction) and “T” ride, we arrived at Long Wharf. Not knowing exactly where the restaurant was located, we started walking towards the wharf trying to locate it. After a few minutes and past our reservations time, I asked for directions from a vendor at the wharf. She advised me to turn around and she pointed to a building behind us with a big Legal Seafoods sign about the entrance. Duh, if we have simply looked behind us as we walked towards the wharf, we would have seen the restaurant.

As we were waiting on our table, Wendy was busy taking pictures for your viewing pleasure. As I mentioned earlier, we waited no more than 10 minutes before our table was ready. The outside dining area has approximately 25 tables, evenly slit between 2-person and 4-person tables. I assume if you have 5 or more people in your party and want to sit outside that they would combine tables for you. It’s not a fancy atmosphere in the restaurant or outside but more casual so there is really no dress code.

Our waiter arrived shortly after we were seated and take our drink order. The menu was extensive and the waiter was very helpful in answering our questions and offering suggestions. Wendy decided to try the Legal’s Signature Crab Cakes dinner. She ordered the Combo version which had one crab cake, grilled shrimp, and scallops. In place of the salad she order rice pilaf. I ordered the Wood Grilled Assortment that comes with three portions of fish (Chef’s selection), shrimp, scallops, and choice of two sides. For sides, I choose sautéed fresh vegetables and mashed potatoes. While we waited on our dinners, we enjoyed warm dinner rolls, light conversation, and mid-summer evening in Boston.

After 10 to 15 minutes, our dinners arrived and they looked good. Because Wendy and I are not heavy eaters and we did not want leftovers since we were staying at a hotel so we were pleased to see that the meals were the size that we could eat without leftovers and feeling totally stuffed afterwards. They forgot to substitute the rice for the seasonal salad that came with Wendy’s dinner, so they quickly brought out her rice with no hesitation.

Time to taste the food and past judgment. The three fish with my meal were: salmon, tuna, and swordfish. Each of the fish were cooked exceptionally well, neither to rare nor over done. The same way with the scallops and shrimp. They had a slight woody taste combined with a touch of heat. The mashed potatoes and veggies were okay. A little garlic and blue cheese would make the potatoes pop more. The veggies had a crunch to them, which was what I was expecting for being lightly sautéed. The portions were just the right size fro me.

Wendy enjoyed most of her meal except for the crab cake. It had a spicy / heat taste to it that she did not like. I was not able to pin point what was giving it that taste but I believe it was a combination of hot sauce and Dijon mustard. Other than the crab cakes, she enjoyed the rest of her meal.

As we were not pressed for time, we decided we would partake in dessert and coffee. Usually, we are too full from the meal to eat dessert, but when the waiter described the Boston Crème Pie that they offered, we figured we would give it a try. When the pie arrived, it was definitely not your typical Boston Crème Pie and it looked just like he waiter described it.

They start out with a round cake about 4 inches in diameter that is filled with crème and soaked in coffee. Then a light crust is baked around the cake. The top is then layered with a rich chocolate. Once we tasted it, we realized that it is not your standard Boston Crème Pie, it is by far the best one we have ever had. I thought it would be too moist being that it is soaked in coffee, but soaked is probably the wrong word to use, maybe dipped is better, because it was moist but not soggy. It is something you definitely should try if you are eating at Legal Seafoods.

Overall, it was a good meal at the prices I expected. The portions were the right size that did not leave you wanting more nor over stuffed. The Boston Crème Pie was the best we ever had. The service was excellent and very helpful, while not giving you the feeling of being rushed so they can turn the table. They gladly and quickly resolved the issue of not bringing out the correct item with Wendy’s dinner. The atmosphere was relaxing and enjoyable, especially outside (inside may be a touch loud). The only down side was the coffee, it was okay, but tasted like it had been sitting for awhile. They offered to get fresh coffee, but we said that we to go, so they did not charge us for the coffee.

Boston Vacations

Fun at Busch Gardens and Water Country USA Virginia

Mom is always winning our family fun prizes, like this trip to Busch Garden. We went on our trip July 20-21, midweek, and really I think that was the best time to go. We still got to enjoy full park attractions and benefits without the hassle of large crowds (I think the fact that we went during a 100+ degree heatwave helped with that!).

We easily kept cool by frequenting the Sesame Street and Dragon World water attractions every few hours, which our girls highly enjoyed, and really helped cool us down. Lunch and dinner were great, and we were really impressed at the large amount of food we received when using our free meal vouchers!

After spending most of day one at Busch Gardens, we spent some time in our awesome hotel (another treat!) and went back to the park that evening for fireworks.

Day two was spent at Water Country, which was also awesome because of the oppressive heat! What could be better than water everywhere? This park was much more crowded however, and even though the water attractions were amazing and fun, my kids were struggling a bit with a second day out in the heat and we had to call it a day a bit earlier.

Overall, a wonderful trip was a lot of fun for everyone, the park is beautiful, and we will definitely be back whether we win it or not!

California Dreamin’ from La Jolla to San Diego

We just returned from San Diego, California where we attended the BlogHer conference. I haven’t never been to San Diego, but I have been to Hollywood and Los Angeles twice. I was not impressed with LA, well, except for Venice Beach and the many trips to the local iHOP restaurant. Now I hear that even Venice Beach isn’t worth the trip.

I had the same expectations for San Diego but my son Phil, and husband Greg assured me it was quite different. I guess every state has it’s good spots and not so good spots and my first visit to Cali just wasn’t in the right place.

Both Greg and Phil had been stationed near San Diego at one point because of the military. Greg back in ’79 for the Navy and Phil in ’05 for the Marine Corps – Camp Pendleton.

When we got to the San Diego airport I could feel the difference right away. I kind of expected hippies to great with me peace signs and a doobie but that wasn’t the case. Why do we think that way about California? The airport was clean and low key, which was surprising. In New England everything is uptight and people aren’t happy. It has something to do with the cold weather I think. By the time we get to go outside we are so angry for having to stay inside for 8 months out of the year that we want to bite someone’s head off, and well, that is usually what happens.

Of course, California has my favorite tree – the palm tree. They have them in every shape, size, and configuration. No matter where I looked I saw a palm tree and loved everyone of them. I have my own little palm at home to remind me of warmer weather. Of course, mine came from Walmart and I have to bring it in the house in October and put it under a grow light, but it’s still the same, even if it is only 2 feet tall.

We stayed that the Marriott Marquis and Marina Resort right by the water. Man, if this is what California is like count me in. It was so beautiful down by the water and peaceful too. The hotel is immaculate and looking out our 10th floor ocean view window reminded me of Gilligan’s Island. It was like looking at a lagoon with the half mile wide pool that snaked around and hot tubs on either end. Surrounding the pools were couches and gas firepits they lite at night. I never wanted to leave.

One night we walked down the wide sidewalk to the village on the outskirts of the Marriott – a tourist trap for sure – and grabbed a cigar at the Cigar Shop and ate authentic Mexican food at one of the vendors. It might have been designed for tourists but the prices were reasonable and you could see a lot of locals shop and eat there.

Since Phil lived here not so long ago and knew the area much better we let him drive us around. The first day we stopped at Point Loma. At the point you get a clear view of the entire area from Mission Beach to San Diego and over to Coronado and to the far right Chula Vista and then Mexico. Basically, you could see forever it seemed. The place is well-kept and charges $5 for admission to keep it maintained. From the top you could see sea lions and some other large mammals swimming in the ocean, although we could never quite figure out what they were.

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Going up the hill to Point Loma is a military cemetery overlooking the ocean. It reminds you of the sacrifice others have given of their lives so we can live in a free country and spend leisure time in peace.

While most of our time was taken up with the conference we did get another day to drive around and see towns like Carlsbad where outlet shopping abounds and La Jolla (pronounce Hoy-ya) Beach where surfer rule the day.

La Jolla is a great place little, upscale town with sandy beaches and big waves with lots of surfers and people picnicking on the grassy lawn. Lined with expensive homes, the atmosphere is friendly and realized. On the beach surfers of all shapes, sizes, and ages were gearing up for a class and once on the water the fun really began.

Carlsbad is an average town with a big outlet mall. I wasn’t much into shopping but we did enjoy the laid back shopping experience. How can you be mad or rushed surround by palm trees, flowers, and water fountains?

Back at the hotel we ate crawdads, lobster, shrimp, and crabs at Joe’s Crab Shack. It’s just a stone’s throw from the edge of the Marriott hotel so you can walk. Phil bought a big bucket of seafood and there were plenty to eat for everyone. Make sure you wear a bib because it’s a messy eat.

I didn’t realize it but Joe’s Crab Shack has 119 locations nationwide.

Staying in San Diego was a wonderful experience. It changed my mind about California. If we had visited San Diego first I would have wanted to go back in a minute. The laid-back atmosphere and perfect weather is enough to make me want to visit over and over again. I never saw one hippie!

San Diego Vacations

La Jolla Vacations