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California

July 31, 2018

Los Angeles, Malibu, Santa Monica, Laguna Beach, San Diego

price varies

Optimum Seasons: Summer and Fall

Gallery

I'm a New Yorker from the suburbs. So Los Angeles is kind of really, really, really unimpressive in every way possible. It's hard to understand all the hype. Aesthetically, it's kind of ugly and dry. You're not gonna find beautiful parks or gardens here. It's not as green as New York. The beaches are cleaner but they are also massive. Like, be prepared to walk a quarter mile from the parking lot to the shore. Perhaps for living, it gets the job done. The climate is mild to warm all year round and there's less stress. The houses are nice. But so are the houses in the outer boroughs and suburbs of New York. Hollywood Blvd and Sunset Blvd are surprisingly ugly. It's like any commercial Blvd in the country except lined with palm trees. Everything is far from each other. There's no hotel on the actual beach (which is plentiful in Miami). I mean, the only reason anyone should go here is to say that they have been to Los Angeles. Perhaps it is better without children so at least you can experience high end restaurants and good meals?

If you are going on vacation with children though, you should only consider staying in Santa Monica which has a lot of hotels in close proximity to the beach, a great vibe, good restaurants, the iconic Santa Monica Pier, Tongva Park and the charming pedestrian Third Street Promenade with its cute shops. I find this the prettiest part of Los Angeles. After searching on www.tripadvisor.com, I was able to narrow my search and find a great deal at Courtyard by Marriott. Within a 10 minute walk to the Pier and Third Street Promenade and well decorated rooms, this hotel was probably the best part of our stay in LA. Remember, prices in Santa Monica are high so if you get a rate in the low $300s, you have found yourself a deal! And no need to pay for the steep $40ish parking at the hotels. There are lots all around you. And a metro station right across the street if you ever want to head to the Staples Center or go to downtown LA.

From Santa Monica, it's easy to walk to the boardwalk for at most an hour and get to Venice Beach. Think Williamsburg on the waterfront with lots of legal marijuana. Rent a bike or scooter if you must and enjoy! Also, walk a couple blocks inland to Abbott Kinney Blvd (hipster shopping). But again, I'm more impressed by the boardwalks in Long Beach and Far Rockaway New York.

For high end shopping, visit Rodeo Drive. But again, I wasn't all that impressed. I've seen much nicer high end malls and streets in both New York and Miami. I didn't get the chance to visit The Grove which is an outdoor mall that is really pretty at night with its lighting. But I was told this is just a 15 minute visit. The Walk of Fame is ugly. It's shocking that the city hasn't done much to beautify Hollywood Blvd which is its big tourist attraction. You can totally skip this. We didn't even get out of the car, I was just so repulsed by how unkept and grimy the whole stretch was. And I decided to go to Griffith Park just to see the Hollywood Sign. Don't do this. It is like a 45 minute drive from Santa Monica in traffic and it looks better in pictures.

Pico Blvd is lined with kosher restaurants for those who strictly observe. You don't even need to plan in advance. Just drive down the street and you'll find plenty of great places to dine! And if you are solely Kosher, it may be a good idea to stay in Beverly Hills over Santa Monica as Pico Blvd is very close. My favorite part of LA, as an Iranian of course, was it's Persian ice cream. If you are going to the Walk of Fame...you may as well stop by Mashti Malone's for some authentic pistachio ice cream in a wafer sandwich! Heaven on earth! LA is also capital to Iranians of all religious observances. You will find both kosher and non kosher amazing Iranian restaurants and kabab all around. Just do a google review or ask friends about their experiences.

I only explored the east side of Malibu from the Pacific Coast Highway, which again, is really nothing interesting or scenic. There is a dry mountain on one side with a beach on the other. I mean, you won't really get that on the east coast of the country...but you'll see plenty of that in the Caribbean and Europe and lots of other places in the world. I guess it's unique in the US. And if you are kosher, there is a pretty small little shack of a restaurant called Fishgrill with very good food for both adults and kids and outdoor seating. It is across the street from the beach but is not really scenic. And pretty buggy at night in the summer. Check hours before you go. If you aren't with young children, just go to Nobu and you may spot a few celebrities.

The houses from the outside aren't pretty in Malibu. And there are plenty of neighborhood all over Long Island that have houses on a sand beach. Think the Hamptons and all the neighborhoods on the south shore. And even some scattered along the north shore! For those that live in the midwest, I can see why this is an appealing vacation spot. But the time zone difference and the flight length really aren't worth it if you are only visiting Los Angeles!

The big draw here are the parks (which are far better in Orlando so if you reside on the east coast, again, no need to go cross country!). Legoland, Universal Studios, Disneyland, and Knott's Berry Farm are all in or surrounding LA. I went to none though as I wanted to save the money for the parks in San Diego, which are like nothing in the states!

My biggest regret over my three day stay in LA was not taking a day trip to Santa Barbara which is known as the "American Riviera." I couldn't really convince my husband that a four hour round trip drive to see a town just for about three hours was all that worth it. But there are allegedly beautiful homes here, horse back riding on beaches, great shops on State Street, and some great wineries and vineyards. Just google it and go if you're spending more than three days in Los Angeles. You'll have enough time to kill. You can even squeeze it in if you're only here for three days! Also on the way to Santa Barbara I was told to stop by El Matador State Beach (big rock formations), but again, I didn't get around to it.

The real fun started on our drive down (by the way, you must rent a car when you come to LA...and you must also go to San Diego as it's only two hours away) the Pacific Coast Highway. We stopped by Laguna Beach, which is probably one of the most beautiful and scenic places in all of America. We first stopped by Heisler Park, which is a gorgeous garden that sits atop a cliff overlooking the beach. We then decided to go to Crescent Bay Beach which is like a mile north of the Main Beach area, but far more private and scenic. Just park on any residential street and walk down the hill by the houses until you get all the way down. There are bathrooms and places to rinse off. We spent about two hours here before we began driving down the coast again towards San Diego. Also, further south is Laguna Niguel which is a bit more affluent. People stay at the Ritz here but honestly, a day trip is more than enough!

We arrived in San Diego on Day 4 and spent 4 days altogether which was the perfect amount. San Diego is a beautiful and clean city. It has a skyline, a beach, a seaport, great dining options and hotels. However, hate to make the comparison again, it is basically the boring version of Miami. And there are no hotels along the beach here. These are the must sees in San Diego:

1) La Jolla Cove: Sea lions in their natural habitat in crystal blue water you can swim in. You'll never experience anything like this. It's just about half an hour outside of downtown San Diego. You'll just need good luck with parking. If you can't find, double park and take turns going down the stairs to the beach. And make sure to go in the caves which I was told to do afterwards and deeply regret.

2) San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park: Worth every penny and includes free parking. But you don't really need a car in San Diego as everything is in close proximity. Uber will do. And anyone who tells you "this is just a zoo" is mistaken. The landscaping itself is out of this world! And the animal exhibits are far more impressive than anything we have at the Bronx Zoo. Six hours here is more than enough.

3) Seaworld: Don't watch the documentary "Blackfish" before you go. Be prepared to pay a lot more than you would at the zoo but again, you will get your money's worth. The shows are amazing and scattered throughout the day. This is the main draw. The signage around the park is pretty awful and you'll find yourself going in circles. You'll get the hang of it by the very end. Go on the weekend when you can catch the Sesame Street Parade (new as of 2017). If you go the week of 4th of July, there are fireworks several nights of the week starting at 10pm...if you have survived the day, stick around for these although we didn't. You can do the whole park in like 10 hours. Food here is crappy but you can't bring food in so you don't have much choice. And you must pay for parking.

4) Gaslamp District: Spend an evening here. Not really the best with kids but we dragged them anyway. Lots of amazing places to dine and an amazing vibe. Lots of outdoor seating, bars, and gorgeous restaurants. The pedicabs here are adorable! You can bargain with any of the bicyclists and get them down but we decided to just walk around and not pay the $40 fair for half an hour.

5) Little Italy: Dine here one evening. We didn't get around to it but we had our uber driver pass through and stop by a pizza place (best pizza I've ever had in my life). The area was super cute and I wish we were able to explore more here! Much better dining options for children than Gaslamp.

6) Old San Diego: Probably best to go here a couple of hours during the day. We didn't get around to it but this is Old San Diego in all it's glory with Spanish style architecture all around.

7) Coronado Island: We had a few hours left with our rent a car so we decided to drive 10 minutes from our hotel and drive through this small Island across the bay. This was a glorious place in the 1960s for celebrities. But honestly, nothing about it fascinated me. There is a sand beach here but too massive for my taste. And the Coronado Hotel is historic and worth driving by. But you can skip this altogether. There is ferry service offered at Seaport Village but then you'd have to take an uber once you get to the island to get to the beach anyway.

8) Balboa Park: This is a huge park. San Diego Zoo is within this park and is huge in an of itself. That should give you a good idea how big it is. There are museums and gardens all around here but we just didn't have enough energy or time to stay after our day at the Zoo. Another big regret!

9) Stay at the Manchester Grand Hyatt and no where else. This was a phenomenal hotel with a fantastic pool deck and great amenities for the kids. Fantastic food. Fantastic views. Close proximity to everything. And best views of the 4th of July fireworks (although we didn't realize at the time that we should have stayed on the pool deck and brought sweaters to watch). We ended up watching from our room but the closest and most impressive views were at the pool deck!

10) Seaport Village: Just a super charming area on the San Diego Bay with restaurants and beautiful landscaping and architecture. Unfortunately, I was told that in a few years, developers will buy it from the local government and build hotels on the strip. This is the most tragic thing I heard when i was there. Definitely visit San Diego before this historic part is gone!

Click here for a list of reviews of other vacations and road trips.

Don't forget to check the gallery above (best viewed on desktop for captions), videos below, and add your feedback in the comments section! Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see my next adventure! And share with your friends if you appreciate this page.

Tongva Park - Santa Monica

Tongva Park - Santa Monica

Third Street Promenade - Santa Monica

Courtyard by Marriott - Santa Monica

Courtyard By Marriott - Santa Monica

Santa Monica Pier

Ocean Avenue - Santa Monica Beach

Venice Beach Boardwalk

Heisler Park - Laguna Beach

Crescent Bay Beach - Laguna Beach

La Jolla Cove - San Diego

San Diego Zoo

Seaport Village - San Diego

Seaworld San Diego

Gaslamp Quarter - San Diego

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Italy

May 25, 2018

Milan, Como, Cernobbio, Bellagio, Venice, Florence

price varies

Optimum Seasons: Spring and Fall (way too hot and humid in the summer)

Gallery

No country in this world compares to Italy. The beauty, the food, the gorgeous men, the history, the shopping, the nature, the art, and so on. Of course, I am saying this having only been to a handful of countries in my life. But I don't care. I'm pretty certain nothing comes close! If you have the patience to forgive their transit system and their inefficiency as a people compared to Americans (you will acquire the patience if you don't have it intrinsically), this is the best place on earth and every human alive has to save their money and take a trip here at least once.

So basically, I went here for a destination wedding in Lake Como. I was based in Milan for the week (you will find the cheapest round trip flights to Milan...Venice and Florence are generally more expensive). You can see any northern Italian city via mass transit within a 3 hour drive or ride from Milan. So it's a great starting point. And contrary to popular and ignorant belief, Milan is truly a beautiful city.....

Milan

You must stay in a hotel in Milan's center. My husband and I stayed at the much recommended and affordable Starhotels E.c.ho. right across Milan's Centrale Station (if you have Starwood points, book through them). This made travel to other cities super easy and efficient. If we weren't within close proximity to the main station, we would have to take a taxi or subway to the main station and then ride several hours to another city. This would have been very exhausting. Plus, you would have to pay for the cab ride which is expensive in Milan (make sure you download the Mytaxi app which I should have done). By staying in Milan's center, you should easily be within an hour walking distance from all the must see attractions:

1) the iconic Duomo: hit the roof to get impressive views of Milan

2) Navigli: take a stroll along the canal where you'll find plenty of cute shops

3) Galleria Vittoria Emanuele: across the Duomo and a beautiful landmark with high end shops

4) The Last Supper: Da Vinci's famous mural

5) La Scala: A beautiful opera house. Take a tour of the theater if you are able.

6) Bosco Verticale: one of the most famous residential buildings in the world

7) Brera Design District: get lost in this neighborhood full of cafes and awesome shops

8) Parco Sempionecastello Sforzesco: walk around the castle grounds and then the park

9) La Rinascente: luxury department store near the Duomo. You can have lunch on the roof here which has views of Milan.

10) via Monte Napoleone: high end shopping at its finest

11) 10 Corso Como: high end concept store.

As far as dining is concerned.....you cannot fail anywhere in Italy. I will not bother providing a list of restaurants. You should just walk, find a nice restaurant, look at what people are eating, and make a decision as you go. There's no point to map out places to dine and be overwhelmed with more on your itinerary, unless you are planning to stay in Milan for a week and have ample time to hit up some iconic restaurants. Otherwise, everything in this country is delicious and easy on the stomach! The cafes are to die for! My only one recommendation is to not leave Milan without having a panzerotto from Luini's bakery (near Duomo).

Florence

Aesthetically, Florence isn't all that. It is a dark and gloomy city. Very old. Not a lot of color. But for those who love art and history, this city is a must see. It is home of the Renaissance. And just an hour and a half away from Milan by train. It is worth the day trip if you have enough time in Italy (but it really ranks all the way at the bottom of beautiful Italian cities for me, so if you have to skip a city, this is the one to skip!)

Remember that trains operate like airplanes in Italy. There are delays. There are cancellations. They get booked. Prices fluctuate depending on when you purchase the ticket and what train-line you book with. Best to book in advance so you get a better deal and know for certain you will get a spot on a train.

From Stazione S. M. Novelle (the main train station), you can start walking towards Santa Maria Novella, then Piazza San Lorenzo, and then Piazza del Duomo where you will find the famous cathedral and Giotto bell tower. After navigating the narrow and dark streets of Florence, you will be in complete awe as soon as you arrive at this spacious piazza with this exquisite and massive Church made of marble. If you ask me, this is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.

Just south of Duomo is Piazza della Repubblica and Piazza del Signoria which has a copy of Michaelangelo's "David" (the original was moved into a museum). You will also find Palazzo Vecchio and Galleria degli Uffizi, one of the oldest, largest and best known art museums in the world. I didn't have enough time to enter any of these iconic and historic buildings, but they are as beautiful, if not more, from the inside.

Then head to Ponte Vecchio (the only remaining bridge after the bombings of World War II) which you will need to cross to get to the other side of the Arno River. You have most likely seen friends' photos on this very famous bridge which overlooks the green and polluted river and a row of colorful buildings. With its cute shops, Ponte Vecchio is unlike any bridge in the city.

Now if you are only planning a day trip, you MUST cross Ponte Vecchio and go to Boboli Gardens in Palazzo Piti. There are lots of sculptures in this park which used to be part of the Medici estate (a prominent and wealthy Italian family centuries ago). Go to the very top where you should find Forte Belvardere (which I didn't) and experience magnificent views of all of Florence. There is also an exquisite Italian rose garden at the very top!

Head back to the train station and cross Ponte Santa Trinita. Once off the bridge you will arrive onto via dei Tornabuoni, the Fifth Avenue of Florence. But beware, store are only open between 10-1 pm and 4-7:30 pm. Plan your high end shopping wisely.

Deepest Regrets in Florence:

I didn't have time to visit the Great Synagogue of Florence, go to the top of Piazzale Michelangela to get a view of all the city (which is breathtaking at night), or go inside any museum. Also, I would have liked to stay into the evening but we had to return to Milan for other wedding related events. I basically was able to do all I did within 7 hours and on foot (no need to take a taxi anywhere here). From the main station to Boboli Gardens (southern most point) is at most a 40 minute walk. Just make sure to walk by every piazza and building I mentioned and use your navigation. The city is so small you are bound to walk past them unknowingly anyway!!!

Cernobbio/Como

A little geography lesson here before I proceed. Como is the main town on the southern most tip of Lake Como (which from top to bottom is a two hour drive). If you arrive by train, you will have to go through the town of Como to get to any other town you are lodging in. The town of Como itself has enough to see and make a day trip out of. However, I highly recommend not doing a day trip and actually staying for two nights here (this town is the most convenient base to stay so you can explore the other towns on the lake by ferry or hydrofoil). Como isn't the only charming town on the lake. There are numerous others that are as beautiful, and with ample time, you can hit at least three of the small towns in one day via ferry service (takes two hours to get from Como to Bellagio with stops along the way).

Beware that the transit system is delayed here. And you won't really understand the ferry schedules unless you read Italian. So be careful to plan your day accordingly because if you miss the ferry you would have to wait at least an hour for the next one. And if you miss the hydrofoil (which is only 45 minutes to Bellagio from Como), you will have to wait several more hours to catch the next once. Tips: if you are pressed for time, pay a little more and take the hydrofoil. But supposedly, the hydrofoil goes so fast that it creates mist and you are unable to appreciate the views around you. Ferry is cheaper and super relaxing. There are cafes on the ferry so you can grab a latte, sit down and enjoy. You can find a schedule at any ferry stop (ask the front desk of your hotel or the locals where the closest stop is). I also highly suggest taking a boat one way and a bus on the way back. The bus is basically only 3 euros per person and it is an experience in and of itself to drive through the windy streets by the lake and see all the homes along the way. Ask your hotel for the bus schedule at each town.

The wedding I attended was located in the town of Cernobbio, just a ten minute yet $20 dollar taxi ride away from the train station in the town of Como. Cernobbio is a super charming town and has two of the most popular villas on Lake Como: Villa Erba and Villa d' Este (I took many videos but they all got erased from my phone....the pictures are in the gallery though). If you have tons of money to blow, you should stay at Villa d' Este. If you don't, dining here is enough and will get the job done. You get to see the entire grounds of this exquisite estate for a fraction of the price. And the restaurant on the lake is absolutely fantastic! They may be getting stricter allowing people on the property who aren't staying there...so you may be disappointed once you arrive at the front gate and find that you cannot access the grounds. Don't say I didn't tell you so. Thank G-d we were fortunate enough to have lunch here and experience one of the greatest days of my life.

We stayed at the super clean and modern Sheraton Lake Como (again, a Starwood hotel so book through them if you have points. If not, get a deal through tripadvisor.com). I highly recommend the breakfast here. The showers are fantastic. The rooms are wonderful. The pool is great. The location is perfect. And the price is affordable. Although it's not as quaint and charming as the other hotels around Lake Como, you will leave feeling completely satisfied. It was just a 20 minute walk to Villa d' Este from here and a 5 minute bus drive from the main train station in the town of Como (and a 5 minute walk from the bus stop). And a 7 minute walk to the Cernobbio ferry dock.

Bellagio

Claimed to be one of the most beautiful towns in Europe, you would be a fool to stay at Como and not visit this enchanting cobble-stoned village with lake views . It is small enough to walk the whole town in less than two to four hours (depending on how much you want to shop and whether you plan on dining). Honestly, that is all I had time to do as we arrived here the very second it started pouring rain and the temperature dropped 10 degrees. But here is a list of things you must do in Bellagio if you aren't pressed for time...and remember, if you've come all this way by ferry, you should definitely hop back on and go to the neighboring town of Varenna (it will be much longer to do this with a car or bus, so you should definitely inquire about a round trip to Varenna via boat) on the other side of the lake. And don't worry, the town in the pouring rain is still as charming as can be. Zero regrets after my 4 hour round trip commute to get here. Tip: Travel here in May or June. I here July and August are unbearable humid and muggy. Also, you must visit Villa Serbelloni Park which I did not have the time to do nor did the weather permit.

Venice

Aright. I'm not gonna say much here. Except that Venice is single handedly the most beautiful city in the world. Finished. No argument. And to all the buffoons who ever suggested otherwise, I feel very sorry for your souls. You must take a day trip here from Milan. (If you are torn between Florence and Venice...you must do Venice. If you are torn between Cinque Terre and Venice, you must do Venice. If you are torn between Lake Como and Venice, you must do Venice. If you have enough time to do all, make sure you do Venice first in case G-d intends for you to get a stomach virus later in the week). It will be two hours and fifteen minutes by local train. I couldn't find an express but they definitely do exist. Also, make sure you book a round trip train ticket to Venezia Santa Lucia station (there are two Venice train stations and I booked one way to one and one way back from another....you can imagine the irreparable damage this did to my marriage).

Venice is made up of 6 quarters: Santa Marco, San Polo, Santa Croce, Cannaregio (home of the first Jewish Ghetto and the oldest synagogue in Europe), Dorsoduro and Castello. You'll have enough time, if you are here the whole day, to walk through all and not tire yourself. More than anything, you must walk the windy streets of Venice and just take in every inch of the city. Also, there are vaparettos right outside the main train station ready to take you by boat to stops along the Grand Canal (the widest canal that divides Venice in half). You will pay at most $15 per person round trip and each time you get on, you can use the ticket for up to 70 minutes after. So if you saw everything you needed to within an hour, hop right back on and go on to the next quarter. And if you are in a particularly unlawful and Italian mood (they don't seem to care much about rules and regulations here), two of you can swipe once and go through the turnstile together. At least me and my husband got away with it! And if you are feeling extra romantic, definitely pay a gondolier $100 cash for 25 minutes (will cost more after 7pm) and ride around the narrow canals of Venice. And as far as dining is concerned, remember what I first said about Italy. Just look at an outdoor cafe's menu, whether the food looks appetizing, whether the prices are within budget, and just sit down and enjoy your meal!!!

So here is a list of all the places to pin on your google maps and make sure you see while you are here:

1) Piazzo San Marco: St Marks Basilica (oldest Church and byzantine), Campanile (bell tower) and Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace) are all located here, as well as very expensive cafes and high end shops.

2) Riva degli Schiavoni is elegant street that runs south of Piazza San Marco along the Grand Canal.

3) When leaving San Marco cross Accedemia bridge to see Santa Maria della Salute, Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and Gallerie dell'Accademia

4) While you are on the vaporetto on the Grand Canal, keep your eyes wide open as not to miss Ca' d'Oro

5) Definitely stop by the Jewish Ghetto, whether you are or not. It is just beautiful to see.

For those who are staying for two or three days, you will have ample time to take a ferry and visit the charming islands of Murano and Burano off the main island.

My deepest regret was not staying in Venice through the sunset and until nightfall. But I was here on the most perfect and picturesque day in May and I couldn't have asked for a better way to end this most memorable trip of my life!!!

And if you have more time in Northern Italy: People rave about Cinque Terre. But I have also heard that it is not as vibrantly colored as it appears in pictures, that the commute is utter torture, and the hike isn't super easy. The guide books don't tell you much about transportation to or within Cinque Terre (and it is three hours away from Milan including a train transfer). I do not regret missing this city during this particular week, but if I don't go back to see it once in my life, I'll have died an unfulfilled person. Also, Portafino and Stresa are said to be beautiful but neither should take more than 2 hours of your day.

Click on the gallery above (best viewed on a desktop for captions) to view pictures and the videos below to get a better idea. Don't forget to add your feedback by clicking on the comments section! And follow me on instagram and facebook for live adventures! Share with your friends if you appreciate this page.

MILAN

BELLAGIO

COMO/CERNOBBIO

VENICE

FLORENCE

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Toronto and Niagara Falls, Canada

June 2, 2017

Toronto, Niagara Falls, Niagara on the Lake, Canada

price varies

Optimum Seasons: Summer

Gallery

I went to Toronto for a week in the summer of 2015. Last I was there was twenty years ago. I decided to go back with my children and husband to kill a few birds with one stone: 1) visit my sister and her children and husband who live there; and 2) visit Niagara Falls over the 4th of July weekend. Last time I went, I had a mustache, braces, a 24/7 doody bun, and a 5 person family crammed in a maroon Nissan Maxima with no cell phone, no ipad, and no cd player. We drove from NYC to Niagara Falls for a couple days, and then to Toronto. The drive was at least 8 hours and on the way we stopped at some waterfalls in upstate New York....all before google maps. I can't imagine how much more charming this drive would be with an SUV and communication devices. But I was so traumatized that I decided to take a flight to Toronto this time and drive to Niagara falls which is one and a half hours away. The flight costs a lot of money for such a short distance because of international tax, so I highly recommend driving and googling about things to do on the drive to Toronto from NYC. It would be a great experience with the children!

Anyway, we stayed at my sister's beautiful home for a week. She was basically our Toronto tour guide. She told us the musts: go to Ripley's Aquarium of Canada (in downtown Toronto), take a ferry from downtown to Centre Island (a magical island with beautiful views of the Toronto skyline, an amusement park, beautiful gardens, concession stands, and a beach), experience a Toronto Blue Jays game, take a drive through Toronto's affluent neighborhoods of Bridle Path and Forest Hills, and enjoy designer shopping on Bloor Street and Yorkville. Toronto has come a long way in the 20 years since I've been there. The skyline is ever evolving, and the city is so clean and beautiful. And Canadians are all so nice! I highly recommend this trip with the family. Except mass transit in Toronto is horrific and you should get ready for massive traffic. Best to get a hotel in downtown Toronto!

My second leg of the vacation was a weekend getaway to Niagara Falls which was only a one and a half hour drive from Toronto. We stayed in the Hilton which was a couple of blocks from the Horseshoe Falls. Make sure you request a falls view room on a higher floor. It gives you the most magnificent view of the two falls and the entire neighborhood. And you get to watch the 4th of July fireworks on the American side while your children sleep soundly in bed. The Hilton has a great indoor pool as well. The Niagara Falls neighborhood is very small and very easy to navigate. Just get a map from the front desk of your hotel. This trip is a rite of passage for all children who live in NYC! Definitely go once as a family!

On our drive back to my sister's home in Toronto, we stopped by Niagara on the Lake, which is Toronto's Hamptons! It was such a beautiful and charming town with great places to dine outdoors. Ask one of the locals which way to the lake and they'll point you in the right direction. It's worth the three block walk! You won't be disappointed! There are also lots of wineries between Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake. No shortage of things to do! My pictures in the gallery cover it all!

Check out the videos below of our view of the fireworks from the Hilton room in Niagara Falls. And the Hilton penthouse restaurant (where we had our daily breakfast). Also, you'll get an idea of how spectacular the Ripley's Aquarium is!

Click on the gallery above (best viewed on a desktop for captions), the videos below to get a better sense of the area, and add your feedback by clicking on the comments section below! Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see my next adventure! And share with your friends if you appreciate this page!

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El San Juan, San Juan Puerto Rico

March 21, 2017

San Juan, Puerto Rico

price varies

Optimum Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

Me on my husband went here in the winter of 2009 on our mini-moon. This had a lot to do with me being too lazy to renew my passport and very little to do with my actual desire to go to Puerto Rico over the million other sexy places the Caribbean has to offer for people who just got married and have no children. If I were to do this all over again, I would have waited to have children and until they were teenagers before going to Puerto Rico.

We stayed in El San Juan hotel. This was a decent hotel literally 5 minute drive from the airport. It is right next to the Ritz Carlton which is a few notches above in class and probably price. I wasn't too impressed by the color of the ocean and nothing about the grounds or hotel was particularly so beautiful. They had a few great restaurants in the hotel lobby. They also had a taco bell and pizza hut located on the street right outside the hotel in case you're a fan of fast food! The big problem with this strip is that there isn't much else to do.

One night we decided to go to dinner in Old San Juan, a very charming and colonial port town located in San Juan. You are able to walk the cobblestone streets and see the whole town probably in short of two hours. This is definitely a must. It was a good 20 minute cab ride from our hotel, however the hotels closer to Old San Juan don't have sand beaches like those of ours so that is why we chose to stay at El San Juan hotel.

Also, Puerto Rico is all about nature and exploration. Me and my husband did our first and last hike up of our entire eight year marriage on this trip. We wanted to go see a waterfall in the mountain. This is probably as close to doing something exotic as I will ever get. But I'm sure this is much more beautiful in Hawaii or other places in the world. This was also a half hour cab ride from our hotel.

We also were convinced to go canoeing in a bioluminiscent bay (where you can see the animals in the water at night because of the reflection of the moon...which makes them appear to glow. Or at least I think that's the reason). This ended up being the worst money we ever spent in our lives. If your husband doesn't know his right from his left, and neither of you have ever canoed before, be prepared to have your canoe toed. Literally, a neighboring canoe had to throw a rope our way so they can get us back to shore.

Basically, the only thing I really adored about Puerto Rico was the proximity to New York and Old San Juan. No other Caribbean island has a town this historic and beautiful (maybe they do, but I haven't been to them yet).

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Montego Bay, Jamaica

March 3, 2017

Montego Bay, Jamaica

price varies

Optimum Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

www.iberostar.com

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We went here in the summer of 2011. This was my first experience ever at an all inclusive hotel. Besides Jamaicans and the lazy river at this Iberostar hotel, there is not much else I can say about Montego Bay except for: skip it! The water (maybe it was just a bad season?) was dirtier than Jones Beach. The weather was rainy and dreary. The hotel was average. The food was average.

My biggest regret here is not visiting Negril, or staying in Negril! There is much more charm on this end of the island and much more exposure to Jamaican culture! Perhaps stay here on a honeymoon with no children!

Click on the gallery above to view pictures, the videos below to get a better sense of the area, and add your feedback by clicking on the comments section below! And follow me on facebook and instagram to catch live adventures! Share the page with friends if you appreciate!

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Gansevoort, Turks and Caicos

March 1, 2017

Providencias, Turks and Caicos

price varies

Optimum Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

www.ganseevort.com

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Back in the fall of 2011, this was still a rather new hotel. There were plenty of deals offered through travel agents. It cost us roughly 350 a night including breakfast (the most amazing breakfast I have ever had at any hotel stay). It also included free kayaking. It is unheard of to spend that little these days if you stay in a boutique hotel in Turks and Caicos. I went right before the island became extremely popular.

This is by far my favorite of all Caribbean Islands I have visited. The service is impeccable. The food is fresh and amazing. There are plenty of beautiful hotels on the strip. The sand is white and the ocean is bluer and calmer than any you have ever seen (tied with Cayman Islands). We dined at different hotels during our 6 night stay just to get in as much of the island as possible. Also, for some reason, my husband urged me to go parasailing. He was in a very generous mood with his money. This was an amazing, albeit ridiculously expensive, experience.

Before we booked, we were deciding between Ganseevort, a modern and chic boutique hotel verse Regent Palms, which was in a better location (both the ocean there is nicer and it is more central). Regent Palms would have been a better choice as we had a young toddler and there weren't any children friendly activities at Ganseevort. The Regent Palms had a bigger pool that was shallow in many areas. Though they were comparable in price, I still do not regret the decision. Both hotels are excellent and you will be hard pressed to find any such deal today. So if you have deep pockets, this is the island for you!

Click on the gallery above to view pictures and add your feedback by clicking on the comments section below! And follow me on facebook and instagram to catch live adventures! Share the page with friends if you appreciate!

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RIU Palace Bavara, Punta Cana

March 1, 2017

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

price varies

Optimum Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

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I went on this vacation in the summer of 2014. I was pretty apprehensive to book as I had heard horror stories of people's trips to the Dominican. People alleged the drinking water wasn't clean and that they'd had stomach bugs for days. But the pics of the beautiful beach with palm trees and the crystal blue waters were too tempting. I booked the hotel through a travel agent. None of my friends ever stayed at the RIU Palace Bavaro. They had stayed at the neighboring sister hotel, RIU Palace. The decor in Bavara is more modern as opposed to the Spanish style in the original RIU Palace. Both are all inclusive hotels with breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets as well as several restaurants on the property (also included in the very fair price). The grounds at both properties are picturesque and even though we went during hurricane season (kids have no school and there are better deals), we didn't experience bad weather. Nor did any of us have intestinal problems! Also, make sure you get a program guide from the front desk of the hotel. When we were there, one night they had a fantastic Michael-Jackson-impersonator concert.

My only gripe with Punta Cana was the airport. Even though it was the coolest I've ever seen (decor-wise), the customs line was an utter disaster. You are not allowed to wait on the line with the stroller, so it may be best to do this trip older children.

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Disney World

February 27, 2017

Orlando, FL

price varies

Optimum Seasons: Winter, Spring, Fall

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For those who don't know me, it's important to know that I am a very cynical and impatient person! I am not into long lines. I am not into overproduction or rides or excessive spending. Going to big supermarkets or shopping malls overwhelm me! My husband is the complete opposite! Since the moment we had our first child, he's been nagging me about a Disney World trip! I've been dodging his requests for roughly seven years but finally caved after Zika took over the Caribbean Islands and Miami!

So what did I do to make this experience as painless as possible? Research! I posted a facebook status about whether this was a suicide mission with two young children, and the answers were split down the middle. For the first time in my life, I decided to listen to people who had a positive experience rather than a negative one! The feedback: download the "My Disney Experience" app; watch youtube videos of Disney rides with your children so they are mentally prepared and pumped up for the trip; sign up for three fast passes per park (which allows you to go on the line that moves faster....figure an average of 10 minutes instead of 60). After you have used all 3 fast passes that day, you are able to pick a fast pass for another ride. And after you have used the 4th, another one. And so on.

So basically, it is important to know what the three most popular rides are at each park. After I downloaded the Disney World App and registered, I was able to look at the Wait Times (there is a tab on the left) at each park (you are able to sort by park), and figured out which three to tackle first. This made the experience so much more pleasant and organized! Other than snapping at my husband several times for walking too slow, the week went by very smoothly and I couldn't have been more content with this amazing trip! To see the joy on my childrens' faces, to see the creativity and the detail that went into designing every ride, to marvel at the beautiful landscaping and the nightly fireworks, and to visit several countries in the span of two hours in Epcot....no experience is comparable!

As far as the hotel accommodations, we booked through CostcoTravel.com which always has the best deals! We stayed at the Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas which was an 150 acre property with 7 pools, one of which had a water slide. This is a time share and CostcoTravel warned us not to accept any person who was trying to sell them to us. What they didn't tell us was that for every time we wanted to leave the property, we'd have to take a shuttle to the hotel lobby and then we were able to call an uber to take us to the parks. Magic Kingdom and Epcot had a direct shuttle but Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios did not. So this made the travel experience undesirable. However, the hotel had a full kitchen and we got a one bedroom (upgraded to two bedroomsand two full bathrooms for free). Also, make sure you look at a map of the property when you are checking in and you request a room in an area you prefer. I was under the impression that there was one big pool with a water slide. Then I looked at the map and realized there was only one of seven pools with a water slide and that was a huge draw for me. But each area offers a perk of it's own! The arcade and restaurant were on the other side of the property that I was originally located in.

I spent a total of $350 a night including a five day hopper pass to four Disney parks...which is pretty insane! That means you can hop the parks (this is a gimmick, you will rarely go to two parks in one day because you can spend at least 6 hours at each) and have 5 days to go to any one you choose in any combination. I could have gone to Epcot 5 times, or 4 times and 1 time Magic Kingdom. I ended up doing Each park once, and Epcot (my favorite) twice!

Things to Know About Each Park (Comfort Is Key!!! Sneakers Only!!!!):

Magic Kingdom: This is the park to see if you have to choose one! The most rides are here! Cinderella's Castle is here! The parades are here! The most characters are here! This is iconic Disney! And if you are into airplane food, they have a Burger restaurant that sells prepackaged Glatt Kosher Hamburgers and Chicken Nuggets (I preferred eating air).

Epcot: If you want to travel the world but you find it too mentally demanding to go with the children, this is the place for you! Plus, this is a great way to expose your kids to science as the rides are very educational! By far my favorite park. Be prepared for a very long day, and best to visit this twice. The countries are worth seeing both day and night! And make sure you check the guide map they offer to see what countries have which characters, as the App doesn't specify.

Animal Kingdom: You can totally skip this park. It had two of the best rides in all of Disney (River Rapids and Safari), but all in all, it was pretty disgusting! I felt like I was in a third world country. The Bronx Zoo is much more scenic and you get to see all the same animals! And Great Adventure has a River Rapids ride. Totally scratch this off your list if you don't feel like wasting money! The best thing here was the Rainforest Cafe, which is actually located right outside the front entrance, so you don't have to pay for the park to experience this restaurant!

Hollywood Studios: This is the smallest of all the parks. If you are not into Star Wars, you don't really need to go. However, Beauty and Beast is a terrific half hour show with great music! You get to meet Buzz and Woody here! There are many opportunities to watch shows in 3D. The best thing about this park is that the fireworks start earlier (at 7:45), so young children can last! Unfortunately, there was torrential downpour by the end of our drizzly day and our Fantasmic! show was cancelled. We ended up watching the fireworks from a distance in our uber ride home!

Also, it's best that you ask a Disney employee to link your park card (pass) to the PhotoPass. This way, the photographers can scan your card and the pictures will appear (with a watermark) on your App. Make sure you take a lot of pictures so it's worth purchasing all of them for a whopping $169. Otherwise, you have to pay $14 per pic. You can "find photographers" on the app as well so you make this feature worthwhile! What's great about this is you can purchase afterwards if you like the pictures, and if you are too cheap, you can still screen grab with the watermarks to at least save the memory! I purchased mine cause there were more than 10 great pictures.

My children are 4 and 6 years old. I found this an ideal time to go to Disney. When they are tall enough to go on most rides, and they are young enough to still love me. I went when I was 12, and let me tell you, puberty does not mix well with Disney!

My Top Ten Rides:

1) Soarin' (Epcot)

2) Splash Mountain (Magic Kingdom)

3) Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Magic Kingdom)

4) Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (Magic Kingdom)

5) Kali River Rapids (Animal Kingdom)

6) Kilimanjaro Safaris (Animal Kingdom)

7) Test Track (Epcot)

8) Tomorrowland Speedway (Magic Kingdom)

9) Toy Story Mania! (Hollywood Studios)

10) Astro Orbiter (Magic Kingdom): go during sunset or in the evening.

Rides to Skip:

1) Haunted Mansion (Magic Kingdom): not that Haunted!

2) Journey Into Imagination With Figment (Epcot): complete waste of time!

3) Jungle Cruise (Magic Kingdom): the knock off and fake version of Safari in Animal Kingdom. Fake animals!

4) The Twighlight Zone Tower of Terror (Hollywood Studios): this is great if you like throwing up in your mouth!

Biggest Regrets:

1) Mickey Fantasmic Show (Hollywood Studios): It was drizzling all day. This was supposed to be a 30 minute water illumination show with fireworks at the end (started at 7pm). Unfortunately, three minutes into the show it start pouring and they had to cancel. This was gonna be the highlight of our trip and our kids had enough energy to appreciate the fireworks! Besides the show, I believe there are other, grander fireworks that occur about 15 minutes after the show ends. We caught this from the parking lot!

2) Festival of The Lion King (Animal Kingdom): Probably my biggest regret was missing this show. It was our second day at Disney and I didn't think my children had the endurance to last. But by the third day and the Beauty and the Beast show at Hollywood Studios, I realized that my kids actually love shows! Big shame because this was one of the best ones in all four parks! And my son loves "The Lion King".

3) Rivers of Light (Animal Kingdom): This is a show that starts at night (but early evening, about a half hour after the sun goes down). Again, this was my second day at the park and I didn't realize my children had enough endurance to get through this show! Just wanted to go back to our hotel room!

4) Mount Everest (Animal Kingdom): Our six year old son (who is short for his age) was the right height (44 inches and taller) but too scared. So neither parent wanted to go on the ride alone. But this is probably one of the top three roller coasters in disney.

5) Aerosmith Rock N' Roller (Hollywood Studios): Neither child was allowed to go on this ride. Height requirement is 48 inches. And this is supposedly the best ride in all four parks. Big shame....until next time :)

Kill a few birds with one stone: Visit Disney Boardwalk which is as charming as Epcot but costs $0, unless you dine here. Also, if you have extra time on your hands, visit Orlando Premium Outlets on Vineland Avenue for high end designer shopping (even though I came home empty handed!)

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