"Wayne Newton Predicated the World Would End in 2012", Huh? - Our Adventures in Tulum, Mexico

Those were the words muttered by our eco tour guide at Xpu-Ha Palace. We shared a laugh as we explained that Wayne Newton was a performer in Vegas and that he probably meant Issac Newton. Trip Tip: The Mayan calendar ends in 2012 and there will be a huge event on New Year's Eve 2011 at the Coba ruins, so book soon if you're interested.

I love Tulum for many reasons: the historical ruins, the beautiful beaches and the warm people. We have visited three times now, but I have to say our last trip was the best. We stayed at the all-inclusive Dreams Tulum and the name really does fit. Trip Tip: It is a long drive from the Cancun airport, so be sure to purchase private transfers so you don't have to make multiple drop-offs along the way. We booked a Hacienda Room with a Cheap Caribbean Super Saver rate, but were offered a complimetary upgrade to a Hacienda Suite on check-in. The bed was really comfortable and the living room area was nice for those lazy room service nights. The resort offers several restaurant options all of which we found to be amazingly good. My fave were the handrolls from the Gohan Sushi Bar. We also enjoyed the artisan's market they set up several evenings during the week. Trip Tip: Bring cash - none of the gift shops, artisan booths or photo providers can do room charges. The nightly movies on the beach and cool ocean breeze were the perfect way to relax after a day of fun in the sun.

We ventured off-property a few times as well to explore our surroundings. We spent a day at Xel-Ha snorkeling through schools of tropical fish. Highlight: We caught a glimpse of a stingray hiding in the sand. The Tulum ruins are a must do. Here you will learn about the significance of the honey bee in ancient Mayan culture. Trip Tip: Wear your swimsuit under your clothes, so you can take a walk and a dip on one of the world's best beaches. We also took a taxi into Tulum city one day for lunch and shopping. Try the seafood platter at El Mariachi - it was delicious. For handblown glasses and other art pieces, visit Mixic Artesania.

How Do I Look In These Ears?

A few years back, we decided to visit the land of the Mouse - Disney World. We landed at the Orlando airport and followed the signs directly to the Magical Express bus. No need to worry about your luggage - they pick it up and transport it directly to your hotel so that it is waiting in your room once you check-in - talk about service. We decided to stay at the Pop Century hotel, one of 3 hotels in Disney's budget line, and our rate was only $79 a night. The hotel is comprised of several 3 story buildings each with a decade theme - imagine larger than life surf board and Rubik's cube sculptures. The rooms are simple and clean, and there are several pools on the property that can be accessed early in the morning or late at night if you want to avoid the kiddo crowd. The hotel has a cafeteria-like restaurant where you can grab breakfast before catching the bus to that day's activities. Cool fact: If you stay at a Disney hotel, you can charge everything from food to souvenirs to your room card so that you don't have to carry cash or credit cards through the parks; if you purchase something at a store while at one of the parks, they will have it sent to your room so that you don't have to carry it around all day.

Main Parks

Disney World - Nothing brings out the kid in you like the rides at this park. I found myself laughing out loud as Alex and I spun round and round in the Mad Hatter's teacups. Other faves included the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. We also enjoyed shopping on Main Street and trying on a variety of hats including my favorite - the Cheshire Cat hat. Cool fact: Disney's FastPass allows you to pull a ticket that tells you what time to come back to the ride - this allows you to use the FastPass line for that attraction instead of the regular line and lessens your wait time considerably.

Epcot Center - If you want to travel the world in one day, this place is for you. You can stroll easily from country to country trying native delicacies and shopping for items like authentic beer steins bigger than your head. One of my favorites at this park was Soarin' where you fly over the California landscape. Cool fact: At the Coca-Cola exhibit you can try Coke products from all over the world - it is also air-conditioned and a good place to take a break on a hot day.

Disney MGM Grand - We were there during Star Wars week in May. They had a huge parade with the characters from the film series, and we got great pictures with Darth and some of the Storm Troopers. We ate at the Sci-Fi Dine In where we sat in the front seat of one of 25 or so cars and drank Space Invader margaritas while we watched old Sci-Fi movie clips. Best Moment: I screamed my head off on the Aerosmith roller coaster - that thing really moves - and they captured the moment on film for all to see as we were exiting the ride.

Other Activities

Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon Water Parks - Here we snorkled with sharks and floated on the lazy river.

DisneyQuest at Downtown Disney - This is perfect for a rainy day. We were able to fly on a magic carpet and fight pirates using amazing virtual and interactive technology.

Minature Golf - There are 2 really fun old fashioned minature golf courses on the Disney property. Their fees are not usually included in any of the package deals, but they are well worth it. My fave was the Winter Summerland course where you putt around Christmas-themed obstacles.

Best Meals
We really enjoyed our dinner at Artist Point at the Wilderness Lodge. The Penn Cove Mussell appetizer was buttery and delicious and they offered a good selection of wines. We timed our dinner just right and were able to view the firework show as the boat took us back to the main park.

We also dined one evening at Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. They offer an expansive buffet with cuisine inspired by various African countries. It is an experience!

Be sure to make reservations well in advance of your visit for both of these restaurants.

Holiday in DC

This is our 2nd trip to Washington DC during a holiday season. December is one of the better times of year to visit, with shorter lines for all of the attractions and good rates at area hotels. We traveled with our good friends, the Sebestas, and both stayed in the Capitol Hill area about a block from Union Station and a few blocks to the National Mall (Monuments and Museums). We stayed at the Holiday Inn on the Hill, which is undergoing a renovation (scheduled to be completed in May of 08), and was a deal at $93. They stayed at the Hotel George for a rate of $140. Their room was very spacious and offered typical Kimpton amenities such as a complimentary wine reception in the evening and L'Occitane bath products.

Day One: We took the Old Town Trolley Tour to Mt. Vernon ($30 per adult). It departs from Union Station and lasts around 5 hrs. We enjoyed the scenic ride through Alexandria to our destination. Mt. Vernon is a definite must see. It is a beautiful estate with gardens and stables. Although it appears daunting, the line for the Mansion tour moves quickly. It is amazing to walk in the footsteps of our 1st President, to see the room where he entertained friends and the study where he pondered the future of our nation. Interesting fact: Washington was 6'2", very tall for a man in those days.

Upon our return from Mt. Vernon, we toured the International Spy Museum ($18 per adult). We all assumed our secret identities and practiced our spy skills as we we wound our way through the history of espionage.

We were exhausted after our adventure, so we headed a few blocks to the District Chophouse for amazing steaks and martinis.

Day Two: Took the Metro to the National Zoo (free admission). This is one of my favorite zoos because the exhibits allow visitors an up close view of the animals. The baby panda put on quite a show of acrobatics in his tree. He is a ham and loved the applause he received. We also viewed the elephant weigh-in which made us all feel better about the extra lbs we put on during the holiday.

We took a cab to Georgetown for shopping and dinner. Dinner tonight was at Martin's Tavern (an old hangout for DC politicians). The oyster stew was delicious.

Day Three: We started off at the National Archives (free admission) to view the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Interesting facts: Only 5 people know where the documents are removed to and stored at night. The mural on the left side of the Document Room contains a cloud that resembles the profile of Lincoln.

Next we toured the Dinosaur exhibit and viewed the Hope Diamond at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum (free admission).

We then ventured next door to the National Gallery of Art. The museum has a large collection including Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Monet, Degas and Renoir to name just a few. This museum is one that people with young kiddos might want to skip as the guards are very strict about how children are carried through and behave in the exhibit.

We ended the day with a fantastic dinner at Bistro Bis at the Hotel George. The mushroom risotto I had was outstanding and the warm beignets with chocolate dipping sauce was the perfect ending. Our server/mixologist was great and made us all feel at home.

Day Four: We walked by the Capitol on our way to the Library Congress. Having recently seen National Treasure 2, I was anxious to get a view of the reading room where part of the movie was staged. The Library may be one of the best kept secrets, as the lines to get in were nonexistent. The architectural design of the interior of this building is breathtaking. Join one of the free tours to learn what each of the design elements mean. Interesting fact: No items can be checked out from this library. To use the reading room for onsite research, you must apply for an identification card.

We next headed over to the Air and Space Museum (free admission and a favorite with the kiddos). We saw all aspects of manned flight from the Wright Brothers plane to rocket ships. If you need a snack, check out the onsite McDonalds/Boston Market. We also viewed the American History exhibit here which includes everything from Lincoln's hat and Washington's uniform to the puffy shirt from Seinfeld and Prince's guitar.

Unbelievably, we fit in an old fashioned carriage ride through the Capitol Hill area (reserve at the Hyatt on New Jersey Ave).

For New Year's Eve, we headed to dinner at Morton's. We were pleased to see it was mostly families with kids, since we had 2 of the younger set in our party as well. You can't go wrong with Morton's lump crab, steaks or chocolate cake. Yum!

All good things must end, but we will return because where else can you find a clean, cosmopolitan, architecturally and historically interesting city where almost all of the attractions are free.

Winding My Way Through Wine Country

I recently had the pleasure of visiting beautiful Sonoma County. There is nothing better than drinking great wine while taking in the picturesque countryside.

We made our homebase a great little European style inn in Petaluma called the Metro Hotel. The rooms are spacious with really comfy beds and clawfoot tubs, and with rates under $120 they are a real steal.

Food, food, glorious food - What else is there to say. We had a fantastic lunch at the girl and the fig in Sonoma Square. Must trys include their appetizer of heirloom radishes served with herbed butter and lavendar sea salt and any of their designer martini creations. We also enjoyed our lite lunch at Ravenous in Healdsburg.

We had a great time during our Gourmet Walking Tour of Healdsburg. Native Darla was a gracious guide and showed us several local food and wine shops. One of my favorite stops was The Flying Goat coffee shop. Try their yummy Baraka Blend (organic and fair trade).

I must also tell you about the Zebra. The knitted Zebra so adorable that I had to make 4 passes by the window of the store before caving into his striped charms. I found this little fellow at Mr. Moon's (very cool gift shop) on Healdsburg Square.

We ended this journey with a relaxing massage and walk in the Zen garden at Osmosis Spa in Freestone. What a life!

The Real San Francisco Treat

I have just returned from one of my favorite cities - San Francisco. Where else can you stroll alongside the world's cultures with the bay breeze blowing through your hair.

We stayed in an artist designed room at the Hotel des Artes. The deep blue palette of the Jet Martinez room with its shimmery silver moon led to peaceful dreams. The location could not be have been better, with the gates of Chinatown across the street and Union Square only footsteps away, and the under $100 price left plenty of funds for our daily adventures.

In Chinatown, we joined the locals for dim sum breakfast and watched a dragon parade as it wound through the streets. We also visited a traditional tea shop (Red Blossom Tea) where we picked up a few of those beautiful blossoming varieties.

We toured (or actually we ate our way through) North Beach/Little Italy on a Local Taste of the City Tour. We sampled coffee, handmade truffles and fresh focaccia bread while hitting the highlights of the neighborhood such as the legendary Purple Onion.

We ended our trip with a walk through the Japanese Gardens at Golden Gate Park. It was a tranquil end to another fantastic journey.