Browsing Category

Travel

Style Travel

My Beacon, NY Faves Map

Beacon, NY Recommendations Map

My family and I love Beacon, NY! We only live about 20 minutes from the artsy Hudson Valley town, so we love going there on the weekends. My wife and I are always creating content and Beacon is our go-to place for shooting lifestyle and fashion images, and while we’re there we always make sure to hit up our fave spots!

Beacon, NY is filled with art galleries, a variety of cute shops, restaurants, and more, and they mainly all lie along their Main Street, so it’s a great place to visit for the day to stroll along and get some shopping and yummy eats in! My family and friends always ask me what my go-to spots to hit up are, so I decided to make my very own #MapWithProxi of all of my Beacon, NY faves, so you don’t miss anything!

Normally I’d be typing out my list here with all of the spots and recommendations, but check this out – everything is included right on my map below, complete with some notes and pictures. Now you know some of the places I recommend on your next trip to Beacon! Next time you’re there, just click this link on your phone and you can make sure not to miss my faves! http://gofyi.ly/197E3F7A

 

I honestly love this Proxi software. I’ve never seen anything like it before and it’s so useful for anyone that wants to share their fave locations with others, instead of typing out a list. Whether you’re a traveler, a foodie, a vintage shopper, a Disney fanatic, or someone that knows all of those local hidden gems that you want to share, Proxi makes it so easy to create your very own free map! You can add in notes, pictures, and even customize the location markers to make it your own. Your map will be evergreen, so as you or your friends discover more places, make sure to constantly be updating your map! I know I still have places I’ve been wanting to visit in Beacon, so I’ll be sure to update my map as I have more to share!

CLICK HERE to start making your very own map!

 

 

Reviews Travel

My Fave Tri-State Airbnb Listings!

Airbnb Treehouse

Ever since I spent the weekend up at my buddy’s cabin in the Catskills, I’ve become obsessed with browsing the Airbnb website. His cabin is only 2 hours from our house, in a completely remote area with tons of property and it was an amazing weekend of good, quality family time. Immediately after leaving I felt so good about the ability to disconnect from reality and really just had the best time with my family and friends. I always thought I would need this extravagant vacation on a beach in the Caribbean or a thrilling ski trip on a mountain somewhere out west or overseas in order to have the best time, but honestly, sometimes these little local getaways are just as good! Don’t get me wrong, I am craving my yearly Caribbean trip and cannot wait to take the family out west for skiing, but for now, with everything that is still going on, my family has made the personal decision to just stick to local getaways for now. And this is where my Airbnb obsession has begun! 🙂

I’m excited to have partnered up with Airbnb, one of the world’s largest marketplaces for unique and authentic places to stay and things to do, so keep reading for some of my listings I found that I hope to experience with my family. There are so many incredible places on there that you would not believe might be hiding practically in your back yard! When I came across some of these locations I couldn’t believe they were all within a maximum 2 hour distance from me. I’m in Stormville, NY, and although the NYC folks consider me upstate and in the middle of nowhere LOL I definitely do not live in a remote neighborhood in a dome house, or up in a tree, or a have a year round heated pool that we can enjoy, so I still get the urge to venture to even more remote places and to experience the incredible uniqueness that some of these listings have to offer! Check out some of my Airbnb picks for a unique experience all accessible from the tri-state area for a weekend getaway!

Willow Treehouse

WILLOW TREEHOUSE
As soon as I saw the first image of this place I clicked. The first thing I usually do is check the distance of the location from my house to see if it’s a realistic drive for a weekend. I could not believe this incredible piece of architecture is only an hour and a half from me! Besides being completely obsessed with the unique shape of it, I love all of the natural wood and all of those windows (click through to see what I mean)! I lack a lot of natural light in my house so I’m a sucker for a ton of windows and great lighting. Look at that big rectangular window overlooking the pond! I can only imagine my family’s enthusiasm if we pulled up to this place. The loft bed area is so cozy and Nate always sleeps with us when we’re on vacation so I imagine a ton of good snuggles while looking through those skylights. And that wood burning hot tub is calling my name. For me, I’m all about finding unique places that are not too far, and that has amenities that my family and I can enjoy together. Nate loves hiking, climbing, making fires and eating s’mores, and so do my wife and I, so being able to enjoy some of our fave activities in a place like this would be awesome. I need to go to this place for a weekend, it’s just too cool!

Alpine Frame

ALPINE A-FRAME
How cute is this?! This Airbnb listing is a little less than 3 hours from me, situated in Vermont. We’re actually used to driving 4 hours to Vermont almost every weekend during the winter because we are avid Killington skiers, so 3 hours is nothing for us! Being a ski family is actually one of the main reasons I chose this listing. As soon as I saw that it mentioned it was only 15 minutes away from Mount Snow, I was sold. I haven’t been to Mount Snow in years, but with a cozy cabin like this to stay in, I think it would make the experience so much more fun! I absolutely love the shape of this little cabin, especially with those lights running along the front of the frame – it just looks so cozy and cute! I love all of the wood grain inside and the wood burning fireplace and outdoor fire-pit. My family loves to sit around the fire when we do little getaways like this, so it’s kind of a must for me! Another reason why I chose this listing is because it mentioned that the house is only 5 minutes away from downtown, filled with boutique shops and restaurants – I’m sold! Cozy family vibes in a cute cabin, skiing, shopping and eating? This cute little A-frame has my name written all over it. We need to make the trip up to this place one weekend!

Modern Upstate Cabin

MODERN UPSTATE CABIN
So for this Airbnb listing, I was familiar with it before I even came across it on their site, because I actually follow the owner of this incredible cabin on Instagram! I’ve never actually been here before, but my eyes always pop open whenever I come across his posts of images of this place. It’s just incredible. And, the location, Red Hook, NY, is only about 45 minutes from me! Modern design in the middle of the woods gets me every time. The decor of this place is just so minimal and modern, but still has cozy vibes – it’s the perfect blend. I’m obsessed with how they stacked all of that wood in the wall. I officially want to change out my pellet stove in my house to this orb fireplace…I mean how gorgeous is this?! The mod pool is year round and heated, so that alone sold me on this place. My family and I love swimming in the winter when we go to Killington, so I know we would have a blast having this place to ourselves one weekend. It also has a solarium cottage on the property (check it out). How cool?! Imagine falling asleep in here at night? Or waking up in this in the morning? Ahhhh, it would be such a cool experience with my family. I kind of want one for our backyard! haha Considering this place is so close to me, I really need to experience it one weekend. It’s just gorgeous.

Casa Minnewaska

CASA MINNEWASKA
Again, the first picture made me click! This place looks beautiful and is only about an hour and a half from me. Most New Yorkers have heard of Minnewaska State Park, and this cabin is only about 20 minutes from the “Gunks” (Shawangunk Mountains). I actually used to go there to rock climb years ago, so I’m somewhat familiar with the area, and my family and I love to do rock scrambles and explore the cute town up in New Paltz, so the fact that this cabin is so close to activities we love to do is the main reason why I chose this Airbnb listing! Whenever we’ve been up to New Paltz it’s always just for the day, so to be able to stay in a cool place like this and make a weekend out of it would make it feel like a little vacay for me. It’s always fun to go somewhere for the day, but when you get to stay over and make a small vacation out of it, it’s so much better! Click through and look at that aerial view – it just looks so beautiful in the middle of nowhere amongst all those trees! Indoor wood burning stove? Check. Hot Tub? Check. Firepit? Check. Incredible Views? Check. Secludedness while just being a short distance to hiking and a cute little town? Check. I could see me staying in a place like this with my family and another couple, or bringing the parents and mother-in-law along. There’s room for 10 guests so it would be a great place for a cozy weekend with family or friends, while still being able to enjoy some of our fave activities nearby. Honestly, this would’ve been perfect for my 40th birthday weekend that was back in September. Wish I would’ve thought of it then! Maybe the next one! 🙂

Tree House

THE TREE HOUSE
Ok, so for this Airbnb listing, the second image (shown above) made me click! LOL I am a sucker for that retro decor! Honestly, right after I saw this listing it made me want to go buy some home decor haha. This Airbnb listing is in PA but is still less than 2 hours away from me! This place just looks so cool. Being a #plantdad, that cactus and those plants mixed in with that furniture kind of had me drooling. The shape of this cabin (click through to see) is so unique and I love all of the windows surrounding it. I don’t know why, but I just picture myself pulling up to this place in our ’64 T-Bird and then chilling inside with my wife while the Dirty Dancing soundtrack is playing. haha Although, Nate will be there too because we never like to go anywhere without him. 🙂 Besides this decor which I can’t stop obsessing over, it’s got all of my fireplace/firepit needs, is situated on 9 acres of private woods (perfect for family exploring which we love to do), and is only a 4 minute drive to Narrowsburg (which I’ve never heard of or been to, but since it mentions antique stores and local markets, it has me intrigued!) My family and I love exploring new local towns with vintage shopping, cute shops and yummy food, so I’m kind of wanting to venture here for a weekend. Being a content creator, honestly the decor alone has me wanting to go and just have a photoshoot! haha Actually, I believe PA has a lot of dirt bike trails, so I’d be curious if there is any nearby this place that we could take our dirt bikes to and have some fun outdoor adventure as well. I’ll have to look into that further! Either way, this place is just so cool. Did I mention that yet? 🙂

It was so hard to choose and narrow it down to just a few listings because there are just some many amazing and unique places to experience on Airbnb. Just go browse the site – you’d be surprised how many magazine-worthy locations are within driving distance from you! I am personally going to try and spend some more time looking for more listings that my family and I can enjoy during the winter months. Hoping that the ski season is not too heavily impacted with the pandemic, but if we must ski less this year due to less people being allowed on the mountains, I am going to make sure we make a week out of our trip or at least get the most out of the experience, by staying at a unique Airbnb listing that has a firepit, is close to a cute town, near skiing, and hopefully has a year-round pool or at least a hot tub. This sounds absolutely amazing to me and I need to get on it before all the weekends book up!

Which featured listing of mine was your favorite? I’m curious which one you would prefer to stay at if you had the choice. Comment here or on my Instagram post and let me know!

Family Reviews Style Travel

Aruba, One Happy Island

La Cabana Aruba

Menswear Travel Blogger Menswear Travel Blogger La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba Menswear Travel Blogger Travel Blogger Family Travel Blogger Family Travel Blogger Family Menswear Travel Blogger Menswear Travel Blogger Travel Blogger Family Menswear Travel Blogger Travel Blogger Family Travel Blogger Family La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba De Palm Island Aruba De Palm Island Aruba De Palm Island Aruba De Palm Island Aruba De Palm Island Aruba De Palm Island Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba Flying Fishbone Aruba Flying Fishbone Aruba Flying Fishbone Aruba Flying Fishbone Aruba Flying Fishbone Aruba Flying Fishbone Aruba Flying Fishbone Aruba Flying Fishbone Aruba Flying Fishbone Aruba Flying Fishbone Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba La Cabana Aruba

Aruba will always have a special place in my heart. It was here, 8 years ago, that I made the smartest decision of my life…I asked my wife Sarina to marry me. It was nice to finally be able to go back and this time, bring Nate along with us, to share our love of this beautiful island! For the accommodations, we partnered up with La Cabana Beach Resort & Casino. It’s a modern resort with some really great amenities, and right across from the famous Eagle Beach. The room we stayed in gave us an amazing view of the ocean, and even though the resort was technically across the street from the beach, it didn’t really feel like it was because it was still a super close walk to get to the beach. The room was very spacious with all the modern touches. It had a full kitchen, a bedroom with barn doors, a huge balcony with outdoor seating, a couch that opened up to a bed in the living room as well as another couch and plenty of closets. Which is also a plus for us because we definitely all pack on the heavy side LOL…especially me!

Eagle Beach is a public beach, but La Cabana guests were met at the beach by an employee and once you showed them your resort wristband they set you up with chairs & your own straw cabana. They also had a cute tiki bar right on the beach so we didn’t have to walk far for our pina coladas! The pool was really big, had a beautiful waterfall, a volleyball net and even a water slide, which we loved! One step away from the pool was the bar and literally another step away was their on site Islander Grill. Inside the hotel lobby I was pleasantly surprised to find there was an on-site Cinnabon! I couldn’t believe it. My family and I are obsessed with Cinnabon so we were kind of in heaven and actually ended up eating it every morning for breakfast LOL. There was also a gift shop/convenience store right in the lobby that had some tourist knick knacks, as well as drinks, snacks, and even some booze, which always comes in handy! There was also a jewelry store, a lotion shop, and though I’m not much of a Gambler, I know a lot of you will be happy to hear they have a casino right on-site as well!

The first day at La Cabana we did our usual and just hung around the resort. All of our vacations usually start with us waking up at 3am to get to the airport, so we’re all usually pretty wiped the first day, so we try and not go too crazy with exploring. We went straight to the ocean, grabbed a pina, got our little hut and just relaxed. It was great, because there were enough huts for everybody and also still enough empty beach that Nate and I could find room to throw the football and frisbee around without disturbing anybody, so it was perfect. Nate and I get antsy if we lay around for too long, so we like to stay active. The ocean was a beautiful turquoise…just as you would expect from the Caribbean. The one little bummer was that there was no snorkeling at the beach. That was the one disappointment I had with Aruba. Compared to other islands I’ve been to, the snorkeling just did not compare. Don’t get me wrong, the water is beautiful, but I’m kind of a snorkeling snob you might say HAHA and love when we can do it straight from the shore. After the beach we spent the rest of the day chillin’ at the pool, with happy hour & more pina coladas 🙂 and then got ready for dinner at their on-site restaurant, Las Ramblas. The food there was SPECTACULAR! We all really enjoyed not only our meals, but the whole experience. All the seating was outside on a cute patio with beautiful string lights above you, and a musician playing the guitar and singing while you ate. As weird as people might think it is, escargot is one of those dishes for me that if it’s on the menu, I have to order it! So, I was pretty excited to see it on there and even more excited that it was soooooo good. Nate was dying to eat lobster. He had tried it once before and ever since has fallen in love with it LOL. Even though they didn’t have lobster tail on the menu, they made it for him! I could not believe how fast he scarfed it down. The waitress was even shocked that his little body finished the entire dish! I had a perfectly cooked T-bone steak with chimichurri sauce, and my wife had the shrimp. For dessert, we had the creme brulee…which is one of my favorite desserts to order when I’m out to dinner. There’s just something about cracking the top of that custard that just gets me every time! This place was amazing. We had such an unforgettable dinner here! It’s always a plus when your resort had an incredible restaurant right on the property!

The second day we took our time getting out of the hotel and relaxed by the pool in the morning.But later in the day, we headed off to a snorkel trip with Red Sail Sports. They took us out on a really cool catamaran, the staff was amazing and the drinks were delicious…stiff LOL. Unfortanetly again, compared to the other islands we have been to, the snorkeling was a little disappointing. There weren’t as much fish or coral as we are used to seeing on. The second stop was at a shipwreck, which might have been cool to see but Aruba is very windy (which is great for battling the sun and cooling you off) but when in the ocean, it can make it pretty choppy. Nate couldn’t even get into the water to snorkel and the waves made the water a little foggy so you couldn’t really see the ship. I was able to dive down enough to see part of it so it was still pretty amazing to see, but again, not as visible as we had hoped for. We still ended up having a great time, but would have loved seeing some more fish. Our vacations never feel complete unless we take a boat out on a tour, so I’m still happy we went. We still had a blast!

The pool at La Cabana didn’t close until 10pm, so every night we made sure we went in for a late night dip. It’s starting to become a nightly tradition on all of our family trips, so we always make sure to find out the pool hours before deciding on a hotel. Once out of the pool, Nate always asked us if we could play checkers or chess on the oversized lawn sets. He loves these giant boards! I taught Nate how to play chess and was shocked at how quickly he picked it up! A lot quicker than my wife did! LOL

The next morning we made our way to De Palm Island. Normally you get picked up from your resort and brought to the ferry, but we decided to take our rental car so we could do some sight seeing after. While waiting for the ferry the wind decided it was going to take one of my favorite hats for a little ride, so I had to jump off the pier and into the water to find it. Luckily the water was so clear it was an easy find and was actually a really nice swim! Hang on to your hats in Aruba! De Palm Island has a really fun water park on the island, which is actually where we spent most of our time. Nate was a little hesitant at first but once he got warmed up to it, we could not get him off the water slides. He LOVED it! They had something for everyone. Little slides for Nate, medium slides for wifey and big slides for daddy LOL. Even my mother-in-law went down a few. The island is all-inclusive, so you can get all the adult beverages and non-alcoholic drinks you want, as well as food from the buffet and grill. We had burgers, hotdogs, and fries for lunch, and of course some pina coladas 🙂 After lunch we went to their snorkel section, which is where we saw the most fish during our trip. They had tons of blueish purple parrot fish and some of them were huge! Nate loved chasing them around. One of my favorite things on De Palm Island was the zip line. I had never tried it and had always wanted to, and it was everything I thought it would be…tons of fun! The island so fun. You could easily spend the whole day here, and I think Nate would’ve if we let him. He was obsessed with the little water park and still talks about it. It’s definitely a fun day with the kids if you head to Aruba!

After the island we did some site seeing. We stopped at Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant in Oranjestad. It was a really cool and fun spot and we loved the beachy atmosphere! Nate ordered a drink that came with a little story and a cool shark surprise. I don’t want to ruin it but if you have kids definitely stop in and order the Little Shark Attack! Even though we just stopped in for a pina colada, I couldn’t help but to order some fish tacos. The great thing about Aruba is that there is a ton to do and a lot of shops to walk around. I love checking out the watch/jewelry stores as well as the little local spots. I grabbed my Aruba dad hat and Nate grabbed his Aruba shirt, which is our new tradition whenever we visit a new destination.

On our last day of vacation, we usually always just stick around the hotel and relax. My wife Sarina and I got an amazing couples massage at the Citro Spa which is just past the pool and bar. I made sure to grab a drink on the way…hey I’m on vacation! Now I haven’t received a lot of massages in my life, so I’m no guru, but OMG this hit the spot. It was exactly what my wife and I needed to end our trip. It was so relaxing and was nice enjoying my first massage with her right next to me. We might have to make this another vacay tradition! We spent the rest of the day swimming and enjoying the water slide. We were pretty excited to have reservations at the Flying Fishbone for dinner on our last night. Even though it’s a 45 minute drive from La Cabana, it is well worth the trip! The food is out of this would and if you’re lucky enough to call in advance and get reservations, you can get a table where your feet are right in the water while you eat! That’s right, they offer beach dining at it’s best. Besides having a table right on the beach, they have a few that are right in the water. Watching the sunset and Nate feeding the fish along with some amazing food made this one of the most memorable dinners I have ever had. Back to the sunset though, it was absolutely gorgeous. I actually got engaged about 50ft from where we ate so it was a little nostalgic being back to this part of Aruba. Flying Fishbone is just incredible. You have to eat here if you visit Aruba!

It was such a great trip, and of course, as usual, went by way too fast. The staff at La Cabana were great, the location of the resort was perfect and Joe, their general manager, was the most accommodating to make sure my family and I had such memorable experiences on our short stay with them. Thank you Joe! Ahhh, as I’m writing this, I wish we were back there right now heading to the pool taking our late night family dip together. Make sure you watch our video above to check out all the fun we had. Wishing we were back there right now!

Family Reviews Style Travel

Our Mini Getaway with Oyster Bay

Oyster Bay

Family Lifestyle Blogger Family Lifestyle Blogger NY Daddy Blogger Family Lifestyle Blogger Oyster Bay Family Lifestyle Blogger Oyster Bay Daddy Blogger Men's Lifestyle Blog Family Lifestyle Blogger

Father’s Day is a special day for me. Having lost my father at a young age, it means a lot to be able to do the things I wish I could do with my father, with my son. Not to mention, what’s better than getting to spend the full day with my family, and getting to do whatever I choose for us to do. As Nate would say, “It’s your day, Daddy!”. I love hearing him call me daddy. Even though he’s almost 6 already, hearing his little voice say “daddy” will never get old, and still touches me the way it did when he said it for the very first time. I’m a mush for this kid!

Honestly, for me, what I love doing most is pretty simple – it’s really just being able to have a day, with no distractions, and getting to enjoy my little family. We decided to do a little local getaway, to make it feel like we were on a true vacation, and to get us away from the house distractions. Instead of heading to the city like we normally do, my wife booked us a room at The Time Hotel in Nyack, NY. Nyack is a cute little town right by the Hudson River, and has this really cool modern-style hotel (The Time) just blocks from the town. As soon as we got there, I had already forgotten we were just 45 minutes from home and immediately felt like we were miles away from reality.

I started my day by getting an awesome snuggle sesh with Nate in the morning and wifey started me off right and quickly got me a glass of Merlot from Oyster Bay. Despite wanting to keep it simple for Father’s Day, it’s still always nice to kick it up a notch, by adding in a nice bottle of wine to elevate the occasion just a tad bit more! Now don’t judge me, but when I’m on a vacation, whether it be for a day, weekend, or week, I usually enjoy a drink or two throughout the day. I mean who doesn’t? Now I’m not talking about spring break style drinking LOL, but just a few glasses throughout my day to keep me relaxed and as a constant reminder that it’s a special day!

After my snuggle sesh, we went straight to the pool! While loungin’ we ordered some pool-side snacks to go with our Oyster Bay. The Merlot paired so nicely with our maple honey smoked bacon slabs (drizzled with a balsamic glaze) and our honey drizzled goat cheese crostinis. Nate loved the bacon (but I guess who doesn’t love bacon) and I’m always a sucker for some crostini. Just having these sides paired with our glasses of merlot, in such a chic pool setting, really just made our pool time feel that much more special. I got to play with Nate in the pool and he got to show off by showing us how far he can swim. It’s so cute, because he’s becoming such a little fish when it comes to the water and is always pushing himself to see if he can swim from one end of the pool to the other. He impresses me every day! Shockingly he also actually let me and Sarina just lay and relax for a little…and that never happens! LOL Thanks Nate!

After getting dressed up and ready to head out for dinner, we got to enjoy a pre-dinner glass of wine while we checked out some of the cool art in the lobby and caught up on some sports on the T.V. in the lounge. This hotel had some really cool artwork and a lot of different design elements that made it fun to explore around. We just kind of kept a slow pace, taking in the hotel decor, strolling through the lobby, and sipping our Oyster Bay.

After dinner we head back to our room, and you guessed it, more snuggling was had, and Nate and I had our usual jumping on the bed session. I don’t know how all this sounds to an outsider, but to me, it really is all about the little things, and it was the perfect weekend. Playing in the pool with my boy, relaxing with a glass of Oyster Bay with my wife, exploring a new place or town with the family, catching a glimpse of sports on the T.V. together, and overall just taking it slow and enjoying each other….it’s these little things, with no work or home distractions, that really makes it feel special for me. I truly enjoy relaxing days like this that make me appreciate life. Thanks for my little Father’s Day getaway fam!

Reviews Style Travel

Wino Adventures

Eric Wertz | NY Men's Lifestyle Blogger

Eric Wertz | NY Men's Lifestyle Blogger Eric Wertz | NY Men's Lifestyle Blogger Eric Wertz | NY Men's Lifestyle Blogger Eric Wertz | NY Men's Lifestyle Blogger Eric Wertz | NY Men's Lifestyle Blogger Eric Wertz | NY Men's Lifestyle Blogger Eric Wertz | NY Men's Lifestyle Blogger Eric Wertz | NY Men's Lifestyle Blogger Eric Wertz | NY Men's Lifestyle Blogger Eric Wertz | NY Men's Lifestyle Blogger

This time of year is the perfect time to be outdoors. It’s that warm temperature you’ve been yearning for all winter long, but it’s not too hot yet, and you can feel that mix of sun on your face with that cool breeze that keeps it comfortable, and it just makes you want to be outside!

A couple of years ago my son Nate went on a hike with his pre-school, and had asked us to then go on a hike together as a family. We were never really big into hiking, but ever since Nate suggested it, we started getting into it more and more and just like to get our there from time to time and do some exploring together. Overall, it seems like whatever Nate loves doing, he ends up making us love it too…we just love seeing his excitement when he’s out enjoying his favorite activities.

We like hiking, but definitely not enough to take a 4 hour hike. And when we do hike, we always like to make sure there’s some sort of reward at the end. Whether it’s a lake, a beautiful view, or in this case, a waterfall, the end prize definitely keeps us going! LOL It’s also starting to become a tradition of ours to pack up a picnic that we can also enjoy once we reach our destination. For our most recent hike, we thought it’d be fun to bring a bottle of wine with us to kick our picnic up a notch, and have a little celebratory toast at the end!

For this hike, we brought a bottle of our El Vinculo Crianza from Ribera del Duero. It’s the perfect red wine for any occasion and has a full-bodied taste on the palate with big fruit flavors that soften the tannins. Did I mention it’s 14.5% alcohol? For me, that’s enough to get that nice & warm feeling from one glass! 🙂 Since we were hiking and had to carry everything, we kept our little picnic simple with apples, grapes and cheese and crackers. This wine pairs well with aged cheeses, but to me, I don’t care what cheese it is (cheddar in our case, my wife loves cheddar), it was the perfect wine to be sipping in our picturesque setting and water falling acoustics. For some reason, this hike seemed a little more exciting. Reaching such a beautiful destination, the falls, and then being able to enjoy a nice glass of the Tempranillo, while we relaxed and snacked, was the perfect way to end our hike. Since Nate can’t really sit still for more than a second, it was more like my wife and I relaxed while Nate hopped across stones until his feet were drenched.

The mix of family exploration, our little picnic complete with snacks and our El Vinculo, mixed with good conversation and lots of goofing around, made our day almost feel more like we were camping, than just being on a local hike. I have to say, the wine idea at the end of the hike might definitely be a new tradition. It just made our little adventure feel that much more special!

Next time you’re looking for that ample bottle of wine for your grilling, roasting, or a hike like us, try a bottle of the El Vinculo Crianza from Ribera del Duero. It’s powerful, yet balanced. You can look for the Ribera del Duero logo on the back of the bottle when visiting your local wine store or order directly from www.wine.com. I’m actually sipping some now as I write. Blogging, like hiking, is also better with wine! 🙂

Family Reviews Travel

A Weekend in Newport

Grace Vanderbilt

Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island Newport, Rhode Island Newport, Rhode Island Newport, Rhode Island Newport, Rhode Island Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island Newport, Rhode Island Newport, Rhode Island
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Newport, Rhode Island

Not all vacations have to be a big trip, and you don’t need to fly hours away from home to have a good vacation. My family and I really love small weekend getaways and just overall exploring new places together. Newport, Rhode Island is only 3 hours from us and we had never been there as a family before. It’s a beautiful scenic town with lots of cute shops, mega mansions, and relaxing beaches.

Two weeks ago we had the opportunity to stay at the Grace Vanderbilt Hotel in Newport, Rhode Island for the weekend. When we first pulled up I didn’t realize how close to town the hotel was going to be, so we immediately got really excited to know that the middle of town was just a short walk down the block! We didn’t arrive until Late Friday night, but luckily got there just in time for s’mores by the fire. What’s more welcoming than s’mores by a cozy fire right when you arrive, right? It was really cute and we all had a blast shoving our face with the giant marshmallows they had.

As soon as we got to the room (which I’ll get to in a minute), we dropped off our bags and then we walked down the block to a bar right on the corner. Since we got there kind of late, we had the itch to check out the town before bed, so we stopped in for a late night dinner, and it was just what we needed! They had really good live music and great food. It was the perfect way to start off our little weekend adventure.

Within the first 2 hours of being at the Grace Vanderbilt we had already felt like we had done so much and forgot that we had just arrived. Luckily their pool is open until 10PM, because we love a late night swim, so we followed up our food and drinks with a dip in their indoor pool and Nate got to practice his snorkel skills!

Now let’s get back to the room! Let me just start off by saying that this is one of those rooms where it’s hard to get yourself to leave. As soon as you enter you’re welcomed by these super high ceilings, crown molding, beautiful built-in book cases, tall windows that let in a lot of light, and just overall, a sophistication of detail. This room seemed more like an apartment than a hotel room. There was the main bathroom, which had a claw foot bathtub, and inside they had a little corner set up that said “Nathan’s Corner”, along with some kid’s shampoo and soaps. It was really cute and Nate really got a kick out of it! In the living room they also had a little camping tent with a teddy bear set up for Nathan. What hotel does that for kids? It was really so sweet and made my son immediately a fan of this place. You wouldn’t think a hotel like this would be so kid friendly. It’s so refined and upscale that you think you’re going to have to keep telling Nate not to touch anything LOL, but it’s not like that at all. The bedroom, which had a huge King Bed and another amazing master bath with two sinks and a stand up shower, was gorgeous. It connected to the rest of the space with beautiful sliding doors. The room itself was so nice I couldn’t help to ask my wife if we should sell the house and get an apartment like this somewhere LOL. It was just perfect. The reason Nate loved it was because the ceiling’s were so high he could pass his plush toy football to me without it hitting the ceiling like in our house haha. I almost forgot to mention, we were also welcomed with a plate of cookies that included icing and sprinkles that we got to decorate together. Again, these little welcoming details, were just top notch!

We started day two off with breakfast in their Garden Terrace Cafe. Sarina and Nate had the pancakes (with Nate getting the chocolate chips) and I had the hazelnut french toast with berries. What a way to start our morning with a yummy breakfast and the picturesque room with sunlight shining through. When we got back to our room there was a paper in the tent for Nate that gave him instructions for a scavenger hunt. I’m pretty sure Nate thought his elf on a shelf put it there LOL. He had to go and ask different people around the hotel questions and he got a prize at each station. It was so cute watching him with his little paper and pencil, reading the clue himself and checking them off. When he got all of them except the last one complete, he had to go back to the room for a final surprise (spoiler alert, it was a yummy cupcake). Again, the efforts they put in with these little details for the kids is absolutely adorable and Nate definitely appreciated it!

We then hopped in the car and drove about 15 minutes from the hotel to a beach, and from there we walked along the cliff walk. The walk can be long if you take it to the end, but from my understanding you can see some of the mansions along the way. We didn’t walk the entire path, because we knew we’d need to walk back and Nate wouldn’t have it in him, but we did get to see some pretty big house from the walkway and there were also some little cut-ins to walk off the path and on to the rocks, but mommy didn’t let us get too adventurous, because she’s always a nervous wreck of Nate and I when we get too close to the edge of anything LOL.

After the walk we sat on the beach and had a picnic with a cute little basket that Grace Vanderbilt put together for us. It had sandwiches, water, cookies, and some local soda. It was cute to sit together and enjoy one of the very first warm spring days we had right by the water. It was recommended that we see at least one of the mansions while we were in Newport and if you’re going to see one, the Breakers Mansion is it. At first I thought it was pretty expensive at $30 pp but it was actually worth it! It was a beautiful site and was a pretty cool self-guided tour. The tour gave each of us headphones and a smart phone and it just played as you walked at your own pace. They had a children’s version, which my wife and I thought would be more suitable for us as well LOL. I was so impressed at how much Nate was into it. During the tour he would keep telling me facts he had heard that caught his attention. I mean, I even caught myself daydreaming, but there he was all about it, listening to every word. He mentioned parts of the tour that I honestly didn’t even remember. I just couldn’t believe how attentive he was to the audio tour. It was definitely really cool and interesting!

Once we got back into town we walked around, grabbed some food, Nate tried lobster for the first time and loved it, got some fudge, had some ice cream, and I got myself my traditional dad cap as I’ve been starting to get on every family trip. We then headed back to the Grace Vanderbilt for dinner at their on-site restaurant. At The Vanderbilt Grill they had a piano player, who was great and really set the mood. We love any live music while we’re eating, so it was a plus! The food was so good and they had a great drink menu. I started with the Seafood and Sesame, which was light and refreshing, and had the Dry Aged Filet of Beef as my main course, which was rich in flavor and melted in my mouth. For dessert we had beignets, which I was really excited about because I had always wanted to try them. This was the first time I’ve actually seen a restaurant offer them and since I’m not sure when I’m going to make it to New Orleans, I had to have them LOL. It was a great dinner! We were pretty tired, but I had promised Nate we would play a game of pool before bed so they actually sent the dessert up to the room so we could play pool while they were preparing it and then we got to enjoy the dessert in our room. That was the perfect option for us and Nate! They had a beautiful pool table in an elegant and masculine room. I could totally picture me and the fellas drinking some scotch and just totally hanging in this room. It was the perfect ending to a great day and night!

The next morning before we left Grace Vanderbilt they had a “tiny tea” for Nate, by the same fireplace where we had enjoyed the s’mores. We were served little PB&J sandwiches, little pastries, and some fruit with chocolate dipping sauce. It was really cute and we ate it while playing a game of chess by the fire. Although it was time, we didn’t want to leave. We definitely could’ve moved in!

Everything about the Grace Vanderbilt was absolutely perfect. Every inch of the hotel is beautiful, the attention to detail to all of their guests, especially the children, is on point, the hotel location is key, and the staff was amazing and on another level. For such a short little trip, they really made us feel welcomed and went above and beyond. This hotel has officially made Newport one of my fave local spots to weekend at. Grace Vanderbilt, thank you again for an amazing weekend, and we cannot wait to come back!

Family Reviews Style Travel

A Week at Sunscape Curacao

Sunscape Curacao

Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Willemstad, Curacao
Willemstad, Curacao
Willemstad, Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Willemstad, Curacao
Willemstad, Curacao
Willemstad, Curacao
Willemstad, Curacao
Willemstad, Curacao
Willemstad, Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Willemstad, Curacao
Limoncello Curacao
Limoncello Curacao
Limoncello Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao

It’s no secret by now that my family and I love the Caribbean! That clear blue water and those beautiful beaches have us coming back trip after trip. This time, we decided to visit the beautiful island of Curacao. I have been wanting to visit the island for some time now and I’ve always heard it was a great island for scuba diving. Even though we didn’t get to dive this trip, we’ll definitely be going back, and when we do, diving is on the list! To be honest with you, I didn’t realize how much there was to do on the island! I honestly thought it was just a small diving island, but to my surprise, it was so much more!

We stayed at the all-inclusive Sunscape Curacao Resort. As soon as we got to the resort it was party time! We arrived on Saturday at around 1pm and the resort was bumping. It was actually also St. Patty’s day, but we did learn that they put on a show most days of the week. They had a DJ platform over one of the pools and everyone was dancing, drinking, interacting, playing the sports activities, and just all around there was energy everywhere! It was a little different than the trips we’ve taken in the past. Most of the time we usually stay at more quiet resorts, which we love, and at first I wasn’t sure if I was going to like a party, upbeat atmosphere, but it was actually a nice change from what we normally do! Nathan really liked the fact that there was always something happening to keep him entertained. When we weren’t snorkeling or getting our nap time on the beach, we were playing soccer, volleyball, checkers (they had a giant life-sized board which he loved), shuffleboard, rock climbing (they have their own rock climbing wall), or ping pong. It was great! It was really nice to be able to enjoy all these activities together without ever having a reason to say “I can’t right now bud”. Sadly, a lot of time during the week, we’re working or doing house chores and we don’t get to do all these little things whenever he wants us to. So, when on vacation, I make sure to never say “not now”. I might say “after this Pina Colada” though (LOL).

On top of the activities, there was so much food…I mean, I must’ve gained at least 15lbs while I was there. That’s another thing on vacation I never say NO too…food! They had a huge breakfast buffet that served everything from oatmeal to pancakes, and omelettes to fried plantains…you name it, they had it. I actually had oatmeal everyday. I don’t know what it was about their oatmeal, but it was soooo good. It’s weird, because I never eat oatmeal like that (especially on vacation) but it was just so good! Usually after breakfast (if we didn’t have an excursion or trip planned) we headed right to the beach. Make sure to get there early and claim your chair because people get there super early and do the same. The beach was small but pretty awesome. If you didn’t get a cabana or umbrella you could usually find a set of chairs under a palm for some shade, which I actually thought was cooler than an umbrella. While laying there it wasn’t uncommon to see a giant iguana walking around…pretty cool! The island is pretty windy (similar to Aruba, if you’ve been) which is nice, since it’s also very hot, so it keeps it cool. The resort has a rock wall built around the beach about 30 yards out, which makes the swimming area a calm pool. It also acts as a small reef and attracts some fish to look at while snorkeling right off the beach. Nate is really becoming a pro at this snorkeling!

The pools were huge and nothing beats a swim up bar! Since we were part of the Sun Club we also had access to a pool that only members could use. Unfortunately, we didn’t find the exclusive pool until our second to last day. The resort was so big I didn’t even realize there was another wing with a private beach and cabanas for Sun Club members! (LOL) Duh!

For lunch we normally hit up the Bluewater Grill where they had burgers, hot dogs, chicken and steak sandwiches. You also had another option for lunch to go eat from the World Cafe Buffet. There they had a stacked selection of food to choose from. Don’t miss the little window right near the buffet that serves the BEST, and I mean BEST cookies and cream (somewhat melty) ice cream cones. They were incredible and we always made sure to be back near the pool area when they were serving it!

The island is full of adventures, so we wanted to make sure we got to experience a good majority of them. We took a private tour with our airport transportation guy, Taxi Max. We left early to start the day and our first stop was to go see the flamingoes. Unfortunately, they were kind of far away, but you could see their pink, little pretty silhouettes in the distance. To be honest, I would probably pass on this if you’re expecting to see them up close, because I was a little disappointed. I wanted to get up close to take some photos! Maybe in Aruba I’ll get to. Taxi Max then took us somewhere (I forget the name of the place!) where we went on a brief hike (which Nathan loved) and we got to do some exploring down a narrow path and up some stairs made out of natural rock. When you finally get to the end of the walk you come upon a bench at the end of a cliff where you’re able to look down into a canal-like opening where you can take in the beautiful view of the crashing ocean. The coolest part of all is that you’re able to spot turtles swimming around in the water down below. It was here, that made us really want to now get in the water and start swimming with those little guys. Next stop, Playa Grandi beach! When first arriving at the beach you probably wouldn’t think much of it, but once you’re in the water, you realize why Max took us here. The fishermen clean their fish right off the beach and throw the guts in the water. This sounds gross, but you actually don’t see them doing this or anything in the water! What you do see is the many turtles that know where they can come for food. There were so many turtles it was amazing! If you swim about 50 yards out there is a reef where you can see some cool fish as well and even a pretty cool sunken statue. We just love swimming with turtles, so this was definitely a favorite spot of ours!

Once back at the hotel we were able to eat at one of the 5 options for dinner. There was the Italian restaurant, Da Mario, The Bluewater Grill, The World Cafe buffet, Oceana Seafood Restaurant, and our favorite place for dinner, the hibachi place, Himitsu. Usually after dinner we would either get a drink from the bar and get ready for the entertainment to start or go to Coco Cafe and get a hot or frozen cappuccino and a chocolate one for Nate. For late night entertainment they always had something going on to watch. Sometimes it was trivia games where they would ask for volunteers to go against each other and entertain everyone else, sometimes it was musical entertainment, and sometimes it was a parade or a show. One night they put on a spectacular show on the beach that had all kinds of fire spinning, twirling, dancing, and all this crazy stuff…it was very cool. We were lucky enough that we could see it from our room so once Nate started getting tired we could sit on the balcony and cuddle and still see it. We had a great view from our room!

Due to a storm in NY, Jet Blue decided to cancel our flight home which left us on the island for an extra 5 days! Even though we were initially shocked and thrown off, we decided to make the best of it. We decided to check out some more of the Island and since we loved Playa Grandi beach so much, we went back for some more turtle swimming! Be prepared…it is an hour drive from the resort, but it’s totally worth it! On the way back, we decided to stop at Shete Boka National Park. This was another highlight of the trip. Even though it was super hot you’re able to drive to the different sites in the park and see everything pretty quickly. The coolest thing we saw was a really cool blow hole. Nate really got a kick out of how high the water would shoot up between the rocks. It was beautiful. There was also a really cool natural bridge there as well. Nate and I also got to stack some rocks, which seems to be a thing to do there (LOL). We always love water activities the most, but since we had all this extra time on the island we wnated to make sure we saw as much of it as possible. Plus, Nate loves anytime we do hiking and exploring.

Not far from the hotel, about a 5 minute walk, is Mambo Beach. Though there were some cool restaurants and a beautiful beach, we didn’t spend too much time at the beach. This was definitely an upbeat and fun beach, but we had the same at our hotel. We did have some rolled up ice cream and walked around just to check it out, which was still fun.

A must when visiting Curacao is going to Willemstad. It’s such an amazing little city! It’s got beautiful colored buildings, tons of restaurants, a cool bridge which lights up with different colors at night, a fun fountain you can play in, and an old fort turned into shopping center which you can still get some history out of. We actually got to spend Sarina’s birthday in Willemstad. We took her out to eat at Porto. They had an amazing singer who could not have been more spot on with his voice and song choices. The food was ridiculous, and the whole family could not have been happier during our dining experience with them! In the middle of the fort they also had a bunch of restaurants & bars with a musician playing for everybody. Ever artist they had was really good and brought a lot of energy into the night. It’s just such a cute little area with great ambiance! We ended up visiting Willemstad a few times because we liked it so much, and we also liked the fact that you could go to a food truck and get an order of yummy churros for only 3$ (LOL).

During our stay on the island we also got to visit another amazing restaurant, Limoncello By The Sea, which had a great ambience and delicious food. It’s situated in the bay, which lends for a beautiful view. Ahhh, to be back there right now, eating my plate, stealing some bites of my wife’s and sipping some wine. I miss it so much!

We really couldn’t have been happier on this trip. The entertainment staff at the Sunscape Curacao was amazing. “Mr. Choco” and the “Candy Man” put on a show everyday and kept the party going. They always had so much energy and were super polite and friendly to my whole family. I have to also thank Chantilly from the Sunscape Curacao. She was absolutely amazing at making sure my entire family had a VIP experience. She was constantly asking if there was anything she could do for us, she gave us recommendations for island activities and made sure we had an unforgettable trip. She honestly went above and beyond. Thank you Chantilly (last photo of her & Nate) and all of the staff at Sunscape Curacao. Our not-so-planned extended vacay in Curacao was truly memorable. We’re already ready to come back!

Reviews Travel

In The Fast Lane (Program) With Uber

Uber

Uber Uber Uber Uber Uber Uber Uber Uber Uber Uber

Everybody has the dream of becoming their own boss. Making your own hours and not having someone to answer to? What could be better than that! Uber (a ride request app) not only gives consumer’s a convenient service but it’s also giving people an opportunity to be their own boss and have a career (either part time or full time) that’s flexible with their schedule. I had the opportunity to meet one of Uber’s drivers and learn a little about him, how he became a New York City Uber driver and what it took for him to get there.

Tahir is from the good old Bronx, NY, and until recently was a computer consultant who actually lived in China for a year. Like many of us, including myself, he wasn’t happy with his job. He finally had enough and decided he wanted the benefits that Uber offered and the freedom of being his own boss, so he decided to become an Independent Uber driver. I don’t like to say he is just an Uber driver, because it makes it sound like he’s an employee of Uber, but in fact he is an Independent Contractor who works for himself. I was surprised to hear that he wasn’t nervous about making such a change in his life considering he has no background experience in driving and was leaving his career for it. I know I would have been completely scared. Luckily, it was everything he expected it to be. Now with that being said, he knew what he was signing up for and was ready to put in the work to meet his financial goals.

I was really surprised to learn that the requirements to become an Uber driver in New York City is a little different and requires some extra steps unlike most other US cities. In NYC every Uber driver and vehicle must have a Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) license and registration. Tahir explained that it does makes complete sense though, considering all of the yellow cabs there are in the city and the fact that it’s the law for them to have the same qualifications. Luckily, Uber helped Tahir and helps all of their NYC applicants through the process to make it as streamlined as possible, and even helps them save a little cash as well, with their Fast Lane program.

Tahir told me how he went to the NYC Uber driver support location, the Greenlight Hub, and they walked him through filling out the TLC application. He was able to sign up for all the licenses and courses while he was there so that when he left, all of the paperwork was complete and he knew everything that needed to be done going forward. Since he was ready to take the TLC course, he signed up right there while filling out his paperwork. Normally courses cost over $800 but through Uber’s Fast Lane Program, it only cost him $500. And that’s not the only cost. It also cost nearly $3000 for a TLC registration! In order to help drivers afford the registration cost and obtain a vehicle, Uber partners with local dealerships that have cars that are pre-registered with the TLC registration. Tahir was able to lease his car and pay weekly, instead of having to take out a loan and come up with the 3K. There are other options as well for getting a car, but for Tahir at that time, it’s what worked best for him. Additionally, for information on Rideshare Insurance & which companies offer it click here.

I can totally see how becoming an Uber driver was a good fit for Tahir. Just sitting and chatting with him, it felt like I’ve known him forever. He’s super personable, easy to talk to and understands the hustle needed to hitting his weekly numbers. Uber also gives incentives to their drivers to help them meet their goals. He also told me that he was taking courses to become a nurse and that being a driver allows him to be able to have the flexibility to take courses and still work full time. When I was going for my degree, I also worked full time. I think if Uber was around while I was in college, I definitely would have thought about driving while in school. Tahir told me how he plans on continuing driving even after he achieves his goal of becoming a nurse. He told me he has several friends that are nurses and still drive for Uber as well. If you’re looking for something full time or just some extra cash, it does seem perfect. There’s not too many jobs out there where you can make your own hours and work as little or as much as you want!

Thanks again Tahir for taking the time to meet with me. It was a pleasure getting to know a little about you and learning about another field that I knew nothing about. Uber is lucky to have a participant such as yourself! Start that Instagram account 🙂 and good luck with that nursing degree! (This post is written in partnership with Uber, however all thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Family Home Reviews Travel

Getting Away with Oyster Bay

Oyster Bay

This month has been crazy! Between running around to shop for gifts, decorating the house from top to bottom, and making December special for Nathan, I felt like it was about time to show my wife a little magic as well. Taking care of her two boys the way she does is no easy task. I really wanted to give her a day of complete relaxation – free of chores and to-do’s – to show how much I appreciate all she does. This silky-smooth Pinot Noir from Oyster Bay inspired me to truly celebrate how much I love her by taking a quick local getaway to a nearby bed and breakfast overlooking a serene lake.

Oyster Bay
Oyster Bay
Oyster Bay
This was only the second time my wife and I had stayed at a bed and breakfast, but as I get older, I realize I’m more and more into them. The peace, hospitality and cozy vibes really help you unwind and enjoy a holiday away from home. By turning our phones off, avoiding emails and disconnecting from the distractions of everyday life we could truly relax, drinking Oyster Bay’s fruit-forward Pinot Noir and enjoying each other’s company in total peace. There wasn’t even a TV for us to watch. Normally, I couldn’t survive without one (LOL), but with the ingredients we had, it made for a magical escape!

Oyster Bay
We played board games (which I of course won ;)), read a little (which, sad to say, I haven’t done in a looong time) and I even made the B&B’s cats sing by messing around with a guitar (I don’t know how to play at all).

Oyster Bay
Oyster Bay
For me, drinking wine always makes any ordinary day feel like a special occasion. On a romantic weekend away, great wine takes the moment to a whole new level. When I’m looking to celebrate, I can’t rate highly enough Oyster Bay Pinot Noir from the Marlborough region of New Zealand. It’s fragrant, soft and flavorful style is the ideal catalyst for any magical celebration, and set the mood perfectly for our romantic local getaway.

Oyster Bay

Family Reviews Style Travel

Mandarin Oriental, Miami

BlueCollarPrep

BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep
BlueCollarPrep

This labor day I partnered with the Mandarin Oriental, Miami to take the fam on an extended weekend getaway. It was perfect timing! Nate was starting Kindergarten the Tuesday after we got back, and Sarina (my wife) and I were a little stressed, so we were in need of a little distraction from reminding us that our little man is growing up. The hotel is located on Brickell Key and is only 20 minutes from Miami airport and only a 10 minute walk from the Brickell Shopping area – which makes it super convenient. Since this was Nate’s first time in Miami we did do a little exploring, but now after looking back and spending the weekend at the hotel I honestly don’t think there was a need to leave the hotel at all! LOL We were perfectly content spending all day in their gorgeous pool. The pool had an infinity vibe and was right on the bay so you could see the ocean and city skyline directly in front of you. It was a beautiful open space, surrounded by a row of tall palms on one side, and the architecturally sleek hotel building on the other. We especially loved it because the pool was open until late! We love ending our vacay days with a family night dip! The pool area also had a Jacuzzi hot tub and the Oasis Pool Cafe. With a hit of a button you could have one of their super friendly staff come over and take your order, while you jump back in the pool. They would let you know when your food was ready or come right over and hand you your mojito or pina colada wherever you were. Talk about service! On the grounds they also had a private beach area, with cabanas, lounges and plenty of outdoor seating. Since it was the bay where boats were coming in, you couldn’t swim, but it an added perk to get right up near the water’s edge, surrounded by tons of palms overhead, with an amazing city view. Nate loved just digging in the sand and watching all of the luxury yachts coming in at night. We stayed in the Skyline View Suite and the room had everything. When you walked into the suite you entered the living room area which had a chaise couch, desk, built in cabinets with a flat screen TV, and a stocked bar with all of the necessary goodies and my favorite – the Illy espresso machine. The room also had a bedroom, master bathroom with a stand-up shower and tub, another half bathroom and a balcony that wrapped around from bedroom to living room and had gorgeous views of both the city and bay. The first day we were at the hotel we just hung out at the pool for most of the day. We honestly didn’t want to leave the pool, so we ate lunch at the poolside restaurant, where I had these delicious Asian style ribs, accompanied by a very tall pina colada. After lunch, I had some quiet time at the spa. I felt bad leaving my wife and Nate, but they continued having a blast at the pool. It was actually really nice to tune everything out and just unwind. I definitely passed out during most of it. After the spa and pool, we then got dressed and headed to their in-house restaurant, Yaku by LaMar. We had some cocktails on their outside patio, and I ordered some muscles as a pre-dinner snack! Since we were with Nate we knew we weren’t going to get to experience the real night-life so it was nice to get to hang out on the patio with a cocktail and listen to some music before dinner. I let loose a little and think I might have scared Nate with my dance moves. He has yet to appreciate my two step! LOL Once we sat down for dinner at LaMar I had one of the best culinary experiences of my life. I met with the super-talented chef, Diego Oka, who comes from an Asian and Peruvian background and has come up with some of the most delicious Peruvian dishes I have ever tasted. I’ve had Peruvian food in NY before, but nothing has ever come close to this. After chatting it up with myself and my wife, he offered to prepare a little something for us to taste each of the dishes on the menu. And since my wife mostly eats chicken, he even tailored her dishes around chicken, so she could still try the flavors. You could really feel his love for cooking. Diego had a way of talking about and romancing the food, that actually made my wife try dishes and flavors she normally would never have tried. Some of my favorite dishes were the Lomo Saltado and the Conchitas A La Parmesana. They tasted just as good as they were presented. Hands down – best dinner experience ever! On Saturday, we woke up early, enjoyed a morning dip and some pool time before heading over to the Frost Museum of Science. It’s always nice when an area we visit has something like this for Nate. He loves museums, aquariums, and any hands-on children’s center. Taking some time out to take him to something he really enjoys makes our trips a little more exciting for him and always helps make it feel like a complete vacation. The museum was excellent! It was very hands-on, with lots of interactive exhibits. We also got to see some fish, sharks, and other aquatic animals – which my family is always a fan of. Nate is all about space and the planets, so we also took him to the Earth IMAX movie, which he of course loved. After the museum we took a quick drive over to the Wynwood walls area to take a quick look at some of the artwork and check out the area. If I’m ever back in the area, and I hope I definitely am, I would like to spend a little more time in Wynwood. It looked like a very cool area! At this point, and with the Miami heat, we could not wait to get back to the Mandarin Oriental, Miami pool. The pool was so nice and relaxing that whenever we left we found ourselves all just saying to each other that we could not wait to get back. We stayed in the pool for as long as we could until it was time to get ready for dinner. We spent the night at the lobby bar and lounge, MO. Again, just what we needed! There was a Cuban Jazz band playing and we ordered food and cocktails and just melted away. If you decide to visit, make sure you go to MO’s Bar + Lounge and order the cucumber blah. It was by far the best drink on the trip. I cannot wait to make these at home! I was a little nervous it might be awkward bringing Nate to the bar/lounge area but because he was behaving so well, it was not a problem at all. He likes watching live music so he was intrigued. Nate just sat there with us adults, and his little Shirley Temple and just stared at the musicians in awe. It was such a relaxing and cozy night with the fam. Once again, before we went to bed, we went back to the pool for a night dip! On Sunday we started the morning (yep, you guessed it) back in the pool! LOL We then headed to the LaMar Sunday brunch. And by brunch, I mean BRUUUUNCH. There were two rows of food. One row had things like sushi and ceviche, and the other row had hot food like BBQ chicken and steak. Also included was a Peruvian rice – which I could literally eat every day. THEN…you also got to order something off of the brunch menu! I ate and ate and ate until I could literally burst. It was insanely good and insanely filling! LOL There were also unlimited cocktails from the brunch menu. And it wasn’t just your normal bloody mary’s and mimosas, there were custom cocktails included. I forget the name of the drink I had but it was made with cucumber and it was delicious. I love cocktails that are made with cucumber – they are just so refreshing! Now onto the dessert! They were all so elegant. It was a selection of bite size sweets that was served on a tower tray. One dessert even had a beautiful edible flower on it which I dared Nate to eat and surprisingly, he did! After brunch we rolled ourselves over to South Beach so we could show Nate the beach and the strip. We spent about an hour at the beach, took a quick dip, and then walked the strip. Nate was a huge hit down there. I think with his little shaved blonde haircut, and his beachy swagger with his Adidas slides and Raybans everyone looked at him like he was a little celebrity. LOL Every person he walked by or that passed him would turn there heads and give him a compliment. I thought it was hysterical…but he was oblivious LOL. He loved all the fancy cars and bikes that passed by on Ocean drive. Before leaving we all had to have one of those jumbo pina coladas you see spanning across the entire strip. Though South Beach might not really be for me anymore (it was a little crazier than I remember), it was nice that it was only a 25 minute drive away and that we could share another experience exploring with Nate. We just love exploring new places as a family! After a few hours we were ready to get back to that pool at the Mandarin Oriental, Miami. It was our last night there so we wanted to make it last. We stayed in the pool for as long as we could, and then ended the evening in their private beach area watching the sun go down and the yachts come in. It was a bittersweet night. It’s never fun when a vacation comes to an end, but Nate was starting to get excited about school the following day. After some city views on the balcony, we all snuggled in the king size bed before heading out the next morning. It was such an amazing weekend. The luxurious hotel, the over-the-top staff, the memorable food, and the pool we started and ended our days in, combined into the perfect experience and really made our extended weekend trip, feel full and complete. We all had a blast! Thank you Mandarin Oriental, Miami for such a warm, welcoming and memorable stay! Nate is already asking us When are we going back to Miami?!

If you’re looking to visit Miami, definitely consider staying at the Mandarin Oriental, Miami! Click here and get 15% OFF the best available rate!

This post is sponsored by the Mandarin Oriental, Miami.. All views and opinions are my own.