US Travel Archives - The Culture Mom

08May

Raleigh, North Carolina: An Unexpected Family-Friendly Getaway

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This past weekend I spent a few busy days in Raleigh, North Carolina. Having grown up in Georgia, I'm not a stranger to the Southern state, but I'd yet to really explore it as a parent and I was very impressed with what I found. Firstly, Raleigh is a very short flight from New York City. It took less than 90 minutes in the air. One minute, I was in a windy, rainy, cold NYC, the next in a green, flowery Southern city. The airport is relatively small and easy to get through, and it offers over 400 flights daily so you can get to Raleigh from virtually Read More

02Jun

48 Hours in Boston with the Kids

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This past weekend we spent a lovely 48 hours in Boston. The trip was primarily planned in order for our tween daughter to visit one of her camp friends, but we wanted to introduce both of our kids to the city of Boston. We had gone for a visit when they were very young, and we felt it was time to return to soak up its important history and classic vibe. Day #1 We started with the Hahvahd Tour (www.harvardtour.com), taking a tour of Harvard University. It's an hour tour walking through Harvard Yard, run by actual students (ours had just Read More

03Sep

A Trip to Houston with the Kids

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We recently spent a quick few days in Houston, Texas, before boarding a ship in nearby Galveston. It was our first time to this sprawling city, and when I say, "sprawling," I mean it. Houston is a BIG city - the sixth largest in the country, spreading over 8,788 square miles. We had a car, which was necessary, to get around. Despite Houston being known as a popular U.S. city, I had no idea it had so much to offer tourists - from museums to restaurants to its proximity to the port, it has a lot to offer families on vacation. Unfortunately, I wasn't in Read More

03Aug

A Family Stay at Ritz Carlton Philadelphia Offers Historic Elegance

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I recently spent a long weekend at Ritz Carlton Philadelphia with the kids. We jumped in the car, drove the few short hours to the City of Brotherly Love and landed at this historical yet extremely cozy hotel. Located right by City Hall, Love Park and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, it's a reminder of a nation’s birth with its grand use of architecture. The building was originally Girard Trust Company, which became Girard Corn Exchange in 1951; Girard Bank in 1970; Mellon Bank in 1984, and finally The Ritz-Carlton in 2000. We felt the enormous amount of Read More

31Jul

Indulging the Kids on Broadway with Sugartooth Tours

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I've been living in the NYC metro area for a long time now, but I've never fully experienced the sweeter side of the city. So when my kids and I were invited to join Sugartooth Tours on their newest tour, Bright Lights & Broadway Bites, I was intrigued. Broadway + desserts + a guide who's an actual Broadway performer = right up my alley. If you read my blog regularly, you probably know I'm theater obessessed and I love taking my kids all over NYC, so this tour was an excuse to indulge my Broadway fixation and their sweets obsession. When I told my Read More

26Jun

A Family Trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania

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For years my daughter has been asking to go to Hershey, Pennsylvania. She had a feeling it was going to be a place out of heaven, with its Hershey theme park and chocolate-related activities. So, mindful of the fact that she's 12 and has six summers left before turning 18 and venturing into the world, we spent last weekend in what's billed as "the sweetest place on earth," where Milton S. Hershey opened and ran his manufacturing factory. What we found was a weekend full of chocolate - and non-chocolate - with pure, unadulterated fun at the theme park, Read More

30Apr

A Taste of Wine & Hollywood at Carmel Valley’s Holman Ranch

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This is a cross-post from Go Girlfriend, a site I contribute to that focuses on girlfriend getaways. Alaina Yoakum is a Marketing, Communications, Social Media and Event Planning expert with over 20 years’ experience. When she’s not traveling the world or spoiling her two children at home in Northern California, she loves to help clients promote their brands more effectively through winning strategies, catchy copy, dynamic designs, and unforgettable events. If you’re anything like me, sometimes you just need to grab your favorite gals and Read More

23Apr

My Rejuvenating Trip to Kauai

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Do you ever stop to think about the life you've been given? The legacy that has been passed onto you? Do you ever think about the fact that you were blessed with beauty and you can find this beauty in every moment, no matter where you look? On my recent rejuvenating trip to Kaua'i, where I traveled for the first time, I came into contact with a woman named Puna Kalama Dawson, Hawaiian Cultural Guide to Wellness at The St. Regis Princeville Resort. She reminded me to remember: How important it is to take the time to appreciate what is directly in Read More

05Apr

Our NYC Staycation

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This past spring break was an interesting one. After living in and near NYC for a lot of years, I decided it was time for my kids to have a NYC staycation. We stayed in hotels, went to museums on 42nd Street like Madame Tussaud's, took a bus tour, ate in Chinatown and Korea Town, went to the top of the Empire State Building, visited the Statue of Liberty and toured Ellis Island, went to the 9/11 Memorial, explored the orchids at the Botanical Gardens in the Bronx and had pizza on Arthur Avenue, indulged in cupcakes at Carlos Bakery, strolled through Read More

31Mar

WICKED at The Westin New York at Times Square

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This past weekend was a special one for my tween and I as we stayed over night in NYC in Times Square for the first time. Sure, we've stayed over night in the city before but not right in the heart of Broadway. And for two culture vultures, that meant everything. We were invited by The Westin at Times Square to check out the WICKED Night Out, an exclusive WICKED-themed hotel package. My daughter first saw the show at age 6 and again at age 10. As a tween, the show holds special memories for her and I knew the hotel would have an appreciative visitor. Read More