On Christmas Eve, my family and I ventured into NYC for a day of holiday sight-seeing. We started at the tree at Rockefeller Center, went by department windows at Sax Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor, went shopping at Bryant Park market and idled in the fantastic lobby at the Algonquin Hotel.

The Ride NYC

But we had one thing on our mind: our 4pm reservation on THE RIDE NYC. I had a feeling it would be inclusive of everything I love most in life.

For example, NYC is my oasis. I’ve lived here for years but never tire of the buzz this city radiates. I also love theater and I had a feeling THE RIDE would relish in its role in Times Square life. I love street life. I enjoy karaoke, comedy and everything interactive.

Believe it or not, I know it’s hard to imagine, but THE RIDE encompasses all of this. It takes place on a fancy bus with stadium-like seating with video screens and LED lights set along the sides of the bus. It’s a 75-minute ride that goes about four miles through Times Square from 42nd Street to Columbus Circle and back, rather slowly (with the speed of midtown traffic). There are two hosts on each side, each one trying to be funnier than the other. As the bus crouches through Times Square, the people on the streets are somehow part of the show, both willingly and unwillingly. Each night a crew of more than 60 technical people, street performers and tour-guide actors with improv-comedy experience provide entertainment, and all of a sudden, one of the people being spoken to from the bus breaks out in performance. We were entertained by a rapper, a ballet dancer, a saxophonist and soulful singer, a hip hop dancer and most certainly, our two hosts who were pretty hilarious.

The tour includes bits of NYC history, which as a New Yorker, I found very compelling. At one point, whilst discussing the city’s subway system, the bus somehow turned into an actual subway, speeding down a few blocks, shaking just like an actual train that cruises underground.

The bus that is THE RIDE is no joke. Each vehicle costs upwards of a million dollars and includes 49 seats, transparent windows (so the people on the street actually see you), 3K LED lights which flash in various colors all through the ride and video screens.

The ticket prices verge on the high side, but based on what I’ve described, I fully endorse THE RIDE. It’s literally a portable theater riding through the streets of NYC, showing you the city’s best. Several passengers had purchased their tickets on GroupOn but I don’t think that anyone who pays full price should or would be disappointed.

Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary tickets to facilitate this review and others but all opinions are my own.

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Well, it appears that life as we once knew it has come to an end. Gone are the days where we could pick up and head to a place, expecting to have a lovely family vacation – one that involves doing new things together, indulging in new experiences and cuisine together, planning to wake up and go, go, go.

Why? One simple reason. My daughter is nearly 13. She’s not a baby anymore. She has a mind of her own. She’s independent. All she wants to do it sit around and watch Netflix on the iPad.

On a recent trip to Scranton, Pennsylvania (more on that soon), with her and my husband, I noticed the obvious change for the first time. At first I was a bit miffed – after all, we’ve been traveling successfully as a family for years and it’s a HUGE part of our lives. But I soon accepted her new ways and came to terms with what is probably the rest of our lives.

As a result, I have a few helpful tips for traveling with tweens. Note I am new at this phase, so give me a bit of legroom.

1. Give them options. If you’re going to a museum, explain how much you’d like them to come, but if they don’t want to, it’s okay. Leave them behind with the full knowledge that they will be participating in other parts of the trip.
2. Break up your day. If you have a packed itinerary, be sure to include time for tweens to stop and do their own thing.
3. Plan activities with tween appeal. If you know your child likes art, plan a trip to a museum. Do things you know won’t garner complaints, as much as possible, and tell them to Snapchat pictures of where you are to their friends. Oh, and shopping. They love to shop. Find a mall or shopaholic part of town.
4. Tweens like food. Take your kids to interesting restaurants so that they can Instagram and Pinterest beautiful images of cuisine. Go to places like Hibachi where food is prepared before your eyes, make it fun.
5. Take time out and leave them alone. Tweens need space. I saw it so I suggested to my husband that we go for a drink. She was able to revitalize, get her Netflix fix, and come out happy afterwards.

Most importantly, accept that they’re growing up and remember how puberty was when you were younger. My daughter has outgrown certain activities – like steam train rides heading to meet Santa Claus and that is just the way it is. They have so many wonderful character traits and you can talk to them about a whole new slate of topics and take in travel through a new set of eyes. Enjoy every minute – time is ticking.

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When we were recently planning our family trip to Texas, I immediately knew that I wanted to start in San Antonio. I had heard great things about the city and thought it would be the perfect place to start our tour of The Lone Star State.

I can tell you that when we told people we were heading to Texas, we got a lot of questioning, particularly about how we were going to be traveling at the hottest time of the year. August in Texas is indeed as hot as they say, but given the right amount of planning and an itinerary that includes air conditioning, swimming and good Tex Mex, kids should be able to handle it.

I didn’t mind the weather talk – I knew I ‘d love San Antonio, and I did. It was a great entry point for my family. For one thing, it’s an easy city to get around. For another, there is plenty do with kids from history at the Alamo and its many missions to culture and history at its many museums and attractions. There are also amusement and water slide parks (including one of the biggest in America). The city’s River Walk, which is entirely below street level, is a sight to behold, and makes San Antonio one of America’s magical, unique cities.

Before you book your trip, be sure to download an app called SAVE (stands for the San Antonio Vacation Experience) to get coupons and discounts on tickets to attractions, restaurants, tours, shops and at least 15% off your hotel stay. I found it extremely useful.

Here’s the low-down on where to stay, what to do, where to eat and how to get the most of your trip to San Antonio – with the kids in tow.

Where to Stay

The Hotel Contessa is perfectly situated on the banks of the River Walk. It’s also the only luxurious, all suites hotel in the city. Every room was built to cater to families who want comfort and space and they also offer modern decor, soft bedding, relaxing sofas, oversized bathrooms and a large living room with a sofa bed offering additional privacy, always a blessing when traveling with kids. The hotel’s vibe is sophisticated and welcoming with staff pulling out all the punches to make us feel right at home – from the concierge, who was full of helpful ideas on where to go (and where not to go) for dinner to the bartender, who we managed to spend time with while the kids were resting in the room. Best of all, the rooftop pool offers a hot tub and beautiful view of the city. We all witnessed our first set of Texan bats over our head while going for a swim and cooling off from our adventures. Breakfast in the hotel is either by buffet or menu in the lower level restaurant facing the River Walk, and my son indulged in chocolate chip pancakes while we munched on Mexican omelets and drank cups of hot java. It was also really easy to hop onto the River Walk, grab a shaved ice or take a cab to the market for authentic Tex Mex from the hotel. Valet parking made it really easy for us to get in and out. The hotel is located at 306 W. Market Street  or call 1-866-435-0900 for reservations.

Eilan Hotel & Spa is located just outside the city center in the Texas Hill County and was a slice of heaven for all of us after a long day out at Schlitterbahn. Part of the Marriott collection, this boutique hotel offers comfort expected by the chain and also better rates for rooms than you would find in the city center, and it’s so worth the visit. The hotel’s architecture was inspired by the Mediterranean and is completely exquisite with pillars, marble tiling, an elegant Romanesque terrace and a winding staircase. There is a beautiful outdoor pool to use after a busy day of sightseeing and a path that goes around the hotel to take an evening stroll. Our room was air-conditioned and spacious, with two Queen-sized beds with lush linens, a desk, a coffee maker, Wifi access and a flat-screen TV. The look and feel is sophistication with an international flair. The hotel is located at 18603 La Cantera Parkway or call 855-739-4118 for reservations.

For dinner, we ate at Sustenio restaurant & bar, which was simply sublime. A farm to table restaurant, we indulged in ceviche, deviled eggs, flatbreads, southern brisket, honey fried chicken and seared salmon. It was quintessential Texan cuisine, created by Chef Stephan Pyles. We drank delicious wine and tried various appetizers and desserts – including the butterscotch pudding with salted caramel was perfection. My son, who was not a Tex Mex fan before the meal, converted after having the Tortilla Soup. It was a real culinary experience.

What to Do

We were only in San Antonio for a few days but due to the compactness of the city center, research and guidance from Visit San Antonio, the local CVB, we managed to do what we wanted to do. Here is a list of our top picks:

The River Walk

The River Walk is nearly 15 miles of winding passages along the river that can be viewed by a stroll or boat ride and is a must do. It’s literally the largest urban ecosystem restoration in the nation and it’s quite a spectacle and a welcome to any stroll (or stroller, for that matter)-loving family. Most hotels have passages that join up with the River Walk or offer steps that take you down, as ours did at The Hotel Contessa. The downtown portion is full of restaurants with outdoor patios, lovely bridges, fountains, artwork, lily pads and well-kept foliage. We passed by a Mariachi band singing and dancing in the evening and joined in and watched.

Rio San Antonio Cruises.

A good way to get orientated to both the city and the River walk is by boat, and on our first night we jumped on the Rio San Antonio Cruises. The line was long but the wait (30-40 minutes) was worth it, as it offered interesting background and provided a historical context to the area. The kids were as amused and entertained as we were, giving us views of both sides of the River Walk. The cruises run all day and tickets are quite affordable, particularly for young kids.

Sight Seeing

We took a ride around town on Alamo Trolley, a hop on/hop off tour, starting at the Alamo, and going past sites including Mission San Jose’, Mission Concepcion, Market Square and the Institute of Texan Cultures. The option of jumping off allowed for flexibility and the chance to manage our self-guided tour, making stops in La Villita, a restored art district, and St. Paul Square Historic District, where we witnessed restored, historic buildings centered around the 1902 Southern Pacific Railroad Depot and had lunch at the Guenther House’s restaurant, Pioneer Flour Mills, offering yummy American & Tex Mex fare.

King Williams District.

You can’t visit San Antonio without a trip to the Alamo, but as locals confided in me, it doesn’t take long to walk around this small monument, which was true. Founded in 1718 as the very first mission in San Antonio, it’s also the site where the Texans fought against Santa Ana’s army in 1836. Today it’s a shrine to the men who died defending it, the most famous being recognized as Jimmy Crockett (I was glad to recognize a familiar name from my childhood education). There’s a wall of history we read from start to finish which also gave us a better idea about Texan history. Before visiting the Alamo, to keep your kids interested, visit the adjacent AMC Rivercenter 11 with Alamo IMAX and catch “Alamo…The Price of Freedom.” My kids probably appreciated the movie more than the actual landmark but I was happy they got a dose of history.

Fun/Amusements

I managed our time in San Antonio wisely, giving the kids time to explore Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum, the Ripley’s Haunted Adventure, Guinness World Records Museum and Tomb 3D Adventure Ride and Arcade. At Ripley’s Believe it Or Not, they wandered around the Odditorium’s 500 exhibits and rode their 4D adventure. My son particularly enjoyed Guinness, which brought his favorite books to life. We joined them in the Haunted Adventure, which was pretty horrifying.

We also paid a visit to The Witte Museum, San Antonio’s science and natural history museum. Locals told us it would give us a sense of the story of South Texas with its thousands of rare artifacts and demonstrations, and it did. There are interactive, hands-on activities, an outdoor area and climbing rock wall.

For exercise, we headed to Schlitterbahn, a water park 45 minutes outside the city center. Again, we were advised by locals to make the trip to one of the nation’s biggest water parks, featuring 4 miles of slides, chutes, water coasters, water playgrounds, pools, lazy rivers and more. The only drawback? The lines were crazy, as school hadn’t started yet in Texas.

Where Else to Eat

Market Square.

Mi Tierra, located in the very busy Market Square, must mainly cater to tourists (though we were referred by two locals), with its massively sized restaurant, Christmas lights as decor, a big bakery and Mexican singers gracing the room. The lines are long – we had to wait 45 minutes but enjoyed hanging at the bar drinking margaritas and shirley temples. We ordered big plates of chips and queso, salsa, enchiladas, tacos, beans and rice. After dinner, we walked around the market and looked at knick-knacks and other kitsch, touristy items.

Zushi Sushi was my son’s choice, as he desperately needed a change of scenery after consuming what he considered a lot of Mexican food. We negotiated by having sushi one night, a food we all love, and spent an evening devouring eel, spicy tuna rolls, avocado, and other Japanese delicacies.

See above: The Contessa Hotel, Guenther House and Sustenio

Time to Myself

I was invited to the Mokara Spa during my stay in San Antonio, so I nipped away from the family for a morning. It was just a 10-minute walk from The Contessa, where I had stayed the night before. I was treated to a complimentary Aromatherapy Massage, which was heaven on earth. The therapist used oil blends, which we chose together, and she explained how she would be applying pressures to stimulate my nervous system. Having recently had an accident where I damaged some of my muscles, I wondered if the treatment would decrease some of my muscular tension. The unique full body massage experience, drawn from a fusion of eastern and western techniques, enabled my therapist to focus on body, mind and spirit and I have truly felt better ever since.

Mokara Spa.

The Mokara Spa has received kudos from Travel & Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler, and it’s easy to see why.  They offer a complete menu of treatments and services guaranteed to restore the body and mind.  Other services include massage therapy, body treatments, facials, manicures, pedicures and hair care services. They also have sanctuary lounges where I sat with a warm compress over my eyes, under a wool blanket and hot tubs, a steam room and sauna where I veg’d out. The spa is located at 212 West Crockett Street. You must book an appointment today to have your own lavish, fulfilling Mokara experience, by calling 210-396-5840 or 800-830-1500. 

Overall, San Antonio was quite memorable. If you’re planning to visit, you only need a few days, but make the most of them, just like we did.

Disclosure: Some of the items mentioned in this post were complimentary, such as the two hotel visits, the spa treatment, the meal at Sustenio, our visit to many of the attractions in San Antonio including Schlitterbahn.

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The elevator going up to our room on the 43rd floor.

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. I’ve written about the show a few times, the last time here on this blog.

Upon checking in, we were shown to our room on the 43rd floor, which we arrived in taking a WICKED covered elevator up to. The views of the NYC skyline were simply fantastic. The room itself was simple yet luxurious, with all the essentials from cozy bed linens to a terry bathrobe to a 32-inch LCD TV to Wi-Fi access to a soothing white color palette to in-room movies. The hotel has on-site dining and gym facilities, both of which we used. It was the first time my tween ever followed me to the gym in the morning and I loved it.

Our cozy Westin bed.

We then headed to the lobby for a WICKED extravaganza a special showcase of show costumes, props and memorabilia for guests’ front-row viewing pleasure in the lobby. Drinking a Wicked-tini (a special cocktail made for the event) and soda, we sat in front of the three main cast members from the show as they belted out three songs from the show. No “Defying Gravity,” but three songs including “Popular”.

It was a thrill staying in the heart of Times Square. We spent the evening eating Mexican food, going to the movies and having cupcakes at Carlos Bakery – everything a tween can ask for. To add to the WICKED theme, the hotel offers a cast-recorded wake-up call. We didn’t opt in for that as we slept in the next morning. My tween demanded that we sleep in!

The WICKED Night Out getaway at The Westin New York at Times Square, valid through April 30, 2015, starts from just $299 and includes: ^*

• Grand deluxe accommodations just steps from the brilliance of Broadway
• A pair of WICKED-tini cocktails at the hotel’s Bar 10
• Access to show tickets (priced separately) for Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG) members with exclusive earn and redeem options
  

  Our tremendous view of NYC from our room.

To book the WICKED Night Out at The Westin New York At Times Square, reserve your stay online at www.westinny.com/wicked or call 866-837-4183 and request rate code LKPKG1.

Disclosure: We received a complimentary room to facilitate this review and others but as usual, all opinions are my own.

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My travels as a freelance travel writer have taken me out of Larchmont, New York a bit over the past few months, both with and without the kids, and have been sharing my whereabouts all over the web. Here’s where you’ll find me:

MiniTime:

5 Tips for a Family Day at Universal Studios Hollywood

Best Things to Do in York, England with Kids

Family Vacation Critic:

10 Ways to Spend Days with Kids in Long Beach, California

Ciao Bambino

Why Dana Point is Worth a Visit with Kids

GoGirlfriend

A Mom/Tween Getaway in Long Beach, California

24-Hour Getaway to North Fork, California

Mother-Daughter Cosmic Visit to Emerson Resort & Spa

This Girl Travels

Top Things to Do with Kids in Long Beach, California

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This past weekend I packed the kids and my mom up and we fled to Vermont. Our destination was Lake Morey Resort, a family-style resort located on a 600-acre lake surrounded by greenery, filled with water sports and packed with memories. I try to take my mother away with us once a year to somewhere unlike anywhere she has ever been and somewhere with an appeal to my kids. Lake Morey Resort was ideal for this year’s choice. The resort is rustic yet upscale at the same time. It has an old time feeling of genuine summer fun and there was something for all of us – actually more than just something. We all found an abundance of activities to spend our time, both together and separate, and all experienced many things for the first-time. Grandma and grandson became a kayaking duo. They would wake up and head right to the lake. We all played glow in the dark golf and laughed and laughed and laughed under the moon.  We went blueberry picking at a farm 20 miles away. The trip was full of quintessential multi-generational experiences. Here’s the low down on our experience.

Getting to Lake Morey Resort

Believe it or not, I had not been to Vermont. The drive from our home in New York took about five hours with two stops, and the closer we got, the more rural and beautiful the scenery became. We took the 95 to the 91 and went another 138 miles until we came to Fairlee.

 Our Room

Lake Morey Resort has 130 guest rooms and suites. All have a cozy feeling that’s elegant and country style at the same time. They vary in size, location and price. We had an exquisite terrace with a view of the lake, two queen sized beds and a pull-out sofa. It was the perfect sized room for all of us to come back to after a day out on the lake – comfortable, spacious and immaculate. If we needed anything, the front desk was very helpful and receptive to our requests.

What to Do

Lake Morey Resort offers so much for parents and kids. First there’s the lake, which alone offers a plethora of sport – from paddle boarding to kayaking to canoeing to swimming to tubing to water skiing. Most of the water sports are free and your kids can spend hours upon hours taking advantage of everything they offer. The first thing we did at the resort was take a pontoon ride, giving us a full view of the lake. It put us all in the Lake Morey spirit that so easily came after our arrival. There’s also a pool with a hot tub to vegetate in, bikes you can take out anytime for a ride around the lake (a 5 mile radius), a pool table, ping pong and so many other kid-friendly activities. We were fortunate to be there during glow in the dark golf; part of their “Summer under the stars” program and it was incredible. They took us out on their 18-hole golf course at 9pm in a golf cart with neon golf balls and tees and we competed against each other. The resort is also located near blueberry orchards, so we spent a morning picking boxes of the loveliest berries we’ve ever seen at a farm called Wild Hill. We took out bikes (free all the time) and rode around Lake Morey. It was a five-mile ride that took us past summer homes, sleep-away camps and the home of famous classic film actor Melvyn Douglas. We lazed in the hot tub at night and went to family-friendly movies in the hotel’s movie theater. There was never a shortage of things to do and sometimes a sit on the terrace was all we needed.

Where to Eat

We opted to have most of our meals at the resort. The hotel has a meal plan which makes food choices and timing easier for families. Breakfast and dinner were spent in a dining room with fabulous views of the lake and offered healthy options for all of us using Vermont’s fresh produce – blueberry pancakes for example. The food was delicious and we all enjoyed the variety of selection immensely. I’m a vegetarian (the item in the photo was not my dish), and I was pleased with the variety of vegie options. So was my gluten-free mother. For lunch, we became regulars at Whippi Dip Snack Bar down the road where they make homemade tacos, sandwiches and yummy ice-cream.

The Verdict?

I highly recommend a visit to Lake Morey Resort, and I can only imagine that fall in Fairlee would be the most heavenly time to visit. This fall they’re offering many opportunities for family bonding. From apple cider pressing lessons to cider hour, kids can try different varieties of apple cider while the Lake Morey Beer Master serves up delicious local tastings for adults, from hot mulled cider and Woodchuck Cider to a wide range of seasonal local brews.  When not indulging in apple tastings, guests can enjoy activities on the lake (pontoon boat rides, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and more), hike the many scenic local trails, play a round of golf on the resort’s 18-hole championship golf course, indulge in the onsite spa, or catch a movie in the resort’s own 120-seat indoor movie theater.

They’re also offering a special this fall, starting September 19^th through October 12^th, rates for the Smash, Sip, & Stay package start at $418 per adult (kids 3-12 are $80 and kids 13-17 are $130), double occupancy, plus 9% VT tax, and include two nights’ accommodations, dinner, breakfast, apple cider pressing lessons, cider hour, an evening bonfire with make-your-own s’mores and use of the resort’s standard seasonal amenities.

For more information or to book, visit www.lakemoreyresort.com or call 1-800-423-1211.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary visit to Lake Morey to facilitate this review but all opinions are my own.

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On my recent visit to Hong Kong, we had a very full agenda full of recommendations of what to see and do in this city that was completely new to us.  We were told to visit Lantau, the biggest of the more than 200 outlying islands, with the Tung Chung area and the Big Buddha.  Game for an adventure and after inspecting photographs of the site, we were curious and eager to go on the 25-minute cable car journey on the Ngong Ping 360.

We entered a crystal cabin with glass bottom floors and started making our way across the ocean, just as excited as our cabin members who hailed from Korea.  One of the young children liked my reaction to the views so much, he repeated it all the way to the end: “Oh, my god!”  It was a new experience for the children, and for us, as we were whisked into the sky capturing beautiful views of Hong Kong en route to Ngong Ping Village to see the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery.

The  Ngong Ping 360system has 112 cabins, each of which has a modern design with seating for ten and standing room for another seven.  It also incorporates features to meet the needs of disabled passengers, including the elderly and wheelchair users. The system can move 3,500 people per hour in each direction. Two levels of service are offered—standard cabins and crystal cabins. Both sets of cabins circulate on the same ropeway with passengers being segregated by queuing systems at both termini. It’s completely safe and secure and perfect for adults and children of all ages. Once you get to the island, you’ll want a stroller, walking cane, wheelchair or whatever mode of transport you need to get around.  There are no cars allowed and plenty of walking.

On our journey, we had awe-inspiring views of the vast South China Sea; North Lantau County Park; Lantau’s famous natural landscapes. The number “360” in “Ngong Ping 360” means that passengers have a 360-degree view of Lantau Island and we most certainly did.  Our eyes were popping out every inch of the way towards our destination.

Once in the village, we were treated to several attractions that have been built to reflect and maintain the cultural and spiritual integrity of the Ngong Ping area.  While some of it has a Disneyland feel, it is still a unique and educational way to get to know Chinese heritage.  We partook in every attraction being offered.  Walking with Buddha is a multimedia attraction exploring the life of Siddhartha Gautama, the man who became Buddha, and his path to enlightenment.  Monkey’s Tale Theatre, perfect for kids, is another multimedia parable meant to engage its guests’ senses and get them into the spirit of the place.

The Tian Tan Buddha is the world’s largest, seated, outdoor bronze Big Buddha statue.  Constructed from 202 bronze pieces, the statue weighs over 250 tonnes and soars 34 metres into the air.  We walked up 268 steps to get there, and found the Buddha sitting on a lotus throne.  It was pretty overwhelming, and we found the experience pretty breathtaking.  It was also a thrill when we realized we could enter the Buddha – there’s a museum inside.  It kind of freaked us out that we could use the toilet inside the Buddha, but it was also kind of nice.

While there, we had one of the best lunches ever, partly because I’m a huge fan of vegetarian food.  The Po Lin Monastery is located just down from the Big Buddha, and is known as the “Buddhist World in the South”.  The food was very impressive and cost $258 HK for two.  We also enjoyed a nice stroll around the monastery after lunch and got a good look at the Buddhas on view.

For tickets and pricing, go here. A few suggestions for traveling with kids:

– Make sure they can handle height.  It’s a long ride in the cable car and there is no turning back.

– The line to get in is very long.  Be sure to get there when they open or early in the morning to avoid a longer one or prepare your kids for a wait.

– Give yourself plenty of time to see the village and explore the sites, probably around 3-4 hours.

– There are food options of all kinds and budgets all over the village.

– Bring water, sun cream and good walking shoes for everyone.

Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary tickets by the Hong Kong Tourist Board, but all opinions expressed are my own.

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First, let me get one thing straight.  I am not a food aficionado.  I have never lived to eat and my eating tastes are narrow.  That is why on my recent trip to Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona, I was shocked to see myself turn into a foodie in the course of the five days I was there. I looked fervently eager to each meal and felt the urge to devour everything that was put in front of me. The food in Phoenix/Mesa is fresh, innovative and mouth-watering.  And I’m from New York, where I’ve always declared the food is the best in the world!  Go figure.

We started our culinary journey at the Angel Trumpet Ale House with a flute of beer. Six medium sized glasses of their specialty brews. They feature an interesting menu full of specialty beer and comfort food that includes flatbreads, fish tacos, pizza, grilled cheese and something my eyes took note of on the menu called the Nutter (peanut butter, bananas, raspberry-chipotle jam plus homemade marshmallow fluff and peppered bacon).  This restaurant would be either good as a family spot or a date night. Prices are very reasonable, check out their menu here. (810 North 2nd Street, 85004; 602-252-2630)

Verdict: Delicious food for anyone, families, couples, business lunches.

We had the most gorgeous meal at Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails (2 East Jefferson Street, tel: 602-258-0231) in the Palomar Hotel.  They term it a “gastro lounge” because they infuse handmade cocktails with cleverly made food.  The food is memorable: the chefs blend rubs, marinades and infusions with locally grown organic ingredients.  From our starters consisting of macaroni and cheese, deviled eggs, olives and spicy nuts to my main dish of Monkfish Schnitzel to the scrumptious donuts dipped in chocolate to a pumpkinesque milkshake, my mouth was salivating. (2 E. Jefferson Street)

Verdict: A great date night or a girl’s night out.  Don’t skip dessert!

High tea at the Ritz Carlton in Phoenix is an experience right out of England.  Traditional tea, scones, tea sandwiches, accompanied by live piano and lovely service in the most divine setting.  Afternoon Tea is offered at 12pm or 3pm Wednesday through Saturday in the lobby lounge at The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix. The cost is $38 per person.

Verdict: Perfect for mother/daughter, girl’s luncheon or a unique family experience.  Be sure to get serenaded by the “tea guy”.

Dinner at North Fattoria Italiana is truly inspired cuisine and is great for anyone, including kids and families.  Fattoria means farm in Italian – a place where food is handcrafted and sold. It conjures up visions of a rustic farmhouse, offering locals hand-made offerings – anything from wine to olive oil. Created by Chef Chris Curtiss, pizza and pasta dough is made from scratch.  The food is mouth-watering.  We ordered the chef’s board to start with meats, cheese, crispy chickpeas, spiced nuts, pickled sweet peppers and castelvetrano olives, which I happily washed down with a shandy.  For dinner, we shared the simple salad, a salad with Gorgonzola, pine nuts and dried fruit and we shared a few pizzas.  Toppings include eggplant, roasted mushrooms, balsamic onions, fingerling potatoes, farm egg and other fresh ingredients.  The menu also features homemade comfort food like Scottish salmon, braised chicken, pork chops and grilled c.a.b. hanger steak.  If that isn’t enough, the dessert was irresistible.  The budino is a buttery, burnt sugar tang with salt that melts in your mouth and the mini-doughnuts dipped in warm chocolate.  Oh, my. The prices are reasonable and the quality of the good could not be greater. (4925 North 40th Street, 602-324-5600.

Verdict: Great family spot, date night or otherwise.  Be sure to order the chef’s board and try their pizza, which is reminiscent of the real thing in Northern Italy.

Happy hour at TQLA in Mesa was a lesson in the fine art of drinking tequila.  Offering 80 varieties of tequila on tap, “hyper-cooled” to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, we leaned on the restaurant’s “Master Mixologists” to create special cocktail for us.  We drank margaritas and other delicious concoctions using the best tequila, munched on their delicious food including their signature dishes crawfish and spinach enchiladas, table-side guacamole and pumpkin seed crusted salmon. When in Rome, rome, and eat as the locals do. TQLA certainly provided me with the ultimate Mexican/Southwestern artisanal cuisine during my visit to Arizona. (1840 S. Val Vista Dr., Mesa, 480-813-8752)

Verdict: Another place ideal for families with options for everyone and a genuine SW experience.

Lunch at Joe’s Farm Grill was another experience, unique to Phoenix.  The food comes directly from the farm on which the restaurant lies, with much of the produce harvested the same day they cook it. They make their own pickles, marinades and sell their fruit, vegetables, and herbs from The Farm at Agritopia as part of a local co-op and use other local farmers striving to do their part in keeping the menu entirely local.  The Grill is a modern burger stand.  You order food inside and eat on a utopian style patio. Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri – here they do common food done uncommonly well. From hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, fresh salads with fish, ribs, ahi tuna, to grilled cheese butter & banana split, everything is yummy and priced right.  The sweet potato fries and fried zucchini pieces are out of this world and the food is impeccable.  The lines are indicative of the popularity of this establishment.  (3000 East Ray Road, Gilbert, 480-563-4745)

Verdict: Family-friendly, reasonably priced food just miles from Mesa. After lunch, take a walk around Agritopia’s 12 acres of permanent urban farming.

If you’re looking to eat like a native, check out Postino East located in Gilbert’s historic downtown is a new contemporary space that features an indoor-outdoor bar, wrap-around patio with heaters. After renovating the Historic Arcadia Post Office Building, Postino’s partners built a foundation with unique, approachable wines; simple, delicious food prepared with local ingredients; and a warm, edgy culture that brings everyone together. They call the waiters “misfits” and it has a very down-to-earth ambience.  We shared a light dinner with lovely wine, an eclectic selection of bruschetta (our toppings included brie, apples & fig spread; ricotta topped with dates & pistachios and white bean topped with tomato), a Mediterranean salad, artichoke dip and hummus.  They offer Paninis, salads and soups; and a warm, friendly culture that I could go back to again and again. (302 N. Gilbert Rd., Gilbert, 480-632-6363)

Verdict: Delicious food combined with a warm atmosphere make for a great date night or girl’s night out.

For dessert, we headed to Liberty Market, a sister restaurant of Joe’s Farm & Grill. The building has been in existence since the early 1930′s serving Gilbert as a grocery store and is now an award winning, Zagat rated restaurant serving a diverse and refined menu featuring wood fired pizza, sandwiches, salads, burgers, pasta, gourmet style entrees, house-made desserts and a premium espresso bar and diverse beer+wine list.  I had the Salt River bar, which I have to say is addictive and salivating worthy.  Three layers of buttery crackers, peanut butter chips, and brown sugar caramel, topped with a thick, fudgy layer of melted chocolate, sprinkled with sea salt. I think I died and went to heaven.

(230 North Gilbert Road,  Gilbert, 480-892- 1900)

Verdict: Order the Salt River bar, a coffee and stroll the sweet, which takes you back in time to an era long gone by.

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Yesterday I went to the Heard Museum, a museum dedicated to the myriad cultures and art of Native Americans of the Southwest.  I have to admit that my knowledge of this diverse and large group of people is narrow and I was eager to explore the museum and take it all in.  Open since 1929 and located right downtown, the Heard is not only a history lesson but it’s a salute and homage to Native Americans.  It also gives Indian artists a place to display their work.  We happened to be there during an outdoors Spanish Market, a large festival displaying work from more than 75 Hispanic artists from Arizona, New Mexico and South America which complimented our experience.

The museum features ten spacious exhibit galleries with more than 35,000 artifacts, as well as lovely outdoor courtyards that feature traditional and contemporary Native American art.  The experience is both colorful and illuminating, revealing a history that many of us Americans should know more about and understand. The museum is clearly committed to showing the history of Native cultures, celebrating but also depicting painful periods in our history.

As I walked from gallery to gallery, I was mesmerized by tales of the Native people of the past and present.  Their signature exhibit HOME: Native People in the Southwest contains cultural objects and showcases how they live. They have an actual Navajo hogan, the Pueblo horno and 400 katsina dolls on display.

Remembering Our Indian School Days: The Boarding School Experience nearly had me in tears.  It examines Indian boarding schools that were formed in the late 1800s.  Children were forcibly removed from their homes and forced to adopt the white man’s language and cultural identity. Tales of actual Native Americans who lived through this are told overhead via speakers and are still ringing in my ears.  There is an actual chair used to strap them down and chop off their hair, with long strands all over the floor.  Many of these children returned to their reservations and were totally transformed so they became teachers or entered helping professions to help their community.  This is both a powerful and emotional exhibit.

Temporary exhibits include:

Native words: Native warriors and Navajo Code Talkers, Photographs by Kenji Kawano (through March 3rd, 2013)

Native American Bolo Ties: Vintage and Contemporary Artistry (through November 4th)

Retha Walden Gambaro: Attitudes of Prayer (through December 31st, 2013)

Beyond Geronimo: The Apache Experience (through January 13th, 2013)

Namigha Family: Landscape, Form and Light (through January 27th, 2013)

Elegance from Earth: Hopi Pottery (through August 25th, 2013)

The Heard is very child-friendly.  Any child will be smitten with the artifacts, dolls, clothes and art created by Native Americans.  They have several exhibits children for children to engage in: Every Picture Tells a Storywhich tells how local wildlife and vegetation inspire Native artists. From making a dragonfly or butterfly to exploring the Arctic and creating your own bandolier bag, this exhibition journeys to seven regions and shows how American Indian artists reflect their environments in their artwork.  We Are! Arizona’s First People celebrates Arizona’s 21 federally recognized tribal communities that share the importance of land and family as well as the preservation of languages and traditions in an interactive gallery. They offer hands-on activities for kids of all ages.

The Heard was relocated to its current location in 2007.  It’s located at 2301 North Central Avenue, Tel: 602-252-8840.  Admission is as follows: $18 adults; $13.50 seniors; $7.50 students; $7.50 children ages 6-12; free for children under 6 and Heard Museum members.  The museum offers private tours at noon, 2 and 3pm.

Disclosure: I was provided complimentary admission to facilitate this review but all opinions are my own.

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Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to take photos inside, but I can tell you that my kids were just as impressed by the architecture and art as we were.  I was worried that the tour would bore them, but I was wrong.

The Biltmore Estate is the realization of George Washington Vanderbilt’s vision to create an estate both sustainable and beneficial to its surrounding community. The estate now encompasses acres of gardens, park lands, and managed forests. The home itself features four acres of floor space, making up 250 rooms, 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces complete with an underground swimming pool, gymnasium, bowling alley, and kitchens.  Its opulence has been utilized in films such as Forrest Gump, Being There, The Swan, The Last of the Mohicans and many others.

We toured through 42 rooms which comprises 80% of the house via the audio tour (key to keeping kids happy and educational for all).  It was pretty incredible learning about this incredible, rich part of American history.

We also visited the Biltmore Estate Winery which fuses rich wine making tradition with state of the art technology and is where they produce 75,000 cases of roughly 15 varieties annually. The winery offers free guided tours, tastings and seminars on their award winning wines, culinary demonstrations, live music and more.

My kids had their first wine tasting (okay, it was grape juice).

My son’s favorite part of the day?  His ride on a mini Land Rover.  Oh, yeah.

And that is the sign of a successful day.  His smile.

Tickets are $49 each and includes:

• Self-guided visit of Biltmore House
• Access to gardens and Antler Hill Village
• Access to our new Legacy exhibition,
The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad
• Free wine tasting and guided tour at the Winery
• Plenty of dining and shopping opportunities
• Free parking

Helpful Family-Friendly Tips to Plan Your Visit (provided by Biltmore.com )

• The Biltmore House has a special right now — kids ages 16 and under get free admission this summer (through September 3). Outside this promotion, kids ages 9 and younger are admitted free year-round when accompanied by a paying parent or guardian.
• Every restaurant is family-friendly. There are a variety of dining options on the estate, and every restaurant features a children’s menu and a helpful wait staff.
• The Winery is family friendly, with complimentary grape juice available for kids.
• Bring your stroller.Lightweight travel strollers or child backpack carriers are ideal for visiting Biltmore House. They allow you to navigate the house’s stairs with ease and give little feet a break.
• Take breaks during your tour of Biltmore House. There’s no rush to see it all. Sneak outside to the Stable Courtyard for some fresh air, a quick snack, or an early lunch at the Stable Café.
• Check out a Family Fun Itinerary page for fun and easy ideas.
• The Outdoor Adventure Center in Antler Hill Village is another great stop for families. Bike rentals, Segway tours, fly-fishing classes, and river float trips provide the opportunity to explore hidden areas of the estate.  Stop by the Land Rover Driving experience especially for kids. Children drive a replica Land Rover over an adventurous terrain to experience this unique off-roading activity. The course is designed for children between four and eight years old.

Disclosure: I was provided with free tickets to tour the estate but paid for my own activities and meals.

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