Travel – Page 2 – Rockland NY Mom

Take the Time…

Posted on August 2, 2015 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Day Trips, Out and about..., RNYM Savings!, Travel .

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions expressed are my own.

As the kids grow (so very quickly) I begin to realize how very important it is to take vacations. It’s important to stop and unwind (which is almost impossible for me), it’s important to make memories, it’s important to build family relationships by spending quality time together. Last year we did a week of day trips, super fun, but not so relaxing… This year, I figured (E) would still be too young, and didn’t plan anything. I am regretting that. Next year, I am planning something no matter what.

That’s one reason that I am so glad to have met Scott Walters. He is a local advisor who knows and understands family travel (he travels extensively with his own wife and three children). He is a Disney EXPERT and knows about so much more. Scott’s skills are free to his clients and this month he is doing one better for RNYM readers. He understands how important it is to take your family vacation so he is offering an incentive for booking your dream vacation today. For the month of August, you can not only plan and make the vacation of your dreams a reality, you can earn money back too!!!

“The world is your oyster. Where do you want to go today?”

Making memories is often better than buying “stuff”. Having experiences with your children can foster endless possibilities. This is where I come in.

As a travel advisor, I help families get out and see the world. From cruises to resorts to a weekend getaway, my ability to find the offerings that your family will enjoy is my passion. I bring people and places together.

My website is www.goawayoftentravel.com and my email is scott@goawayoftentravel.com. I am reachable by phone at 845-558-1225. My Facebook page is at Scott at Go Away Often Travel.

Use the code RNYM to receive up to 4% back on your booking.

*Airfare is not included in this offer. Gift card will be sent after final payment is received. In the case of cruise or resort, you may receive an on board or resort credit. Booking must be made by August 31, 2015 and travel begin by June 30, 2016. Other restrictions may apply and offer may be withdrawn at any time.

I look forward to working with you as I treat your vacation like my vacation.

Magical Escape Part 2- Review

Posted on July 30, 2015 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Day Trips, Day Trips, Money Momma, Reviews, Travel .

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post as our Money Momma, Jamie was invited for a visit with her family. All opinions expressed are her own.

Mountain Creek Trip PART 2 – CRYSTAL SPRINGS RESORT

Out of the action and into the relaxation! Just a short mile or so trip down the road the 4 of us left our day of fun and Action Park Waterpark and went to check into our room at Grand Cascades Lodge at Crystal Springs Resort. The room we stayed in while skiing (insert link) was perfect and plenty big enough but just to see some more of the features of this beautiful property we chose to stay in a family suite this time. The room was gorgeous with a fully functional kitchen and washer/dryer (lifesaver). The kids had a blast pretending that we moved into a new house and running onto the child safe balcony to see the view of all the pools and the top of the mountains. This is when we turned our attention from adventure to relaxation. The suite allowed (T) and me our own room while the kids had a pullout bed in the living room. There was still plenty of room in the living room to set up a portable bed for (S) who insists he cannot possibly share a bed with his sister.

Since we had our own little kitchen we decided to order in some Italian food and unwind from the day. There are plenty of food options on resort property that we knew we would take advantage of the following day. When we were finished we put the kids back into their bathing suits and headed down to the biosphere (insert link) for a night swim. It seriously feels like it transports you to a tropical island. FYI the biosphere has a retractable roof so even when it’s raining, vacation is still a go!

Thanks to a fun-packed day, staying up late, and a very comfortable hotel room, both kids crashed and slept well through the night.

Being at Mountain Creek and Crystal Springs Resort means there is always something going on for the kids to do. Options include (but are not limited to): swimming in one of the four different pools at the hotel, playing miniature golf, taking a ride on the mountain gondola, or riding a zip-line. We were also excited to see that they have now opened their Mountaintop Adventure center which has a whole other array of activities including; lake swimming, kayaking, horseback riding, and archery.

To make reservations and see for yourself click the ADVENTURE CENTER LINK

After discussing it with the kids we decided that we wanted a day to relax and chose to stay and play at the hotel. It’s like being at a fancy family camp because all day long there are different activities on premise to participate in. Guests are given a schedule and a map upon check-in and the rest is at their leisure. This is really a great tool with a family because not everyone will always want to do the same things or maybe they aren’t old enough to do everything listed. There was something for all age groups. (R) and (S) loved swimming in and out of the pools (yes all four) and playing with the human size chess game. (T) and I took a walk around the beautiful chef’s garden which features outdoor dining with dishes prepared from the food grown RIGHT THERE. It was really cool to see farm to table where one might not expect it and we both agreed that a trip to Mountain Creek without the kids is definitely in order (without a doubt).

Once the kids were done swimming and we enjoyed a lunch that was served poolside on our lounge chairs. The food was reasonably priced and was really delicious. They also have adult beverages available as well as full towel service so there was no need for me to be carrying the bag of towels I had brought (that’s right, less packing mommies!).

With the car loaded up and 2 kids asleep in their car seats we were again grateful for the very short drive home. This whole trip reminded us why Mountain Creek and Crystal Springs Resort remains one of our top choices for a family day trip or getaway!

A reminder that you have until tonight (7/30/15) to enter our Action Park Giveaway for 4 free tickets to Action Park!!! For our Review Click Here!

Action Park – A Magical Escape- Review!!

Posted on July 27, 2015 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Day Trips, Day Trips, Money Momma, Out and about..., Reviews, Travel .

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post as our Money Momma, Jamie was invited for a visit with her family. All opinions expressed are her own.

From Day Trip to Magical Escape

Action Park at Mountain Creek and Crystal Springs Resort

I’m not exactly sure how and when it happened, but (T) and I woke up recently and realized we no longer have babies; we have 2 KIDS! Somehow with a 4 year old and a 3 year old we have hit a parenting sweet spot where diapers are no longer needed, naps can be skipped if we are having fun, and the kids are ready to try new adventures. This led us to wonder if taking them on a weekend getaway would be easier or if we should just think about day trips. Instead of agonizing over what to do we decided to pick the best of both worlds. We made a summer trip over to Mountain Creek, a place only 55 minutes from our home but one that feels like an island escape.

We started our visit off with a trip to Action Park, the legendary waterpark that is part of the Mountain Creek and Crystal Springs resort property. We had been told that the park was hilly but we were willing to give it a try because the kids had such a great time on our last trip to Mountain Creek during the winter (click here). We had NO ISSUE with any of the hills, and I don’t just mean me. My 3 year old (S) wasn’t struggling, wasn’t complaining, and didn’t get tired. Unless your desire is to ride the absolute tallest of the waterslides, we did not find the park to be any more or less hilly than any other waterpark.

The large area for the children ages 0 to 7ish is actually completely flat with plenty of lounge chairs for the parents. We were able to park our stuff on a chair and let the kids enjoy a combination of waterslides, splash parks, junior lazy rivers, and tube rides all right in the kid’s area.

Both the food and the bathrooms are conveniently located right next to the kids section!!! It’s the little things that make me smile. At one point (R) went down a slide screaming “this is the most fun ever!” and went running back for another turn.

While (T) played with the kids in their special section, I took some time to take a walk around the rest of the park and watched fellow guests enjoying a variety of rides.

There is of course the standard wave pool (which we found very safe considering they require life jackets for under 48 inches and hand them out for free) but there are also some really cool attractions that just cannot be seen anywhere else.

Cliff jump anyone? Self-controlled roller coaster? How about an oversized CONE that sends riders up and down in an inner tube?? Action park had it all (perfect for pre-teens and teens) and even animal shows to boot! (S) couldn’t wait to get to the animal show so (T) took him while I used that time to ride some of the bigger rides with (R) who met the height requirements.

I have to give this park credit on their crowd control. We were there on a Saturday, it was hot and sunny. I could see all the people, and knew it was crowded, but we never waited more than 10 minutes for any ride or had any problems finding a chair. Even the most popular attractions had their lines moving quickly and with tubes immediately available for the next rider. If we wanted, we also could have rented a cabana for the day that was covered in shade either up above or on a small beach. If we had an infant or had traveled with another family that probably would have been the option we went with.

We were able to spend the entire day with plenty to do for the whole family. As we were leaving and discussing a trip back at the end of the summer we saw a sign that said we could apply the price of a day’s ticket to the cost of a season’s pass. The season pass more than pays for itself after 2 visits! Being only a 55 minute drive we will definitely be back, this becomes a great option for a family like ours. However this time we decided we weren’t leaving. We were headed to check into Grand Cascades Lodge at Crystal Springs Resort for our overnight and second day of our Mountain Creek getaway!!

Stay tuned to read the next installment of Jamie’s Mountain Creek review. In the meantime Rocklandnymom.com is giving away a family 4 pack to Action Park! To enter comment below and share this post on your Facebook page! Winner will be chosen Thursday evening (7/30/15)!

Mountain Creek Smoke and Blues Festival May 24th

Posted on May 15, 2015 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Day Trips, Out and about..., Travel .

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post as I have been invited to the event. All opinions expressed are my own.

RocklandNYDad (RNYD, my poor husband) and I are huge fans of music. Live, recorded, and every genre (we were even in a band together once upon a time). We are always attending concerts and events. You may have noticed if you check out the Events Calendar we have added lots of live music for the summer etc. We will continue to update it with more as we find it. One event that we came across was the Mountain Creek Smoke and Blues Festival. This festival is full of food and music, two favorite pastimes of ours. When I saw it I knew we had to attend.

Details are as follows:

Click here for the official website

Date: Sunday May 24th (Rain Date: Monday May 25th)

Time: 12-8pm

Location:

Mountain Creek- Red Tail Lodge
200 Route 94 ( Vernon McAfee Rd in your GPS)
Vernon, NJ 07462

Tickets:

$25 if purchased by May 23rd
$35 May 24th (Children 12 & Under FREE)
$30 VIP Parking Available in Red Tail Lodge Lot

Purchase Tickets HERE

Schedule of Bands:

1:00PM – 1:55PM The Chuck Lambert Band
2:15PM – 3:10PM The Voodudes
3:30PM – 4:10PM Ali Ryerson
4:30PM – 5:10PM Big Fun-K
5:30PM – 6:30PM Billy Hector
6:50PM – 7:50PM Bob Lanza

Other Helpful Information

This event is a general admission outdoor show
Guests are welcome to bring their own blankets and chairs – no beach umbrellas please
The Red Tail Lodge and Biergarten Grill & Patio will be open to guests for shade, facilities and additional seating
Only ticketed guests will be allowed in and around the resort base area during the event
Your ticket will grant you access in and out of the festival area during the event
Coolers, glass bottles and outside food are not permitted on the festival grounds. The festival will provide an assortment of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, as well as a variety of unique food options
Handicap parking and facilities available
Dogs will not be allowed inside the concert viewing area
Ticket prices do not include Food & Beverage. Food & drink will be available for additional purchase
All ticket sales are final and non-refundable
Free on-site parking available across the street from the venue in the Mountain Creek Cobblestone Lots
Mountain Creek reserves the right to change pricing or event details at their discretion

Our whole family will be attending for a day of fun, sun, food and music. Our full review will be posted upon our return. Hope to see you there!

Mountain Creek has a slew of great events coming up, including the season opening of their water park!! For more information Click Here!

The Cruise Bug

Posted on April 9, 2015 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Out and about..., Travel .

Disclosure: This is an unsponsored post. All opinions expressed are those of Scott Walters Travel Agent.

The bug bit me on a two night cruise to nowhere with my wife on a ship that no longer exists. After that initial morsel, I have grown in my love for cruising as a vacation option and so have my children. Cruising is a great family vacation that offers something for everyone.

While every ship has a different ‘vibe’, I know that my favorite activities on board revolve around three things; eating, entertainment and family fun. Having these things makes me a happy sailor, and makes my family happy as well.

We like eating in the dining room for dinner. It can become as much an event as it is a time to tell stories about our day. Food quality and choices on cruise ships varies, but you will never go hungry as there are plenty of choices. Food allergies are attended to with great care, so just let your dining staff know in advance. The buffet lets the kids pick out their favorites while my wife and I can enjoy ours, too. On port days we eat before heading off on our shore excursions. This way we get a good meal and don’t have to stop for food during our short stop. This also saves a great deal of money. Room service is also available 24/7, in case you should come back hungry. PLUS, when my wife needs her potato chip fix, one call does it all!

Scotts Kiddies at a Character Breakfast.

My family loves going to shows on the ship after dinner. The Disney Cruise Line is our favorite, and the shows are a big part of what we like about them. Each cruise is Disney themed with characters, which are often exclusive to the ship, and our children talk about them for weeks after we are home. I also love karaoke, and ships have some going on at least once a day. My wife prefers the piano bar, and we have seen ventriloquists, hypnotists (I always volunteer), jugglers and many other entertainers brought on board. Most all shows are family oriented unless otherwise specified.

My kids get bored hanging with me and my wife all the time, so they look forward to going to the kids club on the ship. We look forward to them going, too!!! On the Disney ships, the space that a casino would take up has been made into the Oceanear’s club. My kids love the theming and activities that they do from sing a longs to crafts, games, computer projects and of course eating. They are fed lunch and dinner so we grown-ups can enjoy the adult only areas of the ship.

We also like the big screen movies, pirate night, meeting characters and going to the private island Castaway Cay. With so many things to do, we never get to them all, even though we have been on many cruises now. Every night a schedule of the next day’s activities gets placed in your stateroom cabin, and yes for the super tech savvy, there are apps for your devices as well.

We love cruising because of the value it brings. Moneywise it is hard to beat the price when compared to going to all the ports of call, we only unpack and pack once, the children are always in safe, monitored environments, and everyone can find their ‘thing’ and do it to their heart’s content. That is the essence of cruising.

Whether you are a newbie or seasoned cruiser, contact me by phone (845-558-1225), email (scott@goawayoftentravel.com) or on Facebook at Scott at Go Away Often Travel to find out about all the possibilities for your family to set sail on the high seas.

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