Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman (aka Dr. Beach), Director of Florida International University’s Laboratory for Coastal Research released his list of Top 10 Beaches for 2009. He uses a multitude of criteria to evaluate beaches, which includes water and sand quality as well as safety, facilities and environmental management.

The Traveling Mamas love Hawaii, but we’re also big fans of beaches. Period. Here’s Dr. Beach’s official list. Some are great for families, others are perfect for that romantic escape, but all are perfect for relaxing and getting some sand between your toes.

Hanalei Bay by Seany @ Flickr

1. Hanalei Bay Kauai, Hawaii

2. Siesta Beach Sarasota, Florida

3. Coopers Beach Southampton, New York

4. Coronado Beach San Diego, California

5. Hamoa Beach Maui, Hawaii

6. Main Beach East Hampton, New York

7. Cape Hatteras Outer Banks of North Carolina

8. Cape Florida State Park Key Biscayne, Florida

9. Coast Guard Beach Cape Cod, Massachusetts

10. Beachwalker Park Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Do you disagree with Dr. Beach’s list? Keep in mind that past list leaders are ineligible for inclusion. The annual top beach pick by Dr. Beach has always been in either Florida or Hawaii, with the exception of 2007, which was in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

My personal pick for top beach of 2009 would have to be Nannygoat Beach on Sapelo Island, a Georgia barrier island. It is undeveloped, pristine, fantastic for shelling, and the first time I’ve ever actually seen the beach shimmer with gold flecks. Simply breathtaking.

Here’s a video by brew journalist, Ale Sharpton, that ends on Nannygoat Beach.

Direct link to video.

If you were doing the choosing, what beach would be your top pick for 2009?

Source: CajunMama

Everyone’s looking for a bargain these days. And why not? The best things in life our free! The Mile-High City of Denver offers visitors some fabulous free things to do. Here are my picks:

Ride the 16th Street Trolley. The 16th Street Pedestrian Mall is the main thoroughfare in downtown Denver. Its 15 blocks are lined with dozens of shops and restaurants, and especially in the warm-weather months, there’s often streetside entertainment going on–from impromptu jugglers to musicians strumming guitars. The trolley that runs up and down the mall is free, so take a ride to get an overview of what’s along the mall, or to get from one end to another in a hurry.

Tour the U.S. Mint. Find out how money is made at Denver’s U.S. Mint building. Tours are free, offered on the hour from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Make a reservation on the Mint’s website; reservations are highly recommended, though you can take a chance that there will be availability for a walk-up tour.

Teach your kids at the Denver Art Museum. Families who visit the Denver Art Museum can ask for Family Backpacks, filled with activities, games and puzzles to do in several galleries, or Art Tubes, little mini-activities if you don’t have time tour the entire museum. Also, general admission to the DAM is completely free every first Saturday of the month. Otherwise, prices are $13 adults ($10 CO residents) and $5 for kids 6-18 ($3 CO residents).

Play at a park. Denver has more than 200 of them! Take a jog or ride your bike around Washington Park, with its pretty flower gardens in the summer. Bring the children to the swings and slides at Cheesman Park. Go fishing in Sloan’s Lake Park (adults need a fishing license; kids don’t).

Hit the trails. With more than 850 miles of off-street bike paths, it’s no wonder Denver residents are among the fittest in the nation! Make like the locals do on this vast urban trail system, and bike, walk, run or roller blade along the popular paved paths that follow Cherry Creek or the Platte River.

For more free or cheap things to do in Denver, check out the chock-full-of-deals website Mile High on the Cheap. Coupons, bargains, free admission and special MHOTC-reader promotions are compiled by in-the-know Denver residents and travel writers Claire Walter and Laura Daily.

Source: MountainMama

A couple weekends ago, we broke out our family’s pop-up camper for a trip to Colorado National Monument in Fruita — a whopping two hours from our house. It wasn’t a “staycation,” however (because I detest that word and put a pox on anyone who actually uses it in travel-related articles). We were instead “exploring our own backyard” and doing it incredibly cheaply, overnighting at Saddlehorn Campgrond in this fascinating national monument that we’d never explored before. And we had a ball doing it — namely because it was “urban camping” and we weren’t too far from some creature comforts (read: microbrews) and attractions for the kids. Plus, our camping weekend was budget friendly and didn’t break the bank.

Colorado National Monument is filled with otherworldly sandstone formations, striking canyons and towering monoliths. In addition to hiking some of the easy nature trails in the park — including the Window Rock and Otto’s trails, which lead to absolutely incredible overlooks — we also took a short bike ride from the campground to the visitors center, where the kids turned in their activity books and earned their Jr. Ranger badges.

We scooted down the hill just six miles to check out Dinosaur Journey, a museum dedicated to the unusual number of fossils in the area (ironically, my kids liked standing on the earthquake simulator better than looking at any old bones). We also hiked the mile around Dinosaur Hill, where a Brontosauras skeleton was found in 1900. We went on an urban bike ride along the paved trails next to the Colorado River in Grand Junction (less than a 20-minute drive away), and took in an art show/street festival in downtown Grand Junction, where we took a load off at Rockslide Brewery. (Frankly, one of the highlights of the weekend for me — what tastes better than a cold draft beer after a day of outdoor activity?)

I highly recommend a camping stay or a drive through Colorado National Monument for Colorado residents or anyone passing through the state on I-70. The fee to enter the monument is just $7, and campsites for RVs or tents are just $10 a night. Entrance to Dinosaur Journey is $16 for a family of four, and hiking Dinosaur Hill is free. Of course the memories made while enjoying nature, being together in the outdoors and giggling in a camper during evening storytime — well those are priceless.

Indulge me while I share a few more photos of our urban family camping trip to Colorado National Monument:

Peering over a crazy-steep ledge to abyss below.

MountainKid finds the rocks that resembles a butt crack absolutely hilarious.

The kids climbed through a tunnel in the rocks behind us.

Sunset view just a few yards behind our campsite (#47 in Saddlehorn).

I look forward to other family camping trips this summer — in Colorado and beyond!

Source: MountainMama

A toy-lending library, kids’ personal video-players in on-site restaurants, Gerber baby food included in the room rate, suites designed for families of five, and guaranteed connecting rooms are only a handful of the incredible family-friendly amenities offered at Azul Sensatori by Karisma, an all-inclusive, oceanfront property near Puerto Morelos, Mexico. With the carpet rolled out for kids at Azul Sensatori, I confidently call it the best all-inclusive resort for kids in the Riviera Maya.

My family and I spent two nights at Azul Sensatori this spring. It’s a mid-sized resort, as far as all-inclusives in Mexico go: 438 rooms.  The resort is divided into four sections: Adults-Only (with its own pool; which happened to be the most raucous), Family, Luxury and Premium. The Premium suites, where we stayed, have a private pool with access to pool butlers, who come around to lounge chairs with sunscreen, water, fruit plates and sandwiches through the day. But if you’re traveling with young children, I’d stay in the family section, right next to the phenomenal kids’ club (more on that later) and chidren’s pool area with slide and splashing water features.

The resort is brand new — it just opened in November 2008. We found the resort incredibly clean, beautifully decorated and easy to navigate. Azul Sensatori is is part of the “Gourmet Inclusive,” brand, which applies not only to the top-notch service and amenities you’ll enjoy here, but also, naturally, to the food. Is it five-star dining? Maybe not. But the food is among the best I’ve eaten at Mexican all-inclusives, and I’ve stayed at 10 different properties.

Each restaurant at Azul Sensatori offers a la carte dining (the word “buffet” is not used on property; they are called “interactive dining stations.”). The self-serve stations are great for families who need food quickly for hungry kids; but if you choose, you could spend an entire week here and only order off of menus — a far cry from many large resorts where buffets are the norm, not the exception.

Here are just a few reasons why the Azul Sensatori is a top resort for family travel to Mexico:

Large Suites: The rooms are gorgeous, with flat-screen TVs, half-canopy beds and in-suite Jacuzzi tubs. Family suites include a private queen-size bed area, plus a double sofa bed and a single sofa bed for that third child. Want to accommodate Grandma, too? Book guaranteed connecting rooms.

Fisher-Price Partnership: The Azul Sensatori teamed up with Fisher-Price to provide a toy-lending library. Borrow items like the Laugh & Learn Musical Table or even Kid-Tough Digital Cameras for 24 hours; then return them and borrow something new! Fisher-Price highchairs and other baby gear are also available for complimentary use in your room; you’ll also find Fisher-Price highcharis and personal DVD players (with loaded animated movies) at the restaurants.

My Gym equipment in kids' club.

Kids’ Club: This is the best resort kids’ club facility I’ve ever seen. It’s huge and circular shaped, with My Gym equipment in the center area; scheduled, teacher-led My Gym classes cost extra, but the kids have opportunities play on the slide, trampoline, etc. when they are enrolled in the complimentary Kids’ Club. Off of the main space are smaller themed rooms for imaginative play, napping, playing table games and doing arts and crafts. Activities are scheduled throughout the day; drop your kids for an hour or from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and then again from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. (perfect opportunity for an adults-only meal).

Teen Space: Tweens and teens have their own dance club with non-alcoholic drinks, board games and comfy seating. An arcade with fee-based games is adjacent.

Still more kid amenities: A playground on the beach; kids’ menu at each on-site restaurant offering items like quesadillas, cheeseburgers, grilled chicken or chicken nuggets, as well as kid-sized desserts; a kids’ wading pool with water slide, nets for “water polo” and a water-spray area; kid-sized tennis raquets to borrow; boogie boards, snorkeling gear, kayaks and sand toys for complimentary use; stepstools in the bathrooms; child-size robes; fruit smoothies at check-in.

Perhaps one drawback of the Azul Sensatori is its beach area. The sandy area is great for building sandcastles (with the plethora of sand toys, shovesl and buckets available for families to borrow), but the ocean is rocky and not ideal for swimming. But if you want to enjoy the water with your kids, you can walk down the beach to a more sandy area and gentle waves.

I’m a huge fan of the Azul Sensatori — for families with toddlers, preschoolers, school-age kids and teens. Its sister property, Azul Beach — just down the beach, is also amazing for families. Azul Beach doesn’t have quite as many bells and whistles, since it is a smaller property, just 97 rooms, but equal in top-notch service, family-friendly perks and excellent food. If anyone has questions for me or wants to learn more about my firsthand experiences at Azul Sensatori or Azul Beach, feel free to email me at mountainmama@travelingmamas.com. I’d love to share my experiences at either of these properties that I consider tops among all other family-friendly resorts on the Riviera Maya.

Source: MountainMama

Wine tourism has become a popular aspect of almost any destination. In fact, it isn’t just a pastime for the wealthy anymore. Moms just like me are learning about color, bouquet, and taste, all while taking some time for themselves and learning how to choose affordable wines to serve when entertaining.

The TwitterMoms Wine Club hosts online tastings each month. A bottle is selected and participants from all over the world taste and discuss the wine, sharing notes through Twitter. There is also another event that is popular, Twitter Taste Live.

I’m fortunate that as a travel writer, I am given opportunities to tour vineyards and wineries, learn the stories of how vintners got interested in wine, and of course sample some interesting and flavorful wines.

But, wine tasting isn’t limited to online events or special occasions. You can broaden your wine knowledge by hosting a tasting with your neighbors, finding wineries during your travels, or just opening a new bottle on a Saturday afternoon.

The news segment below shows just how much fun a wine tasting is:

(Video courtesy of WAFB in Baton Rouge, LA. If you can’t see the video, the direct link is here.)

This Travel Tuesday is all about the vino, so please share your stories of wine tasting or travel to a winery. Whether you visit Napa, Solvang, or even Disney World, we want to know about it. If you toured an Inn and enjoyed some great dinner pairings on a romantic getaway, please share. Even if you have tips for someone’s first wine tasting or if you just want to tell us about awesome wine expert, Natalie MacLean.

Please leave a relevant link to the specific post/story or it will be deleted. When Mr. Linky asks for your name, type in the title of your blog with the post title in parenthesis. Then, leave your post link in the link box and you’re done. Here are the official rules of Travel Tuesday on Traveling Mamas.

We’d love for you to tell your friends and readers about this post and even link back here, but we won’t require you to do that. The purpose of Travel Tuesday is to introduce our readers to interesting blogs and sites.

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Source: CajunMama

Win a Lush Gift Box

We Traveling Mamas love our getaways, but we love our giveaways, too. We’ve got a fantastic gift box to feature in our latest contest giveaway! The Art of Bathing gift box, by Lush, is packed full of those organic, fresh, handmade Lush bath products that make a soak in the tub feel like a weekend spa vacation. If you love spa trips but don’t have one scheduled, The Art of Bathing has the equivalent of 12 body soak treatments in one pretty box.

The Lush Art of Bathing gift box contains: Avobath, Haagenbath, Sex Bomb, Butterball, Big Blue and Supernova bath bombs, along with Hot Milk, Pop in the Bath (my kids’ favorite) Bathos, The Comforter (my fave!) and Ma Bar bubble bars. That’s a lot of fun in one gift box. Fans of Lush products - like the Traveling Mamas - know that the benefits of a good soak in great-smelling water does wonder for our tired spirits. Lush in particular, with its emphasis on fresh organic ingredients, is one of our favorite brands. Nothing can truly replace a real vacation away from the daily grind, but a pampering, luxury spa-like soak in the tub can come close. The Art of Bathing has a retail value of $86.95.

To enter this Lush contest giveaway, leave a comment below describing your favorite way to “get away from it all.” One winner will be chosen using a random number generator, so don’t worry if you’re not feeling prolific or creative. Contest is open to US residents only (it’s a shipping costs issue), and relatives of The Traveling Mamas may not enter. Contest giveaway closes Tuesday, May 26, at 6:00PM PST. This is a great gift; good luck!

Source: MudslideMama

My family loves Independence Day. Every July 4, there’s a cute old-timey parade in our town, replete with dressed up dogs, homemade amateur “floats (decorated cars, mostly) and our honorary mayor waving gaily from a convertible. But the best place to go for this year’s July 4th may not be small town America. The Statue of Liberty is reopening in New York City on July 4, the first time it will be open to the public since September 11. 2001. If there’s a better reason to go to NYC this July 4, I can’t think of it.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said, “On July 4, we are giving America a special gift. For the first time in nearly eight years, we will once again be able to have one of the most awesome experiences in the world.”  As most of us know, access to the Statue of Liberty was shut down after 9/11/01 due to concerns over security. To address these concerns, limits have been put on this popular tourist activity: 10 people at a time will be able to experience the trek up to the 265-foot high crown. Those 168 steps will again be able to be climbed by New Yorkers and tourists taking a summer vacation in NYC.

We left NYC several years ago, so when we travel there now it’s as tourists. We stay in a variety of hotels. What could make for a fitting hotel stay in New York City for July 4? Well, an upscale Independence Day trip to NYC could include a stay at the Ritz-Carlton in Battery Park: To celebrate the July 4 reopening of the Statue of Liberty, the Ritz-Carton’s hotel package “Liberty for All” includes two ferry tickets to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, some in-room treats and amenities, and the introduction of a martini called “The Libertini.”

Now, I remember taking the subway downtown to the South Street Seaport area and looking out at the Statue of Liberty.  This was around six years ago, right before we moved out of the city. She seemed so remote then, and far away. This summer, on July 4, it would be wonderful to vacation NYC, get down to Fulton Street, and know that the Statue of Liberty is open for visitors once again. Just thinking about it is healing.

Source: MudslideMama

Venice is a fun and funky part of Los Angeles, with many of the best little stores, unique restaurants, a thriving artists

community, and a boardwalk made for people watching (and roller blading, and buying local crafts, and more people watching. The ’70s still lives on the Venice Beach boardwalk). The artsiest part of Venice, itself arguably the artsiest part of Los Angeles, is Abbot Kinney Blvd. This long boulevard stretches in the California sun, full of fun restaurants, boutique shops, and hip young people. A restaurant that perfectly encapsulates the Venice sub-culture of Los Angeles is Hal’s Bar & Grill. It’s fun, hip, and trendy, with that relaxed, casual Southern California ambience throughout.

A Grandmother, Mother and Daughter out for Brunch

We had a memorable, multigenerational Mother’s Day brunch at Hal’s Bar & Grill. Because of the holiday, the restaurant was pretty crowded with family groups. The waiters kept their cool, though, and we were led upstairs to the quieter level. Just as well; along with my kids, we were with their grandmother AND their great-grandfather. He is in his 90’s, and hard of hearing. The more sedate upstairs area was best for us, as it was nice to not have to shout to be heard. There is plenty of room to move around at Hal’s, which is useful with four generations all together like that!  It’s so rare that all the living generations of our family can come together like this (Great Grandpa lives 3,000 miles away), and we wanted a special place to celebrate this memorable event.

My mother-in-law is about as hip and youthful as agrandma should be allowed to be, and the Abbot Kinney neighborhood of Venice suits her perfectly. We were so happy to share this fun part of Los Angeles with her and her elderly father; we were certain they’d love it, and we were right. Brunch was great. We shared everything we ate with each other, moving plates around and laughing. The southwest scramble was probably the big winner at the table. Great Grandpa ordered this favorite brunch dish - I suppose it’s true when they say that “with age comes wisdom,” so his grandson - my husband - ordered a second Southwest scramble to

Most Memorable Mother's Day Brunch

ensure there would be enough for everyone. The smokey cheddar, grilled corn, black beans and mild spices blended together to make this a very tasty egg dish.  The huevos rancheros with chili relleno and fresh salsa was also a popular egg dish at our table. My own favorite, however, was the lobster scramble, made with egg whites. It felt almost decadent to be eating lobster for brunch, but hey: It was Mother’s Day, and I was one of the mothers! Enjoying great food, and great family time, is what this day is all about for a foodie mom like me.

There are many sandwiches and salads on the brunch menu at Hal’s, along with pancakes and french toast.  It’s a terrific brunch menu with something for everyone.The restaurant clientele is as diverse as Venice Beach itself, and I loved it. For a hip, fun Los Angeles restaurant with fresh takes on traditional dishes, I recommend Hal’s Bar & Grill. Especially for a most memorable multigenerational Mother’s Day Brunch!

Source: MudslideMama

Last week a reader named LC wrote to us for suggestions on the best tropical romantic getaway to celebrate a significant milestone; she and her husband will mark their 25th wedding anniversary next year. Now, if that doesn’t deserve a stellar adult vacation in a romantic, tropical spot, I don’t know what does!

Her parameters: They are traveling in mid-January and asked for a vacation that is reasonably priced. She said that friends have suggested Cabo San Lucas, Costa Rica and the Excellence Riviera Cancun. She noted that she didn’t want to go to Cozumel or Cancun, Mexico, for this trip — so I’m guessing that the Excellence Riviera, which is technically south of Cancun proper in Puerto Morelos, mights still be under consideration. I absolutely adore the Riviera Maya, which is on the Yucatan coast of Mexico, from Puerto Morelos stretching down to Tulum. The Excellence Riviera is an adults-only resort that is ranked #1 among all the hotels in Puerto Morelos on TripAdvisor.com. With its luxury amenities, this resort sounds divine.

View from luxury suite at Azul Sensatori.

From firsthand experience, I’d also recommend Dreams Tulum, an all-inclusive resort also on the Riviera Maya. This is a fairly large property, with beautiful recently refurbished rooms, with romantic canopy beds and Jacuzzi tubs in some suites. I was just at the all-inclusive Azul Sensatori and Azul Beach in Puerto Morelos, and give huge props to these resorts for their unparalleled service. Although these properties attract families with their rock-star amenities for kids, Azul Sensatori has an adults-only building with an adults-only pool, and intimate Azul Beach is wonderfully laid back for couples who just want to enjoy relaxing on the beach together (and some excellent cuisine).

I think all-inclusive resorts provide great value because food, drink and activities are included in your room rate. Check out BookIt.com, which sells all sorts of all-inclusive vacation packages, and is currently running a “book a trip, get a Blackberry” promotion.

Outside of Mexico’s Riviera Maya, my immediate thought for a romantic, tropical vacation is Hawaii. The Traveling Mamas spent three nights at the Westin Maui on Ka’anapali Beach on the island’s west coast and I’d heartily recommend it for couples. (Again, yes, it’s also very family friendly, but if you’re traveling in mid-January, when school is typically in session, my guess it won’t be overrun with rugrats.)

Charming Hotel Lanai in upcountry Lanai.

Other Hawaii accommodations I love: Hotel Lanai, a 12-room bed and breakfast on a wonderfully quiet island of Lanai and the Outrigger Lae Nani, a condo property on the east coast of Kauai. In general, Hawaii is not a super-cheap destination, but it is pulling out all the stops to attract visitors in this downturned economy. There are some great deals to be had on accommodations and airfare (you still might pay $6 for a gallon of milk, but your room might be cheap).

As far as the Caribbean goes, you might consider the San Juan Marriott in Puerto Rico for a very easy-to-get-to, convenient vacation (no passport required). The Mamas and I had a ball drinking mojitos and enjoying spa treatments there earlier this spring. It’s an urban locale, however, so if you’re looking for a remote resort on a secret beach with plenty of seclusion, this isn’t it.

What Traveling Mamas’ Twitter Followers Had to Say

I asked our followers on the social-media site  Twitter for their suggestions on places for a fabulous romantic tropical vacation and Hawaii fans piped up loud and clear! Here’s what they had to say.

@NerdsEyeView, who pens a blog about Hawaii for WorldHum.com, suggested Kona Village on the Big Island, “though it’s pricey.” She said,  “We just stayed at Hanalei Colony Resort [on Kauai]; that was lovely, too.”

@GoVisitHawaii noted that January can be a generally wet time in the Hawaiian islands. She recommends the dry Kohala coast of the Big Island. Fairmont Orchid, Manua Lani, Mauna Kea & Hapuna Beach are four resorts she sugested. The Wailea area on Maui is also a “drier” region, offering some fabulous resorts (albeit not cheap): Fairmont Kea Lani, Grand Wailea, Maui Prince & Marriott

@Nathan Kam, a vice president at MacNeil-Wilson, the PR company that reps the Hawaii Convention & Visitors Bureau had plenty of suggestions:

• Kauai:Hanalei Beach Resort on the North Shore or the Waimea Plantation Cottages on the west side
• Big Island: Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Kohala Coast or Hilo’s Shipman House B&B
• Maui: Kaanapali Beach Hotel or Old Wailuku Inn on Maui might work, too!
• Oahu: JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa in Ko Olina or the North Shore’s Turtle Bay Resort

@rherhe, who also works in public relations for Hawaii, seconded some of Nathan’s picks, but also suggested Maui’s Napili Kai Beach Resort and Sheraton Maui.

And some other destinations got some love:

@EliteTravel, a luxury travel planner for high-end clients, suggested Capella Ixtapa Resort & Spa on Mexico’s west coast. Although this gorgeous property doesn’t sound terribly “reasonably priced,” deals happening now include rates from $350/night, with one night free. An oceanfront plunge pool comes with every suite!

@DreamsResorts piped in with, naturally, some Dreams Resorts: In the Caribbean, Dreams La Romana but the Riviera Maya’s Secrets Maroma Beach is a fav for romance. (And don’t forget my Dreams Tulum plug above!)

@NomadicTweets recommended Panama’s Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge, Popa’s Paradise Beach Resort and Costa Rica’s Tabacon.

Whew! Lots to sort through. In the mix, I know I’ve mentioned some relatively expensive resorts and our reader “LC” asked for “reasonable.” Here’s my thinking: you only celebrate a 25th wedding anniversary once!

Although I’ve listed a bunch of recommendations, I’m sure the other Mamas and our readers have other thoughts on where you could spend your tropical romantic getaway in January, and I’m hoping they’ll chime in with comments. I also hope LC, you’ll let us know where you end up booking your fabulous adults-only vacation!

Source: MountainMama

Frequent readers of Traveling Mamas may already know that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park area is a favorite of the CajunMama family. My parents took my brother and I there as kids, and the tradition has been carried on to my little ones.

This week, Travel Tuesday is about the Smoky Mountains and any stories or posts you may have about the area. Have you gone on some great mountain hikes? Have a recommendation for a really cool cabin resort? Know of any great summer travel specials? Here’s your chance to let our readers see what you have to say.

If you don’t know what Travel Tuesday is, you can read about it here.

Where it says “Name” in the Mr. Linky icon below, leave the name of your blog or company with the title of your post in parentheses. You don’t have to link back to this blog post, but it sure would be awesome. We hope you enjoy this feature on Traveling Mamas each Tuesday.

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Source: CajunMama