Reminiscing

"Daddy rides" were fun!

Luckily this photo was not lost. I had to have this one!

The Hyatt Windward Pointe, Key West, was our home for a week.

Anna and my mother-in-law at the Southernmost point of the US at Key West.

Contemplating the edge of paradise.

As the summer comes to a close symbolized by Labor Day, it's time to put away white and grab those rain coats. That's particularly true this holiday weekend as I write this during a thunder and lightning and hail storm. My reflections on the summer show a very relaxed, productive, and fun summer. Now almost a distant memory, is our trip to Florida.



For months we anticipated the fun that we would have exploring Key West, a city new to all of us, and state that would mark my four year old daughter's 11th in the US States checkoff list. We headed to Key West we expected to find a tropical paradise - an escape - for a blissful week. The trip was not just the three of us, but we also took my mother-in-law whose traveling experiences are pretty limited. We figured she might jump on this opportunity to check out some place new and different.



We flew into Miami and made the three hour long drive to the Southernmost Key after one night in a brand new Best Western in Southern Miami. After finding the complimentary breakfast buffet to his liking, we packed up the car, the preschooler, and the mother-in-law, and headed South. The drive, while tedious at times, does offer some spectacular views of beautiful blue water all around. We made several stops to take in the scenery, and were relieved to reach our destination of the Hyatt Windward Pointe, Key West.


If you read my earlier posts, you know that I agonized over the accommodations. I knew that to have a relaxing week and enough space for us all we would have to have sufficient room. A hotel room would not cut it. We were not disappointed in our selection of the Hyatt's vacation property. Every detail of the landscaping was meticulously tended to, in fact the plants looked like they were manicured with scissors. The unit was beautiful; two full bedrooms, two full bathrooms, granite kitchen and huge lanai. The place was so comfortable (and nicely air conditioned) that one day my MIL made her day just at the Hyatt. The Windward Pointe is a solid 4 star place. The housekeeping service was fabulous (though communicating did require me to use my no-longer-fluent Spanish), the property stunning, the condo sparkling clean and totally comfortable. The towels were as nice as my hotel-quality ones at home, there was a full range of television channels, and the sheets at least 500 thread count. Having amenities like a full kitchen with upgraded appliances and washer/dryer in unit made it our comfortable home for a week. My husband like it so much that he commented "you know, we could live in a place like this and travel more." Hmmm...now that's a thought...


Key West is an interesting place, we discovered. There's this eclectic mix of wealthy, Bohemian, old, young, gay, straight, and largely a lack of children. It was not the most "family friendly" of places that we've visited, but that never stopped us! The best way to describe the vibe here is Bourbon Street meets Las Vegas Boulevard. Yes, Key West is a quintessential party town.



While in Key West, we saw many of the must-sees of the island such as the Key West Lighthouse, Hemingway's House, Truman's Little White House, Hog's Breath Saloon, and the East Martello Museum, home of Robert the Doll. There's this weird legend that lives in Key West about this supposedly haunted, freaky doll named Robert. He's quite famous on the island, and according to the locals, is blamed for anything that goes wrong. In fact, quite a few not so blessed visitor's to Robert's museum have found themselves the unfortunate recipients of Robert's wrath. I know this sounds bizarre, but Google it or You Tube it, and you'll find out. "Blame it on Robert" is the island's mantra. Probably the best part of the trip, in terms of activities, was the leisurely lifestyle that our life at the Hyatt afforded us for a week. With a fully functional and stocked kitchen, we didn't have to go out for every meal, and could getting our day started with breakfast and heading straight for the pool.

We think that Robert is responsible for the biggest hardship that befell our vacation. On the 4th of July we went out on a boat cruise (yes, "booze cruise") to view the fireworks. Despite the overcrowded boat and lack of seating (and stagnant, oppressive hot air) we enjoyed the view and watching our daughter cheer for the festivities. We discovered the next morning, though, that somewhere that night we lost our camera. There went all of the pictures that we'd already taken. Luckily we were able to use my mother-in-law's camera for the rest of the trip. "Blame it on Robert," we said. Perhaps it's no coincidence that the four year old did not want to go near Robert when we saw him in his museum house, saying out loud that he was "scary, and kind of ugly." Guess he never forgave us for that.

Check out Robert's own website

Is Robert responsible for our bad luck? How much power can one haunted doll wield?

You'll notice this blog is missing many of the pictures that I'd intended to use to illustrate our trip. We'll blame that on Robert. In fact, perhaps it's that I'm wary of him that makes me feel like I should cut it short and not dwell too much on telling these stories.

We did have some interesting dining experiences - both great and just marginal. More on this, in Key West Part II.

(Interestingly, between the wild weather going on outside and the fact that when I tried to place Robert's picture in my blog everything froze up and now the pictures aren't working, I figure I should call it done!)

While we're on the subject of make believe...

Fairies in flight

My daughter is four years old and lives in the wonderful world of pretend. When you're four so much in the world can be explained in simple terms like "it's magic." Now enter the fairies.

Me and Lily, the youngest fairy!

My friend Jamie and I are old college friends. We both have daughters who are only six weeks apart. Strangely, our lives have paralleled serendipitously at the strangest times. We parent similarly, enjoy wine, love to travel and shop, and both have very indulgent mothers who serve as "Nanas" to our daughters. Nana Sandy, Jamie's mom, has created a fantasy world for Jamie's little girl, Rachel, in which fairies and their magic kingdom abound. Life is about looking for evidence of fairies, and explaining things that happen through the magic of fairies.

Anna and Rachel enjoy Tinkerbell cupcakes at the fairy picnic

Thanks to Nana Sandy both of our four year olds had a magical day complete with the Nanas, the moms, and Lily, Jamie's baby. Through Nana Sandy's imagination, patience, and incredible party planning, we all traveled into fairy land one day this summer, and spent a day with the magic that is four years old!

Has anyone seen some pixie dust?

The day began with a treasure hunt for evidence of fairies. We found magic fairy dust, fairies in the plants, fairy rings, and did all of this while wearing wings. Wings were provided, but everyone needed to bring their own imagination to this party. While the girls gasped over the sparkly shells and magic rocks that they discovered hidden in the plants, they followed Nana Sandy with huge smiles of appreciation. They were simply in awe of this magical world that she shared with them. To the adults, we saw these "treasures" for what they were; straight from the dollar store and sprayed with glitter. The girls saw magic fairy treasures left for them by those mischievous pixies themselves. Delightful is watching two children and one Nana rejoice in the discovery of amazing things.

Look...fairy treasures and pixie dust!

The hunt, and obligatory "fairy flying" were followed by a picnic fit only for fairies. Fresh fruits, fairy-themed sandwiches, Tinkerbell cupcakes, and iced tea completed the menu. There was not one thing I could see that could make this fairy day any more complete.

Two fairies armed with treasure boxes. What will they find?

I've had many experiences this summer including exotic trips. This journey into imagination that brought so much joy to two four year olds, their moms, and Nanas, will forever be a special day. No tropical destination can quite match this. Pixie dust for Nana Sandy! May the fairies dance in her garden.

The picnic concluded with Nana Sandy reading a Pixie Hollow pop-up book to the fairies-in-training.

Travel to the world of make believe

Mr. Rogers was my childhood BFF

As a kid I loved Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. Despite what many young children thought of him, I saw none of the slow pace and boring banter, but a world of imagination and play. My favorite part of the show was when Trolley came bounding along the tracks with its whistle that only Mr. Rogers seemed to be able to interpret. Trolley took children on a journey into The Land of Make Believe, a place that every kid would surely want to be, where reality was left behind and only imagination was real.

Perhaps it should be no surprise that my four year old daughter, Anna, is also quite fascinated with the world of pretend. If she was a young child of the 1970's then she, too, would have been a fan of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. Not a day goes by that she does not dress up, pretend, or create some crazy-looking costume from her myriad of play clothes and jewelery. Along with that we've always noticed a dramatic tendency, and her love of socializing. Given these interests, my husband and I were inclined to plan our summer travels around Anna and agreed to be home for a week so that she could complete a drama class at a local children's theatre. As you might imagine, it was a huge success!

Anna's theatrical debut (she's the blonde one with the crazy hair)

We were happy to plan at least some summer days in which Anna could be a true kid. Sure, there's been the trips to the pool, the trip to Key West, the day trips to local places and visits with friends, but as you've read before, we don't always opt for the "typical" kid activities. My friends tell me that not every three year old chooses to go to "Jimmy Buffet's Restaurant" for their birthday. Surely they jest. So it did require a commitment on our part and planning to make sure that we were home for Anna to do her thing. It was a welcome change of pace for all of us.

We weren't sure going into this if Anna was going to dig it quite like we'd hoped when we ponied up the tuition. Sure, she's dramatic at home, but how will she do with other little thespians for 2.5 hours without mom and dad? Since the time that she was little we've left her with other trusted adults, but this is not her familiar daycare nor her "friends," as she was quick to point out, and how would she flush that noisy toilet all by herself? As soon as she realized that she would have help from a "nice" and "pretty" teacher, the love affair with going to class by herself began. The little one is growing up, and learning a few things along the way.

Isn't this a strange, moss-covered rock?

Anna was sometimes strangely quiet about her activities at class. Kind of like spending a night with Nana and Papa, the same rule seemed to apply: what happens at drama class stays at drama class. It was her time with her new friends, who she made right away, and with her beloved teacher. We would get little glimpses into her world through an occasional nonsensical song or some strange quote like "isn't this a strange, moss-covered rock?" And with that we'd smile and nod in agreement.

She left with a souvenir that week: her own strange, moss-covered rock

So Anna's journey into summer camp taught her mom and dad several lessons. It's OK to actually do "traditional" kid activities during summer, travel to the world of make believe can be powerful and local, and we'll do it again. And until this class I couldn't imagine the days of kindergarten that will greet us in one year, but they're coming, and she'll be ready. Luckily, her parents have one year to prepare.

I lived there...before the vampires

First Beach in LaPush, Washington

We have returned from several of our summer travels! For those of you still waiting - hang on. I'm going to blog about our Key West adventures, but I've been waiting for photos. Allow me to explain. We lost our camera on the 4th of July fireworks cruise. Not exactly sure how or who, that is neither here nor there, and having just received back up photos from my mother-in-law, I'll be able to write soon!

Meanwhile, I'll tell you about my travels that required no real planning on my part, except to arrange a date and get on our friends' calendar. My husband and I both spent our first years teaching in Forks, Washington. As it turns out, we both spent our first year teaching in the very same classroom, but three years apart. We did not live there at the same time, but we did meet through our mutual friend, Lynn. So we enjoy going back to Forks to catch up with our dear friends, and to see how the town has changed. Oh, and we have to find out the latest small-town gossip, of course.

This trip we spent two nights, and took our 4 year old daughter with us. She had a fabulous time. Our friends are now grandparents and are completely prepared to entertain a four year old. She was thrilled with playing outside, playing inside with toys that were all new to her, running through the sprinkler, and visiting with people who haven't all heard her latest knock-knock joke. The five of us took in what Forks has to offer. We spent an afternoon at First Beach in LaPush, and then half of Friday floating the Hoh River on our friend's raft. The four year old thought it was hysterical when her dad got sloshed with water. For her, the faster the rapids, the more fun it was.

Usually when we travel back we find that Forks is the same place that we remember. It's a quiet, isolated place with little entertainment in itself to offer, complete with one traffic light and no McDonald's. It is a place with good friends, and shared history, and that we appreciate. We were stunned to see the impact, though, of the Twilight series on Forks! Until the last year or so, I'd tell my students that my first year teaching was spent in Forks, Washington. They'd stare at me with blank looks that required a geography lesson in order to explain myself. Still, they were unimpressed. Now I mention that I taught there and students think that I'm some kind of celebrity. The irony is too much. This small town, nearly defunct from the decline of the logging industry, that drove me crazy in its isolation and lack of "culture" as I perceived it, now is a destination for thousands of Twilight fans of all ages.

Oh, they're easy to spot. My husband and I fall into an interesting group of people in Forks. While we're there as visitors, we're not really tourists, and we stay with friends, drive the roads and walk the streets with a comfortable familiarity. And we could spot them. The mini vans full of frenzied, awe-struck teens and their moms packing the front of Chinook Pharmacy to buy up their Twilight souvenirs. Forks has marketed to this craze with several "Twilight" stores, $37 tours of "Twilight locations", which is really a very expensive ride to LaPush. They ogle and caress the stacks of Forks hoodies and "Team Edward" t-shirts and discuss how cool it will be to wear to school. If anyone had told me that this level of Forks-worship would ever occur, I would have laughed. And I would have stocked up on Forks memorabilia before the rush and inflated prices! I'm glad for Forks that Twilight has come along...they can use the business.

Should this t-shirt be part of my back to school wardrobe?

Our visit with our friends was fabulous. They're as good of friends as always. We even enjoyed a laugh at my expense. For the first time in 8 years I spent the first day of the Nordstrom Anniversary sale floatin' the Hoh, and not at the sale within the first three hours of opening. And I don't regret it. But I will go tomorrow. Shall I see if they have any Twilight-wear available?

What's next?

I'm currently counting down: 15 days until we leave for our next vacation. Real, not virtual.

We depart for Miami and, ultimately, Key West, Florida very soon. At this point my work is largely done. Hotels are reserved, car reserved, restaurants and activities selected, and all that's left is to find a Cracker Barrel to stop at for lunch and plan our drive into Miami. We'll have a GPS system with us, so even driving directions don't have to be entirely planned out. Deals secured, work done; vacation is almost upon us.

So what's next? What's to become of my hobby? I have several challenges to take on. First, next summer we plan to take our then five year old to Williamsburg, Virginia. I've been there before, so much of the research part is already done. I will have to start to investigate suitable accommodations as well as some road trip components. No need to stop with the Colonial triangle...we'd like to see if it's reasonable to travel to Monticello, Jefferson's home. After all, the four year old is already excited to "meet" him in Williamsburg; shouldn't we make a pilgrimage to the real home? I will also have to find a suitable beach as we can't be on the East Coast and not make a trip to the shore.

Before that, there's the probability of a long weekend Disneyland adventure in the fall. This will be easily planned, but hinges on my work calendar for next year which we don't yet have. We also have the prospect of Spring Break. Again, we can't put energy into that one until we know if my vacation and my husband's match.

So, other than Williamsburg, what can I do with my time? It seems as though it's back to virtual traveling, my speciality. I would love to see Martha's Vineyard in my lifetime. And take a trip to The Hamptons as well. I know nothing about either of these locations, so herein lies my summer project. First, I'll have to learn about the regions and then start to seek out lodging. Something tells me that this will be expensive! Perhaps it's a good thing that it's virtual.

Decisions Made

I'm sleeping much better at night now, save for the party across the street in the high school parking lot. And then there's the AP US History test that my students took last Friday...but as for Key West, my big decisions are made!

Since I last wrote, I've secured our first night in Miami. This was a fairly big decision, as I needed to find a hotel that would be comfortable for the four of us to share a room, would provide a decent breakfast the next morning with no hassle (the decent part my husband's requirement), and would put us firmly in place for our travels to the Keys the next day. Mission accomplished with a brand new Best Western that should offer a clean and comfortable stay with two queens, a sleeper bed, and more than just a stale doughnut and warm OJ for breakfast. And this is all according to tripadvisor.com. The hotel is 12 miles from the airport and also close to the road south to the Keys. Sounds great. We'll hope our first night sets the right tone for the rest of the trip.

Previously I was worried that perhaps I'd be disappointed in our plans to only be spending one night in Miami Beach (our last night in Florida). It sounds, though, like this is probably a wise decision. Most people have written comments about Miami Beach as being crazy, loud, a party place and very expensive for what you get (again, according to tripadvisor.com). My friend confirmed this as well, based on her week-long travels to South Beach. So I'm quite comfortable with the Courtyard Marriott that we booked right on South Beach so that we can see the Art Deco district, colorful Miami, and leave the next morning. I'm certain that the Keys will offer us more relaxation and a laid-back attitude that usually goes with tropical, island lifestyles.

As for transportation, my rental through Hotwire.com of $237 for nine days' worth of a full size car still seems to be a great deal. I really shouldn't look at the rates any more as my reservation is confirmed, paid for, and non-refundable, but it's just too tempting to resist. I love to see the fruits of my searching paying off with rates that I just can't seem to beat. $20 a day plus tax is an awesome rate for this car.

Now that the big decisions are out of the way it's down to the details. I've done some Google searches and read through TV Network recommendations of restaurants and activities in Key West. I've booked us all on a 4th of July fireworks "booze" cruise. So the fireworks are for the 4 year old and the booze is for the adults. Who says that Key West is not a family-friendly destination? I've discovered some must go to restaurants such as Blue Heaven, Kelly's, and El Siboney for Caribbean food. It looks like there's some fun places to visit like a pirate museum, butterfly conservatory, and of course Mallory Square for sunsets, music, shopping, and to dig the Key West vibe. Mostly this vacation should be a whole lot of pool, beach, and leisure! That means no structure.

My next task is to research neighboring beaches and destinations. Who says we have to limit ourselves to just one island? What do the other Keys have to offer?

Perhaps I should stop while I'm ahead and save the other islands for tomorrow. After all, what else will I do between now and the end of June?

My next journey

I think I've made some decisions regarding my next trip; my family's journey to the Florida Keys. In fact, I have to say that since I wrote last I have actually committed to many more elements of our trip. The good part is that I'm able to sleep at night.

So here's where I'm at. I've booked the last night's stay. This was the decision that I "obsessed" over the most, as my husband would describe it. This means that I've spent hours reading hotel reviews, surfing all of the wholesale websites and the hotel sites directly to find the best deals. I've been able to sleep at night, because I'm now convinced that if there was a more suitable deal I would have found it. While I did not find breakfast included (hot, fresh, no stale doughnuts), I did find a place that offers a great buffet, according to other travelers. So our last night will be in South Beach or "SoBe" Miami (yes, I'm learning the vernacular) at a nice looking Marriott property. I was able to have my mother-in-law book the room using her senior discount. Might as well call in every card, eh? Now I'm convinced with their beach location, beautiful pool, comfortable rooms that boast some of the only two queen plus sofabed room I could find in SoBe, that I have the best deal going. With that, I can rest easy. SoBe is not cheap, nor particularly nice for the money from what I hear. Now I know I have not underbooked our time in this fabulous Art Deco portion of the city.

As for our transportation for the nine days, that's another decision already made. I've been watching rental car prices for the last month on sidestep.com and orbitz.com comparing the two. The highest prices were well over $400 for the trip, while the lowest had fallen around $350. The other day I hit a hotwire.com special (you book the car and dates but don't get the company name until you've paid) for $237. Visa charged. Done. Now that's a bargain.

Perhaps an even bigger bargain that's letting me sleep very well at night is the Hyatt condo that I booked in Key West for the bulk of our trip. I knew that with the four of us we'd need space, a kitchen, and two bathrooms. All reviews, pictures, and research led me to this condo right across from the most popular beach in all of the Keys. I booked the condo at $225/night (two bed/two bath, washer/dryer, kitchen, solid 4 star). So last night - just to make sure I can continue to sleep peacefully - I checked the rate. I figured I could always unbook and rebook if they had a better deal. And the rate was....$390! Score!

Moving on to the final dilemma. I must say I'm quite pleased with my finds. As my husband told his mom the other night "my wife's research is making this trip very cheap." Hey, that's what I want. Value for a price that allows me to travel again, and soon! Back to my final question mark. I'm pretty convinced that I've found a good location for our first night, before we travel to the Keys the next day, which is brand new and includes a husband-approved breakfast. Now, I just have to commit.

So what will I do with my time once I've made this last, crucial decision? And what will I write in this blog? My next endeavor is to research restaurants and attractions to do. I've taken care of the 4th of July, but now what to do with the other 8 days?

More later! Now I'm off to bed for a good night's sleep. We'll see where my next dreams take me. I do know I will be dreaming of fine accommodations, sand, water and sunshine. What could be better?

Stop obsessing?

So as you know I spend way too much time thinking about and researching travel - both the trips that I actually take and those that I just dream of. Obsession or hobby? I think it's a little of both.

My latest project is planning our family trip to the Florida Keys in early July. So far I've made the biggest two decisions: booked our airfare, and the bulk of our nights in Key West. I got a great deal going directly through the hotel, and found a two bedroom/two bath full size condo complete with washer/dryer. This should be a fabulous set up for three adults and one child for the week. So what's left you ask??? The other two nights.

We'll fly into Miami and then have one night on each end in the city before our travels to and from the Keys. I'm determined to get the best value for our money and figure that I'm planning early enough to watch all of the deals. So far this is paying off. I've been watching car rental prices (also have to book this one) through Hotwire.com, Orbitz.com, and Travelzoo.com. When I began tracking prices several weeks ago, the cheapest rate for the nine days for a full size car was $400. Tonight I found $218, and I hope it continues to go lower. The question becomes when does one stop gambling and commit? It's hard to say, but I think I'm close.

I seem to be a lot further away from the elusive one night on either end hotel deal. I'm pretty sold on a Best Western (three star, of course) for the first night that includes a very well-rated breakfast buffet. I always try to get breakfast included, and more than just an "OJ and a dry doughnut" as my husband says. This concession is for him. I'm certain I've found us a good deal through BestWestern.com but have yet to commit.

As for the last night, this one really is troubling me. I've decided that I will put us on Miami's South Beach for the night, but the choices are endless. And between Priceline.com and Orbitz.com there are some great deals to be had. I just can't seem to decide on the best value. I keep coming back to a Courtyard by Marriott that includes breakfast and two queen beds plus sleeper couch for the little one, but then I keep wondering if I'm missing out. Will I get there, look around at other properties, and be disappointed? Too many choices! Does anyone out there have any recommendations for SoBe???

There are simply so many choices! Obsession or hobby? Perhaps a little of both.

On the road: Viva Las Vegas

The fact that I've been to Las Vegas a zillion times works in my favor. Vacations always should be one thing; fun. The definition of fun varies with the user. I can define fun in different ways, but for this trip with my nearly four year old daughter, husband, and mother, it was all about "relax and get warm." For many people, the temptation to "do" Vegas is 24 hour pursuit. The glitz and glamor, lack of clocks, aromatherapy, and psychology of the place can convince a person never to slow down. Slowing down, though, is what vacation is for me. Because we've BTDT, it's a relaxing place full of every option. Heck, even the busy preschooler was able to lounge for four hours by the pool! Now that's a vacation - especially when we heard we missed snow and a wind storm at home.

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, or so the story goes. Well they can have their sins. While I partake in several (alcohol, gambling) the nudy cards on the streets and such can stay there. This is where bringing a child gets interesting. Up until a few years ago, Vegas was trying hard to promote this image of being a "family friendly destination." Yeah, right. It is sin city and shall always be. But for the half price airfare that we got through Southwest and a cheap room with my player's card discount at the Flamingo Hilton, the destination is just right for a quick and warm get away. We decided, though, that the destination is probably not a place to bring our little one back to for a long while -- perhaps until she's 21. She's becoming a little too aware of her surroundings!

While we tried to skirt carefully around the "sins" of the place, we did not shy away from the great food. In fact, we bellied up cheerfully for that! We greatly enjoyed the Carnaval Buffet at the Rio for a fabulous dinner (with a discount coupon from our hotel stay as well), while the Harrah's breakfast buffet was just passable. My daughter discovered that she can pack away the fresh fruit and desserts. She quickly added the concept of "buffet" to her working vocabulary! We always enjoy a theme meal of cheeseburgers in paradise along with appropriate frozen concoctions at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville (Flamingo), and our daughter asks to go to Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill (Caesars) for the delectable blueberry coffeecake served during brunch. I have to hand it to her; she has remarkable taste for a little kid. The food at Mesa Grill is amazing; layers of flavors accented with the most delicately chosen chili peppers. It is exquisite service and great tastes that just don't end or fail to surprise. We also discovered a new restaurant quite worthy of a mention. Lombardi's in the Planet Hollywood Miracle Mile mall (formerly Aladdin), had exceptional service and great quality Italian food. Italian food can be either run-of-the-mill (Batista's Hole in the Wall) or something special like Lombardi's. We had a pleasant dining experience, and enjoyed dining "al fresco" by the show fountain. Go to Lombardi's - neither the food nor service will disappoint. They also happily catered to the child.

While we do enjoy our meals (and cocktails, but that goes without saying), we also enjoy other activities that Vegas has to offer. We did our share of gambling, usually taking turns while the little one took a nap, we also seek out the free. The malls of Caesars and Planet Hollywood are our favorites to browse, and promise hours of entertainment that costs whatever you want it to. Also, this trip we actually paid the $15 per adult to go to the Secret Gardens of Sigfried and Roy at the Mirage. This was worth every penny. You can spend as long as you like watching the dolphins in pools that you can walk right up to, view them from under the water, visit the exotic lions and tigers oh my!, and bask in the warm sun at the same time. The four year old was enthralled, and the adults got their sun. These are the best odds in Vegas. The pool at our hotel is a terrific feature of the hotel, but was not heated so was fairly chilly when we were there the end of March. This didn't stop us from lounging and splashing in the shallow parts. There's also a 2-for-1 happy hour every afternoon that includes all poolside drinks!

While my husband and I are always anxious for our next trip to Vegas, we will probably opt to leave the little one with suitable caregivers and make the journey ourselves. We might take in another show (we've done several on past trips). We think we'd like to see Wayne Brady. As for the daughter, she's starting to catch on to her environment, and now recites the names of slot machines on site. Good parenting? Well, there could be worse things. At least she's cultured. So we should perhaps balance this out and make our next trip to Disneyland? Nah...why be so traditional. Just because it has the word "Disney" doesn't mean it's the only place to take a kid.

We're off to the Florida Keys in early July. I'm working on planning both kid and adult activities, and, of course, a whole lot of nothing but beach and pool time! And a round of frozen concoctions with that -- after all, we'll be in Jimmy Buffet heaven: home of the original Margaritaville. Stay tuned!

The Checklist

I love to travel. Somewhat like trying to eat a big piece of chocolate cake, my eyes are bigger than my stomach. Or, in this case, my dreams are bigger than my wallet.

While I've been very fortunate in my 35 years to have had some incredible travel experiences, they are limited to Mexico the the United States. And because my obsession, as my husband calls it, involves me spending hours - or even days - in front of the computer creating both vacations I will take those that I only hope to take, I have to call myself a 50% virtual traveler. Nonetheless, I have high standards which are indulged when my careful planning and pocketbook allow. While my dreams are caviar, my teacher's salary and family obligations limit my actual extravagances. One can always dream big though, right?

Sometimes virtual travel is more fun than the real thing. Virtual dining, virtual swimming, virtual sightseeing, virtual shopping...it's all fun. And, provided credit cards stay in their rightful place, no one gets hurt. It's like the bottle of wine that can safely be ordered for the table to satisfy anyone's palette; it's perfectly safe. My friends from around the country send me links of places they've been or are thinking of going, and I do the same. I build my vacations sometimes to Griswald-efficiency despite my best hopes for a non-scheduled get away. In short, there's so many great places to see and so little time.

This brings me to the checklist. I am a checklist fiend. Whether for work, play, or simply running a household, one can never have too many checklists. They may sure that I don't forget anything and use every resource to the utmost. The same is true when I travel. I have a general "three star or better" rule for wherever I stay; something that I don't yield on. And when I swipe that card and open that hotel door, I immediately go to work. My checklist for what separates a three star from a four star is in my head and I'm taking an inventory.

It's the fine details that separate a three from a four. It's the threadcount. If it's not advertised, it's a three or less. It's the plush of the towels and their history with bleach. The toiletries must be upgraded: no Dial and Pantene for a four star. Is there triple sheeting? What about the extras: shoe shine rag, wine glasses and opener, bottled water? Mini bar? These days one must consider the quality of the TV - plasma or LCD? Do they use those nylon blankets or fluffy duvets? Again, it's the fine details that usually separate the two. With my checklist complete, I can begin my stay.

Sometimes I worry about my standards. Is it really a good use of time to research these details and care? Does it matter in life? My checklists, I think, help me out...but maybe they complicate things. My friend, who is sympathetic to my checklist orientation, stayed a night at a very solid four-star hotel with me when they opened. Naturally I was curious. I wondered if a new property would require the same, or a different, set of expectations. As I swiped the key, we entered the room. I began my research, and she flopped on the bed exclaiming "this room is great. It's the best place I've ever stayed." I admired her ability to disregard any need to take inventory and just enjoy the beautiful space. Perhaps I'll try to free myself from the tyranny of checklists and just enjoy on a very visceral level the accommodations that I've chosen. After all, I've virtually traveled here already. So long as it's three stars or more maybe I can do that. For this, I'll consult my checklist.