Family-Friendly Getaway Ideas in Punta Cana

I'm just back from a much-needed weekend getaway with the family. Our destination: Cap Cana, Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Total travel time: 7 hours, round-trip. The mission: Do absolutely nothing.

All in all, our trip was a success (minus a couple of meltdowns at the airport and a nearly missed flight on the way back). If you're looking to stay put at a resort, Cap Cana is the perfect family getaway: there are beautiful beaches, countless water activities, and lush, tropical forests to explore.  But it's not a destination for culture-seekers—it's a place for fruity cocktails, sun, and sand. Here, the highlights:

Stay: There are tons of resorts to choose from, but the newest (and where we stayed) is Eden Roc Cap Cana. The hotel's small, coral sand beach looks like something out of the Blue Lagoon, with perfectly placed palm trees and crystal blue water, and there's a great kids club onsite. The boys' favorite part: Every guest has access to a golf cart for getting around.

Eat: Besides the two great restaurants at the hotel, Juanillo Food Drinks quickly became our go-to spot. The place is filled with stylish Dominicans and actually played some pretty decent techno. Order the classic ceviche. Avoid the pizza. All cocktails are good (except for a too-sugary margarita). Punta Cana Village has a few good spots, like El Burrito and Mamma Luisa, but be forewarned: there's also a Baskin Robbins (translation: you won't find Dominican flavor here). If you're looking to escape the kids for a night, head to La Yola. The seafood is excellent and the deck has incredible views over the marina.

Do: Wherever you stay, you'll be given a binder full of activities: zip-lining, cave tubing, snorkeling, visits to local communities, ATV treks , the list goes on. They all require at least half a day, and given our ultimate goal of relaxation, we decided to just lie on the beach and hop from pool to pool. It was enough to make us and the kids happy.

Clara Sedlak is a mother of two and Special Projects Editor at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter at @csedlak1.

Photos courtesy of Clara Sedlak

Explore the Rainforest at Butterfly Wonderland in Scottsdale

I'm on a business trip in Scottsdale, Arizona and promised my twins I'd stop by the city's new Butterfly Wonderland complex. At 10,000 square feet, it's the largest indoor rainforest in the US, home to Silver Spotted Flambeaus, Peacocks Pansys, Tailed Jays (pictured), and hundreds more. I'm no science-buff (and this would not have been at the top of my to-do list), but once you promise your kids something, there's really no going back. So my mommy-guilt made me go—and I'm glad. I only wish I had the kids with me. The place is incredible (even if insects aren't your thing), with a 3D theater, a live ant colony, an aquatic center with Motoro stingrays you can touch, and my favorite part, a gallery where you can witness the metamorphosis of a Blue Morpho Butterfly. If you're headed to the Southwest with the family, it's definitely worth checking out.

Clara Sedlak is a mother of two and Special Projects Editor at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter at @csedlak1.

Photo courtesy of Butterfly Wonderland

Affordable Family Ski Packages to Book This Season

It's that time of year again when I spend hours online looking for an affordable place to bring the kids skiing. Trust me, it's not easy. And I've been tempted to give up on the idea altogether, but these deals look seriously promising. 

Start Here

Make sure to check out LIftopia.com first. The discount site partners with more than 250 resorts worldwide. Just this morning I found savings of up to 50% at Magic Mountain, in Vermont, and 35% in Park City, Utah for a four day trip at the end of January. Ski.com is another winner and offers deals on airlines, lodging, and even lift tickets around the globe.

Keystone, Colorado

This is a hard one to believe, but kids age 12 and under can ski and snowboard free all day, every day at Keystone, with no blackout dates. All you have to do is stay a minimum of two nights at one of the mountain's various accommodations, which range from luxe chalets to simple condos.

Breckenridge, Colorado

There are quite a few buy-2-nights-get-the-third-one-free deals, but I’m partial to Breck for a Buck, which offers a savings of up to 25%. When you book 2, 3, 4, or 5 days of lodging and lift tickets, you’ll get the next day free. The only downer? Blackout dates apply and available dates are off-peak.

Canyons, Utah (pictured)

If your kids like to do mountain activities besides skiing, check out the Family Adventure Package at the Canyons. Depending on your room type, you can get up to $200 a night (the lowest being $50) towards snowshoeing, sleigh rides, dogsledding, zip line tours, and more.

Sugarbush, Vermont

East coast skiing has been a little icey this year, but I'm hoping things will turn around. If your kids are just starting out on the slopes, check out Sugarbush’s First Timer To Lifetimer program. Sign them up for a three-lesson package ($225), and they’ll get to ski free for the rest of the season.

Clara Sedlak is a mother of two and Special Projects Editor at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter at @csedlak1.

Photo credit: GIPhotoStock Z / Alamy

Family-Friendly Vacation Ideas for South Beach, Miami

Fact: South Beach is a paradise for grown-ups: sun, sea, sand and a super-sexy party scene.

But, here’s a little-known secret: Miami is a spectacular family getaway. This past winter break, I headed down to South Florida with my husband and two daughters to defrost and indulge in some family fab adventures.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

For this trip, we shacked up at the Fontainebleau. Located on the beach, this iconic hotel offers apartment style suites outfitted with a washer/dryer and kitchen, a major bonus for a travelling family. This allowed me to pack less and be better prepared for the hunger-inspired tantrums that crop up every few hours. Having a leisurely breakfast in our PJs versus having to get dressed and face the crowds (pre-caffeine) for overpriced cereal is a game changer. It is a luxury that adds that extra element of relaxation to the vacation.

PINT-SIZED TOUR GUIDES

Before taking a family trip, I create a worksheet for my kids to investigate where we are going and what we will be doing. In doing the research, they learn nuances of the destination and are invested and engaged in the trip.

WHAT TO DO

Each day we split our time hanging out on the beach and having an adventure. Our favorite afternoon was spent on my daughter’s 8^th birthday at the Miami Seaquarium (pictured) where we took in the shows and signed on for a behind-the scenes “encounter” with the dolphins. Accompanied by trainers, we put on wet suits and hopped into the cool water at Dolphin Harbor to swim with the animals. A Miami native, I know how committed the Seaquarium is to education and the rehabilitation of distressed animals. Many of the dolphins that we interacted with were rescue animals. Just north of Miami Beach is the Florida Everglades, where you can take an open air boat ride through alligator and python filled mangrove swamps. South of Miami Beach is Crandon Park Beach, a unique ecosystem which offers an incredible opportunity to observe mangroves, dunes, sea grass beds and an array of tropical birds. In South Florida, boating is a way of life. While sailing with friends, we explored hidden spots only accessible by boat like Stiltsville, in the Biscayne Channel, Elliott Key and secret canal mazes woven in and around the Intracoastal. For a dose of culture, hop over to Wynwood to check out the burgeoning gallery scene and graffiti art walls peppering this super trendy neighborhood.

GASTRO GRUB

One of the things I love about Miami is an undeniably exotic food scene. We always eat a low-key lunch and a more glamorous dinner. Kids-in-tow best bets: Michael‘s Genuine Food Drink; Gotham Lounge; Prime 112; Big Pinks; Cecconi; and Toscana Divino.

Guest family blogger Amy Tara Koch is a style expert, author, journalist and travel aficionado. She lives in Chicago with her husband and two daughters. Check out her blog, Amy Tara Koch.

Photo credit: Travel Pictures / Alamy

Easy Family Travel Tips for Packing Like a Pro

 

Travel is exciting, yes. But, the packing process—especially for families—is stressful.  To do it efficiently takes time and focus. To avoid mass dumpage into the suitcase, I start packing two weeks before we leave. And, I challenge myself to halve what I “think” we need. 

I place a cardboard box next to the table and drop things in as I think of them: books, sunscreen, shampoo, and medicine. First, I pack the kids. I begin laying the clothes out by category on the dining room table: undies, PJs, tops, bottoms, dresses, hats, shoes. Then, I create a small grooming kit for each kid with brush, toothbrush, hair ties, and Band-Aids. A few days later, I revisit the mounds and remove what is not entirely necessary.

Space Packs are a genius way to stay organized. These zippered pouches allow me to compress clothing and keep garments organized by family member.

Full-sized grooming products hog precious space. Everything is scaled down to small containers and placed in labeled Ziploc bags. Another space-saver in the beauty department is to stockpile skincare/grooming samples from department stores and drugstores. They are ideal for travelling.

And, I always travel with an in-transit pharmacy that contains kids and adult Advil, kids and adult Pepto Bismol, Benadryl, cortisone cream, Band-Aids, Neosporin, Swim Ear drops, eye drops, and saline nasal spray—since kids always get sick or bash a body part during the course of the trip. Being caught without medicine creates a full-blown travel nightmare.

Finally, to avoid overweight bags on the way home, I always shove an empty lightweight duffel bag in the suitcase to transport treasures/souvenirs amassed during the trip.

Guest family blogger Amy Tara Koch is a style expert, author, journalist and travel aficionado. She lives in Chicago with her husband and two daughters. Check out her blog, Amy Tara Koch.

Photo credit: Tetra Images / Alamy

Sleek YoYo Stroller is Perfect For Family Air Travel

This week I'm loving the new YoYo stroller by BABYZEN. If you're a frequent flier and usually have the kids in tow, it's the ideal companion: sleek, easily collapsible, and at less than 13 pounds, meets all airlines’ overhead bin requirements. This means no waiting in the freezing jetway for the attendant to find your stroller after you land.

Clara Sedlak is a mother of two and Special Projects Editor at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter at @csedlak1.

Photo credit: Babyzen

Families Fly Comfortably on Air New Zealand's SkyCouch

Amidst a heated conflict between travelers who want family-friendly zones on airplanes, and those willing to pay more for childfree cabins, Air New Zealand’s Economy SkyCouch seat is becoming a fast favorite for both sides of the debate.

The flexible seating option, which allows passengers to purchase three adjacent seats and transform them into a wide, flat sofa, has been particularly successful with families.

With a footrest that pulls out from beneath the three seats and armrests that virtually disappear, Air New Zealand has sold the Skycouch as an “ideal solution” for “a parent with two restless kids,” or the perfect play space for young children.

Other airlines are taking notice—China Airlines recently became the first non-competing carrier to purchase the rights to the Skycouch, which will appear on a new fleet of 777-300ER planes in September 2014.

It’s a surprising move, when only six months earlier, Singapore Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, and AirAsia X banned children from certain rows or sections on many of their flights.

A representative from Air New Zealand confirmed that there has been international interest in the Economy Skycouch, and new negotiations with other airlines are already underway. At the same time, the Auckland-based carrier is preparing to launch their new fleet of Dreamliners, each outfitted with 14 SkyCouch rows.

Melanie Lieberman is an editorial intern at Travel + Leisure

Photo Courtesy of Air New Zealand

Take the Kids to Cape Cod for Winter Break

Winter break has a way of sneaking up on parents anyway, but a couple of snow days spent shooing kids away from computer screens makes the spectre of another long stretch of empty days at home unthinkable.

Arriving on the scene like a spandex-clad superhero is Cape Cod’s Sea Crest Beach Hotel. The recently renovated low-rise beachfront property ticks all the boxes for a winter family stay:

- Indoor pool (saltwater, easier on eyes and winter skin);
- Low-key, kid-friendly atmosphere;
- Clean and cheerful guestrooms;
- A gorgeous stretch of winter beach right out front for walks and games of catch and uninhibited use of outside voices;
- Nearby activities like the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (the name of which happily doesn’t include the dreaded ‘museum’ word).

Best of all, the hotel has rates that start at $109 per night and that include daily activities for kids like cookie decorating, magic shows, and pizza parties. And yoga classes for parents so you can feel like a superhero, too.

The February Vacation Midweek Special is available from February 16-20 (the week of Presidents' Day) and February 23-27, and is subject to availability. For more information or to book, please visit Sea Crest Beach Hotel, or call (800) 225- 3110.

Ann Shields is a senior digital editor at Travel + Leisure. 

Photo courtesy of Sea Crest Beach Hotel.

Smithsonian Sleepovers Turn the National Museum into an Overnight Adventure

In terms of film quality, Night at the Museum ranks right up there with Gigli and Glitter. Still, after finally acquiescing to the demands of two kids in stereo (“Please, please! Please, please!”), I endured two hours of so-so humor. And I have to admit the idea of sneaking around a museum after hours sparked my childhood imagination. As soon as Miles and Sebs are of age, I plan on taking them on a Smithsonian Sleepover. Families arrive at 7pm on select dates for a night of games, crafts, and dusk to dawn exploration. Some highlights: an Imax screening of Born to be Wild about orphaned orangutans and elephants and camping out in sleeping bags under the giant North American whale, Phoenix. May 17, June 14, June 28, July 12, July 26, Aug 8, Aug 22; age 8 through 12.

Clara Sedlak is a mother of two and Special Projects Editor at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter at @csedlak1.

Photo credit: Kumar Sriskandan / Alamy

Legoland Discovery Center Set to Open in Boston This May

Lego mania cannot be stopped. In addition to being painfully underfoot in playrooms everywhere, there's a Lego movie in theaters, high-art Lego sculptures, a Lego hotel, and now a new Legoland Discovery Center, in Boston. The 44,000 square-foot space is due to open in May and will have more than 3 million pieces of plastic all snapped into place (expect a Lego laser ride, a 4D cinema, and mini-models of US landmarks). And for true Lego maniacs? A master builder is on hand to teach toddlers the secrets to creating sky-high towers.

Clara Sedlak is a mother of two and Special Projects Editor at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter at @csedlak1. 

 

Photo Credit: Merlin Entertainments Group