The Adventures of a Twin Mom

Motherhood and Travel Blog

Blissful and Breathtaking Bonaire

We have been cruising through South America and the Caribbean on the Carnival Sunshine! It’s been an amazing trip! I have many things to share…pictures and stories but I wanted to first share about one of the first ports we visited…Bonaire!  We’ve never been here and honestly hadn’t heard much about it but we were really anxious to check it out.  I worked with Tourism Bonaire and had the best experience! Bonaire wasn’t only one of my favorite ports from this trip, it was one of my favorite ports ever!

When we first got off the ship, I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful the area was! Usually when you get off cruise ports, the surrounding area isn’t always the best, it’s usually industrial or filled with souvenir shacks.  This one was beautiful with restaurants and well-kept stores.  It also felt so safe and it turns out, it’s one of the safest islands in the Caribbean! Its considered a special municipality within the Netherlands.

After walking through some of the shopping district, we arrived to the Tourism Bonaire office and met the friendly staff.  Then it was time for our tour.

We had an amazing tour guide, Rolando who was informative and entertaining!   As he drove us around, we saw so many beautiful beaches with scuba divers getting ready to dive! I had no idea that Bonaire was voted one of the top places to dive in the world year after year!  When we visit next time, this is a must for us!  I spoke with a few divers while we were there and one said, “Imagine paradise underwater, that’s what you have here!”

Next, we noticed these huge pyramids and “pink bodies of water”.  Turns out these are salt pyramids.  Bonaire has a thriving salt industry.  Cargill Corporation is responsible for the salt production here.  It was actually really beautiful to see!

These are slave huts by the salt ponds that are still standing from the 1850s.

As we were driving, all of the sudden Ella yelled, “FAMINGOS!”.  Sure enough, we looked out the window and there were hundreds and hundreds of flamingos!

It was breathtaking.  This is the island’s signature bird.  The area is protected so you can’t get close to them but you can see them on the drive, planes also aren’t allowed to fly over the flamingo reserve!

Then it was time for one of the prettiest beaches I’ve ever seen, Sorobon Beach! There is a public beach here and a resort, Sorobon Beach Resort. We rented a cabana for the afternoon at the resort, it was paradise!

Look at this water! I have to admit, this is the prettiest water I have ever seen!! It just didn’t even look real, it was that beautiful!

We all took a nap (that’s Ella under the towels, haha), played in the water, watched the wind surfers, built sand castles, and relaxed for a few hours!

That’s Judd and Camden wayyyy out there! This beach was so cool because you could walk really far our and the water was still till our waist! Not to mention it felt like bath water and was crystal clear!

Rolando picked us up and took us to lunch at Karel’s Beach Bar! We were treated to a delicious lunch! I had a chicken sandwich that was SO good, Judd had a burger, and the kiddos had chicken nuggets and fries.  We ate this while looking at beautiful water views and the cruise ships! I highly recommend this place!

If you’re looking for a place to relax with beautiful water and beaches, a place to scuba dive, or just a place to escape I highly recommend Bonaire! It is postcard perfect! If you’re planning a trip, be sure to use Tourism Bonaire to help plan!

A HUGE thanks to Tourism Bonaire and Karel’s Beach Bar for hosting us! We had such an amazing day!

White House Tour

I thought it was finally time to share about our tour of the White House!  Let me first say that we were incredibly honored to be invited to tour the White House and it was a once in a lifetime experience.  However, if I’m being completely honest, it was also a crazy experience for us!  For whatever reason, that day Camden and Ella were being a little “extra”.  They are two so they are always a little crazy but they were definitely on an entirely different level this day, haha!  I actually was really sick and they probably had a little bit of my bug too.  Enough about that…here is a little bit about our day visiting the White House and some tips if you were to go!

Our Experience

I honestly expected the staff to be a little stiff and unfriendly just because security is so critical at the White House. I was VERY wrong. The staff was so amazing…they were friendly, nice, and made us feel welcome and safe.  Camden at one point started yelling for no reason and one of the staff got down on his knees to talk to Camden, it was so kind.

We made it through security and then started walking into the White House…talk about goosebumps! It felt so surreal.

It’s a self-guided tour which worked out really well for us since we have young kids that have a short attention span.

One of the first things we walked through was a log hallway that houses portraits of former presidents and their families.

Then we walked past a window and I couldn’t help but notice the soccer net outside for Barron Trump, that was pretty cute to see!

Next, was Family Theater! I remember seeing pictures of Presidents and their families in here!

That’s when things started getting a little insane. Camden and Ella decided they wanted to sit on the floor, play with the White House pamphlet, or scream…

Next was the Vermeil Room.  They use this as a display room specifically for gilded silver or for a formal event as a ladies sitting room.

The China Room was next! This was awesome, this is where they display the White Houses’ collection of state china.

Next up was the East Room.  This room is beautiful and is the largest room in the White House! They use it for receptions, ceremonies, press conferences, and other events. It also displays the famous Portrait of George Washington.

Then we headed towards Cross Hall.  I didn’t see much information on this on the tour but Judd and I both knew it looked very familiar.  Turns out, it’s used a lot.  It’s actually where Obama gave the famous speech about the death of Osama bin Laden.

Next up…the Green Room. This was Thomas Jefferson’s dining room and now is used for receptions and ceremonies.  At this point in our tour, both Camden and Ella wanted to be carried which would have been fine but they both weigh 25 and 30 pounds and only wanted me to carry them.  My arms thought they were going to break by the end of the tour and I was super jealous of my husband (the kids wouldn’t let him hold them) so he got to enjoy it a little more than I did.  He did an amazing job taking pictures even of the crazy moments though! We love you, Judd!

Onto the Blue Room…This is a regularly used room now, the President uses it when he has guests.  The White House Christmas tree is placed here every year.

The kiddos might have been a little extra but they sure looked cute! 😉

The Red Room was next.  This is apparently the favorite room of many First Ladies.

We walked into the State Dining Room next. This looks bigger in pictures compared to in person.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s still big! It can hold 130 guests and is often used for formal dinners and luncheons.

One more family photo inside.

Then we headed outside to the White House lawn and driveway. We took way too many pictures here because I was determined to get a good family picture!  Thanks to all the people who took millions of pictures for us.

Camden and Ella ask to go back to the White House all the time now.  We just laugh every time…that’s not happening anytime soon, kiddos! 😉

Well we survived and won’t ever forget this exciting and crazy day!

I wanted to share some information that I learned that might help you while planning your future trip to the White House…

Getting Tickets/Tour Invitation

Public tour requests must be submitted through one’s Member of Congress.  These self-guided tours are available from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (excluding federal holidays or unless otherwise noted).  Tour hours will be extended when possible based on the official White House schedule. Tours are scheduled on a first come, first served basis. Requests can be submitted up to three months in advance and no less than 21 days in advance. You are encouraged to submit your request as early as possible as a very limited number of spaces are available. 

Good to Know

• There are no bathrooms! Make sure you go before you enter security.

• No food or drinks allowed!

• No bags are allowed, not even diaper bags or small purses.

• No strollers are allowed.

• Parking can be difficult, it’s hard to find street parking. We paid for valet parking at a hotel close by, The Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C. It wasn’t cheap but made the day less stressful. Make sure you figure this out prior to the day of your tour because DC traffic is CRAZY!

• Make sure you have a government issued ID with you.

• You can take pictures with your phone or small cameras but no video recorders are allowed.

Thank you to The White House Staff for having us (and not kicking us out), this is something we will never forget!  If you want to read more about our trip to D.C. and our stay at the amazing Georgetown Suites, check out this blog post.

Stay, Park, and Cruise in Charleston

Are you looking for a wonderful hotel in Charleston? Or are you taking a cruise out of Charleston and need a place to stay the night before and park your car? I got you covered! Check out Hotel Indigo Mount Pleasant! This beautiful boutique hotel is the first Hotel Indigo in the state of S.C., and is backed by the consistency of one of the largest hotel chains in the world, IHG®. It’s in the perfect location, located in the beautiful Mount Pleasant neighborhood of Charleston, and only a bridge away from historic downtown.  Being a Charleston resident, this location really is ideal! You are close to downtown, the beaches, but you’re staying in a beautiful and quiet area!

The hotel has incredible amenities including a resort-style pool…

Isn’t it gorgeous?

An updated fitness facility with private yoga room…

Upscale guest rooms…

6,000 square feet of flexible meeting or event space…

Charleston is known for its delicious foods and the newest restaurant to the Mount Pleasant and Charleston dining scene can be found in this hotel, eliza’s bar + kitchen.  It is led by Chef Mark Scheffsky, with over 20 years in culinary experience They have an amazing food and drink menu, you definitely want to check this place out!

The hotel offers many different packages but I wanted to mention one that particularly stood out to me being a frequent cruiser, the Park and Cruise Package. If you have a cruise booked, you can stay here the night (or nights) before and explore Charleston.  Transportation is provided to and from the port along with free breakfast and complimentary parking for the entire duration of your cruise. This package allows guests to park their car in the parking lot during their cruise.  Call (843) 884-6000 to reserve.

You don’t want to miss this BEAUTIFUL hotel in Charleston!!

Dolphins, Whales, and Sesame Street…oh my!

Since moving close to the beach, Camden and Ella are obsessed with dolphins, whales, and basically anything that lives in the ocean.  Judd and I have always been too.  We talked about taking them to SeaWorld Orlando and then I found out they have a new Sesame Street so we decided we had to go! We went two weeks ago and had a great time.  I thought I’d share a little bit about our day at SeaWorld!

Whenever we go to any park, I plan the day ahead of time so it’s easy!!  I decided Judd and I should ride an adult ride first thing first because the kids would be calm.  Manta was our first ride and it was AMAZING! I waited in line and then we did the Child Swap so that Judd did not have to wait in line. I highly recommend doing this, it was super easy!

Next it was to the Dolphin Nursery. We all loved this and 2 weeks later, Camden and Ella are still asking to go see the dolphins!

I was really excited to go to Pets Ahoy which is a show that shows many animals (dogs, cats, birds, mice, and I’m sure I’m forgetting several doing tricks). My two year olds sat through the entire show and laughed, I don’t think they wanted it to ever end! This is a MUST!

Next, it was time to see the stingrays at Stingray Lagoon and Manatee Rehab.  These were such awesome exhibits to see!

We ate lunch in Antarctica and then rode the Empire of Penguin.  This was a fun ride that ended in the penguin area.  My husband has a penguin obsession so he really loved this!

We cooled down by walking though the Shark Encounter, always cool to see!

We ended the day by seeing Shamu and then we headed to Sesame Street! We made it just in time to see the parade, look at how excited Ella was!

We met the Cookie Monster and Elmo!

Then we rode Elmo’s Choo Choo Train.

SeaWorld did a great job with this area, it’s adorable and there are so many interactive things for the kids to do!

Thanks for hosting us SeaWorld Orlando! It was a great day!

The Most Magical Place on Earth…Disney World 2019!

“That’s the real trouble with the world.  Too many people grow up!”-Walt Disney

Well friends, our Disney World trip for 2019 was one for the books.  We had the most magical time!!  I thought I’d share about our day at Disney World, some tips, and also a few helpful links to really great Disney articles that my friend Amber (she’s a Disney blogger) wrote!!

This was a fast trip for us so we had one day to explore! This is the kids second time to Disney World and my husbands and my fourth time.  I planned everything in advance so we knew exactly where to go/what to do. Tip: This is a great plan if you’re only going for a day, I researched transportation, the park layouts, and all the rides/attractions.

Note: We didn’t ride even close to every single ride, we picked the rides that we wanted to ride ahead of time!

Our first park was Animal Kingdom.  We got there right when the park opened and went straight to Expedition Everest. Judd and I did the parent swap so we each got to ride with only one person having to wait in line once.  Look at how cute they were while waiting for their daddy to come out of the ride.

Then it was off to Africa to ride the Kilimanjaro Safari!  The kids (and us) loved this!!

Our next stop was Avatar World.  We didn’t get to ride Flight of Passage (too long of a line) but that’s ok because we will be back!  Then it was off to catch the bus to Hollywood Studios!

Look at these cute little bus riders!

We had fast passes for Tower of Terror so we rode that and then headed to Disney Juniors Dance Party! This was one of the biggest highlights of the trip for Camden and Ella, they had a BLAST!

When we got out, we realized one of our strollers wasn’t there.  We think someone took ours by accident because there was one in a different color close by.  Note: Make sure you put a tag or something so you can find your stroller easily, we forgot to do this.  No worries though, Disney World made this right for us! They gave us a brand new very similar umbrella stroller to take place of ours!  Thanks Disney World for going over and beyond!!

Then it was time to explore Toy Story World!  Such a fun area!!!

The final stop was to Star Wars World, my husband loved this!! They did an amazing job designing the park.

I did a lot of research before the trip as to how to get to each park the fastest, many suggested walking from Hollywood Studios to Epcot so this is what we did.  It was about a 20-30 minute walk so if you’re not up for walking, don’t do this!  We loved it though because it was so quiet and peaceful and we probably got there faster than other transportation options.  We ate lunch on the way at the boardwalk.

We arrived to my favorite park, Epcot!!  As we entered we saw Mickey Mouse so of course we had to get a picture!  The kids were thrilled to meet Mickey!

Next, we had fast passes to my FAVORITE ride, Soarin! I’m pretty sure I could ride this ride all day long!!

The kids were anxious to see Nemo so The Seas with Nemo was next!

We walked around Epcot a little bit because I love seeing all the different areas! Disney did an amazing job designing this park!

It was time for the kiddos favorite park, Magic Kingdom! We took the monorail this time!

We rode a ton of rides here! I can’t even remember all of them.  One of our favorites was It’s a Small World.

We also ate way too much Dole Whip! Just kidding, can you ever eat too much of that? It’s so darn good!

Overall, we had the best time ever! We hope we get to do this every year because there is nothing better than seeing your kids smile from ear to ear!

My sweet friend Amber is a Disney Blogger and has the most helpful blog! I used this several times while planning our trip.  Here are a few articles that really stood out to me:

–Fast Pass Basics at Disney World

–Walt Disney World: The Basics for Beginners

–Top 5 Places to at Disney World

–Disney with a Large Family

A huge thanks to Disney World for hosting us!

Ahoy Matey from Orlando!

We just got home from Orlando! It was one of my most favorite trips of the year!  It was filled with fun, adventure, relaxation, yummy food, and lots of time with my family…it was everything we needed!!

We stayed at the Lake Buena Vista Resort Village and Spa.

Our room was perfect for us! It was a condo with 2 large bedrooms, bathroom, living room, full kitchen, and dining room. It even had a washer and dryer so we didn’t have to go home with dirty laundry!

Here is a tour of our room:

 

We also picked this hotel for all of its amenities! They have this amazing Pirates Plunge Themed Pool; the entire family was obsessed as you can tell by our pictures below. It’s a zero-entry pool with a huge pirate ship and a slide in the middle! We spent hours and hours in this pool!

We LOVED the slide!!

The resort has amazing food options as well! You can order food right at the pool from Lani’s Luau Poolside Bar & Grille, sit down to eat at Frankie Farrell’s Irish Pub & Grille, or pick up a pizza from Pizza Hut Café Express!

I had the privilege of getting an amazing massage from their spa, Stay Reflections Spa & Salon. This spa is GORGEOUS! I felt at peace the minute I walked in. From massages to facials to nail and skin care. They have it all!

I did the 50-minute Tropical Island Massage and it was heaven.   They even gave me a list of massage oils to choose from, I chose the Citrus Cilantro and it smelled so lovely!!

Other amazing amenities they offer include: Wi-Fi, 24-hour fitness center, meeting room, Kids Club with activities, shuttle to the major theme parks, and a convenience store and gift shop.

Here are more pictures from our stay:

While we were here, we went to Disney World and SeaWorld (more to come on these two adventures in the next week). It was less than a 15-minute drive to all the Disney parks and to SeaWorld. If you plan to go to parks in Orlando, the location of this hotel cannot be beat! It’s very centrally located, easy to find, and has tons of restaurants close by and shopping. In fact, there is an outlet mall right next door within walking distance!

If you’re coming to Orlando, make sure you check out the Lake Buena Vista Resort Village and Spa! You can thank me later. 😉

Thanks for hosting us, Lake Buena Vista Resort Village and Spa and stayReflections Spa!

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