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We recently returned from a weekend trip to Lake Chelan with a group of friends and our kids. Just four hours NE of Seattle, I’ve visited the area before, but it was my first time truly staying at a lakefront property and it was absolutely worth it. Our kids loved it and made some wonderful memories. The vacation house we rented in Wapato Point was perfect for our families traveling together and had everything we needed for a comfortable stay with amazing amenities you wouldn’t find at a hotel such as being beachfront and lakefront, having a bit of outdoor lawn space for the kids and parents to lounge, a deck with an amazing view of the lake, an outdoor grill which hubby utilized to cook yummy meals, three levels with room for everyone to spread out, be together, and also have some privacy. The kids’ favorite feature was the game room complete with a foosball table, video games, and a covered porch, and of course the lake!  My favorite spot was the grass lawn where we relaxed, drank lots of wine, and watched the boats go by with the Cascade Mountain foothills and lake as our backdrop.

 

I could easily wake up to this view every day!

 

Kids loving the lake

Outfit details: Dress Who What Wear Collection for Target, Hat Brixton, Slides Zara

 

Enjoying my morning cup of coffee watching the early boats go by…

This was also a memorable trip for John and me, as it was here when we received the call from our agent that our house got an offer and we went into contract to sell our home – yay!

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The W has always been known for its modern sophisticated style, incorporating art and design features throughout the hotel. When the W came to Seattle over a decade ago, the hotel added a sophisticated touch to Downtown Seattle hotels. Opening the W Bellevue only seemed like the next step to elevate the luxury hotel experience in the NW, and enhancing Downtown Bellevue’s already vast growing cosmopolitan vibe.

 

It’s a bit of a challenge to find at first, but once you’ve frequented the spot a few times, it becomes second nature. Upon entering, you are greeted with the grand presence of amazing local mural art by Gaia in which the mural spans three walls and up the staircase. The stairs are lit which evokes an exciting and wonderous feeling of where you’ll end up.

 

As you make your way up the stairs, this is where the magic happens. The second level houses the Lakehouse restaurant and the Living Room Bar. My favorite feature is The Porch just outside of the Living Room Bar. It’s the quinessential indoor/outdoor living Northwesterners crave. A giant sectional and fireplace in the middle of the patio anchors the space, while swings and rockers are situated around the perimeter of the patio where great territorial views of Downtown Bellevue can be seen.

Another mural covers one wall – so instagrammable. The service was great as with any W hotel. We enjoyed our drinks on the patio followed by dinner downstairs across to Fogo De Chao. I’ll definitely be making the Living Room Bar of the W a happy hour hang out spot this summer season.

 

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Living in Seattle and the Eastside, Portland has always been a favorite quick travel stop for food, tax-free shopping, and outdoor pursuits.  I was traveling to PDX for work during the kids’ mid-winter break, I decided to take the kids and make it a work trip/family vacation. Since my last visit to Portland, a new artisan food venue recently opened (May last year) that we had the opportunity to check out: Pine Street Market.

Pine Street Market, which opened in the spring of 2016, is located in downtown Portland in the historic Carriage & Baggage Building and features nine of Portland’s best chefs and purveyors, in a casual, open layout. I have a thing for historic buildings, especially when they are preserved, updated, and utilized for todays lifestyle.

 

Of the nine restaurants, we tried OpWurst, Kim Jong Smokehouse, (pictured above), Bless Your Heart Burgers, and WizBang Bar (Salt & Straw’s lil cousin).  I’m interested to see what other chefs and purveyors Pine Street Market will feature as the venue and concept grows.

 Kids Happy Hour Cones! Yes please!

Mural by by Ashley Montague

 

 

Of course, a trip to Portland wouldn’t be complete without indulging in some tax-free shopping. I finally made it to the Danner Factory Store as I’ve been wanting Danner hiking boots forever, this was a must-buy on my list. These are the only hiking boots I would splurge for. I was excited to find the Mountain Light women’s available in my size for a fraction of the regular retail price, score! Can’t wait to break these babies in.

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My family and I recently returned from Walt Disney World, and after surviving Disney with an infant (6 months) and a 6-year-old, we feel that we can conquer almost anything!

To say I was nervous about the trip is an understatement. I envisioned waiting in long lines everywhere, having to navigate through crowds, and feeling overwhelmed by the size of the parks. My vision couldn’t have been further from reality. Sure, those things existed, but despite all of that, we did experience the Most Magical Place On Earth. Here are my tips on how you can do that, too with an infant and child.

Plan, Plan, Plan .

Before even setting foot in a park, have a plan.

  • We knew which days we wanted to visit which parks. With a few days in Orlando, we decided to get a two-day pass allowing us to visit the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.
  • Downloading the Disneyworld app was our bff before and during the trip. It was helpful having our all our dining reservations, ride times, schedule of attractions, and photos all in once device.
  • Know what rides are most important to your kids and send someone there first. Each day upon entering a park, I sent my husband to get in the FastPass line for the most popular rides (Toy Story, Splash Mountain, etc.), so we reduced wait times there. For us, Disney dining and the Star Wars Experience were the focus for this trip, which we successfully conquered. We spent one full day at each park (Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom) and still didn’t have enough time each day. There is just so much to see, do, and experience with so much ground to cover! DW is HUGE!
  • Expect lengthier travel times to and from the parks if you’re not staying in the park. From the Magic Kingdom parking lot, you’ll still need to catch a shuttle to the entrance gate, then take the monorail or ferry boat to the main entrance of the Magic Kingdom.

Seek out nursing or resting spots to feed baby and rest. I found respite in the lobby of Star Wars theatre to sit down and nurse. This to me was pure bliss. Air conditioning, dark and quiet with no one around! Another favorite spot to just sit down and relax was at the garden outside Cinderella’s Castle. It was the perfect little outdoor area to people watch. It’s landscaped with turf suitable for little ones to sit and crawl on and it’s surrounded by a lovely flower garden filled with spring blooms.

 

The Food

Walt Disney World definitely takes it up a notch with their Signature Dining. There are also a ton of walk-up counter service restaurants throughout the parks, and of course a selection of character dining options. The Signature Dining and character dining books up fast so be sure to make your reservations early.

Fireworks view at the California Grill from the top floor Contemporary Resort We enjoyed dinner and dessert at California Grill at the Contemporary Resort complete with views of the Nighttime Spectacular Fireworks – what a treat!

1900 Park Fare at the gorgeous Grand Floridian Resort was another favorite where we enjoyed dinner during Cinderella’s Happily Ever After and character visits from Cinderella herself and Prince Charming.img_0284

The highlight of our dinners was at Be Our Guest. The ambiance, food, service, and entertainment were most memorable.

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Overall, we had an amazing family vacation at the Most Magical Place On Earth. We did what we wanted at our own pace, let Jonah decide on attractions and rides he wanted to experience, we ate well, laughed together, made wishes, and enjoyed being in the moment. For Jonah’s and Baron’s first time to WDW and for us as a family, we’re already planning our next trip. We can’t wait to come back!