When my family makes the 3.5-hour drive to Denver from our mountain home, it’s usually for a special event. For example, we made a weekend trip to the Mile High City at the end of April, namely for the (awesome) LEGO KidsFest happening at the Colorado Convention Center. We’ve also created mini urban vacations around Colorado Rockies’ baseball games, events at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, exhibit openings at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, as well as Elitch Gardens’ fun autumn FrightFest. I love the idea of anchoring a special event to a visit to the city, then adding on other fun things to do in Denver with the kids.

Here are my suggestions of fun family events and activities in Denver this summer:

Lizards and Snakes at Denver Museum of Nature and Science: This exhibit runs through July 8. If you’ve got kids who love creatures, bring them to this museum at City Park to check out more than 60 unusual snakes and lizards from five different continents.

Yves St. Laurent at the Denver Art Museum: Fashion-loving tweens and teens might appreciate this exhibit dedicated to the designer’s career, also running through July 8. Families can check out Backpacks and Art Tubes for games and projects to do while visiting the DAM; also see the Family Activity Cart.

The Addams Family at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts: Running June 19 to July 1, this musical is appropriate for kids ages 7 and up, according to the DCPA’s Family Guide.

Toyota Elephant Passage at the Denver Zoo: This brand-new home for the zoo’s elephants opens to the public June 1.

New live shows at Elitch Gardens: Peak season for this downtown amusement park is Memorial Day through Labor Day. During this time, visitors can see some new family-friendly shows at scheduled times throughout each day, including Cirque Innosta Verano, with performers exhibiting their feats of strength and aerial artistry, as well as Reflections, an evening color-and-light show.

Independence Day in the Mile High City: If you’re in Denver for the Fourth of July, check out the free music and evening fireworks in downtown Civic Center Park.

Colorado Renaissance Festival: This annual event actually takes place in Castle Rock, about a half hour south of downtown Denver. Filled with live shows and entertainment, plus an artisans’ marketplace. Mainly weekends, June 9 to July 29.

For more tips on what to do in Denver with kids this summer, visit the informative Visit Denver website and check out my “Kids in the City” Expedia guide!

I wrote this post in conjunction with Expedia’s “Kids in the City” summer travel campaign, for which The Vacation Gals were compensated to promote the chock-full-of-information resource site. 

For still more summer urban-vacation ideas in the U.S., check out these posts from other savvy family-travel bloggers: Philadelphia, San Francisco.

I spent a lovely three nights at The Reefs Hotel & Club in Bermuda with one of my very best girlfriends last month. While we had an incredible time lounging on the beach, eating delicious food at the on-site restaurants and relaxing at the spa, I couldn’t help but think that this boutique property would make an incredible romantic getaway in Bermuda. The laid-back vibe, intimate size and stellar service definitely inspire romance. And what’s not romantic about this combination: turquoise ocean, pink-sand beach and Bermuda’s favorite rum drink, the Dark and Stormy?

Especially for East Coasters, Bermuda makes a convenient island getaway; it’s only a 2- to 3-hour non-stop plane ride from such cities as Toronto, Charlotte, Atlanta and Baltimore. Under 2 hours from Boston, New York and Washington, D.C. Here’s why you want to consider The Reefs for a romantic, hassle-free getaway to an island paradise:

Rooms and suites at The Reefs are in these pink buildings perched on a cliff. (Across the beach from the Club condos.)

Excellent accommodations: The 62 hotel rooms and suites at The Reefs all have ocean views; and it’s none of this “partial view” business — you’ll be facing the gorgeous Atlantic and its so many shades that vary from aquamarine to deep blue. All rooms and suites have their own private patio or balcony; they also have king beds that can be separated into to twins if you like (though that does not inspire romance!). Many of the rooms’ bathrooms have been upgraded with new glass showers, sinks, counters and pretty mosaic tile.

If it’s just the two of you, a comfortable, airy room will do just nicely; or you can splurge on a suite with  a bit more space (the Point Suites have private balcony hot tubs). But if you’d consider traveling with another couple — or even two other couples — I highly recommend booking one of the 19 two- or three-bedroom condominiums at The Reefs Club. The “Club” section of the property, built in 2009, is basically a separate wing — very close to the full-service spa, a short walk to the indoor restaurants, and featuring its own pretty infinity pool. There is also a separate Club entrance/lobby and front-desk staff (all of whom are very accommodating).

Egg-shaped tub in The Reefs Club condo.

Our two-bedroom condominium was phenomenal — two  separate master bedrooms each had their own giant bathroom with free-standing tub and, glass shower, big closet and two sinks. The bedrooms opened up to a private veranda; one bedroom had closer access to a private hot tub. The comfortable living room faced floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding glass doors. We had no interest in cooking a thing, but we certainly could have with the fully equipped kitchen. We did use the convenient washer/dryer (laundry soap provided). Truly the accommodations were so huge, I’d be so happy to share one of the condominiums with another couple on a romantic getaway.

That's our hot tub on our balcony overlooking the Club infinity pool and The Reefs' white-sand beach.

Full kitchen in The Reefs Club condos.

Each of the master bedrooms in our condo had its own flat-screen TV and king-sized bed.

Meals are included: Room rates at The Reefs include breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner with your stay. While you may argue that you’d like to explore Bermuda’s restaurants at dinnertime, I suggest opting for this meal plan (you can opt out) if only for the convenience (no need to taxi or bus elsewhere in the evening) and because the food is so good. Plus, you can enjoy some of Bermuda’s different eateries for lunch, while you’re out exploring and sightseeing during the day.

For breakfast in spacious Ocean Echo restaurant — or on the terrace in nice weather –  we could choose a continental buffet (cereals, pastries, yogurt, fruit) or order omelets, French toast and other morning favorites off an a la carte menu. Four o’clock afternoon tea in the lounge brought iced and hot tea, plus finger sandwiches, sweet bread and cookies; it’s a convivial time to mingle with other guests.

Violet sky at sunset, as seen from beachfront Coconuts.

For dinner, you can make reservations at al fresco Coconuts, indoor Ocean Echo (with many windows facing the water) or interior Royston’s, a steakhouse. We sat outdoors at Coconuts one night, where the menu includes several seafood dishes (I particularly liked the Bermudian rock fish), salads and meat entrees; the sweet potato bread pudding was a hit here, too. At Ocean Echo, guests on the meal plan choose an appetizer, soup or salad, then a main entree and dessert. Though the menu — which changes nightly — isn’t as comprehensive as Coconuts, we each found items to our liking; my vegetarian friend had some delicious Green Pea and Basil Risotto one night and I thought the Bermuda Onion Soup and Panfried Local Wahoo were quite good.

Nifty presentation of shrimp tempura at Coconuts restaurant.

Great location on the beach: The small crescent-shaped beach at The Reefs is absolutely gorgeous; here, just sit on a chaise lounge under a pink-and-white-striped parasol, order a drink or a “light bite” from Coconuts (just a few steps away), and admire the view of waves crashing on the cliffs. If you’re feeling sporty, borrow complimentary kayaks and snorkel gear for use in the bay.

Your chaise lounge and pink-and-white umbrella await.

While the beach doesn’t necessarily invite long walks on the sand, a network of beachfront trails isn’t far away. From The Reefs walk about 10 minutes east toward the beach club belonging to the Fairmont Southampton, and you can hook into a string of Bermuda’s south beaches: famous Horseshoe Bay, Chaplin Bay, Stonehole Bay, Jobson’s Cove and Warwick Long Bay — this is a great, scenic way to walk off all the calories from your dinners at The Reefs!

Explore quiet coves along the neighboring beaches -- also a popular spot for horseback rides.

Visitors to Bermuda cannot rent cars (for good reason — the streets are so narrow and curvy). But we can rent scooters, and a rental shop is right across the street from The Reefs. The public bus system is excellent, and bus stops are also convenient located on either side of the street in front of The Reefs (remember, buses will travel on the left side of the road).

Scooters aplenty in Hamilton; they're used by locals and visitors to get around the island.

Former defense walls remain at the Royal Naval Dockyard; it was once a strategic outpost for the British Royal Navy.

From The Reefs, we took the bus east into Hamilton to eat lunch and go shopping one day (it was too stormy to lay on the beach, otherwise we might have stayed closer to the property). Another day we headed to the northwest point of the island to check out the Royal Naval Dockyard. Here we also shopped (don’t miss the Bermuda Arts Center), ate lunch (good sandwiches at Bone Fish Bar & Grill) and gawked at the two huge cruise ships docked there. (I also recommend checking out the glassblowing demonstration at Dockyard Glassworks and picking up free samples at the Bermuda Rum Cake Company.)

Also convenient to The Reefs is the Railway Trail – 22 miles of train tracks used to stretch from one end of Bermuda to the other. Today, it’s a path for hikers, joggers and bicyclists. Parts are paved, some are not; signs along the way point out interesting sights. It’s certainly a safe and scenic way to get some exercise in Bermuda (walking along the sides of the roads on which cars drive can be a little scary, as residents who know the roads take curves at a quick clip).

La Serena Spa: This intimate full-service spa at The Reefs has a couples’ suite for side-by-side massages. But the list of services is vast if you’d like to enjoy treatments on your own, then meet up at the comfortable relaxation lounge with chairs that face big windows with views of the ocean. (I loved the warm neck compress offered to me after my Signature Spa Ritual Massage.) Consider this array of massages: deep-tissue, sports, Thai, Shiatsu, aromatherapy, warm bamboo, synchronized (four hands!) and hot stone. Then there are facials (with Elemis products — an excellent line from Great Britain), body polishes and wraps. A must-visit during your stay at The Reefs!

That's a circular-shaped moon gate in front of the relaxation lounge; hold hands as you pass through it for good luck!

For a romantic getaway in Bermuda, I don’t see how you could go wrong with The Reefs. The international staff is genuinely friendly and helpful, at this property that has been a favorite among visitors to Bermuda since 1947. Its modern updates, new condominium accommodations and fresh twists to classic island favorites on the restaurant menu make it indeed a recommend place to stay.

Thank you, The Reefs, for hosting my visit.

Anyone planning a luxury Hawaii vacation knows that the Turtle Bay Resort is more than the top choice on the North Shore, it’s the only choice. Authentic Hawaiian experiences, outdoor adventure and lots of beach activities by day, and relaxing late afternoon/evening sunset gazing with a tropical drink make up many tourists’ ideas of perfectly happy Hawaii trips…and days like that are the name of the game at this resort. About an hour from the urban bustle of Waikiki, Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore feels like it’s on a different island. It has a peninsula to itself, with some calmer shorelines than most of the typically windy North Shore weather allows. Contributor Kim Tracy Prince was treated to a vacation there, and came away with a richer understanding of the appeal of Hawaii’s most populous island.

Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore of Oahu is the place to stay if you haven’t slept through the night in seven years.  Turtle Bay Resort’s location – oceanside within paddling distance of some of the most famous surf breaks in the world – makes for a lot of adventure travel during a Hawaii vacation.  The resort can hook up guests with kayaking, surfing lessons, horseback riding, snorkeling, and pretty much anything else an outdoor adventure traveler could want.  After an activity-filled day on the beach, the luxurious rooms and comfortable beds are impossible to resist.

After you’ve participated in any adrenaline-pumping activity at Turtle Bay Resort, you’ll surely need to grab a cocktail and/or a tasty meal and spend some time on the beach, which is right there.  Unlike other enormous resorts, the beaches of Turtle Bay are literally right outside your window no matter which part of the resort is your temporary home. The resort lodging consists of a three-winged tower, a strip of villas which each have their own beach entrance and a hammock, and a building that houses condo-type suites that sleep up to 14 people.

After a fun- and food-filled day under the North Shore sun, you will head back to your room to find that the housekeeping staff has turned down your bed, left you a pair of homemade chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, and turned on soft, relaxing music on the bedside clock radio.  If you then open the sliding door to the lanai and sink into the extremely comfortable bed, you will be lulled to sleep by the hypnotic sound of the crashing waves in minutes.

And that’s just if your first day there is anything like mine was.  On a recent trip to the North Shore, I stayed at Turtle Bay Resort and surfed (or tried to), snorkeled, kayaked (even standing up!), and ate.  At the end of each day, I slept better than I have any night since before my first child was born.

The standard guest room in the tower section of Turtle Bay Resort is neat, clean, and just what you need – nothing more.  These rooms have not been renovated like the villas or condos have been, so the decor is visibly worn but everything is comfortable and works fine.  In fact, the shower’s water pressure is top-notch, something many travelers will appreciate.  Wireless internet access is included in the resort fee.  Another nice inclusion is a free hour of snorkel gear rental at the on-property beach shack if you show your room key.  Room rates are fairly reasonable considering this is the only resort on this side of Oahu – with certain promotions at the right time of year, a room can be as low as $199 per night.

During my stay I sampled the dining in three of the resort’s eateries.  First up was Ola Restaurant, an open-air dining space settled right next to the beach.  A sunset dinner was just the right thing to ring in my stay, but a word to the wise:  skip the Ola Tea – a cocktail that is similar to Long Island Iced tea but made tropical with pineapple juice.  If it’s your first night and you are jet-lagged, this choice is not worth the calories.  Still, it comes with a little umbrella, so that feels right.  Fortunately the appetizers – kahlua pork and goat cheese nachos?  yes, please – and my entree’ were delectable and filling.  Just reading the description of my dinner will make you hungry:  seared scallops with cranberry fig relish, crisp pancetta, orechette pasta,  Kahuku sea asparagus, grape tomatoes, asparagus tips.  The sea asparagus is indeed grown one town over in seawater, giving the vegetable a salty taste that complimented the scallops nicely.

You may be tempted to simply head down to the convenient buffet on the Tower’s first floor for breakfast, but since it is $25 per person you’re better off heading into town to sample some of the local flavor at a place like the Hukilau Cafe – famous for its association with the movie “50 First Dates,” or Ted’s Bakery, which is a big hit with surfers and locals alike and serves full breakfast dishes along with bakery fare like chocolate haupia pie (a delicious coconut cream) and malasadas (local donut-like pastry) .  A popular local breakfast dish is loco moco:  2 eggs served over 2 hamburger patties over a bed of rice, all covered with thick brown gravy.  Because you decided to eat healthy on this trip, right?  Anywhere you dine for breakfast on the North Shore, be sure to have a glass of passion orange juice with your meal.

Food and snacks are everywhere – in the lobby they serve free-flowing pineapple juice, you can buy snacks in the gift shop, and at Surfer Bar or the Hang Ten poolside bar where I ate a “normal” chicken sandwich and shoestring fries.  You don’t even have to head into Haliewa for some famous Hawaiian shave ice – the Heli Kai adventure shack where you sign up for excursions serves the frozen treat right there on property.

The pull of the North Shore of Oahu is its feeling of remoteness.  Laie, where Turtle Bay is located, is about an hour and a half drive from Honolulu Airport.  The atmosphere of the area is much more rural and “country” than in the popular tourist area of Waikiki.  Rather than slick high-rise hotels and gleaming designer storefronts, Laie and its neighbor, Haleiwa, are hosts to charming old antique stores, pop-up fruit stands that offer the ubiquitous pineapples, mangoes, and coconuts prepared in many different ways as well as more exotic fruits like mangosteen and rambutan, and grungy little surf and jewelry shops.

Here is where you will drive by large rectangular shrimp beds cut into the grass and where you will race to meet the Kahuku or Giovanni’s shrimp trucks that sell the shellfish in garlicky concoctions on a plain paper plate over rice.  Even the most mundane of stores like 7-Eleven and Foodland are backed by breathtaking mountain tops on one side and the impossibly blue ocean on the other.

Of course, you can get the traditional Hawaii experience you have always dreamed of by attending a luau or the “Ha – the Breath of Life” show at the nearby Polynesian Cultural Center , which is a destination for hands-on learning about the seven island cultures that have most influenced Hawaii’s past.  Just as if you were visiting a mainland theme park, you can spend most of a day at the Polynesian Cultural Center and still not see everything there is to offer.  I did just that on my trip to Turtle Bay:  I’ll never forget my adventures in hula dancing, fire making, and banana peeling, among other activities.

I saw travelers of every type during my stay at the Turtle Bay Resort:  honeymooners, couples celebrating anniversaries, large family gatherings, die-hard surfers, and every age from babies on up.  The only adult-reserved activity I witnessed was a soak in the oceanside hot tub, and even that was marauded by children during the day.  It has a great view of the break where would-be surfers took their lessons – I’m sure plenty of people had a good laugh when I took mine.  With the protected bay, the beautiful pool with a waterslide for children, and all the available gear for adventures on hand, this is a great location for a getaway for anyone.

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Kim Tracy Prince was hosted on this trip by Turtle Bay Resort and the Polynesian Cultural Center for the purpose of this feature.  Special thanks to Ola Restaurant for the lovely meal.  Kim is a blogger and web producer in Los Angeles who writes about her adventures as a wife and mother at House of Prince.  

In the heart of Denver’s downtown — steps away from a plethora of restaurants and nightclubs, and kitty-corner from the famed Denver Center for the Performing Arts — the Four Seasons Hotel Denver makes an ideal upscale destination for a girlfriend getaway. Sure, I’d be thrilled to bring my family here (the Four Seasons brand is known worldwide for its kid-friendly amenities and services) and would never turn down a romantic urban escape to the Four Seasons with my husband. But for one night last month when I was able to spend just 14 hours at this luxury high-rise with a good girlfriend of mine… well it was just about perfect. Here’s why:

Accommodations: The rooms at the Four Seasons are spacious and appointed with many thoughtful amenities. I was particularly impressed with the marble bathroom in our deluxe room on the sixth floor: not only was there a television screen embedded in the mirror (cool!) but the big bathtub featured a waterfall-like faucet. I also appreciated the pretty stonework in the shower, two sinks and generously sized L’Occitane toiletries. In the sleeping area, we enjoyed the oversized windows that let in plenty of sunlight, used the iPod docking station and slept soundly underneath down comforters.

EDGE Restaurant & Bar: The classy steakhouse at the Four Seasons Denver is a restaurant destination in its own right — that is, it’s not just hotel guests who flock to the sophisticated spot for an evening meal (it’s also a popular spot for Denverites to take breakfast and lunch meetings). But my friend Kristina and I chose to eat a light meal at the long EDGE bar, just off the lobby and located in front of the entrance to the restaurant. The bar area was packed at abut 7 p.m. on a Friday night — clearly it’s a locals’ favorite for winding down after a long work week.

We enjoyed some wine recommended by our friendly bartender and shared a couple of delicious salads off of the EDGE Restaurant menu, as well as some and sushi rolls that are offered on the bar menu Thursday through Saturday nights. Highly recommend!

Coffee and muffins in the lobby: This is a small service, but certainly one that I fully appreciated, since I woke up before my girlfriend, at about 7 am on a Saturday morning, and I didn’t want to make noise brewing coffee in our room. What a delight to find hot coffee and complimentary banana muffins in the lobby.

Spa, fitness center and pool: The spa at the Four Seasons Denver is divine. Truly, divine. A large soaking tub in the women’s locker area, a steam room infused with eucalyptus, and a soothing relaxation room with several chaise lounges invite rest and repose. I wish I’d had time to indulge in a spa treatment, but simply spending about an hour in the women’s locker room — taking full advantage of soaking, steaming and showering — was a lovely way to start the day.

Actually, because I’d woken up early, I had time to workout in the big fitness center before I retired to the spa. It was quiet on an early Saturday morning, so I had my choice of cardio and strength-training equipment. Here, fruit, citrus water and my beloved coffee are also offered. The ellipticals, treadmills and bikes all face a wall of tall windows with views of the heated pool and hot tub, which are open year-round, but the tree-filled errace is especially hopping with sunning and swimming guests in the warm-weather months. Plus, the hip, outdoor Level 3 Bar is open in the summertime, too — for guests daily, with the public welcome on Thursdays from 5 to 10 pm.

Thanks Four Seasons Denver for hosting my stay. I’ll be back, perhaps next time with husband or kids in tow!

One of the benefits of raising a family in Los Angeles is the proximity of Disneyland. Talk about convenience! Every parent I know can recall at least one impromptu trip to the theme park. However, the past year has been somewhat marred: as Disney California Adventure has undergone a massive renovation (the second biggest in Disneyland’s history), the closed-off areas, closed attractions and rides, and long panels blocking views of construction have been an eyesore. What’s going on behind those walls? At long last, all that work is about to be revealed. June 15 will mark the opening of the new California Adventure, and after spending a media preview day in Disneyland, it’s easy to see that the new California Adventure will be worth the wait. As Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs said (on video) during our media preview day, the wait of “five years is now down to five weeks” before the big unveiling of the new Disney California Adventure at Disneyland. Goodbye scaffolding and temporary walls, and hello to…Cars Land and Buena Vista Street! These two new attractions will make California Adventure an equal partner with Disneyland Resort next door. Both will be immersive, story-telling experiences that enrapture children and Disney-loving adults alike.

Sign on Scaffolding about Cars Land at Disney California Adventure

Cars Land at Disney California Adventure

Walking under an archway where a parking lot once stood instantly transports theme park guests into the world of Cars Land. Designed to look like the red rock terrain of Radiator Springs, Arizona (where Pixar’s movie is set), Cars Land at Disneyland’s California Adventure has rides, restaurants and activities set against a backdrop of seemingly soaring cliffs. A bit of visual trickery called forced perspective makes the 12-acre Cars Land park seem even bigger. Once in Cars Land, guests can feel the rest of the world slip away; it’s that immersive.

Radiator Springs Racers at Cars Land, at Disney California Adventure

It’s really the attention to detail and authenticity to the feeling of optimism in the Cars movies that makes Cars Land special. There is not a detail out of place here, and it feels like the fantasized version of the American Southwest. Nostalgia takes hold of adults as we see all the Route 66 details — remembering times before we were born, perhaps, but idealized and romanticized in our culture for decades.

New Disney characters, stars of Pixar’s Cars movies Lightning McQueen and Mater will be strolling (um…driving) around Radiator Springs greeting and interacting with guests. Red the Fire Truck will spray water — he’s bound to be one of the most popular new theme park characters on hot summer days — and DJ, the boom box-like “party car” will create spontaneous, interactive street parties.

Whoo-ee! Mater's Junkyard Jamboree at Cars Land, Disney California Adventure

Five large Cozy Cone Motels, shaped like traffic cones as seen in the Cars movie, will have food in cones; frozen conecoctions, they call them, and chili cone queso, pop-cones.  Sure, the puns are corny, but that’s part of the fun of a Disney theme park vacation, isn’t it? Walking around Cars Land on this media preview day, I found it easy to get swept up in the sense of optimism and story-telling of the scenery. 1950′s music at Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree and comfort food at Flo’s V8 Cafe complete the transportive experience.

Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure

Disneyland has Main Street leading to the castle and rides, and now, the Disney California Adventure side of the theme park will have Buena Vista Street leading to Paradise Pier. And, just like Cars Land transports visitors to the idealized version of 1950s Americana, Buena Vista Street is designed to immerse guests in the optimistic feeling of being on a boardwalk dotted with the Victorian-style buildings of 1920′s America.

New characters will wander up and down Buena Vista Street, interacting with visitors. There are Red Car Trolleys, run on batteries but designed to look electric. The trolley conductors say “All Aboard!” and talk in that speeded-up old-timey way, again harkening back to the Roaring Twenties. There are lots of trees: these are for shade, to cool down the street, and to add authenticity to the experience of strolling down a Victorian-era boardwalk. This helps make Buena Vista Street a place where theme park guests spend time in, not just walk through to get to the rest of Disney’s California Adventure.

Red Car Trolley to Carthay Circle Theatre in Disney California Adventure

The romanticized version of 1920′s Hollywood is intended to reflect Walt Disney’s sense of positivity when he first came to Southern California to create the theme park. To this end, there is a new statue of Walt Disney (with Mickey Mouse), this one cast of him as a young man.

The Carthay Circle Theatre includes a lounge and Carthay Circle Restaurant, which is the best, and swankiest, restaurant in Disney California Adventure.  The Theatre is designed to be reminiscent of the original Carthay Theatre, where the premiere of Snow White was received with great success. Also new at Disney California Adventure this summer is the Mad T Party in Hollywood Land, which ratchets up the hip quotient a notch; this will appeal to older kids and teens. The Mad T Party is inspired by Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland.” Bright neon colors, modern music, and dancing will prevail.

Talkin' about Carthay Circle Theatre at Disney California Adventure

The new Disney California Adventure will open to the public on June 15, 2012. From what I’ve seen, I can tell you, it’s going to be a big deal. Disney California Adventure is finally just as exciting and fun as Disneyland. It hits all the right notes for a theme park. As I heard several times during the media preview, “The happiest place on earth just got happier.” If you’re considering making Southern California part of your summer travel plans, be sure to set a weekend aside to be part of Disney California Adventure’s new story.

Yesterday I had the fun experience of being on a local show called  Twin Cities Live (aka: TCL) to talk travel blogs with hosts Elizabeth and John. Earlier this year I “met” Assistant Producer Mike on Twitter, then on the Disney Fantasy (well technically at MSP Airport) I met the Field Reporter Emily and TCL Executive Producer Mandy. Each staff member works uber hard and it shows in the work they do. The entire team has to have focus and work quickly to pull-off live TV five days a week. It’s pretty amazing.

While there were many other segments yesterday, one of the most exciting was the kick-off of  a giveaway called  Flyaway to New York City with TCL. There’s a good chance you’ve heard of ABC’s show The Chew that launched last fall. Well, the two shows have teamed up for viewers to win a trip for two to New York City and be a part of the audience on The Chew! That sounds like so much fun, doesn’t it?

Every day this week (the week of May 14), Twin Cities Live will announce The Chew Food of the Day then viewers will enter the word on the TCL site for a chance to win. You can increase your chances to win by watching every day. In other words, enter all five words for five chances to be selected. The winner will be selected on Monday, May 21 and will receive air transportation to NYC and a two night hotel stay. Total value of the trip is $2,500! You can learn more on the Twin Cities Live site.

Good luck! And if you win this fab trip to see The Chew – be sure to let us know!

Can you believe there are more than 30 Starwood hotels in the New York City area? I mean, sure, this includes hotels in less-than-glamorous Long Island City and Hoboken (New Jersey!), but still; the Starwood properties on the outskirts of NYC are very convenient with easy routes to the city. The Starwood hotels in New York City itself include some of the most upscale joints you’ll find, from the swanky W New York in Times Square, to the hip Le Parker Meridien, to one of the grande dames of luxury hotels in NYC, the St. Regis New York. Not to mention the more affordable Four Points by Sheraton hotels in and around the city. No matter your price point, there’s a Starwood hotel somewhere in the New York City region that will fit your budget. And the assurance of quality at at Starwood property is no small thing: when you plan a big, exciting trip to NYC, the last thing you want to worry about is a questionable hotel.

There’s bound to be at least one Starwood hotel that you’d love to stay in during your next trip to New York City. The great news is, you might be able to do so, for free. As one of the Starwood Preferred Guests American Express blogging partners, or SPG Amex Stars, I have a fantastic prize: 25,00 Starpoints to redeem at a Starwood hotel. The SPG Amex Stars programs’ prize is, to use the legalese, literally “25,000 points from Starwood/Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express.” Since you’d need to have a Starwood Preferred Guest loyalty account to win — you don’t need the actual Amex card, just the SPG account, and signing up is free –  the eligibility terms are detailed here. This giveaway is provided on behalf of Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express.

How to Enter:

To enter and possibly win the 25,000 Starpoints redeemable at any Starwood hotel in the United States, tell me which New York City Starwood property you’d most like to visit. You must answer this question via Twitter, with the hashtag #SPGAMEX, and direct it to The Vacation Gals’ Twitter account, @thevacationgals. You also need to reference this giveaway post in your tweet. In other words, your entry might look something like this: “I entered to win 25,000 Starpoints and would stay at Le Parker Meridien @thevacationgals: http://bit.ly/JACaD0 #spgamex”  ….now, that’s just an example hotel, and I only used that Le Parker Meridien because I got engaged at Carnegie Hall down the street from that hotel. So if anyone asks me how to get to Carnegie Hall (that old joke) I have an easy answer; stay at Le Parker Meridien and walk. If you’d like to tell me personally which NYC Starwood property you’d most like to stay in, you can tweet to me too, I’m @JenniferMiner and I love chatting about New York City.

Legal Mumbo Jumbo:

To enter the SPG Amex Stars 25,000 Starpoint Giveaway, you must be 18 years of age or older at the time of entry, or legal age to enter sweepstakes as required by each state. Employees, officers, directors, shareholders of Sponsor, Administrator, Ogilvy Public Relations, participating Bloggers, American Express and their respective parent, subsidiaries, limited liability and affiliated companies, and individuals providing services to any of the above or any of its affiliated companies through an outsourcer or temporary employment agency (collectively the “Sweepstakes Entities“) as well as the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings, and children) and household members of such employees, officers, directors and individuals are not eligible. Void where prohibited or restricted by law or regulatory agency. Participation constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and Administrator’s decisions, which are final and legally binding in all matters related to the Sweepstakes. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth in these Official Rules. Approximate retail value is $400.00

Sweepstakes /DRAWING DATE:

A random drawing will be conducted by each participating Blogger on or about Monday, June 4, 2012 from all eligible entries received by each Blogger during the Sweepstakes Period. The Sweepstakes is conducted under the supervision of the Administrator.

Notification of Winners:

Potential winners will be contacted via Twitter and required to provide an e-mail address and phone number. The potential winner will be notified by e-mail or by phone within two (2) business days of the drawing. If, despite reasonable efforts, any potential prizewinner does not respond within (24) hours of the first notification attempt, or if the prize notification is returned as unclaimed or undeliverable such prizewinner will forfeit his or her prize and an alternate winner may be selected. If any potential prizewinner is found to be ineligible, or if he or she has not complied with these Official Rules or declines a prize for any reason prior to award, such potential prizewinner will be disqualified and an alternate winner may be selected. Each prizewinner inner will be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility/publicity and liability release, W-9 Tax payer request for identification form and return it properly executed, within (7) days of attempted notification as a condition of awarding the prize. If a potential prizewinner cannot be contacted, fails to fulfill all the requirements of the Sweepstakes, or if notices or prizes are returned as undeliverable, an alternate winner will be selected from the valid drawing pool. Winners are advised to seek independent counsel regarding the tax implications of accepting a Prize.  Acceptance of any prize constitutes prizewinner’s permission for the Sponsor to use prizewinner’s name, photograph, image, likeness, voice, biographical information, statements and complete address (collectively, the “Attributes“), for advertising and/or publicity purposes worldwide and in all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, in perpetuity, without further compensation or authorization, (except where prohibited by law), and releases the Sweepstakes Entities from all claims arising out of the use of such Attributes

Once eligibility has been verified and the Administrator receives the winner’s mailing address, Sponsor will award the Prize (as defined below). Sponsor nor any of its subsidiaries or affiliates nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents be liable for any unsuccessful efforts to notify or communicate with a potential winner.  Odds of winning depend upon the number of eligible entries received.

An entrant is not a winner of any prize, even if the Sweepstakes should so indicate, unless and until entrant’s eligibility and the potential Winning entry has been verified and entrant has been notified that verification is complete.

No immediate family members of The Vacation Gals should enter this giveaway. You can enter as often as you like, just remember to use The Vacation Gals’ Twitter handle and the relevant #SPGAMEX hashtag. The giveaway entry period will end May 24, 2012, at 6:00PM PST. Good luck!