Costa Rica 2017 ~ Arenal National Park

We hired our drivers Danny of CostaRicaDrivers.com to handle all our transportation needs while in Costa Rica.  His company was highly recommended on Tripadvisor.    We signed up for two tours.

Our tour today was to Arenal National Park and La Fortuna Waterfalls and tropical gardens.  We were picked up at 7:00am for our 3 hour drive to the Volcano.

 Once again, Danny stopped along the way so we could get our Costa Rica coffee fix at a place with jaw-dropping views, this time it was a coffee plantation.  We paid $16pp usd to enter the park and walked to the crater.  Unfortunately the ash was too thick for any decent photos.

Next we headed to the La Fortuna Waterfalls and tropical gardens.

 It was beautiful!  We were treated with tropical birds, frogs, lush greenery and huge waterfalls.

On the way home we once again stopped at a local cafe for dinner.  It was a small family owned roadside cafe and the food was perfect.  It was the end of another lovely day.

Costa Rica 2017 ~ Manuel Antonio National Park

We hired our drivers Danny of CostaRicaDrivers.com to handle all our transportation needs while in Costa Rica.  His company was highly recommended on Tripadvisor.    We signed up for two tours.

Our tour today was a full day at Manuel Antonio.  He picked us up at our San Jose hotel at 7:30am for our 3 hour drive to the park.   Along the way we made two stops.  The first was this lovely cafe for some delicious coffee with gorgeous views.

Our second stop was a place referred to as Crocodile River where we took some photos of these hungry guys.

We also purchased delicious Mango smoothies from roadside vendor.

Finally we arrived at the entrance to the park.  We were charged $16pp fees to enter.  The first hiking trail we took brought us to Playa Puerto Escondido Beach.  It was a difficult trail with lots of stairways built along the way.  At the end we were treated to this beautiful oasis.

The second trail we took brought us to Playa Espadilla Sur Beach.  It was short and ended at another beautiful beach.

There were changing room facilities and picnic tables for those who didn't mind the local pickpockets trying to steal their food and backpacks.

 These local residents were experts at stealing bags left unattended.


After a refreshing swim in the beautifully clean water, we hiked back to the entrance of the park where Danny was waiting for us.  We stopped for dinner at a local restaurant recommended by Danny.

The meal was as delicious as the views.

Finally we began the 3 hour drive back to our hotel.  It was a wonderful experience!

Costa Rica 2017 - Our Room

We booked our stay at the Hilton Garden Inn in San Juan with points.  Our free hotel even includes a full made-to-order breakfast each morning!

The views of San Jose from the balcony of our corner room on the 17th floor of our hotel room taken our first night.

The hotel pool from our balcony 

Costa Rica 2017 - Getting There

Free Airfare

We are lucky to have a Southwest Companion Pass for all of 2017, which means a companion can fly free with me, making our flights free for both us since I'm using points.  Choosing Southwest for our flights was a no-brainer.

We connected from New Orleans to Houston Lobby to San Jose.  We liked the easy friendly people we encountered at Houston Hobby.  The airport was not as hectic & crowded as other airports. Very Clean!

We hired a private driver (CostaRicaDriver.com) to drive us from the airport to the hotel. After we collected our luggage and cleared customs we headed out to the taxi area where Felix & Christian were waiting for us holding a sign with our names.

They deposited us at the door of our hotel 20 within 20 minutes.

Universal Studios Orlando - Mardi Gras 2017

We had a wonderful girls trip to Universal Studios Orlando.  The four of us (grown daughter, 2 granddaughters & myself), were also celebrating my Older granddaughter Brooke's 18th Birthday and senior year of high school, my younger granddaughter's last year of elementary school before she graduates to Middle School and my only daughter's 38th birthday.  Since my older granddaughter leaves for college in the fall, it will become increasingly more difficult to plan these trips together.

We have been to Disney & Universal numerous times during the last 10 years but the last time the four of us visited the parks at the same times was Mardi Gras 2008.  WOW! They have grown into beautiful women!

We chose to stay at an on-site hotel this time, Cabana Bay Beach Resort.  The complimentary shuttle service from hotel to the park made our stay convenient.  Once we parked our car, it didn't move until we were ready to leave.  It also gave us the additional benefit of early entrance to park, giving us  an opportunity to ride the popular Harry Potter ride a few times each day before the wait times became too long. If Harry Potter is not high on your list of priorities, I would stay off site.

The Cabana Bay Beach Resort was very nice.  We had a poolside room with a wonderful view of the enormous water/pool areas.  The pool included sandy beach areas and a lazy river.  I was a little disappointed there wasn't a hot tub :(  The restaurant setup was very similar to the Disney resorts, including the food choices and the optional refillable mugs for purchase.  The refillable mug could only be used at the resort.  A separate mug had to be purchased at the amusement park if you wanted soda.  Our favorite food choices at the resort was the pizza, salad bar and Starbucks.

Things I would do differently:

• I don't know if I would stay on the grounds again, the benefits are not as great as Disney.  
• I would pack sandwiches for lunch.  My girls are picky eaters and weren't thrilled with the quick service choices
• 2 days were enough, we should have used the 3rd day at Disney.

Romantic weekend Orange Beach

Hubby and I spent two nights at Orange Beach, Alabama over Valentines weekend 2017.  We checked in and were treated to absolutely beautiful weather both days.  We quickly settled into our room while drooling at the beautiful beach below.

We had drinks & s light lunch at LuLu's while watching the Sunday afternoon boaters pass by.

It was nice to see the beach without the beach chair rentals normally lined up and down the area.  As we took several long walks, we found the sand sprinkled with colorful seashells and sand dollars.

At the end of the evening we were treated with amazing sunsets.

At night we turned off the a/c and opened the balcony door, it was breezy and the sounds of the waves lulled us to sleep.

We began each morning with a sunrise walk along the beach while searching for new treasures.  

We found more sand dollars than I have ever seen.

For lunch on our last day, we ate at Duck's Diner.  We both ordered Salisbury steak, with mashed potatoes, purple hull peas, greens, cornbread and sweet tea. It was delicious! We will return.

Romance in Orange Beach

We have a wonderful two night trip planned in Orange Beach, Alabama.  We will be staying at the Hampton Inn directly on the Gulf of Mexico.  Stay tuned for upcoming reviews!

2016 National Parks Road Trip ~ Glacier National Park

The drive into Glacier National Park was beautiful, with beautiful fall colors.  

Going-to-the-Sun road was picturesque.

We stayed 3 nights in a small cabin at Lake McDonald Lodge.

 It had to full beds & a bath with shower.  It was very comfortable for the two of us but I think it would be crowded with 3 or more.

The first day we arrived we enjoyed a beautiful sunset over Lake McDonald.

 It was late so we spent the evening exploring the historic Lodge.

Day 2 began with an absolutely devine sunrise of pink & purple.  

We drove to Apgar Campground for another view of Lake McDonald.

 I liked the rustic feel if the cabins here over the more modern cabins of Lk McDonald Lodge and loved the shops.

We drove through to the Camas entrance road and hiked the oxbow trail along a pretty duck pond.

 Dinner was a tasty huckleberry elk goat cheese burger, YUM!

Tuesday we drove Going-to-the-Sun road around Heaven's Peak.

We hiked the St. Mary Falls trail, it was an interesting hike with streams,creeks, cascades & a wonderful view of the falls.

After our hike we drove to Many glacier, the hotel was closed but the view of Many Glacier and Sherburne Lake was jaw dropping.

2016 National Parks Road Trip ~ Hilton Garden Inn Missoula

We spent one night at this lovely Hilton Garden Hotel on our way to Glacier National Park.  Check In was quick and both of the employees behind the registration desk were very courteous.

We had a room on the 6th floor and it had a nice view of the mountains.

  The room included a microwave and fridge and the largest selection of cable channels I have seen.

The made to order breakfast was delicious.  I would stay here again.

2016 National Parks Road Trip ~ Yellowstone ~ Day 2

Our second day in Yellowstone we explored the North and Eastern areas.  

We loved all the animals.

Bison

Elk

Bighorn Sheep

The Swan

 

There were numerous waterfalls, Rapids, Lakes & Rivers

Yellowstone River

Lake Yellowstone