Tag: hotel

The Suites at Fall Creek: Time to Unwind

The Suites at Fall Creek: Time to Unwind

The Suites at Fall Creek has everything you need to unwind at its finest. If you’re looking for a place to recharge and refresh along with having everything nearby that Branson, Missouri has to offer then The Suites at Fall Creek is exactly what you’re 

Missouri Road Trip

Missouri Road Trip

My goal is always to inspire others to get out and travel. It’s always fun to visit new places and experience different things. Road trips are great because you can go at your own pace, stop anywhere you want, and eat at local mom-n-pop restaurants. Our road trip to and through Missouri did that for us. Come along with us as we show you the best that Missouri has to offer on our road trip adventure!

First, we made a pit stop at a place that many friends have recommended, Buc-ee’s. It’s a luxurious gas station/convenience store. It is huge! Apparently, Beaver Nuggets is a popular snack so I just had try them. We all liked them. They are very sweet and tastes almost like sweetened pork rinds.

Secondly, we spent an entire morning visiting the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Our road trip started from our home in Florida to our final destination of Branson, Missouri so we decided to stay at the nearby Huntsville Drury Hotel and make this stop.

The Drury Inn & Suites prepares you for a great start to your day because they offer a free hot breakfast!

Hungry yet? Oh boy do I have the best BBQ ribs ever for you! For dinner, we ate at the Hickory Log Restaurant & Lounge. It’s located in Dexter, Missouri and you will not be disappointed.

Branson, Missouri

Let’s start with our final destination of Branson, Missouri. We arrived at The Suites at Fall Creek where we slept every night of our trip. Even though we ventured out to St. Louis and Springfield, we always came back to The Suites at Fall Creek. Make sure to click on this link to read all about this resort –> https://mackintoshtravels.com/the-suites-at-fall-creek-time-to-unwind/

One main thing you must do while in Branson, also known as the Live Entertainment Capital of the World, is check out the downtown area.

There are 7 things that our family did that I would also recommend you do at Branson.

  • Silver Dollar City
  • Dogwood Canyon Nature Park
  • Top of the Rock Ozark’s Heritage Preserve/Ancient Ozark’s Natural History Museum
  • Copperhead Mountain Coaster
  • Andy’s Frozen Custard
  • Branson Landing
  • Live shows!

Silver Dollar City

This place is a fantastic way to spend a day at an awesome theme park. If you want to read all about it and our experience, make sure to click on this link –> https://mackintoshtravels.com/family-fun-at-silver-dollar-city-theme-park/

Dogwood Canyon Nature Park

This park is stunning! There is also a museum, shop, and restaurant that served me the best rueben sandwich I’ve ever had! At marker #22 you can literally have one foot ins Missouri and another foot in Arkansas. If you have good walking shoes and you’re used to walking a lot, I would highly recommend you walking this. However, they do have a tram for an extra charge. We walked it. Let the pictures speak for themselves how beautiful Dogwood Canyon Nature Park is.

Top of the Rock Ozark’s Heritage Preserve & Ancient Ozark’s Natural History Museum

Both the Preserve and the Museum are located in the same place and both are included in the price of the admission. I honestly did not think it could have gotten any more beautiful after visiting Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, but I was wrong.

Top of the Rock was truly my favorite place to visit in Branson! It is owned by Bass Pro Shops. You can either take a guided walking trail or you can rent an electric cart and drive it yourself which is what we did! There are many places that you can stop to park the golf cart, get out, and take photos. The views of the waterfalls, rock formations, and the views of the Ozark Lake are out of this world! You can even stop with your electric cart and ride into a cave with Bat Bar for a drink (additional cost for drinks). Top of the Rock is a very unique destination that I highly recommend to everyone that visits Branson, Missouri does!

Copperhead Mountain Coaster

There are quite a few mountain coasters in Branson, but we found this one to be more into the mountain, if that makes sense. Copperhead Mountain Coaster may not be the longest, but it was a lot of fun, unique since Florida has nothing like this, and a manmade attraction nestled in a natural environment. If you’ve never done a mountain coaster, try it at least once!

Andy’s Frozen Custard

We went here on a whim because we saw the fun décor that gave a 50’s vibe and wanted something sweet. This place was amazing with their full menu and variety of flavors. As a matter of fact, they just opened one very close to our home!

Branson Landing

Branson Landing is a real nice spot to spend some time, shop, and eat. They have a fountain show every 15 minutes in sync with music that resembles the fountains at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. It is spectacular!

Shows

Let’s talk about Branson shows. Wow! Some people underestimate their shows, but they are authentic to Branson as they can be. There is something for every member of your family. We actually went to FIVE! That’s correct – FIVE!

Elvis-Story of a King

This show was very good! Although I thought he didn’t look like Elvis, he made us believe he was because his on-stage motions, voice, and the outfits were really good. However, I believe if you have young children they might be bored because they have no idea who Elvis was. This was a fun show located at the Americana Theater. The Americana Theater houses a few different shows.

Sight & Sound Theaters

This stage theater has different productions throughout the year. We were there to catch “Jesus” and I have to say out of all the shows we saw in Branson, this was my favorite one. It was spectacular! From the stage, sets, lights, acting, and singing it was all top-notch professional. I highly recommend a production at the Sight & Sound Theater!

Illusionist Rick Thomas

This show was so much fun! To experience watching an illusionist on stage is mesmerizing. Rick Thomas was very professional and I still don’t know how he does some of his acts! His shows are located at the Moon River Theater.

Awesome 80’s show

This is the second show we watched at the Americana Theater. The other one was Elvis-Story of a King. If you were an 80’s kid, I STRONGLY recommend this show because I was singing & moving along with the awesome hits of this awesome decade!

Pierce Arrow

This show consists of a vocal group of four men and a hilarious comedian that is seen & heard throughout the show.

St. Louis

We decided to visit St. Louis because we wanted to see the Gateway Arch. The official name is Gateway Arch National Park. We wanted to see it from afar as well so we booked a river cruise. The architecture of this structure is nothing like I’ve ever seen before in my life! It was massive. To ride it to the top is kind of claustrophobic because you have to get into this tiny seated elevator that leads you all the way to the top for the most fantastic views! It is well worth the ride to the top.

Springfield

Lambert’s Restaurant

We had a great time in Springfield checking out some of the sights. One place we were recommended to go was Lambert’s Café. The restaurant is unique in the fact that they actually toss you hot delicious rolls. There are also some dishes that come with all you can eat sides. It’s such a fun atmosphere especially when you’re on vacation!

Hemingway’s Blue Water Café

This restaurant had a Groupon and since I knew we would be only 6 minutes away from this restaurant because we had comedy club tickets, I purchased the Groupon. I am so happy I did because this restaurant had one of the best shrimp tacos I ever had!

The restaurant is located inside the second level of the Bass Pro Shop. It is beautiful because it includes a giant saltwater fish tank and on cold days you can eat by the fireplace.

There is more to do at the Bass Pro Shop while you’re there. Aside from plenty of shopping for the outdoor enthusiast, there is a free museum to explore called The Second Amendment Gallery with great views of the store from up above.

There is another museum called Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium, but there is a fee. We actually didn’t have time for this one.

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield

If you’re a history buff, like my husband, you will enjoy visiting this national battlefield by the national park service. We visited on the same day they were having an anniversary event.

Wilson’s Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and the site of the death of Nathaniel Lyon, the first Union general killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focused national attention on the war in Missouri.  Wilson’s Creek NB commemorates and interprets the battle within the context of the war in the Trans-Mississippi West.

https://www.nps.gov/wicr/index.htm

Precious Moments Chapel

If you’re a collector or have ever been a collector, you need to stop here. This place, in my opinion, is very underrated. The Precious Moments Chapel is not just a gorgeous chapel, but it’s a hall filled with love and memories of the history of these figurines. They also have a big gift shop.

Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden

This garden is truly a hidden gem. With only a minimal cost to enter, it is well worth it. It doesn’t take more than 30 minutes to stroll this garden, but you can stay as long as you want. Even though we’ve never been to Japan, and we really want to visit Japan, it gave us a glimpse of what it could really be like to visit a garden in Japan. It truly is a beautiful garden to visit!

Blue Room Comedy Club

The Blue Room Comedy Club is a place we went to because one of our favorite comedian’s was performing there while we were going to visit Springfield, therefore we got tickets way ahead of time back at home. It’s a really cool place to visit and let out some laughter because laughter always makes you feel better. They also have some pretty good food!

Our road trip truly was an amazing vacation! I hope that this post has showed you some of the best that Missouri has to offer and other stops along the way. I would love to hear about your own Missouri adventures so please comment below!

PIN ME↓

For more on our Missouri Road Trip check out Silver Dollar City, Hickory Log, and The Suites at Fall Creek!

Free and Cheap Things to do in NYC

Free and Cheap Things to do in NYC

Let’s face it. You want to have fun, get the most out of your trip, but you also don’t want to spend a fortune. We totally understand because that’s how we always plan our trips. New York City can be expensive and you’ll hear it 

Grande Villas Resort | Orlando

Grande Villas Resort | Orlando

Grande Villas Resort is the perfect place to stay in Orlando while visiting the theme parks. Owned by Hilton Grand Vacations, it is ranked as a 3-star hotel with an almost 5-star review by guests. It is conveniently located about 10 minutes from all the 

Crescent Resort on South Beach Miami

Crescent Resort on South Beach Miami

Choosing the right location on South Beach can be daunting. However, that’s why I’m here to help! Crescent Resort is at a prime location because it is literally across the street from South Beach.

Miami's Crescent Resort

To start off let’s talk beach. Wow! As you head out to the beach the first thing you’ll notice is how wide the beach is! Also, you can rent the beach chairs and umbrellas for the entire day.

Miami's Crescent Resort
Miami's Crescent Resort
Miami's Crescent Resort
Miami's Crescent Resort
Miami's Crescent Resort
Miami's Crescent Resort

The water was absolutely the perfect temperature. And that’s saying a lot because when it comes to beach or pool water, it needs to be at least 90 degrees F in order for me to even dip in.

If you’re into shopping make sure to check out the freestanding markets along the boardwalk.

Miami's Crescent Resort
Miami's Crescent Resort

Parking is limited at the resort, but there is a parking garage not too far within walking distance. The only reason why you should park right in front of the resort is to unload your luggage.

Miami's Crescent Resort
Miami's Crescent Resort

The resort is beautiful during the day, but at night it is lit up with neon lights that it stands out and looks so cool. Everything you need is located on this street, Ocean Drive. There are some wonderful restaurants just a few doors down. I met a friend here and we had lunch at La Cerveceria Del Barrio On Ocean Drive. It was delicious!

Miami's Crescent Resort
South Beach Miami

We found the lobby to be clean and welcoming.

Miami's Crescent Resort
Miami's Crescent Resort

Our room was also clean, comfortable, and everything we needed was in it, such as extra blankets and toiletries.

Miami's Crescent Resort
Miami's Crescent Resort
Miami's Crescent Resort
Miami's Crescent Resort

Our room was absolutely beautiful and chic!

Miami's Crescent Resort
Miami's Crescent Resort

Overall, we had a very pleasant stay at Crescent Resort and nothing beats the convenience of having the beach and restaurants nearby!

PIN ME!

Check out these related posts!

Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center

Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center

If you want a luxurious stay with the comforts of home, Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center is the place to stay. The Lobby Walking into the lobby is amazing because it’s clean, sleek, and absolutely gorgeously decorated with lush palm trees and water features. 

How To Stay Healthy While Traveling

How To Stay Healthy While Traveling

There’s one thing that I hate while traveling and it’s being sick or having someone else in your party be sick. You don’t want to admit it, but it kind of puts a damper on your fun vacation or it makes your work trip miserable. 

Hyatt Regency Mission Bay | San Diego

Hyatt Regency Mission Bay | San Diego

Since we are Hilton Grand Vacations members, we booked Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa & Marina through them. However, you don’t need to be members of any establishment in order to stay here. You can book directly from Hyatt Regency’s website. If you want the views of San Diego’s skyline, but also have the breeze that being by the water brings, then Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina is your place!

Our family was in San Diego primarily for Comic-Con. Attending Comic-Con was my oldest son’s dream and we were ecstatic that we were able to get tickets and make his dream come true and the timing couldn’t have been better. It was the same year that he was graduating from high school so this made the perfect graduation gift! 

Hyatt Mission Bay Resort

Arriving at Hyatt Regency Mission Bay

Upon our arrival, we noticed what a beautiful hotel this was. There are attendants awaiting you in case you need help with your luggage. We did not use this service because our Lyft driver helped us. The entrance was clean, adorned with welcoming flowers & plants, and the check-in process was easy. The extra touch was refreshing flavored water in the lobby and a fireplace that made us feel at home. 

Hyatt Mission Bay ResortHyatt Mission Bay Resort Hyatt Mission Bay Resort

Surroundings of Hyatt Regency Mission Bay

When I am at a hotel, I like to check out what surrounds my stay. If you walk out of the lobby at its opposite side from the entrance, you will encounter a garden area that is manicured to perfection and makes for a restful place to just chill. It is lit at night and there are seats strategically placed around real fire pits. These are great because at night San Diego can get cool.

Hyatt Mission Bay Resort Hyatt Mission Bay Resort Hyatt Mission Bay Resort

Kid Friendly at Hyatt Regency Mission Bay

We have two teenage boys, but this can be for anyone really. Children will love that close to the swimming pools, Hyatt Regency Mission Bay has a game area with ping pong, cornhole, and a giant connect 4. Meanwhile, you can do what we parents did. We sat by the fire while our boys played. If you so delight, you can even order drinks from the poolside bar/restaurant.  

The swimming pools are all one shallow depth so it doesn’t make it suitable for swimming, but the slides make up for it. It’s a great place for younger children to pass some time and expend energy! We had great weather while we were there and I’m sure that San Diego can get warm at times during the year, so having swimming pools as an option at a hotel is wonderful.

Hyatt Mission Bay Resort Hyatt Mission Bay Resort Hyatt Mission Bay Resort

Amenities & Activities at Hyatt Regency Mission Bay

I don’t know about you, but one of the most important things that we search for when traveling as a family is what the hotel offers aside from their onsite activities. What is offered depends greatly on whether we decide to stay or not. We were happy staying here because they have many things to offer.

While I was on my walk checking out the hotel, I came upon something I should be using more often…the workout room. What better place to have a workout room than right in front of the marina. That would motivate me for sure!

Hyatt Mission Bay Resort

At the marina, you can rent surfboards, kayaks, paddleboards, jet skis, or take a chartered boat trip. There are seals that you can see while you’re here. We actually could hear them from our room! TIP: BRING BINOCULARS! We wish we had them because even though we could barely see them, we could have really seen them better from our balcony room and definitely from the marina with binoculars. 

Hyatt Mission Bay Resort

There really isn’t a convenient store close by to Hyatt Regency Mission Bay, but that isn’t a problem because on the marina is Market Mission Bay. Here you can get last minute necessities and purchase a quick breakfast treat…and Starbucks is here! Take your coffee & treat and eat it on the boardwalk on a beautiful day.Hyatt Mission Bay Resort

I couldn’t help but admire the architecture of some of the rooms at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay. I love unique and interesting architecture wherever I go. These rooms with balcony face directly onto the marina. If you’re interested in a room like this that faces the marina, make sure to request it. I’m sure they will do their best to accommodate you. 

Hyatt Mission Bay Resort Hyatt Mission Bay Resort

From our room at Hyatt Regency Mission Bay

We did not take photos of inside our room and that is not because there was something wrong. In fact, it’s solely because I forgot to take photos before our boys and my husband, yes I’m blaming it on them, decided to spread all our stuff all over the room and get comfortable. They really do have clean, comfortable, and beautiful rooms. You can check it out yourself on their website!

From our balcony, we could see Sea World which was exciting for our teen boys because you could see it lit up at night. 

Hyatt Mission Bay Resort

When we looked to our right, we could see the marina and on that tiny yellow dot to the right of that little island on the center of the photo lie the seals. As I mentioned before, they are loud, but that didn’t bother me. If you think it will bother you, ask for a room farthest from the marina or bring earplugs. 

Hyatt Mission Bay Resort

When we looked to our left, we could see the skyline of San Diego and the bridge that led us here. This is why I loved this hotel. It is situated in a bay that really does have the best of both worlds, the water which makes you feel like you’re next to the beach and the city because it’s convenient to get to other attractions.

Hyatt Mission Bay Resort

After a long day of whatever you and/or your family do in San Diego, it’s great to relax on the balcony with a great tasting beverage. My choice of beverage, which I got from the poolside bar/restaurant, was a piña colada. That is my all-time favorite tropical drink! 

Hyatt Mission Bay Resort

If you ever plan on visiting San Diego, whether it’s your first time, your 50th time, or even live there and want to plan a staycation away from home, I highly recommend staying at Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina. After all, it’s where the skyline meets the water!

PIN ME↓

 HYATT REGENCY MISSION BAY

The Peabody Memphis | Luxury Hotel In Soul City

The Peabody Memphis | Luxury Hotel In Soul City

The Peabody Memphis is a luxurious hotel nestled in the heart of soul city Memphis, TN. It is conveniently located within everything that is what Memphis is all about: soul, rock, and bar-b-que! LOBBY This hotel has it all! It really does! The inside is kept