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Celebrate Howl-o-Ween at Great Wolf Lodge Southern California October 1-31

August 25, 2017 / California, Great Wolf Lodge, SoCal Fun, Travel

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Great Wolf Lodge Southern California is a great place to go year-round. As SoCal’s only resort with an indoor water park, you never have to worry about what the weather outside is like. great-wolf-lodge-southern-california-facade As Fall and Halloween near, guests staying at Great Wolf Lodge anywhere from October 1 through October 31st will be in for an extra special treat. One of Great Wolf’s seasonal offerings is its Howl-O-Ween Costumes and family water park fun come together in October at Great Wolf Lodge. When you take a Great Wolf Lodge Howl-O-Ween vacation with your family, you’ll be able to treat your kids to their most spooktacular Halloween ever during this month-long Howl-O-Ween festivities. Here’s a fun video featuring Hall-O-Ween:

Along with your bathing suit, pack up your plastic pumpkin pails and plenty of ghostly garments for costume parades, Trick-or-Treat Trails, scary-silly Story Times and Monster Bash Dance parties. And don’t forget the perfect 84-degree basking weather in their gargantuan water park. great-wolf-lodge-southern-california-wristband Here’s what you can expect to find at Great Wolf’s Howl-O-Ween:

Trick-or-Treat Trail – Grab your treat bag and collect ghostly goodies along the spooky Trick-or-Treat Trail.

Great-wolf-lodge-howl-o-ween-Trick-or-Treat-trail Spooktacular Story Time – Everyone loves the magical atmosphere they create for their Howl-O-Ween Story Time, because they strike the perfect balance between spooky and funny. This has to be one of the favorite family traditions of all time. great-wolf-lodge-howl-o-ween-story-time Monster Bash Dance Party – Our Monster Bash Dance Parties will be the highlight of your Howl-O-Ween vacation, because if there’s anything we love more than wearing our costumes, it’s dancing in our costumes! great-wolf-lodge-monster-bash-dance-party

Howl-O-Ween looks like an extra fun time to book a stay at Great Wolf Lodge, don’t you think?

Here are some additional things to know before you go:

Water park passes are included in your suite price, with access from 1 p.m. on the date of arrival until close on the day of departure.
Water park hours 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday – Thursday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays (subject to change based on occupancy and season)
Check in at 4 p.m. and check out at 11 a.m. (late check out packages available)
Also included with your stay: Kids Activities, Story Time and The Forest Friends Show

great-wolf-lodge-southern-california-grand-opening For more information about Great Wolf Lodge’s Howl-O-Ween and to book your stay,go here.

Connect with Great Wolf Lodge on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Some images and YouTube video are property of Great Wolf Lodge.

‘Fantasmic!’ Nighttime Spectacular Returns to Disneyland July 17 + the Disneyland Railroad is Reopening

June 28, 2017 / California, Disney, SoCal Fun, Travel

Summer is underway at the Disneyland Resort and visitors this time of year are in for a whole lot of WOW on their visits to both theme parks. There’s something to be said about getting to experience new magic with your family, during your visit, and creating new memories together. I know it’s a favorite in our family. The thrilling new attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! opened at the end of May and according to wait times shown on the Disneyland app, it continues to draw large crowds on a daily basis. It’s the only Disney attraction in the universe where guests step into a Guardians of the Galaxy story, as they help Rocket rescue this cosmic gang of misfits. With multiple ride profiles, guests never know which adventure they’ll encounter.

More exciting news for Disneyland Park as some of the classic attractions are scheduled to reopen n July. On Monday, July 17, which will also be the 62nd anniversary of the 1955 grand opening of Disneyland, a newly enhanced “Fantasmic!, will premiere. This popular nighttime spectacular. tells the story of Mickey Mouse and his vivid imagination. “Fantasmic!:will return to the Rivers of America in Frontierland with its classic theme song and engaging storyline, which guests have treasured for 25 years.Its portrayal of Mickey’s exploration now features new scenes with characters from “Aladdin,” “Tangled,” “The Lion King” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.”One dazzling sequence finds Aladdin and Jasmine discovering “A Whole New World” as they float on their flying carpet over a bed of fog on the Rivers of America. Those sensational “Fantasmic!” adventures come alive with new mist screens and innovative, state-of-the-art projection technology to create visuals that are brighter and more vibrant than ever before.Exciting news for train lovers of all ages is the re-opening of the Disneyland Railroad, beginning July 29. Park guests aboard the Disneyland Railroad will, once again, be taken on a Grand Circle Tour of Walt Disney’s “original Magic Kingdom”.The Disneyland Railroad, one of the park’s original attractions, returns with its iconic steam-powered locomotives for new adventures. The Disneyland Railroad will now travel across the rocks on a trestle that extends out into the Rivers of America, and for the first time ever it will make a left-hand turn on its tour of the park.Along the way, guests will enjoy a view of Walt Disney’s legendary Dioramas of the Grand Canyon and Primeval World, which have been carefully restored to their original splendor with a bit of new magic added to both. Guests on board the Disneyland Railroad also will discover a breathtaking new view along the north bank of Rivers of America.

A gorgeous new Columbia Gorge section highlighted by five new picturesque waterfalls can be seen from the trains as well as from the Mark Twain Riverboat, Sailing Ship Columbia and Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes. This new adventure complements the scenes guests have come to know and cherish through the years. Landscapes inspired by four of America’s majestic rivers–the Mississippi, the Columbia, the Missouri and the Rio Grande–are carefully recreated, complete with indigenous rock formations, natural forests and wildlife, and the waterfalls.Other Classic Rivers of America attractions are also set to relaunch July 29, including the Mark Twain Riverboat, Sailing Ship Columbia and Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes. They’ll be bringing new adventures and breathtaking new views for guests to enjoy. Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island reopened June 16.In addition to the returning classics in Frontierland and New Orleans Square, the beloved Main Street Electrical Parade continues nightly performances in Disneyland through Aug.20, featuring such favorite scenes as Cinderella’s ball, the appearance (and disappearance) of Elliot, the smoke-breathing, tail-wagging “Pete’s Dragon,” and the glittering “To Honor America” finale.There’s so much going on this summer at the Disneyland Resort. You’ll want to be sure to check out The Summer of Heroes festivities, which continue at Disney California Adventure Park through Sept. 10. For more information about all of the happenings going on at the Disneyland Resort, visit their site here.

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Some images are property of Disneyland Resort.

The Main Street Electrical Parade is Returning To Disneyland!

August 11, 2016 / California, Disney, Disney, SoCal Fun, Travel

I was elated to find out some magical news last night on the Disney Parks Twitter….

Did you see? They announced that the Main Street Electrical Parade, currently residing at Walt Disney World, will have it’s final run (for now) at the Magic Kingdom on October 9th before it hits the road for California! This is the best news for Guests of the Disneyland Resort, although I do feel sad for anyone who will be missing this parade when it leaves Walt Disney World. The Main Street Electrical Parade, actually had a run as Disney’s Electrical Parade” at Disney California Adventure park from 2001 to 2010, but it hasn’t been in Disneyland park in 20 years, so we’re ecstatic! According to the Disney Parks Blog, the Main Street Electrical Parade will be at Disneyland as a limited-time encore engagement, at the beginning of 2017. Currently, I just feel like Christmas came early! After it was just last week that the “Paint the Night” parade would be going dark at the end of the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration, this news about the Main Street Electrical Parade is so exciting. However, on the Disney Parks Blog they also announced that the “Paint the Night” parade will actually return on select nights during the holiday season later this year! Yay!

To keep up on the latest updates, you can visit the Disneyland our eye on Disneyland Resort’s Entertainment Calendar here.

This is not a sponsored post, I just like writing about Disney a lot! All opinions are 100% my own. Main Street Electrical Parade image property of Walt Disney Company.

New Disney-Close Anaheim Hotel: Grand Legacy At The Park to Open in Early 2016

December 30, 2015 / California, Travel

I was recently invited to attend a hardhat tour and unveiling event for a new Disney-close Anaheim hotel: the Grand Legacy At The Park hotel. The dramatic expansion of this popular Anaheim hotel which is currently operating as the Ramada Maingate At the Park, is set to be finished by February 2016!

Beginning in Februrary 2016, the Grand Legacy At The Park hotel will become Anaheim’s latest independent hotel. The property, previously under the Ramada brand, has operated as the Ramada Maingate At The Park for the past 17 years. The $10 million development and renovation make this hotel the latest star in Anaheim’s evolving hotel inventory. The Garr family has maintained ownership of this popular lodging location (directly across the street from Disneyland Park®) since 1974, and will remain owners of the newly minted Grand Legacy At The Park hotel.

This latest development includes the following features:

a new four-story hotel wing with luxurious guest rooms
a spacious lobby
six retail outlets featuring a mini mart, tickets and tours store, and pizza eatery.
cozy eating areas
meeting space – The property will offer both indoor and outdoor meeting spaces on the new rooftop area for corporate groups, meetings, special events, and weddings.
a distinctive rooftop bar area (set to open March 2016) – the 5,000 square foot rooftop bar and lounge, which will accommodate about 400 people, and will be open during the day to the public. The massive space will appeal to families, young adults, tourists, and locals alike. This area will transform nightly into a spectacular rooftop bar and lounge featuring music, up close views of Disneyland’s unforgettable firework show and Anaheim’s skyline. This one-of-a-kind gathering place is destined to become one of SoCal’s hot spots.

Additionally, the existing hotel has undergone major renovations during the past three years substantially enhancing its guest rooms and pool area. The unique features of the hotel’s growth includes the addition of family suites.

We’ve been in Anaheim since 1974 and I’m very proud of my family’s hotel legacy here. I’ve grown up in Anaheim’s close-knit hospitality industry and look forward to this next step in our growth. We will continue to honor our family’s heritage built on hospitality and now offer our guests more reasons to enjoy our new hotel with enhanced guest rooms, amenities and public spaces. We welcome Anaheim’s visitors and our community to experience the area’s latest independent hotel with a new view, the Grand Legacy At The Park. – Brandon Garr, Grand Legacy At The Park hotel owner.

The Grand Legacy At The Park will offer complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi with a new guest loyalty program.

For more information, visit the Grand Legacy At The Park on Facebook and Twitter.

This is not a sponsored post. I was invited to a media tour of this property in order to share this information. All opinions are 100% my own. Some images and logos are property of the Grand Legacy At The Park.

Construction Updates From Great Wolf Lodge®Southern California

December 18, 2015 / California

A couple of months ago, I had the exciting opportunity to take a hardhat tour at the newest Great Wolf Lodge® location here in Southern California. I spent the day touring the site and learning all about what this family mega-resort, built around a 105,000 square-foot waterpark, will be offering its guests and I was completely WOW-ed! Well, I’m here to share some of the latest construction updates with you today. (updates were current as of December 3, 2015.) As the opening date gets closer, I get more and more excited!

Progress at the Resort
The ginormous 105,000-square-foot waterpark is coming to life! More slides and attractions have been installed, such as the Whooping Hollow kiddie slides (see the photos below) and cement has been poured throughout the park.
The Resort’s Grand Lobby is continuing to take shape, including the fireplace where daily Story Time will take place featuring Great Wolf Kids characters. Check out the antler chandeliers ready to be hung in these photos.
From the guest suites to the hallways, the family-friendly accommodations are looking more and more like Great Wolf Lodge every day. See the detailed décor in the photos.
The conference center, featuring 20,000 sq. feet of meeting and banquet space, is well on its way to completion.

The resort is slated to open in late February 2016. Great Wolf Lodge Southern California is offering guests the opportunity to book rooms with their grand opening discount offer! Families have until Dec. 31, 2015 to book their stay and receive up to 25 percent off. To learn more, visit here. This is such a great deal! Don’t wait, book today!

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Some photos are property of Great Wolf Lodge.

Southern California Great Wolf Lodge® Set to Open in February 2016! #GWLSoCal

October 11, 2015 / California, Family Fun, Great Wolf Lodge, Lifestyle, Orange County, Travel

Great Wolf Lodge® is opening in Southern California and our family is ecstatic! I was invited to take a hard hat tour of the newest location, which is currently under construction in Garden Grove and I’ve never seen anything like it! Great Wolf Lodge refers to themselves as the ultimate family vacation destination and I can see why! They pride themselves on providing quality accommodations, exceptional services, and a variety of amenities and entertainment all under one roof. The 603-room all-suite resort is going to WOW when they walk in!

At the start of the facility tour, I got to meet Wiley the Wolf, who is the official Great Wolf Lodge mascot. As I was During my hard hat tour, I felt like my mouth kept dropped open around every new corner! Seriously, I cannot wait for it to open!

The GIANT 105,000 square-foot indoor water park at Great Wolf Lodge is the most popular amenity for resort guests. Water park passes are already included in the cost of your stay and are exclusive for the guests staying at Great Wolf Lodge.

The water park itself is maintained at 84 degrees which means that weather will never affect your stay. Unique water slides and attractions will offer something for everyone.

The Howlin’ Tornado is the water park’s signature ride and is six stories tall! It sends riders swooshing up and down its enormous funnel before the final splash into the catch pool! I can’t wait to get on it!

Let’s talk about the accommodations! There are more than a handful of different suite options to choose from at Great Wolf. Each suite offers a complimentary coffee pot, microwave, and refrigerator. Families have plenty of room to spread out and relax and can choose the accommodations that best fit the size of their family.

Double Queen Suite – Features two queen beds and sleeps up to 4 guests.
Family Suite – Features two queen beds and a full sofa sleeper and sleeps up to 6 guests.
Wolf Den Suite – Features a queen bed, full sofa sleeper and a themed Wolf Den, complete with a set of bunk beds. Sleeps up to 6 guests.
KidCabin Suite – Features a queen bed, full sofa sleeper and a Great Wolf Kids-themed KidCabin complete with bunk beds and a twin bed. Sleeps up to 7 guests.
Grand Bear Suite – Features a private master bedroom with a king bed and a full bathroom. The main area includes two queen beds, a full sleeper sofa and a second bathroom. Sleeps up to 8 guests.
Great Bear Suite – Features two queen beds and a semi-private living room, complete with a private master bedroom with queen bed. Sleeps up to 6 guests.
Great Bear King – Features two queen beds and a semi-private living room, complete with a private master bedroom with king bed. Sleeps up to 6 guests.

The dining options at Great Wolf provide something for everyone in the family to enjoy. I like that Great Wolf not only acknowledges kids can be picky eaters but also offers options for guests with food allergies and have special dietary needs ,such as a gluten free diet. It’s something that moms can really appreciate as it isn’t often easy to dine out when your child has those kinds of needs.

Lodge Wood Fired Grill – A full serve a la carte restaurant open for lunch and dinner, with delectable shareables and unique signature items to create the perfect place to eat.
Hungry as a Wolf – Family meals on the go for lunch and dinner featuring fresh made pizza, sandwiches, salads, and pasta.
Bear Paw Sweets & Eats – A confectionary that offers a variety of treats, such as fresh-baked pastries, ice cream, lodge-made fudge and more.
Buckets Incredible Craveables – Located inside the water park, the casual menu offers burgers, hot dogs, french fries, cold beverages, ice cream, and more.
Loose Moose Family Kitchen – A buffet style restaurant, open for breakfast and dinner, that has options for the entire family.
Grizzly Jack’s Bar and Grill – Located by the outdoor water park, this is the place to refuel for more fun in the sun, offering a variety of food and drinks to choose from.
Dunkin’ Donuts – Located right inside the resort, this is America’s favorite all-day stop for coffee and baked goods.

Although most people are going to spend a lot of time at the water park, there are a ton of other attractions and entertainment to enjoy during a stay at Great Wolf Lodge including:

Character Appearances – Daily appearances with Wiley the Wolf and Violet the Wolf.
Story Time – The entire family can gather in the Grand Lobby each evening to hear a story about the Great Wolf Kids characters before bedtime.
Wolf Walk – Learn about the many animals and wildlife living in the Northwoods and make an origami wolf to take home.
MagiQuest – Battle dragons, befriend a pixie and wave a magic wand in this live-action adventure game throughout the resort. The games feature three unique chapters, each with their own challenges and quests.
The Great Wolf Kids Program – Daily activities for kids that take place around the resort, including dance parties, face painting, and games such as Wiley Bingo, Character Floor Memory, and Character Trivia.
Howly Wood XD Theater – This motion thrill ride transports riders directly into the movie action with every effect amplified, creating an unforgettable experience.
Howl at the Moon Mini Golf – 9-hole themed indoor miniature golf course.
Northern Lights Arcade – More than 100 interactive video and redemption games that allow guests to redeem points for prizes.
Scooops Kid Spa – A unique spa created for kids, complete with ice cream-themed manicures, pedicures, and more. Each service includes a real ice cream treat.
Ten Paw Alley – Family-style bowling with pint-sized bowling balls.
Clubhouse Crew – Interactive Scavenger hunt through the resort starring the Great Wolf Kids characters. It’s the perfect experience for the resort’s youngest guests.
Laser Frenzy – An exciting arcade-style game with the latest in touch and LED technology. Players can see who is fastest as they dart between the “laser beams”.

The Great Wolf Lodge Southern California also features over 20,000 sq. feet of meeting and banquet space. It’s the ideal location to host corporate meetings, youth excursions, family reunions, special occasions or more. With 12 separate and configurable meeting rooms, the resort’s team of experienced meeting professionals can create the perfect space to your needs.

Great Wolf Lodge Southern California is now accepting reservations for its newest location. You can book reservations for March 2016 through December 2016 by visiting http://www.greatwolf.com or calling 1-888-960-WOLF (9653).

So what are YOU most excited for at Great Wolf Lodge Southern California? My answer to that is “all of it!“

Connect with Great Wolf Lodge Southern California on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

A Much-Needed Staycation at The Anaheim Marriot!

July 20, 2015 / California, Disney, Travel

I recently escaped my everyday life for a quick getaway at the Anaheim Marriot. You should never pass up an opportunity for a staycation because staycations are the best! The Anaheim Marriot is conveniently located in the hub of Anaheim, adjacent to the Anaheim Convention Center, within walking distance to the Anaheim GardenWalk and just a hop, skip & a jump away from the Disneyland Resort.

The Anaheim Marriot is a great property to stay at whether you’re visiting for business or pleasure, and when I say “pleasure” I’m most referring to Disneyland®, although there are a bunch of restaurants, shops, movie theaters, and even a bowling alley, all within walking distance of this hotel! Other popular places to visit within a short driving distance include Knott’s Berry Farm and Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

After checking into the hotel, my daughter was immediately enamored by the uber cool elevator call button. It’s more like a computer and takes the guessing out of your wait for an elevator. You key in the floor you’re going to, the screen tells you which elevator you’ll be getting in, and then you head over to wait for it. Watch how it works!

Our guest room was absolutely perfect! With a modern decor throughout, it had 2 very comfortable beds with luxurious bedding, a nice sized desk, a giant LCD TV, and a cozy sitting area. My daughter was especially excited by the Minnie Mouse surprise that was awaiting her in the room! You can call ahead of time and arrange for a surprise of your own to be there for your child(ren).

The bathroom was very clean (that’s always a biggie for me) with marble countertops and there were premium toiletries set out for us to enjoy. I love hotel toiletries, especially when they’re aromatherapy! I always appreciate when hotels do their part to care for our planet, don’ t you?

Some other in-room amenities included a single cup coffee maker, an iron and ironing board, and High speed Wi-Fi (available for a fee). You have the option of ordering your breakfast to be delivered to the room when you wake up, as well as traditional room service any time of day.

The balcony area has a gorgeous view of the city of Anaheim and a bird’s-eye view of the pool area down below. It was relaxing to sit out there with a drink and take it all in. That’s what a staycation is for!

We’re very fortunate to have such great weather in Southern California, which makes it possible to enjoy the pool area of the hotel almost any day of the year.

The Oasis pool offers both an indoor, semi-covered area and an outdoor area. There’s also a jacuzzi. Both the pool and jacuzzi are equipped with an aquatic wheelchair to provide access for any guests with those needs.

There are lounge chairs for sunbathing all around the pool area, as well as tables where guests can enjoy food and drinks from the Oasis Pool Menu, and even some fire pits.

I couldn’t get enough of the food at the Marriot! They offer quick take away service inside the hotel from Pizza Hut and a Starbucks. However, my favorite spot to hit up for a meal was nFuse Bar and Kitchen, the main restaurant in the hotel. We actually ate there twice, once for dinner and another time for breakfast!

The restaurant was recently renovated and is beautiful! There’s a variety of seating areas for guests who are dining. When you walk into the restaurant, you notice several different intimate tables or “social lounges” available for guests to sit at and enjoy a drink or small plates if they wish.

We sat in the main dining area. I started with one of their handcrafted cocktails called the “California Love“. It came highly recommended by our server and as soon as I took the first sip, I knew why! It was delicious!

While I looked over the menu, I thoroughly enjoyed the homemade bread served with butter. I think you can tell what that was like by looking as this picture, right?

The menu had so many delicious plates to choose from! I decided to order the nFuse “Prime” Tenderloin Filet. It pretty much melted in my mouth. I also sampled some of my daughter’s Rigatoni with broccoli. The food was truly delicious and prepared just right. I would love to go back and try some of the other creations on the dinner menu.

Luckily it wasn’t long before we returned to nFuse for breakfast the next morning. NFuse offers a traditional breakfast menu with several gourmet creations on it, as well as an All American breakfast buffet. I can’t resist buffets so that’s what I chose.

Breakfast buffets always seem to be the most ideal when you have children in your party mostly because of all the choices. There was so much delicious fruit on the buffet. I also enjoyed the freshly baked pastries.

I think there are very few people who can walk by bacon that looks this good without stacking it high on their plate! Can you tell I’m a bacon lover?

My most favorite item at the buffet though were the fresh, made-to-0rder Belgium waffles. It’s fun to add toppings and create it just the way you like it.

My staycation at the Anaheim Marriot ended way too soon but I’m happy to say that it was a wonderful experience overall. The rooms are top-notch, the location is prime, the food is excellent, and I was well-rested after getting to escape from reality for a short time. I can’t wait to back for another stay!

Connect with the Anaheim Marriot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

A sincere thank you to the general manager and entire staff at the Anaheim Marriot for your hospitality. You truly made my family and I feel welcomed.

Los Arboles Hotel in Palm Springs: The Perfect Desert Retreat for a Relaxing Weekend!

March 26, 2015 / California, Travel

I am fortunate to live in Southern California for so many reasons, one of which is the beautiful weather. When the temperatures get down into the 50s and 60s, we also have the convenience of packing our stuff up in the car and heading out the to the beautiful Palm Springs area. Just east of Los Angeles, Palm Springs almost always promises its visitors warm desert weather.

I recently took a “Mommy & Me” girls weekend away with my daughter to Palm Springs. I found the most adorable bed and breakfast-style property online called Los Arboles Hotel. The site described the hotel as “rich in old California hospitality traditions and boasting a selection of amenities unmatched for a 21 room boutique hotel. Los Arboles is a desert retreat from the hectic pace of everyday life“, which is exactly what I was looking for. It’s located in the historical Palm Springs Movie Colony District and is within walking distance to Palm Canyon Drive, which offers a variety of shopping and dining.

I honestly fell in love with the property within minutes of parking in the lot. With the front office situated very close to the parking lot, it took practically no time for us to get checked in and shown to our room. Our room was actually a Junior Suite.

The landscaping around the property is kept very well-manicured and features many types of desert plants and cactus. I could smell the rosemary that was growing on the property, each time we stepped outside of our room. It was so fragrant!

The Los Arboles Hotel is a very quaint property with 21 guest rooms. Most of the rooms are situated either (outside a gate) around the perimeter of the pool area or very close to it.

Some of the rooms have their own hammock in the front patio. We had a swing and a hammock, which was where my daughter spent a lot of time relaxing.

The hammock outside of our room was one of her favorite places to hang out over our girls’ weekend!

Here’s a short video of her in the swing outside our room. I honestly didn’t think I’d ever get her out of it!

We were so pleased with our room, The El Mirasol Junior Suite! How adorable is our room key?

I loved the cool tile floors and the tiled detailing around the room. Our bed was made up so beautifully and there were so many great amenities in our room. We had an iron and ironing board, an armoire to hang up our clothes and store our things, a bench to sit on, a modern bathroom with a separate vanity and bathing area, and even an in-room sauna! The free Wi-Fi was also convenient.

Since we had the Junior Suite, our room also included a 2nd room attached with its own living room and a pull-out sofa and a separate bathroom with closet area. Both of the rooms in the suite had good-sized flat screen TVs too! We relaxed comfortably inside in the air conditioning!

The Los Arboles Hotel has an on-site restaurant called “El Mirasol at Los Arboles“, which is one of two Palm Springs locations. It promises artfully prepared Mexican regional cuisine and flavorful margaritas! It’s an especially popular place on Friday and Saturday nights and draws quite a crowd!

I enjoyed myself immensely during my visit to Los Arboles Hotel. In fact, I’m looking forward to returning to stay there again sometime in the near future. If you’re looking for a wonderful experience like I had, you’ll want to consider staying at Los Arboles Hotel in Palm Springs! When’s the last time YOU got away from the hectic hustle and bustle of everyday life?

Connect with Los Arboles on Facebook and Instagram!

Handlery Hotel San Diego: A Family-Owned Premier Hotel

January 19, 2015 / California, Restaurant Reviews, Travel

I received hotel accommodations in order to write this review. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own. We had such a wonderful experience staying at the Handlery Hotel San Diego this past weekend. An early call time for a Sunday cheer competition made it necessary for us to stay overnight in “America’s Finest City” the night before. We wanted to stay somewhere centrally located to be able to take advantage of some of the fun things San Diego has to offer. Handlery Hotel’s location was just that! Located in Hotel Circle, t’s literally a hop, skip & a jump away from Fashion Valley Mall, Mission Bay, and San Diego State University. Since it’s located just off of the 8 freeway, it was so easy to get places without taking too much driving time.

The lobby of Handlery Hotel is nice and bright thanks to the natural light from above!

We were greeted by friendly faces at the front desk, upon our arrival. They quickly checked us into our room, located right next to the pool. The room was just perfect for us and had 2 beds, a clean, updated bathroom, and a big, flat screen TV to watch while we enjoyed our cheese platter and cookie tray.

As you can see, Emily immediately claimed, and personalized, “her bed”!

A nice, clean bathroom is one of my own personal travel necessities!

This cheese platter was amazing! The cookies were delicious too!

I instantly fell in love with the Holcombe & Moore Aromatherapy toiletries that were in the bathroom. They smelled so good, with a scent that wasn’t too overpowering. I could swear the same scent was being released into the hallways of the hotel and I actually asked about it at the front desk. Whenever I’d walk in the hallway or enter the lobby there was a wonderful smell in the air.

How cute are the towels?

The Handlery Hotel has a large pool area, with both a pool and jacuzzi. They are heated for guests’ convenience. I got some really pretty pictures of the pool area because we arrived around dusk. What a pretty backdrop the sunset was and I felt like I was in paradise just looking at all of the palm trees.

We didn’t get to actually swim in the pool on this visit because we were so busy with our cheer competition but the weather was sure perfect for it! Next time we’re definitely going into the pool! Southern California Winter weather is definitely something to be thankful for!

A poolside fountain

The hotel has a few different fountains throughout. I know for me, the sound of water is so soothing. The fountain by the pool was really pretty, as was the one by the hotel’s entryway.

Emi made a wish in this fountain that’s located near the hotel’s entryway.

Postcards Restaurant is located adjacent to the hotel’s lobby and serves breakfast and dinner and has a full bar with a TV to watch sports. It also provides the food for in-room dining. We had to hurry out early to our cheer competition so they packed us up a container of goodies and I took some coffee to go.

Freshly baked blueberry and banana nut muffins and a mini croissant to go!

You can grab a complimentary daily paper in the hotel lobby!

Our stay at the Handlery Hotel San Diego definitely wasn’t long enough. Once cheer season is over, we fully intend on returning for a longer, more relaxing stay, when we enjoy the accommodations a little more and take advantage of that pool area, including the poolside drinks and dining at the Reef Lounge Poolside Bar & Grill.

Some of the other accommodations available at the hotel are:

Concierge staff
On-site parking
Complimentary wireless internet throughout the hotel
Business Center with computer, printer and complimentary boarding pass printing
Complimentary on-site fitness center
Same day laundry and dry cleaning service
Flexible meeting space
In-room dining
ATM
Express Checkout
Dog friendly

Thank you, Handlery Hotel! You had her at “cookie”!

I’d like to send a HUGE thank you to the staff at the Handlery Hotel San Diego! It’s a great family-owned hotel, offering such warm service. We enjoyed ourselves immensely and hope to be back very soon!

Visit Handlery Hotel San Diego on Facebook & Twitter.