This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.
Have you visited Big Bear Lake before? Located in the mountains of Southern California, Big Bear Lake is just a couple of hours by car from Los Angeles and Orange County and about few hours away from San Diego or Las Vegas.
Big Bear Lake is a beautiful vacation destination for families, couples, and even large groups. The area offers a variety of seasonal activities to its visitors including:
- fishing
- water sports
- hiking
- mountain biking
- horseback riding, tours
- winter sports
and more!
When planning your getaway to Big Bear, it’s important to have peace of mind you’ve secured a clean, reliable and affordable vacation rental. With more than 350 properties, ranging from single-room cabins to entire lodges, Big Bear Cool Cabins Vacation Rentals has the perfect lodging for your adventure.
Did you know that each Fall, Big Bear has its very own Oktoberfest? It’s a festival like no other that runs from September 8 through October 27. Guests in attendance are treated to “Knockwursts” direct from the German butcher, and enjoy the very same beers poured at Munich’s Oktoberfest for more than 150 years! If you haven’t been before, it’s the perfect time to visit Big Bear.
Big Bear Cool Cabins is the Official Lodging Partner for the 48th annual Oktoberfest! They offer have multiple packages for visitors to choose from for 1, 2 and 3 night stays, as well as the ultimate way to Big Bear’s Oktoberfest: The Burgermeister Party Pack! Keep reading and you’ll find a special discount code below that you can use when you book your own Oktoberfest package. First let’s take a look at what each package includes and the discount it’s offered at.
- Oktoberfest 1-night stay package – This Exclusive Package includes a 5% discount on 1-night lodging, discounted Oktoberfest tickets, 2 free 2-hour bike or kayak rental from GetBoards and 10% discount on Scenic Sky Chair or Golf.
- Oktoberfest 2-night stay package – This Exclusive Package includes a 10% discount on 2-night lodging, discounted Oktoberfest tickets, 2 free 2-hour bike or kayak rental from GetBoards and 10% discount on Scenic Sky Chair or Golf.
- Oktoberfest 3-night stay package – This Exclusive Package includes a 15% discount on 3-night lodging, discounted Oktoberfest tickets, 2 free 2-hour bike or kayak rental from GetBoards and 10% discount on Scenic Sky Chair or Golf.
- The Burgermeister Party Pack – Available for visitors 21 years and older, the Burgermeister Party Pack includes Oktoberfest admission both Saturday & Sunday, an annual commemorative 16 oz. beer stein, one beer ticket, one German meal ticket, and a set of party beads.
The Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest offers a complimentary shuttle that runs from the downtown Big Bear Village to Oktoberfest on Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. If you have a little too much Oktoberfest fun, let O’Douls do the driving. The O’Doul’s Complimentary Shuttle begins running on Saturday evenings at 6 p.m. and provides door to door service anywhere you are staying within the Big Bear Valley throughout the night. I love that you don’t have to worry about driving and can fully enjoy Oktoberfest.
The special discount code for these packages is OKTOB1, which you should apply at checkout. To book your own Oktoberfest package with Big Bear Cool Cabins Vacation Rentals please go HERE. You can also call or text them directly at 909-219-9681. For visitors who speak Spanish, se habla español y se puede llamar a 909-217-3144.
Connect with Big Bear Cool Cabins on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To see if they are offering any additional discounts right now, please go here.
Images and logos are property of Big Bear Cool Cabins and used with permission.
At Disney California Adventure Plaza de la Familia returns for a limited-time festivity. The area, located at the Paradise Gardens area of the park, celebrates Disney•Pixar’s Academy Award®-winning film “Coco” and the everlasting bonds of family.
At Disneyland Park
Throughout October, families can find special complimentary guest programming from a Howl-O-Ween House in the lobby to nightly Howl-O-Ween themed dance parties, Haunted Hustle scavenger hunts, boo bingo and more. How fun is that?
This all sounds like a lot of fun! Great Wolf Lodge’s Howl-O-Ween For more information and to book your family’s Howl-o-ween stay, please visit 
“Carmel-by-the-Sea, this charming, seaside town’s full name, is located on the Monterey Peninsula in Northern California. The drive from Los Angeles is about 6 hours, so we had the opportunity to take in some beautiful scenery on our drive up north. Just thinking back on our stay there makes me miss it and I truly long to go back there sometime in the near future. I absolutely fell i love with Hofsas House Hotel. 
Hofsas House is the cutest place to stay! It’s painted pink, which is my absolute favorite color, and the Bavarian-inspired theme and decor of this family-run boutique inn were what reeled me in immediately. I also loved all of the beautiful landscaping around the premises, especially the flowers. 
Guests can book a stay in any of the 38 spacious, one-of-a-kind rooms at Hofsas House. Guest rooms include amenities such as fireplaces, private balconies, wet bars, kitchens, and patios and free WiFi. The shower/tubs have been upgraded nicely and you’re going to love the complimentary toiletries like shampoo,, body wash, makeup remover wipes and body lotion.
I think one of my favorite things are the pink Dutch doors in every room. They allow the ocean air into your room and make for a great photo opportunity. Don’t you agree? 
(Please note: room amenities vary per location on the property) Hofsas House also offers large suites, which are perfect for newlyweds or larger families. The hotel also features a swimming pool and dry saunas. 
If you’re a dog owner, or even a dog lover, you’ll be so excited to know Hofsas House is DOG FRIENDLY! Oh my goodness! Although we currently don’t have a dog, it’s great to know that when we do, we’ll be welcome to bring ours with us to stay. Also, if you aren’t a “dog person” please know that only certain rooms are reserved for guests bringing their pets, so there are plenty of rooms which haven’t had canines stay in them. 
This year, Hofsas House is celebrating seven decades of European hospitality. Guests will admire all of the personal touches around the property, including the beautiful welcome mural, on the wall in the driveway. This mural was painted by artist Maxine Albro, when she was commissioned to paint it back in the 1960’s by Hofsas House founder, Donna Hofsas,
There are several other personal touches to discover around the property too. Another artist and photographer by the name of Fred, created the mosaic coats of arms which can be seen on the front of the hotel. Their Latin words translate into English as “Leisure with dignity”, These words described our stay there perfectly.
The wet bar area features a microwave, mini fridge, coffee maker and sink. The private balcony overlooks the Carmel pines, and has a private outdoor barbeque. *For a nominal fee, you can add another rollaway bed to make way for another person. 
Part of the Hofsas House hospitality is their daily continental breakfast, which is complimentary. Guests can stop by the office each morning and pick up French Roast coffee, tea, juice, fruit and fresh pastries, delivered from a local bakery. 
You have the option of sitting in the hotel’s lobby to enjoy your breakfast or taking it back to your room. (Trays, mugs, and baskets are provided for carrying out.) With such a beautiful ocean view from our balcony, we opted to enjoy ours out there. It was a wonderful way to start our day together.
Let’s Talk a Little Bit About the Town of Carmel 
It’s also not very far from the beach, which is a must-visit on your trip. I loved being able to park our car there and not have to even think about driving anywhere until we checked out. Carmel is the kind of town where your kid will be so happy, she’ll skip down the sidewalk! 
Hofsas House is just minutes away from Monterey, Pebble Beach, Big Sur and Pacific Grove. I did enjoy parking our car and just walking everywhere for 2 days, It’s also convenient to be that close to other points of interest and be able to reach them with just a short drive.
In addition to a variety of guest rooms to book at Hofsas House Hotel, they also offer special add-on packages to enhance your stay. To learn more about this charming property, please visit their website 
A very special thank you to Hofsas House for their hospitality. It was such a treat to stay there and we hope to be back soon. 
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a specially ticketed event that has been on our family’s “Disney Bucket List” for some time now. This holiday season we’re headed to Florida to attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party! I am ecstatic and have been doing my research to find out what to expect and how to maximize our time at the party!
On the 
There are so many things we can’t wait to experience at Mickeys’ Very Merry Christmas party. I got chills just reading this short description from the Walt Disney World site:
Here are just some of the unique holiday offerings and experiences you can expect to find at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Some of these are exclusive to the party nights.
Treats and Special Holiday Eats 
In addition to these complimentary treats, there are also limited-time holiday eats which are items offered exclusively during this time of year and at the party.
Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration
Once Upon a Christmastime Parade
“Holiday Wishes” Fireworks Spectacular 
In addition to all of the above, guests can also enjoy many of their favorite Magic Kingdom attractions. Be sure to save time to take a ride on “The Jingle Cruise” which is a festive version of the Jungle Boat Cruise! Don’t forget to stop by all of the shops to grab holiday merchandise too. 
As you can see there are so many reasons to be excited about attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party this year. We are definitely counting down the days until our trip. Have you been to the party before? If so, do you have any special tips to share with me? If not, why not grab your tickets for this year’s party?
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will take place on select nights August 17 – October 31, 2018 and is a separate ticketed event. 
Last year we had the chance to attend Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party for the very first time and it was SO much fun.
We loved dressing up in costumes, experiencing the park decorated so beautifully after dark, trick-or-treating together, character & other photo opportunities, exclusive-for-the-party entertainment, spooky treats, and more. 
After attending though, I realized that there is so much to do that you should almost consider attending two different nights, just so you don’t miss anything!
This year when we go, we’re going to hit the ground running, and be way more prepared to maximize our experience during the party. Even more excited was reading about the new additions to this year’s party! More Halloween fun? Yes, please!
Here’s what’s been added to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party for 2018:
Have you experienced Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party before? If so, what did you think? If you haven’t, do you have plans to attend this year? Share with me in the comments, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
For more information about Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties, please go 
In honor of those of us that haven’t gotten to Toy Story Land, but are planning to get there soon, I’ve got a great giveaway! I mean, even if you have already been there, you can enter too! Who couldn’t use a little extra Disney money for your visit to Andy’s backyard? To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter below. But first, take a look over the giveaway rules. 
Our family recently experienced
Now, this additional, new offering allows park guests to save their dessert for last. First, guests can arrive at the Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant starting 90 minutes prior to Happily Ever After—the most spectacular fireworks showcase in Magic Kingdom history. As showtime nears, Cast Members escort guests to a prime location in the Plaza Garden for priority fireworks viewing. Watch in amazement as the skies ignite and Cinderella Castle glows with enchanting illuminations.
After the fireworks, guests are escorted back to Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant, where they can feast on freshly prepared treats, seasonal fruits and flavorful cheeses. This bountiful buffet may also include such favorites as:
Raise a glass of your favorite beverage to toast your day of theme park adventures—and the enchantment to come. Drink selections at the dessert party include:
Admission for this special offering is $69 per adult and $41 per child (ages 3 to 9) including tax. (Gratuity is not included or required.) A separate Magic Kingdom park admission is also required. For more information about the After-Fireworks Dessert Party at Magic Kingdom or to make a reservation, please go 
This hotel completely immerses guests into a castle experience from the moment they walk in. A royal LEGO statue marks the entrance and is just one of more than 2,100 LEGO models created out of more than three million bricks. As guests enter the Grand Hall, they are greeted by a towering LEGO wizard conjuring up spells to protect the Castle from the bad knights and dragons.
We had the opportunity to stay at the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel right when it opened and I want to share all about it with you!
The rooms
You’re going to be enamored by the decor and features in your room. In the Royal Princess rooms, the princess is joining forces with her jester friend to sneak into the grand tournament and compete with the knights. In the Knights and Dragons rooms, the knights are on a mission to defend the king’s castle and protect his treasure. In the Magic Wizard rooms, the wizards are concocting potions and fireworks for the grand tournament.
The Royal Courtyard
The swimming pool area
Dragon’s Den Restaurant & Bar 
Guests staying at the hotel are also treated to a free breakfast buffet each morning at Dragon’s Den restaurant. Feast on a variety of breakfast items from the buffet, as well as made-to-order items, all included in the price of your stay. It’s a great way to start your day before heading to the park.
Early entry to LEGOLAND California
Have you stayed at the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel yet? If not, you’re going to love it when you do. For more information, including access to booking your own stay, please go