Family Exploration in Seattle

Caroline Wood, a luxury travel advisor with Brownell, is the Conde Nast top travel specialist for the Western USA. Her latest adventure was with her family to San Juan Island. Read on for the details!

Our trip to the San Juans was among the best family vacations we've taken. There are so many wonderful things for kids to see and do! Since we had already visited Orcas Island and enjoyed it, we wanted to try something new but didn't want to be rushed.

We decided that we would spend all of our time (4 nights) exploring San Juan Island which is the largest. There are many options regarding how to get there and of all of them, I do not suggest the state ferry - that's what we did and while it's definitely easiest on the budget, we encountered major problems in both directions. The Victoria Clipper makes non-stop trips from Seattle to Friday Harbor and there are flightseeing options for those who don't mind small aircraft.

There are lots of wonderful places to stay throughout this island all for different reasons. We chose the Lakedale Resort which has a central location where we could try "glamping". This was perfect for us as it was sort of like summer camp for families but not in a crowded touristy way. The little canvas tents with wooden floors, cozy queen beds and electricity were quite a step up from regular camping. Not to mention the spotless shared bathhouse where you could shower and wash up after biking, hiking or playing in the lake. http://www.lakedaleresort.com/ From our homebase where we spent very little time, we could explore both Roche Harbor and Friday Harbor easily. Roche Harbor is a quaint little sea port with a couple of wonderful dining options, shops, boat rentals and history - the Hotel Harobuilt in the late 1800's is said to be haunted! (Why stay there when there are the new luxurious McMillin Suites?) There are also hiking paths and the intriguing Mausoleum memorial to the McMillin family - their ashes are in the chairs around the table and there are multiple stories as to why one of the chairs has been demolished.

Friday Harbor is more of a town with many more restaurants, book stores and boutiques. I could have spent at least an afternoon here but the family wasn't keen on shopping...

In addition to the towns, there are beautiful beaches with driftwood logs, foxes running amuck and more birds than I could count on the south side of the island. On the west side, you can see Canada and from Lime Kiln Point, we watched whales blowing their spouts right below where we were standing. The whale watching tours really aren't as humane as watching from the shore and I'm not so sure I would want to be in a little boat with pods of huge whales swimming by!

Finally, the highlight for me was the Pelindaba Lavender Farm. Imagine seeing acres and acres of bright purple fields in neat rows. The smell was heavenly. This was a wonderful trip with younger children but would be great with older kids as well - especially if the family enjoys biking. While we opted to focus on this one island, it would easily combine with Orcas Island which has slightly better hiking and Victoria is only a quick commute away by ferry or flight.

Please let me know if I can help you put together your own special trip in the Pacific Northwest!

To learn more about travel in the Pacific Northwest, contact Caroline by clicking here. To learn more about Brownell Travel, visit us at www.brownelltravel.com.

New York City for New Years!

Alysia Hopper, a luxury travel advisor for Sterling Brownell, spent the start of the New Year with her family in New York City! Read below for her wonderful review of their trip and accomodations at the Hotel Plaza Athenee. My family and I (kids ages 7 and 10) just came back from a fantastic week in the Big Apple. We spent the holiday week between Christmas and New Years at the Plaza Athenee on the Upper East Side (a VIRTUOSO hotel). We attended shows, ice skated in Central Park, made origami at Ruby Foos, and munched on yummy pizzas at Café Fiorello. This was our first time, staying at the Plaza Athenee. Originally from New York, it is not until recently in my life that I have begun to experience staying in hotels in the City. The Plaza Athenee did not disappoint. Its location is fantastic! Located Between Madison and Park on 64th street, it lies just around the corner from the the best shopping Manhattan has to offer. I literally walked out of my hotel and on the corner was Chopard, Longchamp, Hermes, Alain Miko…you name it. My husband called the location a “candy store” for adults! Speaking of candy stores, the hotel is also ideally situated for children’s activities. We walked to Dylan’s Candy Store (@ 4 uptown blocks away) about three times (maybe more). We walked to FAO Schwarz, Central Park, the Plaza, Café Fiorello for the best pizza, Rockefeller Center to see the tree, and St. Pat's to see the crèche. It is the perfect walking location. Our rooms were two connecting deluxe rooms and the way the hotel is set up allows for many connecting options and lots of space. In fact, if you wish, rooms can be connected in such a way as to create three bedroom suites with kitchenette. Our rooms were located with a view of the back but we had an entrance hallway with a third door that could be locked, creating, in effect, a mini- apartment type feel in Manhattan.


















The bar downstairs, Arrabelle, is beautiful and it serves great food and drinks. My daughter is now addicted to one of the breakfast items she tried for the first time there: bananas and whipped cream! The staff was very attentive to the children and very accommodating. As my daughter is petite, they brought overstuffed feather pillows (covered in silk damask…I was more than a little paranoid about her hot chocolate the entire time) into the breakfast room to prop her up without me even asking; you should have seen her face; I think she felt quite like Eloise that day!


















One of the highlights of our trip was a private back stage tour of Shrek the Musical. After the show, I arranged for us to meet one of the characters by the stage door. Noah (playing the part of the white rabbit—a fairy tale creature) met us there and showed us around. We were able to actually step out on stage and look back at the HOUSE (my favorite part)! We met other characters including: Pinocchio, Fiona (as a young princess) and Farquad. We saw props and costumes and the set close up. All in all, it was one of the best travel “moments” we have had as a family. Very memorable.

This may only have been matched by our New Years Eve dinner at the Four Seasons Restaurant. As a girl, I remembered these wonderful cotton candy desserts with candied violets and ice cream underneath. Much to my surprise and delight, they still have them there and my children were equally delighted. A great meal to end a great year and to begin an even better 2009!

















It was so much fun to finally show my kids where “mommy grew up” as we all live in the Midwest now. They, too, have fallen in love with the Big Apple and all its excitement. They have already asked me to go back….hmmm Valentine’s day perhaps?

To learn more about travel to New York City, contact Alysia Hopper by clicking here. To learn more about the Plaza Athenee and the excellent travel offers they have right now through Brownell and Sterling Brownell, click here: Plaza Athenee.