MN Travel Mom

 As many of you know we LOVE Grandview Lodge and have been traveling there multiple times per year since JJ was a baby.  During 2020 this was one of our ONLY vacation Destinations.  Please let me know if you have any questions about the resort but I will do my best to summarize below. WHY DO WE LOVE IT? We Love Grandview Lodge because it is 2.5 hours from the Twin Cities and there are tons of activities year round to do.  Most cabins have full kitchens so you have the option to cook your meals (which we did for the pandemic) or eat at one of the many restaurants on-site.  We always have a great time at the pools, restaurants, enjoying outdoor activities, and kids club. WHEN TO GO: Our favorite time is the SUMMER.  During the summer you can enjoy boating (Kayaks, paddle boards, fishing, pontoon rides, walking, bonfires, etc.)  We love going for the 4th of July when the Saturday prior to the 4th there is a Party on the Pines with Bounce Houses, Live Musi...

We did a long weekend at the Phonecian in Scottsdale and loved it! Rooms 5/5: we loved the hotel- we got a firetable room which had a huge outdoor space, tables, couch, and firepit. We spent a lot of time sitting outside on our patio. The room was spacious with a huge bathroom and amazing housekeeping services (they spent an hour cleaning each day)! Pools 4/5: The pools are incredible 3 floors of pools with the 2nd floor Adult Only. My kids loved the waterslide and there is a huge splashpad and play area for younger kids. This is VERY kid friendly. Tons of chairs, pool service- can order drinks and food. Spa 5/5: I loved the spa-- had an amazing massage they also have steam room, sauna, hot tub and rooftop pool. Kids activities 5/5: My kids loved the daily activities did cookie/ donut/ rice krispie decorating, stuff a buddy, outdoor games, they also had candy bingo, arts & crafts etc. Other amenities 5/5: With the resort fee you get 1 hour of tennis and pickle ball reservations...

 As many of you know we LOVE Disney Cruising.  We have done Disney Cruises every year since my son was 1 year old and I highly recommend if you enjoy relaxing.  The amazing part about Disney cruises is that there are so many activities going on you don't have to stress about planning what to do.   My Top Tips for Disney Cruise: #1. Plan early.  The prices are cheapest when the itineraries open.  You will also have the best availability for rooms.  Most rooms have bunk beds and a queen sized bed but some also have a murphy bed that folds down to sleep 5.   #2. Location: we love having the balcony/ veranda.  We have stayed in the Aft, Midship, and Forward.  In general I find Aft and Midship to be the most convenient to activities and restaurants.  I also recommend staying near the elevators/ stairs if possible. #3. What ship? The Magic and the Wonder are the smaller ships; followed by the Wish, the Dream and the Fantasy....

We have taken 2 trips to Legoland Florida that my kids LOVED.  Most recently it was so crowded lines were 45 minutes to 2 hours but that was over Christmas break.   OVERVIEW: You can do everything in 1 - 2 days depending on how much time you want to spend in each area.  The ideal ages would be under 10 years old, or if you are really into legos, but most rides are for younger kids.  To get the full experience I recommend staying in the Legoland Hotel and signing up for the daily build classes.  Legoland is located in Winter Haven, Florida about 1 hour and 2 minutes from Orlando hotels. LEGOLAND HOTEL: 2/5.  The legoland hotel was swarming with screaming children.  There is a giant lego pit/ play area in the lobby that was full of kids running around and screaming.  My kids LOVED it.  The rooms were small and Lego Themed.  My kids enjoyed the scavenger hunt that led to a lego prize at the end.  We did a room with bunk beds and t...

We took a ski trip for a long weekend to Lutsen Mountains.  We had a blast and enjoyed ski-in/ ski-out location.  It is a 4 hour drive from Minneapolis but we stopped in Duluth for a night so we could hit the slopes early in the morning.  We stayed at the Fairfield Duluth Waterfront which had a great breakfast, pool, and fitness center.  The location is across the bridge so not a lot that is immediately walkable in the area. Tips:  1. Buy lift tickets ahead of time.  The best is in the Fall they will have a buy 1 get one 1 free sale.  The tickets are very expensive so this will save you hundreds of dollars. 2. Stay on the hill.  The convenience was amazing and there was a shuttle that would take you to the hill and back if you don't want to ski in/out 3. Sign up for lessons.  My 7 year old loved the Rangers program and did 2 hour lessons each day which allowed us to ski on our own or relax :) 4. Arrive early- if you aren't staying on site par...