I spent a lovely three nights at The Reefs Hotel & Club in Bermuda with one of my very best girlfriends last month. While we had an incredible time lounging on the beach, eating delicious food at the on-site restaurants and relaxing at the spa, I couldn’t help but think that this boutique property would make an incredible romantic getaway in Bermuda. The laid-back vibe, intimate size and stellar service definitely inspire romance. And what’s not romantic about this combination: turquoise ocean, pink-sand beach and Bermuda’s favorite rum drink, the Dark and Stormy?

Especially for East Coasters, Bermuda makes a convenient island getaway; it’s only a 2- to 3-hour non-stop plane ride from such cities as Toronto, Charlotte, Atlanta and Baltimore. Under 2 hours from Boston, New York and Washington, D.C. Here’s why you want to consider The Reefs for a romantic, hassle-free getaway to an island paradise:

Rooms and suites at The Reefs are in these pink buildings perched on a cliff. (Across the beach from the Club condos.)

Excellent accommodations: The 62 hotel rooms and suites at The Reefs all have ocean views; and it’s none of this “partial view” business — you’ll be facing the gorgeous Atlantic and its so many shades that vary from aquamarine to deep blue. All rooms and suites have their own private patio or balcony; they also have king beds that can be separated into to twins if you like (though that does not inspire romance!). Many of the rooms’ bathrooms have been upgraded with new glass showers, sinks, counters and pretty mosaic tile.

If it’s just the two of you, a comfortable, airy room will do just nicely; or you can splurge on a suite with  a bit more space (the Point Suites have private balcony hot tubs). But if you’d consider traveling with another couple — or even two other couples — I highly recommend booking one of the 19 two- or three-bedroom condominiums at The Reefs Club. The “Club” section of the property, built in 2009, is basically a separate wing — very close to the full-service spa, a short walk to the indoor restaurants, and featuring its own pretty infinity pool. There is also a separate Club entrance/lobby and front-desk staff (all of whom are very accommodating).

Egg-shaped tub in The Reefs Club condo.

Our two-bedroom condominium was phenomenal — two  separate master bedrooms each had their own giant bathroom with free-standing tub and, glass shower, big closet and two sinks. The bedrooms opened up to a private veranda; one bedroom had closer access to a private hot tub. The comfortable living room faced floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding glass doors. We had no interest in cooking a thing, but we certainly could have with the fully equipped kitchen. We did use the convenient washer/dryer (laundry soap provided). Truly the accommodations were so huge, I’d be so happy to share one of the condominiums with another couple on a romantic getaway.

That's our hot tub on our balcony overlooking the Club infinity pool and The Reefs' white-sand beach.

Full kitchen in The Reefs Club condos.

Each of the master bedrooms in our condo had its own flat-screen TV and king-sized bed.

Meals are included: Room rates at The Reefs include breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner with your stay. While you may argue that you’d like to explore Bermuda’s restaurants at dinnertime, I suggest opting for this meal plan (you can opt out) if only for the convenience (no need to taxi or bus elsewhere in the evening) and because the food is so good. Plus, you can enjoy some of Bermuda’s different eateries for lunch, while you’re out exploring and sightseeing during the day.

For breakfast in spacious Ocean Echo restaurant — or on the terrace in nice weather –  we could choose a continental buffet (cereals, pastries, yogurt, fruit) or order omelets, French toast and other morning favorites off an a la carte menu. Four o’clock afternoon tea in the lounge brought iced and hot tea, plus finger sandwiches, sweet bread and cookies; it’s a convivial time to mingle with other guests.

Violet sky at sunset, as seen from beachfront Coconuts.

For dinner, you can make reservations at al fresco Coconuts, indoor Ocean Echo (with many windows facing the water) or interior Royston’s, a steakhouse. We sat outdoors at Coconuts one night, where the menu includes several seafood dishes (I particularly liked the Bermudian rock fish), salads and meat entrees; the sweet potato bread pudding was a hit here, too. At Ocean Echo, guests on the meal plan choose an appetizer, soup or salad, then a main entree and dessert. Though the menu — which changes nightly — isn’t as comprehensive as Coconuts, we each found items to our liking; my vegetarian friend had some delicious Green Pea and Basil Risotto one night and I thought the Bermuda Onion Soup and Panfried Local Wahoo were quite good.

Nifty presentation of shrimp tempura at Coconuts restaurant.

Great location on the beach: The small crescent-shaped beach at The Reefs is absolutely gorgeous; here, just sit on a chaise lounge under a pink-and-white-striped parasol, order a drink or a “light bite” from Coconuts (just a few steps away), and admire the view of waves crashing on the cliffs. If you’re feeling sporty, borrow complimentary kayaks and snorkel gear for use in the bay.

Your chaise lounge and pink-and-white umbrella await.

While the beach doesn’t necessarily invite long walks on the sand, a network of beachfront trails isn’t far away. From The Reefs walk about 10 minutes east toward the beach club belonging to the Fairmont Southampton, and you can hook into a string of Bermuda’s south beaches: famous Horseshoe Bay, Chaplin Bay, Stonehole Bay, Jobson’s Cove and Warwick Long Bay — this is a great, scenic way to walk off all the calories from your dinners at The Reefs!

Explore quiet coves along the neighboring beaches -- also a popular spot for horseback rides.

Visitors to Bermuda cannot rent cars (for good reason — the streets are so narrow and curvy). But we can rent scooters, and a rental shop is right across the street from The Reefs. The public bus system is excellent, and bus stops are also convenient located on either side of the street in front of The Reefs (remember, buses will travel on the left side of the road).

Scooters aplenty in Hamilton; they're used by locals and visitors to get around the island.

Former defense walls remain at the Royal Naval Dockyard; it was once a strategic outpost for the British Royal Navy.

From The Reefs, we took the bus east into Hamilton to eat lunch and go shopping one day (it was too stormy to lay on the beach, otherwise we might have stayed closer to the property). Another day we headed to the northwest point of the island to check out the Royal Naval Dockyard. Here we also shopped (don’t miss the Bermuda Arts Center), ate lunch (good sandwiches at Bone Fish Bar & Grill) and gawked at the two huge cruise ships docked there. (I also recommend checking out the glassblowing demonstration at Dockyard Glassworks and picking up free samples at the Bermuda Rum Cake Company.)

Also convenient to The Reefs is the Railway Trail – 22 miles of train tracks used to stretch from one end of Bermuda to the other. Today, it’s a path for hikers, joggers and bicyclists. Parts are paved, some are not; signs along the way point out interesting sights. It’s certainly a safe and scenic way to get some exercise in Bermuda (walking along the sides of the roads on which cars drive can be a little scary, as residents who know the roads take curves at a quick clip).

La Serena Spa: This intimate full-service spa at The Reefs has a couples’ suite for side-by-side massages. But the list of services is vast if you’d like to enjoy treatments on your own, then meet up at the comfortable relaxation lounge with chairs that face big windows with views of the ocean. (I loved the warm neck compress offered to me after my Signature Spa Ritual Massage.) Consider this array of massages: deep-tissue, sports, Thai, Shiatsu, aromatherapy, warm bamboo, synchronized (four hands!) and hot stone. Then there are facials (with Elemis products — an excellent line from Great Britain), body polishes and wraps. A must-visit during your stay at The Reefs!

That's a circular-shaped moon gate in front of the relaxation lounge; hold hands as you pass through it for good luck!

For a romantic getaway in Bermuda, I don’t see how you could go wrong with The Reefs. The international staff is genuinely friendly and helpful, at this property that has been a favorite among visitors to Bermuda since 1947. Its modern updates, new condominium accommodations and fresh twists to classic island favorites on the restaurant menu make it indeed a recommend place to stay.

Thank you, The Reefs, for hosting my visit.

In the heart of Denver’s downtown — steps away from a plethora of restaurants and nightclubs, and kitty-corner from the famed Denver Center for the Performing Arts — the Four Seasons Hotel Denver makes an ideal upscale destination for a girlfriend getaway. Sure, I’d be thrilled to bring my family here (the Four Seasons brand is known worldwide for its kid-friendly amenities and services) and would never turn down a romantic urban escape to the Four Seasons with my husband. But for one night last month when I was able to spend just 14 hours at this luxury high-rise with a good girlfriend of mine… well it was just about perfect. Here’s why:

Accommodations: The rooms at the Four Seasons are spacious and appointed with many thoughtful amenities. I was particularly impressed with the marble bathroom in our deluxe room on the sixth floor: not only was there a television screen embedded in the mirror (cool!) but the big bathtub featured a waterfall-like faucet. I also appreciated the pretty stonework in the shower, two sinks and generously sized L’Occitane toiletries. In the sleeping area, we enjoyed the oversized windows that let in plenty of sunlight, used the iPod docking station and slept soundly underneath down comforters.

EDGE Restaurant & Bar: The classy steakhouse at the Four Seasons Denver is a restaurant destination in its own right — that is, it’s not just hotel guests who flock to the sophisticated spot for an evening meal (it’s also a popular spot for Denverites to take breakfast and lunch meetings). But my friend Kristina and I chose to eat a light meal at the long EDGE bar, just off the lobby and located in front of the entrance to the restaurant. The bar area was packed at abut 7 p.m. on a Friday night — clearly it’s a locals’ favorite for winding down after a long work week.

We enjoyed some wine recommended by our friendly bartender and shared a couple of delicious salads off of the EDGE Restaurant menu, as well as some and sushi rolls that are offered on the bar menu Thursday through Saturday nights. Highly recommend!

Coffee and muffins in the lobby: This is a small service, but certainly one that I fully appreciated, since I woke up before my girlfriend, at about 7 am on a Saturday morning, and I didn’t want to make noise brewing coffee in our room. What a delight to find hot coffee and complimentary banana muffins in the lobby.

Spa, fitness center and pool: The spa at the Four Seasons Denver is divine. Truly, divine. A large soaking tub in the women’s locker area, a steam room infused with eucalyptus, and a soothing relaxation room with several chaise lounges invite rest and repose. I wish I’d had time to indulge in a spa treatment, but simply spending about an hour in the women’s locker room — taking full advantage of soaking, steaming and showering — was a lovely way to start the day.

Actually, because I’d woken up early, I had time to workout in the big fitness center before I retired to the spa. It was quiet on an early Saturday morning, so I had my choice of cardio and strength-training equipment. Here, fruit, citrus water and my beloved coffee are also offered. The ellipticals, treadmills and bikes all face a wall of tall windows with views of the heated pool and hot tub, which are open year-round, but the tree-filled errace is especially hopping with sunning and swimming guests in the warm-weather months. Plus, the hip, outdoor Level 3 Bar is open in the summertime, too — for guests daily, with the public welcome on Thursdays from 5 to 10 pm.

Thanks Four Seasons Denver for hosting my stay. I’ll be back, perhaps next time with husband or kids in tow!

One of my kids’ very favorite things to do is to flip through photo albums of our family vacations. “Remember when Ben got stung by the jellyfish?” (Yes, it was a little scary) or “Room service is the best.” (Yes, it is!) or “What was the name of that really bad hotel in Mexico?” (I’ve blocked it out). Those photos — funny, poignant, or just plain blurry — evoke so many memories for us, and make us want to hitch up the pop-up camper or hop on a plane to make even more together!

On this day that honors moms everywhere — and as a nod to our friend Mara of The Mother of All Trips who has compiled some great crowdsourced tips for traveling with kids over the past week — we share with you some of our favorite recent photos of us with our children.

This one of me and my kiddos from our spring break in Hawaii makes me smile because ) I recall it as an evening that my son didn’t complain about wearing a collared shirt and b) my daughter looks so tall. Both kids are growing like weeds — and time goes so quickly. Makes me think about ensuring  that family travel continues to be a priority for us, since I may blink and my oldest will be in college. (Okay, maybe it’s not that dire; but I’m feeling melancholic today about my kids getting older, and seemingly maturing overnight!)

This photo of Beth and her bundled-up kiddos reminds me that adventures with the kids don’t have to necessarily take place in far-flung destinations. Here, the pint-sized Blairs are sampling snowshoeing for the first time at a Nordic center not far from their Minnesota home.

Finally, here’s Jen with her girls at the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy, where every good traveling mother knows that gelato at least once a day is mandatory.

The Garden of the Gods Club is a private club in Colorado Springs with an enviable location right across the street from the Garden of the Gods, a public park featuring some of the most striking red-rock formations in the state. Club members enjoy a 27-hole golf course (also with plenty of scenic views), a handful of restaurants (including a formal dining room and more casual grill), full-service spa, fitness center, tennis courts and recreation center.

View from my balcony at the Lodge at Garden of the Gods Club.

What’s cool for Colorado Springs visitors: the Lodge at the Garden of the Gods Club is open to the public. Paying overnight guests can also enjoy all of the Club services and amenities. My husband tagged along on my spring travel-writing research trip to Colorado Springs (about 5 hours from our mountain home), and we had a pleasant stay at the Lodge, just the two of us. The summer months will bring even more options for families. Here’s why I’d recommend the Lodge at Garden of the Gods Club for a family weekend this summer in Colorado Springs:

The location is excellent: From our room in the South Lodge, we could walk down a set of stairs, outside across a grassy lawn, and down a short, moderately steep trail to the back of the Visitor Center at the Garden of the Gods Park. The guys at the Lodge’s front desk didn’t know of this unmarked trail; they suggested driving on a road all the way around to the proper entrance. (Or, they did not tell us about the unmarked trail because we weren’t supposed to cut through the back way.) Still, our way by foot was super convenient, and it wouldn’t be difficult for school-age kids to traipse up and down for easy access to the city-owned, no-fee park with its myriad hiking and biking trails.

Entrance to Garden of the Gods, a city park, is totally free.

The Lodge at Garden of the Gods Club is also a convenient base camp for exploring attractions west of Colorado Springs’ downtown area, namely Cave of the Winds, Pikes Peak Cog Railway, Manitou Cliff Dwellings, Manitou Springs (stop in for tasting at D’Vine Wine!) and the excellent restaurants in historic Old Colorado City.

Basic, but comfortable, furnishings in the rooms at the Lodge at Garden of the Gods Club.

Rooms are spacious: The two of us stayed in a King Lodge Room (one of 66 rooms and suites), and found it plenty big. We appreciated the sitting area (with table and chairs, sofa and coffee table), plus two sinks, large closet and shower (with great water pressure). Certainly a Double Lodge Room would have accommodated my family of four for a couple nights. Our view of the Garden of the Gods rock formations from our balcony was superb, too!

Free hors d’ouevres at Lodge happy hour: Never ones to pass up free food, my husband Quent and I had a glass of discounted house wine ($6) and complimentary appetizers before we ventured into Colorado Springs for restaurant research. From 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday nights the Lodge Lounge is packed with other Club members and Lodge guests, nibbling on fruit, cheese and crackers, as well as hot items like chicken wings and peanut-butter stuffed French toast (nope, didn’t go for that last one). It’s quite the festive scene. Kids are welcome here; I saw some moms – with children in tow – piling plates high with food to bring back to the room.

Besides the Lounge freebies at happy hour, other dining options available when we visited include the formal Lodge Dining Room and the more casual Lodge Lounge, both open for breakfast lunch and dinner. In the summer, the Kissing Camels Grille (named for a rock formation in Garden of the Gods) is open in the Golf Clubhouse, overlooking the fairways.

Recreation center with outdoor pool: Frankly, I was glad that we hadn’t brought our kids along to visit the Lodge at the Garden of the Gods when we visited in early April. The gorgeous infinity pool located right at the Lodge was up and running in the cool spring weather, but it’s only for grown-ups. We only saw a few adults using the pool when we were there, and I think my well-behaved tweens wouldn’t have been kicked out if they had played quietly in it (i.e. no cannonballs). Still, it was a bit surprising to me that the sign on the door leading to the “spa pool” (though down the hall and separate from the full-service spa) made it very clear that it’s meant only for adults.

Adults-only infinity pool features fabulous views of the Garden of the Gods rock formations.

However, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, a Junior Olympic-sized pool, with adjacent kiddie pools and water spray area, is located a couple of miles away, past the golf clubhouse, and open for all Club members and Lodge guests. Drive your own car or take a Lodge shuttle to the Recreation Center, which also features a snack bar, game room, basketball/soccer court and children’s playground – again, only open in the summer.

Full-service spa: I had no time to indulge in a spa treatment while I was at the Lodge at the Garden of the Gods Club (darn travel-writing research assignment kept me out and about taking notes at restaurants, attractions and shops), but I like the look of the spa menu with its variety of massages, facials, scrubs, manicures and pedicures. Each of the men’s and women’s locker rooms has a steam room, or you can soak in the co-ed whirlpool in a sunny solarium. Next time!

Thanks to the Lodge at Garden of the Gods Club for hosting my stay.

Even short getaways do wonders for my energy level. That is, getting out of Dodge for quick trips is such a great way to rest, recharge and return home ready to tackle “real life” again. For me, Vail is that preferred destination for mini vacations; the mountain resort is just 90 minutes from my Colorado home, but it definitely signals “vacation” to me — even if I’m there for just 24 hours. I’ve recently spent an overnight in Vail with my daughter and niece, as well as a couples’ getaway with my husband. My latest short sojourn: 24 hours in Vail with a best girlfriend at The Sebastian.

The sunny lobby of The Sebastian features high ceilings, rustic-but-classy Colorado mountain style decor and a double-sided fireplace (not shown).

What prompted our Sunday/Monday getaway was a spa voucher we’d gotten via TravelZoo Local Deals — 50% off the price of a massage and glass of wine at the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera, near Edwards, Colorado. We weren’t that keen on overnighting at the sleepy, remote resort, and I was eager to check out The Sebastian (which had gotten nice reviews from blogging friend Kristin Luna), that we decided to stay at this boutique property in an enviable location smack dab in the middle of Vail Village — great for strolling and shopping.

Our visit was short, but we sure enjoyed our stay at The Sebastian. Here’s why:

Bloom Spa: Now, as I noted, we had spa treatments booked elsewhere, so we didn’t indulge on still more services at The Sebastian’s Bloom Spa. We did, however, spend a bunch of time browsing its small boutique, and we blissed out in its uber-hot steam room. AlpenGlow is the spa’s signature scent, and it’s divine; you can smell the subtle fragrance on approach to the spa from a hallway off the lobby.

The entrance to Bloom Spa is just off a busy hallway, but once you're tucked inside, you feel world's away.

Accommodations: My girlfriend and I shared a Deluxe Plaza Room with two queen beds, which offered plenty of space for the two of us. I loved my comfy bed with quality linens. The room featured complimentary wi-fi (bonus!), a Nespresso machine (appreciated, though ours didn’t work so we bought big cups of morning coffee from the on-site Market cafe), and bath products in large reusable containers — much more eco-friendly than the tiny little bottles found in so many hotel rooms. Also appreciated: a mini-fridge and humidifier in the room.

If you’re looking for even more space for a gaggle of girlfriends, The Sebastian also has one- to four-bedroom suites with full kitchens. Note: On June 1, The Sebastian is instituting a $25 resort fee per night to cover some of the hotel’s amenities and services.

Plenty of room for two friends to spread out in a Deluxe Plaza Room at The Sebastian

Hooray for eco-friendly, large bottles of shampoo and conditioner in the rooms at The Sebastian.

Frost & Block 16: No need to go off property for fun drinks and amazing food — The Sebastian has both. Frost is the “ice-themed” bar that offers a creative cocktail menu and cozy lounge space. Block 16 is The Sebastian’s signature dining room features an impressive cylindrical tower filled with wine bottles in the middle of the restaurant. The wine list is indeed vast, so it makes sense that the name of the restaurant comes from the term used for the fruit that comes from a specific vineyard or tract (“block”), as well as the hotel address of 16 Vail Road.

At Block 16, my friend and I dined off of a small, but excellent dinner menu, which changes seasonally and focuses on local produce and the freshest of ingredients. When we visited, the menu included ruby red shrimp, tender cobia, grass-fed lamb and some of the most divine black-truffle risotto I’ve ever tasted. The desserts were equally inspired!

Fun martinis served on the "icy" bar at Frost.

Decadent Chocolate Coulant -- served with pistachio ice cream. Delish!

Other nice amenities and services at The Sebastian include an outdoor pool and three hot tubs, a free DVD-lending kiosk, a classy library gathering place, a fitness center above the spa and next to the pool deck, and a slopeside “Base Camp” for convenient storage of ski gear in the winter.

Summer rates at The Sebastian start at about 40% off winter rates — consider $325/night in a Deluxe Plaza Room in June, versus $605 in February. (These rates can decrease, too, depending on demand and length of stay.) If you’re considering a spring or summer visit to The Sebastian, there are a host of special deals and packages, too.

Thanks to The Sebastian for hosting my girlfriend getaway!

I knew Denver’s LEGO KidsFest would be a hit with my 10-year-old LEGO-fanatic son. After all, he’s a kid who’s been building with the small bricks since age 3, and has since graduated to creating amazing projects with Power Functions and LEGO Mindstorms NXT software. The LEGO KidsFest expo in Denver featured 3 acres filled with all sorts of LEGO goodness in the downtown Colorado Convention Center this weekend. In my son’s words: “This is a festival just for me!”

My son's dream -- to be a LEGO Master Builder someday. What a treat for him to meet one in person!

In fact, he attended two sessions of LEGO KidsFest that spanned the long weekend: one on Saturday afternoon with his three like-minded young cousins, and one on Sunday morning with just me. I liked that he had already been to the expo by the time we had our excursion together, so he could steer me past the DUPLO area (for young children) and the LEGO Friends section (girly) and other exhibits that he wasn’t really interested in. We avoided the chaos of the Big Brick Pile, and since he had already attended the fabulous Master Builder Academy the day prior, we bypassed that area, too.

My son did want me to be sure to see all of the amazing life-sized creations — Harry Potter, The Incredible Hulk, Indiana Jones to name just a few — in the LEGO Model Museum (we snapped a ton of photos here). We admired the amazing designs that expo participants built to display in LEGO Creation Nation (creations were placed on a giant map of the United States to make a cool 3-D piece of art). My son also built a basic car to race down the LEGO Race Ramp; he competed against other kids with some Power Function LEGOs at one of the exhibitor’s stations; the two of us battled it out with our spinning tops at the Ninjago area.

Frankly, I’m exhausted, just reliving our 3 hours at LEGO KidsFest!

Tens -- maybe hundreds -- of thousands of LEGO bricks all in one big pile for kids (and adults) to build with.

Indeed, it’s a bit overwhelming — the sheer number of people (and staff) at the event, not to mention the myriad ways to spend your time on the massive expo floor.

Still, I highly recommend that if you have a LEGO fanatic in your house, make the effort to go to one of the upcoming LEGO KidsFests this year, especially if you live in or near Milwaukee, Austin, Detroit or Pittsburgh. If you decide to attend, here are a few tips:

• Buy your tickets early. These events are not ones where you can count on going the day of to purchase tickets at the window. In fact, by Friday night, all of the remaining sessions (two on Saturday and two on Sunday) in Denver had sold out.

• Every expo has a “Lost Parents” tent; make sure your children know where it is if you get separated. I can’t tell you how often I heard over the intercom Saturday, “June Smith, please come to the Lost Parents Meeting Spot near the main entrance.” It is not difficult to lose a child in the masses. To that end, make sure your child knows your first and last name!

The detailed LEGO models were amazing!

• Let your children direct the fun. My son wanted to stand in line three times to play with the Ninjago spinning creations. Did I really need to compete against him for Spinjitzu victory three times? Of course not — but this was his day!

• Decide beforehand whether you’re buying LEGOs. If your children are young enough, they may not realize that there is a big LEGO retail store in the middle of the expo floor. I was happy to allow my 10-year-old to browse through the shelves to spend some of his birthday money. (If you do decide to purchase your child a toy, I’d put a cap on it — i.e. “I’d be happy to buy you a LEGO souvenir for under $25″ to avoid meltdowns or confrontation — perhaps impossible with a 3-year-old…)

• Eat before you go to LEGO KidsFest. Conference center concessions are notoriously overpriced, so I’d eat a heavy breakfast before a morning session or a late lunch before the afternoon sessionto avoid paying big $$$ for hot dogs, pizza and other fast food at food booths.

My son is already asking if we can go back to LEGO KidsFest next year — here’s hoping it returns to the Denver Convention Center. If not, I see a road trip in our future!

When I read that Aussie ProBlogger Darren Rowse, a book author, full-time blogger and worldwide authority on blog monetization, partnered with Tourism Queensland to bring 10 bloggers to his home country, I naturally threw my resume into the ring. After all, three years ago I created a video to enter “The Best Job in the World” contest sponsored by Tourism Queensland (along with 35,000 other applicants). I didn’t snag that cool gig, but I am delighted (over the moon!) to announce that I am going to Australia as a Queensland Blogger Correspondent June 5 to 10.

Yep, just in time to go scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef to celebrate my 43rd birthday that week. Not too shabby!

More than 700 bloggers from around the world applied to be a Queensland Blogger Correspondent; we filled out an online form with information about our blogs, our social-media reach and how we’d cover our stay in Queensland. This is a definite “working holiday,” as Darren Rowse points out. We’ll enjoy some incredible adventures in Queensland — from getting up close and personal with koalas, to sailing around a tropical island to exploring the Daintree Rainforest and marveling at the underwater world at the Great Barrier Reef. And we’ll share our experiences with our readers along the way, Tweeting live with the hashtag #QldBlog — so I hope you follow along!

While I am so looking forward to visiting the Great Barrier Reef — and eating good seafood and strolling seaside towns in Queensland — I am equally excited to hang out with the uber-knowledgeable ProBlogger Darren Rowse. The 10 winning bloggers will attend two hands-on workshops led by Darren, where we’ll not only have our blogs critiqued, but we’ll get pointers on  improving our blog’s content and learn about the greatest tools out there to optimize our blogs not only for our readers, but for our blog’s business. What an incredible, worthy experience that will be — all sponsored by the generous folks at Tourism Queensland.

Sure, flying from Denver to Cairns for a 6-day stay in Australia might sound a bit ridiculous — I don’t my know flight details yet, but I’m certain it will take multiple, long flights to get from Point A to Point B, over the course of the better part of a day. I’m not great at overcoming jet lag, so I’m hoping that I’m not a total zombie the entire time I’m in Australia. (Combating jet-lag tips welcome in the comments below!)

I’m also missing my kids’ last days of school for the year, including my son’s graduation from elementary school, which makes the trip’s timing kind of crummy. Thankfully dad and grandma will be on hand for the festivities, and both children have an incredible travel-filled summer on the docket to look forward to. I’ll surely bring home a ridiculous amount of souvenirs to make up for any disappointment they may have for my being gone during a celebratory week or to combat any jealousies that this is a solo trip for mom, not a family trip to Australia. Oh, who am I kidding? Their lives won’t miss a beat while their rock-star father is the on-site parent at home for a week.

I’d like to think of my forthcoming short trip to Australia as a learning experience for them, too. Being named one of 10 Queensland Blogger Correspondents will help them see firsthand that a) you’re never too old to chase your dreams b) if you want something, go for it c) and when you believe in yourself, success will follow. When SoCalGal Jen and TwinCitiesGal Beth and I started The Vacation Gals nearly three years ago, who would have thought it would lead to my visiting Australia — with one of the best blogging minds in the business?

Stay tuned for the adventure — I do hope you’ll follow along in June. And, as always, thanks for your support of me and The Vacation Gals.

Photo credits: top sxc.hu, bottom Tourism Queensland