Redondo Beach is hard to accurately label as a Los Angeles vacation destination. Close enough to LAX to be centrally located (but not so near as to have constant airport noise), it’s long been a quick stop for tourists heading south to Orange County or Disneyland. There’s a lot about the pier that brings the Jersey Shore to mind; Irish pubs, loud blues clubs, tacky tourist shops and the like. But there are also first-class restaurants, fun Southern California water activities, a lovely up-and-coming playhouse, and the Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club. Having  completed a thorough renovation a few years ago, it is clearly the best hotel in Redondo Beach. If Redondo’s where you’re traveling to, casual elegance at this Southern California beach community is best at the Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club.

What is Best about the Portofino Hotel in Redondo Beach, CA

•   Every room has a water view. One one side, it’s King Harbor and the ocean, and on the other, it’s the Marina. The ocean side is classier. Tip: Request a room at least 3 floors up for optimal views.
•   The renovation has given this 4-star hotel really effective double-paned glass windows. This is important because on the ocean side, there are sea lions a mere 50 or so yards away that bark all day – the soundproofing is excellent. There are also earplugs in each room in case the sea lions are especially rowdy.
•   The interior design, done in blues and white with a yellow accent, is very reminiscent of the beach community. The bed is comfortable and the flat-screen TV a modern addition. The rooms are a good size for a couple, but people who like a little extra room should request a corner room – they’re bigger.
•   The hotel’s on-site restaurant, Baleen, is one of the best restaurants in Redondo Beach. The creative presentation and innovative mix of fresh ingredients make Baleen a destination restaurant for hungry travelers and residents of Los Angeles alike.
•   The Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club website almost always has good travel deals and vacation packages. A California beach vacation is more affordable with these budget-stretching packages. For example, the Fuel for Fun vacation package includes 3 nights at the Portofino, plus a $100 gas credit (and for the truly “green” traveler, there are always free beach cruisers available).
•   The hotel is situated close enough to the pier that it’s an easy walk, but far enough away that the noise and ruckus of the nighttime crowds are inaudible. Also within walking or biking distance are several inexpensive restaurants.
•   The main floor perfectly captures California casual elegance, what with the quiet bar, simmering fireplace and candles, and large windows facing the ocean. It’s impeccably designed, and completely captures the feeling of the place.

What is Not So Great about the Portofino Hotel in Redondo Beach, CA

•   The pool is notably small, and unless it’s summer, it’s very often too cold to enjoy.
•   The Marina View side of the hotel also has a full-on view of a big power plant. This is pretty hard to ignore. Tip: If you are staying on the Marina side, request a room in which the power plant is partially blocked by a view of the Baleen restaurant. The power plant’s nighttime searchlights are bright, so you’ll want to pin your curtains closed if you’re staying on the Marina side as well.
•   Housekeeping puts a cute stuffed animal – a sea lion, of course – on the bed. This makes for a nice greeting, but the stuffed animal is actually for sale, and atrociously priced. Any young child who sees it on the bed will want to keep it.
• While it was renovated less than 5 years ago, the Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club is already showing signs of wear. The salty air does no favors to longevity of paint, clearly.

Despite its issues, this is the best (and only 4-star) hotel in Redondo Beach. Redondo Beach is a fun, regular Southern California beach town, not too fancy but not down on its heels either. Add a little luxury to a midrange vacation along California’s southern coast by booking a room at the Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club.

I received a complimentary stay at the Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club, but as always, my reviews are impartial and intended to help The Vacation Gals’ readers plan their own trips.

Continuously in operation since it opened August 12, 1892, The Brown Palace Hotel & Spa has never closed for renovations in its 120-year history. That’s not to say it hasn’t been updated and refurbished through the decades (I can attest to the contemporary flat-screen TVs in guest rooms). But it has most definitely maintained its grand and historic ambiance — with its original (incredible!) eight-story atrium lobby, cast-iron railings and intricate grillwork, imported onyx accents and, perhaps most important, its outstanding service to guests from all over the world.

Indeed, the AAA Four-Diamond property, has accommodated illustrious presidents, The Beatles and even mere mortals — like myself! — with open arms. From the doorman dressed in a traditional black suit with gold piping and a tophat, to the cordial valet who didn’t blink when I lost my ticket, to the upbeat front-desk clerk and friendly pianist whose music accompanied afternoon tea, everyone I met during my quick overnight at the downtown hotel was so welcoming and gracious.

I think I audibly gasped when I made the short walk from the front door to the lobby and looked up. From the sandstone building’s unusual triangular-shaped exterior, it’s impossible to tell that the lobby atrium extends the height of the tall building. That is, all of the rooms face the street, so when you exit your room, you can walk to the original railing and peer down at the lobby where scones and sandwiches are served every afternoon, or up at pretty stained glass windows.

I love that the vintage elevators, escalators, numbered door plates and other accents around the property are made of solid brass. Rose-patterned wallpaper, classic light fixtures and flowery prints on the carpet also lend a retro feel. I found the obsolete U.S. Mail chutes that ran between floors utterly charming, not old-fashioned. The dated decor adds to the romantic and historic ambiance — I never felt, “Eeesh, this hotel is ancient and needs updating.” Au contraire, I felt like a true grande dame staying in the landmark property.

Retro accents are carried into the guest rooms, with black and white tile and marble counters in the bathrooms, traditional dark-wood furnishings and huge arched windows. But modern amenities are on hand, of course, as well: Keurig coffeemaker, rain showerhead and iPod docking station.

Through my west-facing window, the sunset — and view of the Capitol Building — was marvelous!

Other amenities and services at The Brown Palace include six restaurants, a full-service spa and complimentary guided history tours of the hotel for all registered guests on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons (or use the self-guided tour brochure in your room to acquaint yourself with the hotel’s historic riches).

Even if you don’t overnight at The Brown Palace, you can take part in a beloved hotel tradition: afternoon tea in the sophisticated lobby with scones, pastries and tea sandwiches presented on tiered plates and accompanied by imported Devonshire cream. It’s a lovely way to experience the grand service and rich history at this beloved Denver hotel.

Thank you, The Brown Palace, for hosting my stay!

Mention travel to Ibiza, and many people think of young tourists partying and clubbing throughout their Spain summer vacation. It’s true that an Ibiza vacation often includes the nightlife scene for 20-something travelers, but this married 30-something found the island to be great for a romantic trip as well.

Now, I’ve often thought that there are two basic types of travelers in this world: all-inclusive-ers and the rest of us. I know some people swear by the ability to bask in the easiness and non-decision making relief that makes for a great vacation. I don’t buy it. Or at least, I didn’t.

You see, I’m always been an active traveler. I want to see and do as much as possible with appropriate bouts of down time to enjoy a tranquil coffee, have a beer, people watch, etc. I want the planning and the decision-making. I even like (afterwards) the petty arguments with the husband about just how many museums he can drag me to before I scream for mercy.

The words “all-inclusive” to me always conjured up images of old fogies gorging themselves on wilted lettuce and ranch dressing while arguments break out about who’s going use the shuffleboard next. But my recent trip to Ibiza in the Balearic Islands has changed my mind. Not so much that I am going to be searching out early bird specials on cruise ships, but enough to count the days until I can return to this beautiful place.

The Island of Ibiza, Spain

A common misconception about Ibiza is what attracts people to the island in the first place: It’s a party town. And it is…it really, truly is a place to go when you want to soak up the sun, beer, wine, copas, and probably anything else that you might need to, uh, “lift your spirits.”

I have to admit that, I arrived hesitant and snobbish to the island. “We are not the Ibiza type,” I told my husband while we were waiting in line for a taxi outside the airport.  The line was a mile long and was made up of young, tall, blond Germans and Swedes, and a ton of sweaty English travelers that had already turned beet red just from being in the Spanish sun for 5 minutes. Now, don’t get me wrong, my husband and I aren’t that old and we still like a good night of boozing it up now and then.  But it was clear that these youngsters had come for one reason only – la fiesta.

And, of course, Ibiza won’t disappoint in this department. It is the mecca of discos and clubs and chill-outs, and whatever else one may invent in order to charge €50 to enter and look cool and vapid a lá Paris Hilton.

But Ibiza is so much more than just a hyperactive disco playground of beautiful people.  The true appeal of Ibiza is its beautiful calas, or coves. The island is surrounded by picturesque beaches hidden away in remote areas around the island.  They are simply breathtaking, all of them. If you’re a semi-old fogey like me and hitchhiking is not your thing, renting a car is fairly cheap. The island is pretty easy to explore, although you’ll have to navigate some fairly “rustic” paths that require a lot of slow driving and then a little hiking, but once you hit the beach – whichever one you choose- you won’t be disappointed.

The Hotel Cala Verde in Ibiza

We stayed near Santa Eulalia del Rio which is to the northeast part of the island – away from the chaos and overrated posh-ness of Ibiza town. This was also one expensive taxi ride (about 45€!), but we were determined to stay away from the crowds. There is public transport that will let you off near the hotel, but it requires a few bus transfers. With luggage in hand, the taxi was certainly worth the expense.

Arriving at Hotel Cala Verde was a relief after passing 20-25 minutes in the cab and driving through countless tiny pueblos and thinking that, “this is it” 10 times. Finally we arrived, and I was in heaven! Cala Verde is an expansive bungalow style hotel built into a sloping mountain. It overlooks its own private cove with a beautiful beach that stretches along crystal clear waters and lined with burnt orange cliffs.

Now while the hotel was fantastic on all accounts, I should mention that sloping mountain could be a bust for some. The center of the hotel, the pool, the dining area is on flat ground, but the majority of the rooms are above and the beach is a two minute walk downwards and a steep walk upwards. It’s a little hard on my own robust 35-year-old thighs, so it is not the the best hotel in Ibiza for anyone with mobility problems. They do have a sister hotel which is right down the road and on flat land.

We arrived early, about 10:00 a.m. and the check-in crew told us to help ourselves to the breakfast buffet while they finish preparing the room. The breakfast buffet consists of way too many things to list, but the highlights were freshly-baked croissants, chocolate and cream Napolitano’s, pancakes, churros, sausage, and even baked beans to make the Brits happy. Even though buffets have always reminded my of the Shoney’s nightmare of my youth, the food here is really superb. They put so much effort into providing a variety of dishes for every palette and the dining room always seemed full of staff to meet specific needs of the guests. Oh, and the all – inclusive deal includes self-serve cold beer and wine. Viva España!

There’s one thing that is especially charming about this hotel – its multiculturalism. You will find families of almost every nationalities here – French, Spanish, Italian, German, etc. And you know what? It’s a fantastic environment and the hotel has really made it work well. Everyone on staff fluently speaks a variety of languages and they really try hard (without being too pushy) to involve everyone in the many activities throughout the day.  There was a ton of families there, but the hotel is spread out enough that singles and romantic couples can enjoy themselves without any bother. They have a great animation team for kids and it’s amazing how they can get all the different nationalities to work together in silly skits and all kinds of activities throughout the day.

I should mention that while this is simply one of the best hotels I’ve been in, it’s not exactly what you would call frilly. The rooms are nice, large, and clean. They all have huge terraces either with an ocean view or a garden view. The beds are not anything special – not too soft, not too hard. There is a fold out couch in all rooms which is comfortable for families with children. There’s no flat screen television, the toiletries are minimal and you can borrow a hair dryer at the reception desk -if you feel like hiking down there. I hate to call the rooms basic, but they are. It’s not a bad thing. The feeling of the hotel is almost like your own home away from home. Comfort and service are the objectives here and it’s quite refreshing.

So, if you are a parent or a couple and you are looking for a great hotel in a great European vacation, try Ibiza – to the north. If you’re single and looking to mingle, hit Ibiza town, but don’t forget your glow stick, ratty hair extensions and cheesy “tribal” tattoos. It seems as if they’re mandatory to enter the clubs!

Presently living in Madrid, SpainGal Nicole Jewell enjoys the guilty pleasure of forcing her cute Spanish husband to take her to various Spanish cities in order to explore the beautiful beaches, profound history, and distinct culture of the Spanish way of life.

AwardWallet President Jeff Bianco

AwardWallet is a free online tool that helps travelers keep track of their award program points (such as frequent flyer miles). With all the different award program sites listed, it’s a snap to just click on the airline or hotel name, and the auto login takes the user right to the respective award program site desired, and automatically logs in said user. Aggregating all those different hotel points and frequent flyer miles into one site is incredibly useful for those of us (read: me) that are less than organized! Todd Mera and Alexi Vereschaga, co-founders of AwardWallet, answered some questions in this interview, along with Jeff Bianco, President of the handy travel awards aggregator website.

When did you create AwardWallet, and what was your inspiration?

In 2004, after traveling extensively, Todd Mera decided that there had to be a better was to track all his miles and reward programs’ statuses. Along with co-founder Alexi Vereschaga, they created a simple and reliable website so that travelers wouldn’t have to manually enter their various points and awards on a spreadsheet. It all started with a handful of airline and hotel programs, and today AwardWallet tracks over 340 loyalty award programs, tracking 10.9 billion points representing 218 million dollars.

What would you say are frequent flyers’ most common complaint about redeeming miles? And, does AwardWallet address this?

Many traveler are simply overwhelmed with managing their multiple frequent flyer accounts. If a user could limit the number of programs they are enrolled in to two or three, it would make managing their programs easier. However, since not every airline flies to every city, passengers are often required to fly with multiple airlines, Our members average between six and seven loyalty programs. If you are also tracking your spouse’s or child’s accounts, add another six for each! AwardWallet offers members the ability to view all their (and their family’s) frequent flyer accounts on one page.

Many airlines have a limited amount of award seats available and oftentimes the exact dates you’d like to fly are not available. However, with some flexibility in your schedule and persistent award searches, you should be able to find a good award ticket. Also, if there is no availability on your choice airline be sure to see who they are partnered with. Some of the biggest partner alliances are Star Alliance, SkyTeam, and OneWorld.

What does AwardWallet do to ensure the security of users’ information, and to help users understand that their private information is, indeed, secure?

Sensitive data is encrypted in our secure database. Besides using the secure https protocol when transferring data, we give users the ability to store passwords in their computers, in a “cookie.” Now, in our opinion, there are advantages to secure this data in our database (our servers are most likely better protected than yours). The service is very secure and has been ever since we launched in 2004, and AwardWallet is hosted in the USA.

What does AwardWallet do to make it a better site than your competitors?

There are a few websites that, in theory, offer similar services like tracking point balances. However, we at AwardWallet pride ourselves in having the largest number of programs users can track, travel plans automatically added to users’ profiles, and we have the most efficient customer service. We also have an iPhone and Android app. We are the most praised and popular loyalty rewards management website on Flyertalk.com and Milepoint.com.

Where would you like to see AwardWallet go on the next few years? And, what are you doing to help achieve that goal?

Just a year ago we at AwardWallet thought hitting the 50,000 member mark would be one of our greatest achievements. However, we now expect 100,000 members by the end of 2011. Recently, we’ve developed an API that allows AwardWallet to track loyalty information for users. This API gives our partners the ability to utilize rewards information of their own users, for their own needs. For example, one of our clients is Points.com with their entire user base of millions of users. AwardWallet plans on expanding in this area of business to business relationships. last, we’re very focused on tracking and aggregating loyalty point information. We plan to track over 500 loyalty programs by the end of 2011.

AwardWallet is seeing growth in the travel website market that is surprising to its founders, but entirely deserved. What with various kudos bestowed upon AwardWallet by various reputable sources (Wall Street Journal, for example), I’d expect much continued success in the future. Thanks, guys!

In my last hurrah of travels before my self-imposed “rest time” at home in November and December, I spent three nights in Santa Barbara, California, right before Halloween. First, I attended the Alaska Media Road Show at the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara (and if there are any of my travel-writing peers reading, I highly recommend you request an invite to this event; dozens of Alaska hotels, CVBs and outfitters all in one place). Then I enjoyed a night on my own at Hotel Santa Barbara, which is downtown and right of the thick of things on State Street. Here’s my report:

Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara

This shot of the Four Seasons in Santa Barbara almost makes it look residential.

Unsurprisingly, this Four Seasons did not disappoint. Set among lush landscaping in the ritzy Montecito neighborhood of Santa Barbara, this resort is also across the street from a long stretch of beach. The property has a definite Mediterranean feel, with its clay roof tiles and stucco exterior; rooms are in main buildings and sweet little one-story cottages, each housing a few rooms with their own entrances — no towering highrises here. Instead, just plenty of green grass, flowering bushes and tall palm trees — plus a croquet lawn and putting green — on the pretty grounds.

Guest rooms are beautifully appointed in Spanish Colonial style (think rich greens and golds, wrought-iron balconies and beautifully tiled bathrooms). In my deluxe room, I was quite impressed with the large walk-in closet and huge bathroom featuring a rainfall showerhead and deep soaking tub with fountain-like spout! (It took me a while to figure out what the heck it was…)

Other highlights of the property include access to the upscale Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club (no, you can’t gamble on the property). Across the street from the Four Seasons property, this fine facility features a humongous lap pool, children’s pool, hot tub and high-tech fitness center. There’s also a smaller outdoor pool on the Four Seasons grounds in an enclosed jungle setting, a full-service spa, tennis courts and complimentary bicycle use (the resort map you can pick up at the front desk details jogging/bike trails on the opposite side).

Deluxe room at the Four Seasons

I didn’t get a bunch of time to enjoy the Four Seasons facilities while I was at my conference (i.e. would have loved a stint in the steam room), but I sure appreciated the serene atmosphere while I learned and networked. While I didn’t eat off the menu at either Tydes (Mediterranean) or Bella Vista restaurant (Californian with an Italian flair), I did relax with a friend for a drink at the sophisticated Ty Lounge just off the lobby.

My only complaint with this luxury hotel: no free Wi-Fi, which is absolutely ridiculous. If moderately priced and budget chains like Homewood Suites, Holiday Inn and Comfort Suites can offer free Internet access, why do luxury brands continue to charge for what should be a standard, free in-room amenity? Like the hair dryer, Internet access should be ubiquitous in hotel rooms nationwide — heck, worldwide, if the country’s local infrastructure supports it!

While I negotiated for complimentary Wi-Fi during my business stay (um, I’m a travel writer who works on location all the time), others had to pay $10/day. Silly. Thankfully, this beach sunset I saw across the street from the property on the second night of my stay made me much less grumpy about it.

Hotel Santa Barbara

Deluxe queen room in the Hotel Santa Barbara.

While the Four Seasons is a place to retreat with your family or significant other in a true resort locale, the Hotel Santa Barbara is where you want to stay if you like to be in the thick of things — that is right on one of downtown’s busiest thoroughfare, lined with stores and restaurants.

The downtown core truly a shopper’s nirvana, with locally owned boutiques, a few chain stores and open-air malls, like Paseo Nuevo; off of State Street toward the ocean is  the Funk Zone, home to surf shops and beachwear. Tuesdays and Saturdays bring the awesome Farmer’s Market, with stands overflowing with colorful fresh flowers and organic produce; the people-watching here is outstanding!

But I digress. While the Hotel Santa Barbara would indeed be ideal for a girlfriend getaway, due to its proximity to all the stores and day spas, I’d happily bunk here with my husband (romantic Italian meal at Olio e Limone anyone?), too. Prices are reasonable, too. I found midweek rates ranging from $159 (queen) to $189 (double queen).

Hotel Santa Barbara entrance on downtown's State Street.

The building is historic. It dates back to 1926, with this incredible accordion-door elevator (I kept looking around for my white-gloved lift operator). But comfortable guest rooms are contemporary (a complete modernizing renovation was completed in 1997) and wi-fi in the 75 rooms is free, glorious, free!

Another nice service here, a continental breakfast is included in the room rate, and includes the basics like bagels, cereal, fruit, yogurt, as well as make-your-own waffles.

One caveat about staying at the Hotel Santa Barbara or anywhere in Santa Barbara‘s downtown area: there are a heck of a lot of homeless people on the streets. I noticed it particularly when I was walking home from a late-night dinner; many who appeared to have no other place to sleep were curled up with their belongings on many park benches on State Street. For me, coming from a rural place with few begging street people, it was a bit disconcerting.

Nonetheless, for every so-so aspect of a destination, there’s typically loads of goodness. Like the view of the Santa Ynez Mountains from Stearns Wharf on the oceanfront end of State Street:

For more information on Santa Barbara “The American Riviera” visit SantaBarbaraCA.com.

I received complimentary accommodations from the Alaska Media Road Show and the Santa Barbara Conference & Visitor’s Bureau.

The Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles belies the sometimes sorry reputation of LA, and downtown Los Angeles in particular. A common complaint about Los Angeles is that it has no history or culture. Well, that’s not completely true, although its politicians seem to have little respect for Southern California’s past. Witness the bulldozing of the Ambassador Hotel, historic for being the spot where Robert F Kennedy was assassinated in 1968. Fortunately for the downtown area of Los Angeles, there’s no chance of that ever happening to the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. It’s an official Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.  Its central location makes is situated well for both business and leisure travelers, but the Millennium Biltmore is more than just a beautiful hotel within walking distance to the Staples Center and Walt Disney Concert Hall. It’s a hotel that manages to be both steeped in local history and completely modern, exactly like downtown Los Angeles itself should be.

Talk about an elegant, historic hotel! The Spanish-Italian Baroque and Renaissance interior design is downright magisterial.  Frescoes, murals, travertine walls and imported tapestries all point to the highest standards of classic luxury. The hand painted ceilings of the Millennium Biltmore, which opened in 1923, add artistic touches to what is surely the “grande dame” of downtown Los Angeles. The hotel used to host the Oscars, and many, many movies, TV shows, and commercials were shot here. US Presidents like John F Kennedy, Harry Truman, and Lyndon Johnson all stayed at the Millennium Biltmore during time spent in Los Angeles.

Despite the classic signifiers of the hotel’s history and cultural significance, it is run with efficient, warm and forward-looking modernity. The Millennium Biltmore Hotel’s Gallery Bar hosted an event for a new group on Los Angeles-area online travel writers recently, and welcomed us as generously as they have welcomed heads of state in the past. The Los Angeles Consortium of Online Travel is an open group for local travel bloggers and other people who work in the tourism industry. When we were looking around for a hotel or restaurant to host our first meeting, the kind people at Millennium Biltmore Hotel immediately understood how such a meeting could benefit the property (as well as giving us a great, mellow spot in which to network over hors d’oeuvres and wine). What a fantastic host, too; the Gallery Bar is one of downtown LA’s best nightspots for the over-21 crowd — that is, it’s a wonderful, lush setting for grownups who aren’t interested in clubs and bar hopping, but in being able to have actual conversations in classy environs. The Los Angeles Consortium of Online Travel’s first meetup was a fun event, made successful by the generosity of the Millennium Biltmore Hotel.

Downtown Los Angeles isn’t as popular a travel destination as is, say, Disneyland or Universal Studios Hollywood. It’s rebounding from a serious decline in the last century, though, and becoming a more interesting place for tourists to experience. The history and culture of downtown LA hasn’t been totally vanquished by short-sighted developers, nor will it ever be erased. The Millennium Biltmore’s plush luxury and stature in the history of Los Angeles is a great example of this, as well as making it a highly recommended place to stay for a Los Angeles vacation.

Los Angeles

My family has a new favorite place. It’s called Lake Placid and it’s located in New York’s Adirondack Mountains. The friendly people, the wonderful meals, sports history (stay tuned for more on this subject) and beautiful nature made our visit so memorable we’re already talking about going back. Here’s some insight and tips for where to eat and sleep when you visit this darling village.

Where we ate: Our first night in town we ate at Great Adirondack’s Steak and Seafood located in the heart of the downtown village and was it delicious, specifically the Ahi Steak au Poivre! What makes this place extra special though is their homemade brew which is made right in the back and they even make their own root beer — something our children were extremely delighted to sample. We were thrilled when at the end of the meal our server presented us with a Lake Placid Olympic-themed pint glass. The glass is free with your first pint.

Chair 6 is best known for their homemade sweet potato pancakes but we stopped in for lunch. Everything was fresh and flavorful and is made from scratch on site, just the way we like it! If you like cute places, this is it. The restaurant was formerly a farmhouse. Yes, that’s an old chairlift my son is posing with found outside the restaurant.

Cellar Bistro & Grill is true to its name, it really is located in a cellar. This was another delicious lunch stop. This new restaurant is extremely affordable and the food was terrific here too. I highly recommend the Portabella Wrap and my son still asks if we can go back for the pizza. I wish we had more time there because I would have loved to stopped in for their Mardi Gras theme night.

The Caribbean Cowboy was the most unique stop of our restaurant parade. The atmosphere was lively, the drink menu was fun, but the food on the Jamaican and Southwest-inspired menu was out of this world, particularly my husband’s Jamaican Jerk chicken. We have never had anything like it. Spend an evening here, you won’t be sorry.

Hotel: Lake Placid has various lodging options including hotels, inns, campsites and cabins. We stayed in a suite at the Crowne Plaza Resort & Golf Club and would stay there again. To begin, I was completely taken by the views of Mirror Lake from our gorgeous suite in the Adirondack wing. It didn’t take long to realize how family-friendly this property is. In front of the hotel, adjacent to the a lounge patio, is a huge lawn where my kids kicked the soccer ball around and played hide and seek, and the indoor pool was a huge hit.

As for meals, we ate the breakfast buffet every morning which was a perfect way to kick off our day. One evening we took the free hotel shuttle to the resort’s lakeside Lake Placid Club Boat House restaurant. A divine bevy of seafood dishes grace the menu and they’re as good as they sound. We give huge kudos to the fantastic wait staff. No only was the food and service superb, but the scenery was spectacular. When we watched a swimmer cross the lake as the sun set, we knew we were somewhere very special.

Thank you to Whiteface Lake Placid and the other local businesses who assisted in hosting my family.