Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Breakers Palm Beach truly is an elegant oceanfront resort destination ideally suited for families of all ages.   I have fond memories of visiting The Breakers as a child.  Thanks to ongoing revitalization efforts and more than a few impressive expansions, the resort looks even more amazing than I remember!   Let yourself go to this Palm Beach island paradise.   Once you arrive at The Breakers Palm Beach, you will find it easy to leave any cares you may have behind.  The warm ocean breezes and professional friendly staff will ensure that your resort experience is even more wonderful than you image it could be.

Trying to figure out what to do first was the biggest challenge of our stay!  As we wandered through the grand lobby to our room, our preschooler danced like a princess under chandeliers and across colorful and she claims magical carpets.  Yes, this is the place where fairy tales can come true.   I have to admit that I felt like a princess, too.

Since we could see and hear the Atlantic Ocean waves from our hotel room, we decided to hit the private Beach Club.   We were told that “just a flipper kick away” we could be swimming alongside the most beautiful schools of tropical fish.   There are plenty of water activities to choose from including scuba, snorkeling, boogie boarding, even swimming lessons- and this was only our first hour at the resort.   Time to slow down!   We took a break from the sun in a spacious, well stocked poolside cabana before splashing in the zero entry family friendly active pool and separate children’s pool.  There are plenty of comfortable lounge chairs and sunshades arranged around each pool deck.  My favorite escape was the hammock tucked between lazy palm trees.  Seagulls could be heard off in the distance which added to these truly relaxing moments.  By the end of our stay, we made a splash in all five pools and also the four whirlpools.    The zero entry pool rated highest among my tiny tots.

If you forget anything or if you just want to experience some of that world famous Palm Beach shopping, there are shuttles to take you to nearby Worth Avenue, but there’s really no need to leave the resort.  We found some adorable toys at the Coconut Crew shop and a new swimsuit for mama at the Absolutely Suitable swimwear shop.  The Beach Shop had a great selection of beach toys, sunscreens, hats and sunglasses.  The girls even tried the latest Guerlain perfume for our evenings out to dinner.  There are many more shops to discover but our tummies were rumbling.  It was time to eat!

Everyone in the family had a delicious meal at The Italian Restaurant.  Whoever came up with the idea to put this family friendly casual restaurant in view of the nearby entertainment center is a genius!  The grown-ups were able to kick back and relax while the kiddos were off playing all sorts of games.  The fish tank, coloring and craft tables, staffed dress up and story time areas kept the younger kids entertained while the older kids had fun challenging each other to video, arcade and basketball games.   There’s even a mini-theater showing kid friendly movies.   At the resort, there are several other dining options but we kept returning to this family favorite.   The menu is varied enough for the adults but kid friendly for even the pickiest eaters.

For breakfast, The Circle is a must!  You can order off a menu but the tempting breakfast buffet will make it irresistible.  Give in…you’re on vacation and this buffet is one of the best parts of the fairy tale!

Now that our tummies were happy, we hit the ground running!  Mama took the kiddos on a tour of the grounds to see the organic herb and vegetable gardens, Family Entertainment Center and playground, while Daddy visited the Golf and Tennis Clubhouse for a private tennis lesson and clinic.  The landscaping is picture perfect!  We captured some great photos for our annual holiday cards as we strolled in the gardens.  We also learned that some of the herbs grown on property are used in the restaurants.  No wonder the food tastes so good!

When it was time to leave the resort, the kiddos were given a very special treat.  If you want to find out what treasure waits for you, you’ll just have to make plans to visit The Breakers today.  Your fairy tale dreams will come true.

Photos courtesy of The Breakers Palm Beach

Are you drooling yet? Be sure to stop by Monday for our Breakers Palm Beach giveaway!

Lisa-Marie Leihy (aka: Cavalletta) and her family, always up for diverse outdoor adventures, have been known to kayak with alligators, swim with manatees, frolic on white sand beaches in her native state of Florida as well as try their luck skiing down fresh powder mountain slopes.  They also enjoy attending professional sports, arts and cultural events, especially when cheering on Lisa-Marie as she plays her tuba in the annual Tuba Christmas concerts. A graduate of Florida State University with a degree in arts management, Lisa-Marie was fortunate to study in London with the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and London Symphony Orchestra and currently serves as the Southern Florida Destination Guroo for Trekaroo.

Trekaroo is a reviews  website dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.

Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

Welcome to

Last year, my friend attended Spring Training for the first time. We headed out to Phoenix, AZ to watch the Angels play, and introduce our children to the fun of an afternoon at the ballgame.  Spring Training venues are much smaller than major league stadiums, and the casual atmosphere makes for an extremely family friendly experience.  Whether your family are baseball diehards or just casual fans, adding a few days of baseball to your Spring Break travel plans might lead to the start of a new travel tradition.

This year, fans of teams who play in the Grapefruit League have the opportunity to enjoy the ultimate Spring Training experience.  The Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach has partnered with Roger-Dean Stadium, the Spring Training home of the Florida Marlins and St Louis Cardinals, to put together an incredible package for families who love baseball.  The package is definitely a splurge (rates start at $799 per night based on double occupancy), but for super fans, it is an experience worth its weight in gold.

In addition to an amazing stay at the Ritz, the experience includes:

• Four box seats to a Marlins or Cardinals game
• Batting practice from the stands and on the field with home and visiting teams
• “Behind the Scenes” Clubhouse tour and a tour of Roger Dean Stadium Sports Complex
• Pre-game festivities and singing of the National Anthem on the field
• Ceremonial first pitch for one guest of the group
• Honorary Bat Kid with autograph and photo opportunities (inside the dugout) for children under 14 years
• Run the bases and play catch in the outfield following the game
• Media Stat Pack for all Ritz-Carlton guests

I imagine this package to be the ultimate gift for the obsessed little leaguer in your life or a husband whose life revolves around his team’s playing schedule.  For more information, visit the Ritz’s website.

Do you have an outing that you would like to spotlight this week?

Perhaps its a post about a vacation you just took or a day trip that you think our readers should know about.  Or maybe its a post about the vacation you are currently planning and going to book through Trekaroo!  Link up something fresh from your blog using the Mr Linky below. 

PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.

Step 1: Pick a recent post (past couple of days)

Step 2: Under “Name” write: “Title of your blog post (blog name)” – blog name in parenthesis
Under “url” paste: the link to your blog post (not your home page)

Step 3: Grab the Spotlight Thursday image and link to this post so your readers can see who else is playing along this week.

We want to be sure that everyone who participates in Spotlight Thursdays gets their moment in the spotlight so blogs that don’t link back will unfortunately have to be removed.

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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.

Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

Just yesterday, at the playground our 3 year old who normally would be clambering across the tree house playground was lethargically sitting on my lap in the shade. With beads of sweat trickling down his little face he sighed, “I’m roasted like a marshmallow!” One of the best things about summer is finding fun places to cool off our kids close to home or a road trip away.

Photo by: www.flickr.com/photos/23826464@N04/3479116232

Beach Bumpkins

Kids and beaches are a winning combination. Tidepooling is a fun and educational way to cool off and explore the beach.
Kid-Friendly Tidepools Along the California Coast

Trekaroo families know which beaches are best for kids. Read their reviews:
Kid-friendly Beaches in Miami & Palm Beach, Florida
Kid-friendly Beaches in Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Kid-friendly Beaches in South Carolina
Kid-friendly Beaches in Oahu, Hawaii
Photo by: Brennan Pang

Fun Escapes into Cool Museums

Not in the mood for getting wet?  Escape to an air-conditioned museum instead!  Get cool and develop new interests.  Lydie Thomas tells us How to Make a Trip to a Museum With a Kid a Pleasant Experience.

Ready?  Start exploring kid-friendly museum exhibits for summer 2009 Across the US | San Francisco Bay Area
Museum Free Days in the San Francisco Bay Area – GrandmaDot
Photo by: www.flickr.com/photos/emeryjl/1317616335

Wonderful Water Parks

River Head, NY: Splish Splash Water Park
Martap112 loves it because it has “a lot of rides to choose from”.
Denver, CO: Water World
One of the largest water parks in the nation with more for young kids than most.
Lydie Thomas reminds us to play hard, but stay safe:
Kid Safety TIps at a Water Park or Public Pool

Water Parks in Florida
Water Parks near San Francisco
Water Park in Washington
Photo by: http://www.flickr.com/photos/papalamour/206475271

Livin’ it up at a Lake

Yosemite, CA: Lake Tanaya
Escape the crowds at this lake with it’s “stunning views, large beach and shallow waters” according to TravelPangs.

Oakland, CA: Lake Temescal
A neighborhood swimming lake that’s a “great place for kids” according to mitchguez.
Jim Thorpe, PA: Mauch Chunk Lake Park
Christine O’Toole recommends it because it “offers more than a vacation’s worth of activities”.
Photo by: Brennan Pang

Splash Pads, Fountains and Pools

Chicago: Splash at Millennium Park
asmpman says, “This whole park is fabulous!”.
San Francisco Bay Area Public Pools
The City | Peninsula | East Bay
San Francisco Bay Area Splash Parks
Peninsula | East Bay
Photo by:www.flickr.com/photos/brian-m/233359192

Unexpected Places to Cool Off

Jacksonville (Florida) Zoo & Gardens:
Splash Ground is a “perfect midday break” from walking around the zoo -  BarnesFam
California: Universal Studios
Yes, there’s a splash park!  Gretchen “took along swimsuits and watershoes and hung out in the splash park” with her kids all summer.

More Lists for Cooling Off By Trekaroo Familes:

• Places to Cool Off in Texas by romar

• Places to Cool Off in the Chi-town Area by asmpman

• Fun Summer Activities in the Tri-State Area by michipo

(This is an excerpt from our July 2009 Trekaroo Newsletter – Don’t miss any issues: SUBSCRIBE to the Trekarooo Newsletter)

Trekaroo is a reviews website dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.