Monday, March 31, 2008

I (heart) New York

Last Friday I was planning on a quiet night at home with my fiance. We are both very busy and are rarely free at the same time so I figured we would make some delicious comfort food and watch a movie. Well neither of us felt like cooking, even though we both LOVE to cook, so we ordered some wings from BW3's and bought Dance, Dance Revolution for our Wii! The night wasn't as relaxing as I had hoped but it was way more fun than I anticipated!

The night totally reminded me of New York! Delicious buffalo wings and dancing are a fabulous combination and New York offers endless opportunities for both!

I thought I would end up in NYC at some point in my life because I have always considered myself a "city mouse living in a country house," but now that I have moved away from home once, I thinkI have decided this is where I belong and everywhere else will make amazing vacations!

(hearts for New York)

So here is my dream New York vacation..

A 3-night stay at the 5-star Waldorf Astoria Hotel December 30 - January 2
$1850 through travelbark.com

Two tickets to Live with Regis and Kelly

Dinner for two at Serendipity - For some reason John Cusak annoys me but I tend to enjoy every movie that he is in!

24 hour party in Times Square - *crossing my fingers* that Charmin Potty Palooza is there!

I figure I will be too tired to do too much while I am there but here are a few things I have never gotten to do on any of my New York adventures that I just must!

Sunday, March 23, 2008

easter egg hunts

Holidays are a time for nostalgia!

I really like Easter and everything that comes with it; espcially spring cleaning! I feel like it is that time of year when you get to start fresh and get a start on the projects you have conjured up all winter!

Next weekend we will finally be painting our master bedroom and putting out our spring/summer bedding! When we moved into our house in September we ran out of time before winter to get the entire place how we wanted it and now I am ready to start working again! (now that all the wallpaper is down!) My fiance gave me three sets of bedding for Christmas and I am excited to try another one out! I will post pictures in a few weeks.

This post is actually about a trip most of us have taken and that is the inevitably fun hunt for easter eggs! When I was young we spent Easters in Arkansas where my mom's family lived and an Easter celebration was complimented by fried catfish! There, in the heart of the bible belt, Easter was at least a week long celebration! We dyed eggs and prepared dishes to feed 3 times the people that would actually attend. I can remember running through rice fields in my Easter Sunday best trying to find the most eggs! I miss those days.

This year Easter has slipped through my fingers. Mike and I did not do baskets for each other and we didn't even dye easter eggs with the ultimate goal being egg salad sometime next week.

Next year I am going to make the conscious effort to take a trip hunting Easter eggs!

Happy Easter!

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

a hotel for dani california

Hello all!

I am currently working on a few projects and wanted to let you all know about a ridculously-cute hotel I stumbled upon while working on packages for a client wishing to go to San Francisco!

* Hotel Diva *

I wasn't exactly sure what kind of place I would be getting with a name like "hotel diva" but I was intrigued by the pictures and then started to do some research!

This hotel is conveniently located within a short walk of Union Square and they offer COMPLIMENTARY LIMO SERVICE to the financial district which is where many of the top businesses in the U.S. have their headquarters.

Hotel Diva has a ton of fantastic packages ranging from kid-friendly to romance and raunch, everyone will be pampered there, even the pups!

The hotel has many lobbies designed by some of the worlds top designers and the decor is super sleek!

Hotel Diva is indeed where modern elegance meets high style!

**Package descriptions and many more pictures can be seen on the Hotel Diva website; I suggest you check it out!

Monday, March 17, 2008

pirates!

First of all Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I feel the need to dedicate a blog to the Pirate's Dinner Adventure because I completely failed to mention it in my last post and it was my favorite part of the entire trip!

Before going to Florida two weeks ago, I had seen every other dinner show in Orlando except Pirates and that was because I was told that it wasn't very good. Who ever told me that was totally wrong...it is, by far, the best dinner show that Orlando has to offer! So good that I will give away two free adult tickets to the next person who books an Orlando vacation package with us, so they can enjoy Pirates too! Just mention this blog post when you contact us!

The Pirate Adventure begins an hour before the show with all-you-can-eat appetizers and some free entertainment. While waiting for dinner you can peruse the gift shop or visit any of the four bars located in the lobby.

Once you enter the lagoon where the pirate ship is located you'll be amazed by the talents of the pirates and forget you're there to eat! However, you can choose your main course (kid's meals and vegetarian options available) and the dinner is delicious, followed up by dessert and complimented with all you can drink beer and wine!

Pirate's Dinner Adventure is fun for all ages and offers many opportunities for audience participation aboard the ship and in the water!

Saturday, March 15, 2008

spring break 2007

I must admit that Orlando, Florida has a special place in my Y!

I have previously called the Sunshine State "home," and that is where I met my fiance. About a year into our relationship I was ready to move back to Michigan, where I am originally from, and that is where we live now. The fiance still works out of Orlando and travels there at least once a month, this month I got to tag-along!

Upon entering our immaculate, meticulously decorated 6-bedroom/4 bath villa we moved from room to room to select the perfect place to spend the week...our busy days of sight-seeing would require an effective nights sleep.

Despite having a pool and spa and everthing else you would want for a relaxing respite we inevitably participated in some of Orlando's most popular attractions:

* Celebration Town Tavern *

This was one of our favorite restaurants when we lived in Florida. The authentic New England fare is the freshest you will find in the area. I recommend that you sit outside in the courtyard where you can overlook the lake while rocking in their unique railcar seats!

* Orlando's Prime Outlets *

The best place to spend rainy days! The Orlando Prime Outlets has so many shops so everyone in your party is sure to find one they will love! We spent the day at the GAP and the COACH store!

* Kennedy Space Center - visitors complex *

Here you can participate in a launch simulator, view an IMAX movie and meet an astronaut. If you're lucky you might even get to see a launch! This is an unique opportunity and well worth the short drive to Florida's Space Coast!

* SeaWorld *

While at SeaWorld we toured the park and enjoyed a few of the rides, then we saw some of the amazingly talented employees perform in a few of the shows that are performed periodically. Before we left we hit up the gift shops to purchase souvenirs! SeaWorld is a spectacular place for pictures! All of the animals are so cute, especially the Penguins! If you're going to go, you have to swim with the dolphins, it is an unforgetable experience!

* Buca di Beppo *

Now I know that Buca di Beppo is all over the United States but since there are none close to where I live now, I always hit up this one! I cannot say enough good things about this place! It is a family style Italian restaurant which begins with a tour of their kitchen! The food is beyond fabulous AND it is located in the Florida Mall so you can shop before and after dinner!

Needless to say we really needed a vacation after this fun-filled week!

Orlando has so much to offer! If you are planning a Florida vacation (whether in Orlando or any other part of Florida) contact me at morgan@travelbark.com I would love to help you!

Friday, March 14, 2008

the journey begins

After a year of creating vacation packages for friends and family, I have finally decided to make my services available to the public! I have also started a blog in order to share the inevitable adventures of starting my own business, detailed descriptions of the services we offer and the fabulous trips I take myself.

I present to you:

Our website will act as a link to our current packages and deals and will allow our clients to submit information in order for us to create a unique package for them!

We specialize in accommodations at the following locations, but have access to many more;

Florida

USA

Canada

Mexico

Caribbean

Currently we have specials on packages in Antigua, Florida and St. Lucia as well as some freebies for Florida vacation packages.

Click on the link to visit our site and check back often to see new packages and bargains!