Travels with Rhe ~ Westgate Town Center Resort, Kissimmee, FL

I was thrilled to be able to visit Westgate Resorts during their Military Families weekend. Not only does Westgate offer free vacations to families every year, but they also offer military discounts to their resorts. Not enough? Well, Westgate also strives to hire veterans and spouses and support them in their transition out of the military. Both their CEO and COO are former military, and if you spend just a moment on their property you can feel just how important it is to honor military families with TIME. Time to be together in a relaxing environment, and time to take a step back from the business of life and just be a family.

Whether you are military or not the Town Center Resort is everything you could hope for in a home away from home. You don’t even have to leave the property to have a great time; but if getting out for an adventure is on your list you are only a short drive from experiences like Walt Disney World, Sea World, Universal Studios, Legoland, and more!!

Military Weekend is full of fun things to do for families, including a military vehicle demonstration with a WWII reenactment group, a family night with games, food and music, a movie night, and so much more.

The Resort

I was absolutely impressed by the resort itself. The rooms were gorgeous, clean, and spacious. If you stay in one of the suite rooms you will have a full kitchen, access to laundry right outside your door, and a balcony with seating. There are several food and dining options whether you are vacationing with or without kids. The waterpark was great, with plenty of seating, areas for food and drink, and fun for all levels of comfort with water structures. There’s an ice cream shop, arcade, and small store on-site with a deli and pizza joint. You can catch a movie, play mini golf, rent bikes or even pick up a meal kit to cook in your room. Everything is walkable within the resort (or by Westgate Tram!), and you honestly could enjoy time away from regular life and never leave or use your vehicle. I gave a full room tour on my Instagram so I hope you check that out, as well as some more highlights of my stay. Westgate staff can help you get tickets to local attractions and even access swim lessons for the kiddos right on site!

 

My favorite place to eat during the whole trip was Villa Italiano Chop House. And you know I ordered an old fashioned! They did an excellent job, and the large round ice cube (or globe) was a perfect touch! I want to mention that they were so busy that night, but the bar tender checked in with me extra despite being a little shorthanded that evening. I think its important to acknowledge that sometimes life happens, but its what you do in situtations like that that matter and the staff was absolutely amazing….serving my food quickly and refilling my water and drinks. Try the tomato soup, its killer!

Why Westgate

I don’t know about you, but when I choose to spend my money or share how to spend yours I want to try my best to focus on businesses that not only give back but show their true priorities. I am more likely to spend my money and encourage you to spend yours in places that not only aim to please their guests, but also are committed to supporting their communities (military or not). It’s what makes the world go around! And in this crazy world, kindness matters.

I’m proud to support Westgate Resorts. I would encourage military families to stay there so that they can continue to pay it forward to others. And watch next year when Military Salutes returns and Westgate gives away free vacations to military families.   

 

 

have you ever stayed at a Westgate property? I’d love to hear about it!

 

 

 

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Visit San Diego Like A Tourist: Part 1

Whenever I travel I have some goals and usually a plan or a list. Its my thing and most people think I’m crazy, but I like to go and see and do all of the things. Over the past year I’ve learned a lot about myself as I’ve gotten to do some traveling solo. You can read my article on Red Tricycle about why I feel EVERY mom should get the opportunity to solo travel. So, when I got the chance to visit San Diego solo I hit some of the best tourist spots, and a couple cool local spots and I wanted to share them with you.I’ll be sharing them in my Visit San Diego Like A Tourist series with some fun ideas for your days in San Diego!

Stop in the cute little North Park area of SD and visit the “Greetings from San Diego” mural, which strangely enough is in a gas station parking lot facing an alley. North Park is full of murals so have fun! After visiting the “Greetings” mural I learned a few really neat things about it. The mural is part of the Greetings Tour, started by artist Victor Ving and Photographer Lisa Beggs. They have been traveling since 2015 across the country painting vintage postcard-style murals, helping to revitalize communities and bring bright colors and happiness to cities across the country! They have completed 41 murals in 20 different states. The one in San Diego was the very first. There’s a few on this side of the country that I hope to track down soon.

There are some really cute neighborhoods all around San Diego. We chose to visit North Park, which you know is San Diego’s pre-imminent hipster town because there’s a restaurant called Son of a Toast, specializing in all things avocado toast. I mean, need I say more. Check out Dark Horse Coffee Roasters, home of quality beans that are roasted on site, Nitro on tap and homemade syrups, like vanilla bean. Perhaps my favorite thing in North Park was this book store. Stop for breakfast on the edge of North Park, at The Misson (you can see the North Park sign from the front porch seating). Their breakfast burrito and mexican mocha is yum! North Park embraces this very vintage California vibe, and everything about this books store says that. Finding a good used book store and local coffee is always on the top of my list when traveling anywhere, and North Park nailed it. I wish I had had more time to really walk the streets and eat all the food.

 

Head over to Coronado to get the classic San Diego Beach experience. The Hotel Del has been in music videos and was the place were EVERYONE who was anyone in vintage Hollywood went. Presidents Harrison, McKinley, Taft and Wilson were hosted by the hotel, and by the 1930s the Prohibition era really was its first hayday with Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino, Mae West, Bette Davis and more making it their beach playground. Even up to present day it has been a spot for celebrities and politicians to visit including every President since John F. Kennedy. You can also find it in the movie Some Like It Hot.

Then end your night at when Goose and Maverick sang their heart outs and lost that lovin’ feeling, at Kansas City BBQ of course! Some of the best pulled pork and bbq sauce I’ve had! You’ll have fun taking in the movie memorabilia, and military challenge coins, patches and photos.

 

Then close out your day with a treat at the famous Yogurt Mill. Bring your cash (because that’s all they take) and your yogurt know how, because you want to order your yogurt “Child Size Dropped”. Don’t ask questions just do it!  Tip your scooper well – each window has a designated scooper with their own tip jar. It’s yum yum guys!

San Diego has so much to see, touristy and local favs! Everyone has places they love and want to recommend. I’m excited to share a few places with you in this little series.

 

 

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Ten Places to Eat and Drink in Sacramento, CA

Its my hometown, its where I lived the first twenty-one years of my life. Its not exactly a tourist destination, especially when you have Lake Tahoe and San Francisco so close. Growing up, and especially in High school and college I wouldn’t say there was a lot of places to hang out. Going downtown wasn’t the easiest thing to do and the nightlife in the burbs wasn’t great. There’s a lot of cool stuff downtown and it wasn’t as bad to go downtown as I remember.  So, on the off change you get to make the trek through the State Capital I put together a list of some of my favorite places to eat, drink and be merry in Sacramento {a little bit of the burbs and a little bit of the city!}. You just might learn to love this little slice of the Sunshine State, where the weather is mild almost 365 days a year, there’s not a ton of fog, you never really feel the earthquakes and you are two hours to the mountains or the beach!

Hook and Ladder ~ 1630 S St, Sacramento, CA 95811

The name Hook and Ladder pays homage to Sacramento’s history and the Hook and Ladder brigade that worked hard to same Sacramento during the 1850s, and a series of fires that almost destroyed the city. Combine that with Sac Town’s rough start when it came to flooding, she’s a tough city. H&L embraces the city with his historic building, and its menu full of local breweries, winery’s, ranches and farms. The outdoor patio is so nice to sit on, or you can opt for the twinkle lights and soft pinks inside. Ether one is a fantastic vibe. If you go you have to get the Chicken AND the drink for two, The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Pineapple. Yummy! But H&L is more than a place to eat! They have a cocktail academy which a friend of mine says is pretty cool. So check that out on their website as well. Visiting Hook & Ladder is a wonderful window into the direction that Sacramento has taken with their dining options, focusing on a very local and farm to table vibe. You’ll find that, and more, here!

 

The Shady Lady Saloon ~1409 R St, Sacramento, CA 95811

Be advised that the tables are for those eating only, and it can get quite busy! But its a place to you should hit when visiting Sacramento. There’s a reason Esquire Magazine named it one of the top 25 bars in America. Its got a really cool vibe, full speakeasy feeling, but no need for special knocks or secret passwords. The ceiling was my favorite part of the decor, but I’m a sucker for a good tin ceiling. Also, the cocktail list is pretty cool. A plethora of uniquely titled drinks like the Galaxy’s Edge and The Flying Dutchman, with fresh ingredients that one has to try “for science”. Your dapperly dressed, or Victorian-inspired, bartenders can also whip up anything you want if you describe what you like (like my adorable mom who almost never drinks). It is in a great part of town, with cool murals and other bars to choose from, a perfect addition to a your night out list. You can also get brunch here, although with lunch and dinner, plus they have evenings with live music! It’s a unique little place.

 

Rick’s Dessert Diner ~ 2401 J St, Sacramento, CA 95816

Another on the list of “Must See Sacramento” is Rick’s Dessert Diner. Serving the best desserts in Sacramento since 1986, Rick’s Is THE place to go! All of the dessert are made fresh daily, and my mom and I fought over the last piece of lemon meringue. There WILL be a line and what you think you might want might be gone when you get up to the front, but you’ll have plenty of time to check out the case as you wait. My advice to you is ride the wave and please be kind to those behind the counter. I couldn’t believe how much grief and sassiness they were given. I thanked them and they were really appreciative. What do people expect with a place to busy? But think Seinfeld Soup Nazi. Don’t hold the line up with your indecisiveness…however at Rick’s they’ll serve it to you even if you can’t decide. Rick’s has indoor and outdoor seating and a great cup of diner coffee! I had one of the best Key Lime Pie slices I’ve ever had. You will definitely enjoy your visit.

If you love Rick’s that much and you happen to live locally, Rick’s also does specialty cakes and Wedding cakes!!

The Original Mel’s Diner {Home of American Graffiti}

From its origins in San Francisco in 1947, Mel’s is an American Classic. Mel’s is also a bit famous for having appeared in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? and the tv show Alice, but most familiar is its feature in American Graffiti! You can now visit Mel’s in 22 locations in Northern California and Nevada.

While Mel’s isn’t something super fancy, it has its nostalgic and old Hollywood feel, a really good Cherry coke with the syrup in it and not flavoring, and a yummy loaded french fry. Their breakfast all day is top notch and Mel’s has been feeding me and my friends since high school. Many an after prom/dance was had at Mel’s and there are so many good memories. Bring the quarters for the juke box and enjoy the memorabilia and fun neon.

Carmelita’s ~ 4071 Howard St, Fair Oaks, CA 95628

Nestled on the outskirts of Old Town Fair Oaks is Carmelita’s, a Sacramento area staple since 1962. The second location, the one in Old Fair Oaks, was opened in the late 1980s and they are still serving Mexican food right from Grandma Carmelita’s recipes. It’s yummy, authentic and with something for everyone. They have a great enchilada, and tostada, which is my favorite. And the bar makes a super yummy margarita. It’s always busy, and you may have to wait, but trust me its worth it! After you eat, or before, spend some time walking the streets of sweet old town Fair Oaks, my true hometown, that has a sweet place in my heart. Keep your eyes out for the chickens and roosters because there will be plenty. They’ve been living there for my whole life AND my dad’s! Yes, second generation Old Fair Oaks!!! Its in my blood.

In and Out

If you’ve never been to the West Coast – or Texas – then you’ve never had In N Out, but you’ve probably heard of it. You probably have heard the debates – Five Guys, In N Out, WhatAburger. Depending on where you’re from the debate can get pretty heated. I’ve had them all, and currently am living without my beloved In-N-Out, but whenever I go home, or travel anywhere near one you can be sure I’m paying SEVERAL visits. I like my fries extra crispy and my burger plain. You really can’t beat the price, the simplicity of the menu and the fact that you can taste the freshness in their never frozen products. Its good stuff, I love it, and you really can’t convince me otherwise. In 15 days I had it seven times! It’s been two years since I’ve had it and it will likely be a little while since I’ll have it again, but to you In N Out I’ll always be true, no matter what side of the US I’m living on.

Bar 101 – 101 Main St, Roseville, CA 95678

Local bar in the older part of Roseville. It has live music and tons of seating inside and out. We opted for the pool table, which there is only one. Great servers and the live cover band was stellar! Its a chill, everybody knows your name type of feel. And if Bar 101 isn’t your cup of tea don’t worry, you’ve actually arrived in some sort of positive Bermuda triangle, because every awesome bar in Roseville just happense to be on this one corner so have a good night bar hopping!

 

Punch Bowl Social

For a more one stop shop, younger group, check out Punch Bowl Social. We visited the one located in Downtown Sacramento near the newly renovated Capitol One Center, Punch Bowl Social is literally serving up Punch Bowl’s of drinks for you and your friends. Full bar, open seating, full menu. You can also venture off into some more quieter areas for eating that are separate from the louder bar AND you can go bowling on several mini-lanes and rent the pool table for an hour or two. They also have board games, a huge connect four and a scrabble you play with giant magnets on the wall. Its a really fun place for spending the evening relaxing with friends without having to change locations. We had a ton of fun. If you aren’t in Sacramento check out Punch Bowl’s website because they lots of locations in 13 states including several in Texas, California, Ohio and Wisconsin! See if there’s on near you!!

Other favorite bars – Player’s Club – if you love Billards check out player’s club. No frills, good drinks and tons of pool tables. Check the locations, because there two! The smaller one up on Fair Oaks Blvd (9729 Fair Oaks Blvd)has like 10 tables, plus darts and ski ball! Its alot of fun.

Sully’s Bar & Grill – 4451 Pacific St, Rocklin, CA 95677 – Located in an out of the way area of Rocklin is Sully’s. Another no-frills bar with great service, a handful of pool tables, darts, modern day juke box music and indoor/outdoor seating.

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Visit Houston with CityPass

There is so much to do and see in Houston. I’ve been twice and made quite a dent in all the attractions, but you should see my “Houston Bucket List” because it’s still quite long. I know, it’s crazy, right? I mean, its Houston. You might not think of Houston has some major tourist attraction, especially when you think of Texas. Austin has the music and the nightlife and San Antonio has the Alamo and the River Walk. But don’t count Houston out. As the most populous city in the state of Texas and the fourth in the US, Houston boasts a robust art scene, dining and more. Not to mention that the skyline is one of the most beautiful in my opinion. While planning your trip you might be overwhelmed with what to choose from the long list of attractions and sites. What you do when you visit depends on whether or not you are visiting with kids or family, but a great way to go is to purchase a CityPass. You get access to five of Space City’s Must-See Attractions AND you save a little bit of money along the way. The only problem you’ll have is when it comes to the dreaded “Or” categories where you have to choose between two!

What is CityPass?

CityPass is a booklet of admission tickets to a city’s top locations at a discounted rate! You get all the admission tickets in one place and you don’t have to wait in admission lines, which when its super crowded can save you a lot of time. For most CityPass booklets you have 9 days to use your pass, including the first day you redeem something. CityPass is available in 12 locations including San Francisco, Seattle, Southern California and they just released CityPass in Orlando! CityPass can be purchased at many of the attractions themselves or you can purchase by visiting their website. Adult passes are $62 and child passes are $52. If you were to visit each of the attractions without CityPass you are looking at over $100 for adults! Even if you don’t make it to all the attractions in your visit you may still be saving some money. If you are military check with your local MWR ticket sales location because they may sell CityPass at an even more discounted rate!

CityPass in Houston

In Houston, you can choose between seven attractions, with a total of five attractions that you can see. Space Center Houston, Downtown Aquarium and the Houston Museum of Natural Science are your attractions available to you. Then you have to choose between the Zoo or the Museum of Fine Arts and the Kemah Boardwalk (All Day Ride Pass) or the Children’s Museum of Houston.

Space Center Houston

Visiting Space Center Houston was at the TOP of my list of things to see this time. It is a bit of a drive out of the center of the city, and while it’s well worth it if you’ve never been, it wasn’t something I could fit into my plans last time. Living in Washinton DC I am spoiled when it comes to museums. We have TWO space museums, one of which houses the Space Shuttle Discovery, which we saw land at the airport here. But being able to visit NASA is a whole other level of cool. Not only do you get the opportunity to go inside a space shuttle, as well as the plane that carried it (you don’t get that here), you get to go on Johnson Space Center property and see Mission Control. Expect to spend a good chunk of your day here, especially if you had kids. They have amazing docents that offer talks and presentations throughout the day. The movies are also really awesome and shouldn’t be missed. Parents: do beware of all the rides and simulations that are, of course, stationed right inside the entrance doors. But, as a perfect distraction, the Space Center has put together an amazing children’s area based on the Angry Birds in Space! Its a really neat, hands-on, learning experience for kids.

Active and Retired Military receive a $5 discount

Downtown Aquarium

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I visited the Aquarium. Again, having been to Monterey many times as a child and living near the ginormous National Aquarium Baltimore, I realize that I’m spoiled. This attraction is geared towards kids, and it isn’t very big. There are rides and a really cool restaurant on-site. They have a white tiger and a sting-ray feeding and petting area which is really cool. The Houston Aquarium devotes a lot of their exhibit to presenting conservation in a way kids can understand. I was very impressed with their presentation and the actions they take as an Aquarium to contribute to ocean protection and conservation. The Aquarium also provides extensive programs for schools for field trips and offers some of these programs to families that visit throughout the year. Be a marine biologist or zoologist for the day, meet some of the Aquariums animals or have an aquarium sleepover!

If you are visiting Houston without a CityPass and have a military id, the Aquarium offers a $2 discount on all-day passes and a 10% discount in the shop and restaurant.

Houston Museum of Natural Science

Come see a giant moon, dinosaurs and Houston’s own Cabinet of Curiosities at the Museum of Natural Science. One of the coolest exhibits was a room full of animals made from gemstones. I had never seen anything like this and it was incredible. The Museum also showcased the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibit with amazing photographs from all over the world. That was honestly probably my favorite part of the museum. The museum also has several special exhibits which require additional tickets (that are not included in your CityPass). One of those is Death By Natural Causes, which showcases wildlife and vegetation that pose a danger to we humans – think crazy snakes and spiders! I was kind of bummed that an exhibit like this requires an extra ticket purchase. One of the main attractions is the giant room of Dinosaurs, which the kids in your party will love! You will also find the Burker Baker Planetarium here, which has a whole host of movies and special presentations. One of the coolest things you can check out is Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. Listen to one of Pink Floyd’s most well-known albums and be immersed in a light and sound experience. Check out the Burke Baker Planetarium website for a list of their movies and presentations.

There is no offered military discount, however on Thursdays from 6-9 the museum is open to everyone for FREE! All permanent exhibits are open, and you can even purchase tickets for their special exhibits (like the Death by Natural Causes) for a discounted rate!

Houston Zoo

Aside from the Space Center and the Art Museum, which I knew would be amazing, the Zoo was probably my favorite thing I saw and the attraction I was the most impressed with. The layout of the zoo is really easy to traverse, and a majority of the paths are in the shade, which in Texas summers is a blessing. You can’t escape the humidity, but shade helps. They also have an exhibit that just opened features Texas wildlife, including a Bald Eagle. There are over 15 areas within the zoo to explore, including a great play and adventure area for kids, giraffe feeding, a water/splash pad area and a sea lion exhibit. They have three longhorns as well, which I had never seen before in real life. They are huge! There are plenty of places to grab a snack and sit in the cool air conditioning, bathrooms and places to sit. The addition of the water park and play areas really make it a great place for the whole family and place to keep little ones excited and engaged.

Houston Zoo does not offer a military discount, but during the summer months if you visit after 4pm you can get $4 off your ticket price!

Museum of Fine Arts

When the Museum of Fine Arts announced that they would be hosting a special VanGogh exhibit I pushed my trip planning into high gear. I knew that I was going to be planning another trip anyway, but this really made me all the more excited. VanGogh is one of my favorite artists. If you’ve never seen the VanGogh Doctor Who episode, watch that… it’s all you need to know. You can read more about my visit and see pictures by visiting my post dedicated to the Museum.  You Must “VanGogh” to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston

Kemah Boardwalk

Take a drive out to Kemah Boardwalk, a cute little coastal area not far from the Space Center Houston. Kemah is a collection of restaurants, retail shops, event spaces, and an amusement park. It is on the smaller size, with only a few larger rides. While it can be fun for older kids and adults, I would say that it is geared more towards younger kids. Be prepared for the wooden rollercoaster, which was my favorite ride of the day. It was pretty awesome and reminded me so much of my childhood and visiting Santa Cruz Boardwalk. I did, however, walk away with some bruises! It lives up to the wooden rollercoaster name for sure!

For military you can get $2 off and 10% off Boardwalk retail shops.

 

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Visit Philadelphia ~ Eastern State Penitentiary

Thank you Eastern State for providing with the tickets to experience the museum!

You can see more pictures from our Eastern State visit on the Cammo Style Love facebook page

On our recent trip to Philadelphia, I was able to mark off a huge East-Coast bucket list item for me. Since we’ve moved to this side of the US seven years ago I’ve wanted to make it up to Philly and Eastern State Penitentiary. I know it probably sounds ridiculous to have a Prison on your bucket list, but as a Criminal Psychology major, this is a big deal. Eastern State is studied for many reasons – simply because it is America’s first REAL prison and because it was the beginning of prison reform, or downfall, depending on who you ask or the perspective you have. If you’ve never read about or visited Eastern State I strongly recommend it. Even our kids enjoyed it, and the two older ones stated that this was their favorite thing to do the whole trip. As a mom, that’s a major win!

the history of eastern state penitentiary

Eastern State is the world’s first true penitentiary and was designed with achieving penitence. When people look at the prison through today’s eyes they often see something quite different. Cells designed to cut off prisoners from all human contact and solitary confinement tantamount to torture.  When you take the tour or do any real reading about the subject you may learn something entirely different. If you look at the time before Eastern State Penitentiary you will see disease and filth-ridden non-system where men, women, and children were thrown together in large rooms. The building of ES brought about the end to many disease outbreaks and was designed to create an environment where prisoners could spend time in solitude to really reconcile and be penitent. They were not meant to be locked away forever! The creators of this system really did want to see individuals inside the prison release. Prisoners within ES even right up until it was shut down commented on how ES was different than any other prison they had been in before, remarking that the guards here were kind and friendly towards prisoners, bringing in radio, tv, games and Christmas decorations. I encourage you to read more about the history of Eastern State.

the tour

Expect to spend 2-3 hours at Eastern State. While the initial audio tour isn’t that long (35min) there are many areas of the prison that you can explore. Each off-the-beaten-path portion of the prison (50 additional stops) has an audio companion that you can listen to you if you choose, that are 1-2 minutes each. The audio portion is probably the best audio tour that I have ever taken. It is suitable for children and adults. They give you plenty of time to truly explore without making you feel rushed and give you great detail. There are docents and workers stationed in various locations of the prison that are also able to answer questions if you need. We ended up having an additional question and the docent was able to give a little extra insight which was nice. Grab the map and tour guide to help you locate other locations, as well as Hands on History portions where an expert tour guide is on hand to give more details that you won’t hear on the audio portion. Each experience is only about 5-10 min and is available all throughout the day. There is also one hour-long guided tour and discussion which would be perfect for a group (no additional charge for this! Just show up at the correct time). There are three portions of the tour that have adult content but are not part of the numbered tour, so the kiddos can’t accidentally bump into it.

Chaplain’s Office Murals
Synagogue – built by and for Jewish prisoners
one of the prisoners was an avid bug collector and studier – these were collected by him on prison grounds

 

special events

September – November come back for America’s #1 Haunted House

First Tuesday of every month hosts The Searchlight Series, discussing crime, justice and the American prison system

Hidden Lives Illuminated – August 15-September 12th Nightly – animated films are projected in the yard made by currently incarcerated artists. Nightly speakers and community involvement.

visit the Eastern State website for more special events throughout the year.

military discount and tour prices

One of the reasons I was excited to highlight this particular Philadelphia adventure is to share the military discount with my readers. For military Eastern State offers a $2.00 off discount for up to 4 people. Military discounts cannot be purchased online, but don’t worry they don’t sell out. The last entrance time 4pm. Just show up present your id at admissions. Youth prices are extended up to age 12 which is awesome! Many places list 12 as the first year for the ‘adult’ pricing. There is a student price which gives you a $4.00 discount with id.

Prisons Today Exhibit 

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