family travel – Girlymama

Well, I can’t include everything, since we took approximately a gazillion pictures during our day in Colonial Williamsburg, but here are a few highlights. It was amazing! I’ve wanted to go there pretty much forever. Colonial Williamsburg is a living museum – there is truly nothing else like it.

It is gorgeously restored, utterly unique and captivating. I was a bit worried about the kids losing interest, but we all loved it! Seriously – with all the technology we’re used to, who could have imagined how fun a stick and hoop could be? We were there all day and the kids were sad to leave – and were asking if we could come back tomorrow. Even Colin, who is only three, had a great time…
Whenever he saw a soldier, he got really excited and got out his gun. He is also quite fond of pointing it at his sisters. Imagine that.

The kids got really into talking to people, asking questions about what they were doing and such. When they ran through the town shouting, “The British are coming! The British are coming!” Gracie asked nervously, “They’re not really going to fight… right?” (Good question! Everything else was real!) The Revolutionary City Street Theater was so really cool – the kids were really into that! Colin loved seeing the soldiers ride their horses.

The kids had a blast playing RevQuest, where you play the part of a Patriot spy trying to thwart an assassination attempt by the British. The kids were running around, deciphering secret codes, and hunting for clues in secret locations around Williamsburg. It was a little advanced for our kids to do on their own (ages 8 and 6) but they still had a great time and were really into the whole process!

working together to figure out the clues...

A few tips with young kids:

Plan on more than one day. We really found that one day was just not enough to see and do everything. With young kids, two days is probably the limit. Without the kids, I could probably wander around much longer!
Bring some snacks. Colonial Williamsburg is truly restored properly – so there are not tons of drinking fountains and food stalls like an amusement park. Have bottles of water and a few snacks for the kids, especially if your kids are like mine and go from zero to starving in three seconds.
Pack sunscreen, plenty of diapers and wipes, band-aids, and whatever else you think you might need. Again, not lots of supply shops in Colonial Williamsburg.
Take advantage of all the programs for kids! Use the Kids Adventure Maps where kids can get a special prize for getting their map punched at different stops and the RevQuest activity.
And don’t worry… if your kids aren’t behaving, you can just put them in a Colonial Time Out:

For more information on travel to Williamsburg, visit www.visitwilliamsburg.com.

disclosure: we received complimentary admission to colonial williamsburg to facilitate this post. as always, all opinions are my own.

This weekend, I stayed at Congress Hall in Cape May, New Jersey.

It was love at first sight when I walked into the gorgeous lobby. So elegant. Yet, the hotel is far from stuffy. The staff is delightful and welcoming.

lobby - photo by jo-lynne

I was instantly charmed when they handed me my room key. A real key! The keychains were inspired by the luggage tags of the early 1900s, when Cape May became a popular summer haven for folks from Philadelphia and New York and D.C.

The charm and attention to detail didn’t stop there. Located right across the street from the beach, the Congress Hall Hotel manages to be both a fun family vacation spot and a romantic getaway at the same time. The hotel has a history more than two centuries old – history buffs will be thrilled to walk the halls that are hung with historical tidbits. Congress Hall was built 1878 and lovingly renovated by owner Curtis Bashaw in 2002. But while it now has all the modern amenities, but still holds that historic touches that makes Cape May unique among towns at the shore.

My room was an ocean view king room. It was very spacious and decorated with fabulous simplicity.
And the details – the moldings, the old windows, the adorable bathroom, a sitting area with two chairs (why do hotels always have only one?), the walk-in closet – all of it was wonderful.Very comfortable beds with high-quality linens, a great shower, plus lots of luxurious extras like two fluffy robes hanging in the closet and Aveda toiletries.

i must find their bathroom fixtures for when we re-do our bath! LOVE!

What impressed me the most about Congress Hall – besides the fabulous design – was the variety of activities they offered. There are tons of activities for the kids, but this remains a place where can enjoy themselves too. Kids are more than welcome and will have an absolute blast, but they haven’t taken over the resort. Its still a place I would want to take my husband for a romantic getaway. Perfect example? The Boiler Room. By night, its a nightclub with live music for adults. But if you come down in the early evening, you’ll find kid’s Karaoke! How fun!

The beach is just across the street (complete with full service cabanas, if you’re so inclined) or there is a lovely pool where you can relax with the kids while you sip a cocktail delivered to your beach chair. The hotel provides everything – all you need is your bathing suit!

photo by jo-lynne

I love that my whole extended family could come here – Cape Resort Group has such a variety of properties all within walking distance, we could all stay where we like, but join up during the day or for meals. Plus, with Camp Congress Hall, my husband and I could still sneak in a date night on our family vacation! LOVE!

And the spa! THE SPA! Lovely – just lovely. Peaceful, luxurious, gorgeous. My massage was divine. One of the trip highlights, to be sure.

Of all the hotels I’ve stayed in, Congress Hall is one of my favorites. The character, charm and history really set this one apart in my mind. I stayed at Congress Hall, but got to peek at the Virginia Hotel and the Beach Shack and they both looked fabulous. I highly recommend these hotels and I can’t wait to come back with my family!!

Be sure to follow Congress Hall on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with all their activities. If you’re heading to Cape May, you can receive a $100 resort credit to be used during your stay when you stay at Congress Hall, Virginia Hotel or the Beach Shack. Make your reservation online and use the code MOMBLOG and book by July 31, 2011 for a stay in 2011. Not valid with any other offers.

Disclosure: This trip was sponsored by Cape Resort group and The Motherhood. I was provided with meals, accommodations and a spa treatment in order to appreciate the Congress Hall experience. All opinions are my own.