I am a big fan of wax museums. I always have fun and learn a few different things while visiting.
We had the chance to visit the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Sydney Australia on a trip this past winter. I went with the whole family as I feel this is a good family activity to do.
We did the entire exhibit in about 1 hour. I thought it was kind of short compared to other wax museums I have been to before (even the defunct one in Victoria, BC).
Hanging out with the Royal Family!
One of the things I like about a wax museum vs a regular museum is that they have these fun props where you can dress up next to the statues and have some fun!
My daughters and I with Pink.On Oprah’s show.Trying to guard Yao Ming.
They had many Aussie actors and celebs (Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, the various cricket stars I had no idea who they were), so it was a lot of fun to see some different statues. They do an amazing job making them look authentic.
Wife sings with Gaga
I recommend paying for the pass to see multiple attractions (Skywalk, aquarium, etc) for one low price as this one attraction’s price may be too high for some larger families.
Daughter posing with her Grammy.
It was a fun afternoon and how many people can say they sang next to Lady Gaga!
I have had the pleasure of staying at the Westin Wall Centre, Vancouver Airport (YVR) many times. It is one of my favourite hotels in Vancouver.
It is located close to YVR with a free shuttle, you have a great lounge to watch planes land, close to River Rock Casino and the Canada Line to get downtown, a nice pool and workout area.
Most important, a comfortable bed and large enough rooms to relax in.
Inviting room at Westin Wall Center Vancouver Airport
The room was quite spacious and had floor to ceiling windows.
Working area at Westin Wall Center Vancouver AirportGreen Living at Westin Wall Center Vancouver Airport
Nice sized bathroom with tub/shower at Westin Wall Center Vancouver AirportCoffee/Tea/Welcome Water.
Enjoying the wonderful lounge and seeing the planes land at YVR.
My favourite part was the pool with no one there!
I recommend staying here if you are trying to preserve your Starwood balance. I use only 7,000 points per night (you can get 20,000 points with one credit card signup).
They are also very kid-friendly, both of my daughters received a little package as a thank-you and were entertained!
It is easy enough to get to downtown with the Canada Line and there is free street parking if you don’t want to pay the hotel’s parking fees (this is what we do when we come to the mainland).
Remember that hotels in downtown Vancouver can be quite noisy and you will want to have a car to see many sights outside the City Center so that is why I always recommend this hotel.
It is a steal at only 7,000 SPG points and I have stayed there five times and have always enjoyed it!
I loved our stay in Sydney and our trip to the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium was very interesting.
It is conveniently located in Darling Harbour just north of the Pyrmont Bridge. My wife and my 2 kids went in. A child is considered 4 – 15 years. 3s and under enter SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium free of charge (great policy).
It was very well designed for kids as many tanks were eye level and easy for them to experience (my daughter will never forget the shark tank!
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit here. The walkways through the shark enclosure is just amazing and if I lived there I would get an annual pass.
I think my favourite exhibit was the shark tank (I have been to many aquariums around the world) and it made up for the previous disappointing tanks. The following exhibits for the Great Barrier reef really showcased the area well and the guides were very knowledgeable.
Tickets can cost as low as $25 (online) and remember that kids under 3 are free!
Cool starfish – Sydney AquariumDaughter smiling in the Shark TankSydney Aquarium – Perfect Eye level for kids.Sydney Aquarium – So much to see and do!Sydney Aquarium – Girls loved the shark tankSydney Aquarium – I spy a manta ray!Assorted sealifeNice colouring area where kids can draw a fish.
Early in 2015, I took several months parental leave and enjoyed a trip with my family to Australia/New Zealand.
We stayed for 10 nights at the Four Points by Sheraton (almost felt like we moved in) and had an amazing time.
The location is perfect (close to Darling Harbour, Pyrmont Bridge, and about 40 minute walk to the Opera House, close to City Center where you can take a bus almost anywhere).
We had an amazing 12th floor view of the Pyrmont bridge where we saw a fireworks show (Friday nights) and had an amazing view everyday!
Here are some highlights:
A nice little area outside the bathroom to put our junk!Comfortable 2 double beds.
View of the RoomPyrmont Bridge from our WindowNice area to relax in.Small sink and bathroom.Standup shower only – no bathtub.
This hotel stay was amazing and having 2 little ones we were pleased with the service and the black-out blinds.
We didn’t eat at the hotel but we had a small mini-bar fridge and coffee (Australian instant coffee).
I used my Starwood SPG points and used the Nights and Flights and saved 20,000 points by staying 2 different times (I transferred the miles to my Alaska account after).
If you are looking to save your miles for a special trip I recommend using the Starwood points here. Hotels like this usually go for at least $300 – $400 a night (we went in March and the weather was still +30 C).
After living in Victoria, BC for the last 5 years I finally had the opportunity to do one of the top best things to do in Victoria British Columbia – have afternoon tea at the grand Empress Hotel!
Every person we’ve had come visit from out of town raves about experiencing high tea at the Empress. They either know someone that has been or takes it upon themselves to visit the Empress Hotel. Although I’ve lived here for awhile it’s not something we residence tend to do regularly.
In fact if we do get the chance it almost always is because we either take someone (from out of town) or we are celebrating a special occasion. In my case it was the week Victoria BC promotes the locals attractions. “Be a tourist in your hometown.”
Residents of Victoria get offered a passport booklet filled with discounts and freebies. This weekend we were offered 50% off afternoon tea at the Empress Hotel. It was still expensive, if you ask me for a cuppa but it’s all about the atmosphere and experience. After all it’s a grand and impressive historical building that is located in the Inner Harbour.
Toddler enjoying the sweets!Enjoying my treat!
Making a reservation is encouraged, as no matter what day it is it’s always a busy place. The service was outstanding! We arrived, were seated and served within minutes. A great thing when toddlers accompany you. I noticed some highchairs, lots of baby strollers and toddlers sitting up high on their comfortable furniture. Even with the elegance offered every parent looked relaxed enjoying their visit with their young kids. There were lots of older people too as well as groups of University students. Making the Empress Hotel a place for everyone to come and enjoy afternoon tea along with their 3-tier tray of treats.
Over the years I’ve heard their special tea blends that were described as like no others, some of the best tea ever tasted. Regular tea drinkers have described the tea as “out of this world”. The tea comes from six estates, including Kenya, Tanzania, South India, Assam, Sri Lanka, and China.
Since we were considering our toddler we stuck with the herbal Kea Lani Orange Pineapple blend. A bold and bright orange pineapple tea made from all natural herbs and dry fruit. This is not my toddlers first time drinking herbal tea, she is a regular afternoon herbal tea drinker! She obviously agreed with the taste because she had no problem downing a cuppa.
2 year old drinking her own tea!
Along with the tea experience comes the treats. Starting with fresh strawberries and Empress cream. This followed a 3-tier tray that included sandwiches, scones and sweets. Needless to say we ended up taking the sweets home because it was so much food.
One extremely fine touch that impressed me was the 10-bag box of Empress tea to take home that came with the bill. Now that is what you call serve with a smile!
Next time we have guests there is no doubt I too will rave about afternoon tea at the Empress Hotel. Having experienced it now first hand – I will be recommending it with the hope that I might be asked to join, of course!
Being the father of 2, I enjoy activities that keep them learning and occupied.
If you are in the Miami area, I have just the attraction for you (after some time at their beaches).
We had the pleasure of going to the Miami Children’s Museum (a non-profit educational institution located in the city of Miami, Florida).
Miami Childens MuseumArt creation areaActivity zone for babiesMy daughter and I looking how to break the vault!
Our daughter had a blast playing in the under 12 months zone and exploring the area and exhibits.
This is a great activity area for kids and just so much to do!
You can easily spend 3 hours.
Includes: Publix (grocery store), Bank of America (shows banking system), art area (teaches free classes at certain times), a music section (karoake and instrument education), a rock climbing wall, a playground, a fire department area, police department section, hospital area, a construction area, carnival cruise ship zone, and special Wizard of Oz exhibit to show science from the movie.
This is a recommended activity rain or shine for families in South Florida.
Perhaps one of my favourable lounge experiences yet is the Maple Leaf Lounge in Toronto. Keep in mind business travel was not on the agenda when I spent my time waiting for my connecting flight from Victoria, BC – Thunder Bay, ON.
As a solo traveller with an infant there are different criteria that parents need. Since having my baby I’m not checking out the bar as often although trip it was hard not to miss with the selection of alcohol available. After a long flight any parent travelling solo would appreciate the Bailey’s on the rocks! Okay, it is still at the top of the list just not number 1.
The reason this lounge ranks so high in my opinion was mainly because of the quite private space and the facilities. This makes napping especially achieved, a parents worst nightmare when travelling with young infants and toddlers. My child was able to nap and I was able to refresh, shower and enjoy my Baileys on the rocks.
The other reasons was the selection of alcohol and food.
I did walk around the lounge to check out why it’s an award winning lounge. The private business facilities once again was outstanding with offering an unrivalled level of service in welcoming and comfortable environment. Definitely not like some of the other lounges I’ve encountered with Alaska Airlines. This Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge in Toronto offered a variety of amenities required for the business traveller even conference rooms.
I sat back to enjoyed my visit while my daughter napped all afternoon and I watching television, admiring the airport views and surfed the net.
These were the words my wife and I said to ourselves after taking a Montego Bay tour. My wife and I enjoy to travel and see new things but if you looked are our house you would rarely see any trinkets that we bought from our travels (we feel we would rather spend our money on experiences than stuff).
Many of the residents of Jamaica make their money from selling merchandise (usually handmade) and offering services to tourists, such as massage or hair braiding.
While it may seem like a great way to take a little piece of your trip back with you, unfortunately many of these street vendors can get aggressive in their sales pitches.
I have never felt more harassed to buy something from a vendor. The vendors in Montego bay (even the retailers) are so pushy! They make a used car salesman look like Gil from the Simpsons.
I recommend never leaving the cruise ship terminal in Falmouth – the vendors sell the same things as the vendors in town do and are less pushy!
We started at the Shoppes at Rose Hall where you will have an opportunity to purchase that special souvenir to remind you of your visit to Jamaica. The tour continues to Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville by the sea, in the heart of Montego Bay’s Hip Strip where we didn’t find it too hip!
We stopped near this beach that looked great but it was too hot for us so we decided to check out the “fabulous Montego Bay” and were disappointed to see how dirty it was. It has tourism cops that are supposed to be helpful but a simple request to a coffee shop to cool off turns into a fight with people just to drink a coffee – I didn’t want any Bob Marley shirts or any tobacco or stuff to buy!
We decided to stay on the shuttle bus to return to the ship for a better time than being pulled into a shop to buy junk. Another couple from Montreal were soaked for $40 buying junk according to them and also stayed on the bus.
So in summary, High murder rate, tourist traps, everyone with their hand out – reasons why we will never return there. So many other beautiful places in the world to visit.
There are numerous ways to get from Vancouver island to Seattle however my desirable crossings is using the Victoria Clipper. When you compare time and cost of the journey the clipper offers good value for both. The Clipper is one of the fastest catamarans. It takes approximately 2.5 hours to complete the journey.
View of the Victoria Clipper
The journey not only offers a a quick and convenient way to travel it also gives passengers a panoramic view of the island, mountains and sea with the opportunity to spot seals, whales, and sea lions.
Another view of the Clipper
The check in is quick and easy with priority boarding for young families and anyone requiring assistance. The clipper has an easy access for wheelchairs and is stroller friendly. Bags are checked in prior to boarding. There is also secure containers foe bikes too.
On board the Victoria clipper there is gift and duty free shopping.
Organized and well-laid out.
The staff is extremely friendly and drop by your both to offer assistance with food and beverage service. I enjoyed the complementary tea and coffee.
Victoria Clipper Gift Shop
What more can you ask for in a early crossing!
There is child friendly change tables. It is warm with a comfortable temperature onboard. The crossing is smooth for the most part however choppy for approximately 1hr. The staff offer passengers motion sickness pills for a more pleasurable ride. Smoking is available outside in designate area.
Enjoying the crossing.
I had to leave my stroller which was inconvenient since all my bags and car seat was attached to the stroller.
We arrived as scheduled but what I didn’t enjoy was the long wait outside to pick up the luggage. It was very cold and seem like a long wait to grab our bags. Luckily for us it was a wed night and there were very few people on the boat. We made it through customs within 30 minutes and right downtown our hotel was only a block away.
This is a beautiful ship – very tasteful and classy but it is not extravagant. There is plenty of room for everyone on board and no major bottlenecks for passengers. You will find official documentation and instructions in Italian, German, French, Dutch, and English.
MSC CRUISES – Great ship.
We had some hits with the food on board (veal shanks and roasted salmon and cheesecakes) and misses like gnocchi where you needed to chew (instead of melting in your mouth – no potatoes?).
We really enjoy the breakfasts (enough of our breakfast cereal favourites and great coffee) on the cruise and versatility of the menus for a 10-day cruise.
Enjoying the pool
The entertainment was incredible – I could sit at the piano bar every night and I was a happy guy! The musicians and singers are talented performers.
Incredible entertainment each night.
The main problem with this cruise line is the service and communication. First, English is a second or third language for many employees and this doesn’t work when the majority of passengers are from North America.
I asked numerous employees for directions on board and I received answers like “Yes, Sir”. Well, I didn’t ask for a yes or no answer, if you do not know then ask a supervisor.
Relaxing with the baby carrier.
Another thing employees must realize is that even though someone may not look Italian, they can understand what you are saying (employees were speaking about us one evening when going to the formal restaurant).
Also, the main managers of the area, cafeteria, entertainment, security, excursions, always had a frown on their face. I mean to see them smile I would expect them to make an announcement on the intercom!
Cleanliness is important in the dining areas and I expected an employee to force all passengers used hand sanitizers when using the buffet. I didn’t experience too much confidence in the cleanliness and I spoke to other passengers that felt the same way.
My daughter and I sleeping in the room.
One excursion that we booked was the Montego Bay Shuttle Bus (for $20 per person). This was from the Falmouth, Jamaica stop. I recommend staying at the port and avoid this tour because this just takes you to the same type of shops in Montego Bay. This city I will never go back to (vendors are pulling you into their shops and areas to buy their t-shirts and souvenirs). The port area is easy to access and less pressure to buy anything.
Finally, another major problem is that even though it seems to be family friendly the cruise line is not when it comes to toddlers and infants. Children under 3 cannot take part in any of the official Kids Club or Mini Club activities. All I was looking for was an area where we can bring her to crawl around and play with some toys – not a miracle to ask for.
I like some aspects of this cruise line but I wanted to point out some of the problems of the ship before making your decision to book your next cruise.
Housekeeping was not as one would expect on this cruise line. I actually made a complaint because my rooms was not cleaned at 4:00pm not to mention the smelly diapers starting to stink up the whole cabin. Needless to say I think my I made a statement when I placed the garbage filled with spoiled diapers in the hallway because that never happened again.
Children’s pool was not open throughout the whole 11 night cruise but we overlooked this when taking her to a wading pool in the main lounge.
