Best Family Friendly Hotel- The Omni Homestead!

While we were camping in Virginia my Mom had the brilliant idea to break up the week by heading to the Omni Homestead in Hot Springs, VA. It did not disappoint!

I had been to the Homestead years earlier and remembered the gorgeous grounds and southern charm.

They have a spa that looked to DIE FOR!!!!!

But since I was with the kids we had more of a family experience. There are waterslides, a lazy river, a kids club, a kids camp, mini golf etc!!!!

They even had a duck race while we were there! So cute!!!!

 

There are so many things to do here. Golf, shooting, fly fishing, horseback riding and horse and carriage rides!

The restaurants there are top notch as well. We had a fabulous birthday dinner for my mom in the grand ballroom complete with dancing to the band. It was heaven.

The service in the hotel was impeccable and the kids had a ball! The perfect family friendly hotel! Did I mention the brand new arcade and bowling!!!!???

The Best Hotel In Santa Barbara- The Montecito Inn - Part Deux

Well it took me a while but I finally did part two, I mean deux (cause you know I'm fancy) of my Santa Barbara birthday post. Santa Barbara is my favorite vacation spot and Montecito is the jewel of Santa Barbara.

As you saw in my earlier post I am obsessed with the Montecito Inn. When my husband called to confirm our reservation he asked the one question you should always ask. "Is there anything else I should know about that would make this stay more incredible?" to which they said "well....". This is how we learned of: The Apartment.

The apartment is a two bedroom apartment with full kitchen, amazing master bedroom, jacuzzi tub, dining room, living room and DECK!

You can bet I enjoyed that jacuzzi tub! Gorgeous! Loved the whole thing and cannot say enough about it!

In addition to the "apartment" we set up a very special dinner at Trattoria Mollie. Yes, the one that OPRAH goes to. Yes that one. We did a special dinner with our dearest friends.

Mollie and her son treated us to the meal of a lifetime!!

And the best part of the night was the toasts everyone made to me. So touching! You just don't know what you mean to someone until they stand up and tell you!

When I blew out the candles with these girls I have never felt more LOVED!!!

The Best Hotel In Santa Barbara- Montecito Inn

What a fabulous birthday ( day...week...month!) I have had!

There were birthday drinks....(go this striped number at Marshalls for $29)

Birthday Lunch (At Villa Blanca OF COURSE!)

But the best time of all was being at my dream place, my new home away from home, The Montecito Inn. Yes, I am talking Montecito, home of Oprah, Rob Lowe, Drew Barrymore...and hopefully one day me! I digress...

Montecito is the jewel of Santa Barbara with fabulous things like: Butterfly Beach..

And the cutest town you've ever seen. And right on the Boulevard is Montecito Inn.

 

 It was built in 1928 by Charlie Chaplin!! Amazing history and a boutique luxury hotel! The rooms are fabulous and best of all you can walk to lunch, dinner, or shopping! They even have a pool. And it is kid friendly!

You can even make things super easy and dine downstairs in their cute little cafe! The food is great.

 

But there's one special room you will not believe. Something called "The Apartment". And yes, my husband wrangled this for us for my birthday weekend. Wait until you see it in my next post! Have you been to Santa Barbara? Or to the Montecito Inn?

Estancia Hotel- great for moms and kids!

Our trip to Sea World was made even more special by staying at the Estancia Hotel.

We arrived late and were greeted warmly by their amazing staff. We loved out room!

Fabulous with a courtyard view to die for. (forgot to take a pic of the room but looks like this!) Later we invaded the pool.

INVADED.

We even hired a babysitter through the hotel, ordered the kids room service and dined at their fabulous restaurant!

Gorgeous at night! Fire place, sunset, and margeritas and mojitos!

The grounds, service and food were fabulous. Can't say enough about this place!!! If you are in San Diego or La Jolla you have to stay here! I follow them on twitter to see what's happening!