The Aloft Hotel is Uptown at the Epicenter in Charlotte, North Carolina is urban and trendy.  Fellow Traveling Mamas, Jen of One Moms World, and I were in Charlotte recently.

It is in the heart of the Epicenter of Charlotte.  There you will find an abundance of city life and activity.

This Fall, I attended a Conference at the Time Warner Arena Charlotte.  The Aloft was the perfect location for this event, within walking distance to everything.  Downtown was bustling and Starbucks was hopping.  The shops were fantastic with a variety of dining options in the area.  There was even an outdoor concert at the Epicenter, providing  a  lively and fun atmosphere.

Meanwhile, after our inspiring conference, we wanted to hit the Aloft and get back to the comfort of our rooms.  The hotel had city views, so you can pick up the energy of the city right from your room with a view.

There was an indoor lap pool to get a little exercise year round.  The lobby was funky, hip and casual, too.  Young people were visiting and playing games.  Some were shopping in the hotel shops.

The service was warm and friendly just what you would want in this bustling Southern city.  A visit to the Aloft Uptown Epicenter Charlotte is a must for comfort, flare and enjoying the heart of the city.  Aloft is a Starwood Hotel a part of W Hotels.

Special thanks to Aloft Hotel Charlotte, North Carolina for hosting my visit.  My opinion is my own - I loved it.

Cruise port stops at Mahogany Bay, Roatan Island, Honduras offer many shore excursion options. I opted to try an excursion that would offer a bit more than just a beach break, but I still wanted a little time to put my toes in the sand. The Tabyana Beach and Gumbalimba Park shore excursion looked like it would fit the bill.

Our day began with a downpour, but the tour was still on. This was a large group excursion in a large charter bus. We took a thirty minute ride to Gumbalimba Park and gathered in a covered area to wait out the rain. Rain or shine, this tour will go on, so be sure to pack a rain jacket. We were able to get a few trash bags to cover our heads, but the concession area ran out of them soon after.

The first part of our tour brought the group through a few caves for an introduction on the culture of Roatan. Following this section of the tour, we walked a good ways across a hanging bridge and across stone steps into a jungle area. This is where we encountered macaws and monkeys. When the monkeys hear the tour coming through, the swarm down on the group, coming from all areas in trees. A few of the monkeys will just jump on your shoulder or head, so if you are not comfortable with this, then you may want to skip this part of the tour.

After the Gumbalimba Park tour was over, the group loaded into the bus to head towards Tabyana Beach. Fortunately the rain had stopped by then. Our lunch was included in the tour, and we were encouraged to eat before another group arrived. The lunch consisted of BBQ chicken, local style rice and beans, and a few other items. Lemonade was included. After our lunch, I headed to the cash bar for a fru-fru beach drink before claiming a beach chair.

The beach itself is gorgeous, with sand similar to the Northwest coast of Florida. It’s a resort style beach, with rows of chairs and options to rent snorkel gear and kayaks. There is a small coral reef about 35 feet off the beach.

I would recommend this shore excursion for a first time visit to Roatan. At the time of our excursion, lunch was included, but now lunch is an extra free. The drinks were a bit pricey, but strong. At around $80 per person it’s an excursion to put on your shortlist. In future, I will opt for the Tabyana Beach excursion without Gumbalimba Park, only because Gumbalimba isn’t someplace I need to experience again.

Special thanks to Princess Cruises who provided this cruise excursion.

This fall, I jetted halfway around the world to Palau, a beautiful Micronesian island nation  where the people are friendly, the culture is fascinating, and the reefs are spectacular.  Palau’s an archipelago (a group of islands), and visitors can choose to stay at traditional resorts on one of the main islands or at funkier places in the Rock Islands.

If your family is looking for a classic resort experience, the Palau Pacific Resort is the place for you.  The luxury resort features 160 bungalow-style guestrooms, all of which are comfortable and well-appointed (after a long flight from Philly to Palau, the light-as-air comforters on the PPR beds felt like heaven).  Families will love the 1000-foot white sand beach, where they can rent aqua bikes, sailboats, and kayaks, as well as kick back in cushy lounge chairs.  Even better, the resort is committed to biodiversity, offering a “clam planting program” (an opportunity for guests to plant their own baby giant clams at the resort’s private lagoon), a nature trail (where guests can see kingfishers and Palau fruit doves), and a fish pond (where baby stingrays make their home).

Palau Pacific Resort

Some families, on the other hand, aren’t looking for all the amenities; they’re all about diving, and that’s it.  For them, Carp Island Resortmight be just the ticket.  Sure, you can only reach it by a 45-minute boat ride, and sure, the cottages are rustic, but the roughing-it feel of this place is part of the fun.  At Carp Island, you’re sort of glamping, but you’re in a beautiful spot to see the sunrise and catch the dive boat out to the reefs.

Photo by Lynn O'Rourke Hayes

Want luxury and Palau charm?  Check out two sister properties, Palau Plantation Resort on the large island of Koror and Ngellil Nature Island Resort.  a brand-new, eight room property on one of Palau’s outlying islands.  At the Plantation, tucked away but in the heart of all the Palau action,  you’ll find twenty matchless guest rooms, a tranquil spa, an outdoor pool, and walkways through carefully planted jungle plants. Ngellil, on the other hand, is all about isolation and peace.   The resort staff will transfer you to and from the airport by car and boat; once you’re there, you’ll revel in the silence (not to mention the delicious barbecue meals).  Designed to harmonize with nature, the resort has only two buildings, one housing the luxe guest rooms and the other serving as lobby and restaurant. Families can enjoy sea kayaking and sailing tours, hikes on the private hiking trails, and relaxing in the plentiful hammocks around the property.

Palau Plantation Resort

If my post on the environmentally friendly destination of Palau piqued your interest, boy, do I have more to tell you.  That’s because Palau is all about being outdoors, exploring the Rock Islands and the coral reefs, dipping into the tiny coves and marine lakes.  It’s the perfect place if your family (like mine) is always looking for activities that will tear the kids (OK, and the parents) away from TV and video games, online chats and Facebook.

Sunset in Palau. Photo by Lynn O'Rourke Hayes.

Take the jellyfish lake.  This marine lake – accessed by speedboat and a short hike – is the only one in the world with millions of non-stinging jellyfish.  Yep, that’s right – the jellyfish don’t sting (so kids with allergies are not at risk).  And there are millionsof them.  As in bumping up against you.  And forming clouds around you.  And showing you their pale orange beauty at all stages of their two-week life cycle.  I’m telling you, snorkeling with the jellyfish is mind-blowing.

A diver at Jellyfish Lake. Photo by Lorry Heverly.

Speaking of life stages, families can book a kayak tour with Palau-based Fish ‘n Fins (beginners welcome) to venture out to a natural, bona-fide baby shark nursery.  There’s an area off one of the tiny islands that’s very shallow and full of sea grass; when you paddle around there, you’ll spot dozens of the tiny guys (they’re about eight to sixteen inches long) darting through the rocks.  No worries, it’s safe here, too – sharks in Palau do not attack, and these tiny ones are way too small to do any harm.

Kayaking in the Rock Islands. Photo by Molly Blaisdell.

Loving the water, and want to take a dip?  As I explained in my last post, the coral reefs in Palau are second-to-none.  Sam’s Tours can book a custom snorkeling trip for the whole family and teach even tiny ones to put on a mask and breathe through a snorkel.  They’ll provide life jackets and keep a sharp eye out for little swimmers.  Best of all, the Sam’s guides know all the best spots to see fish, rays, sharks (remember, they don’t bite!), nautilus, and other sea life.

A cluster of grunts on a Palau reef. Photo by Lorry Heverly.

If you’re out in the Rock Islands, get your guide to show you Survivor Rock.  Fans of the popular reality show will be excited to know that several seasons (including French and Asian versions) were filmed right here in Palau.  When you see the gorgeous beaches where the tribes camped, you’ll feel jealous of the production crew (who, of course, had food and water and shelter).

My visit to Survivor Rock! Photo by Molly Blaisdell.

Feeling a bit soggy after all that water activity?  Head back to Fish ‘n Fins and sign up for an ATV tour through the jungle.  While kids without a driver’s license can’t drive, they can ride in a small jeep with Mom and Dad – and Mom and Dad’s driving skills will be put to the test!  Over about three hours, you’ll explore bumpy routes through the jungle beauty that is this tropical nation.
If you’re an adventure-loving family, don’t miss the brand new Palau eco-park.  It’s the only place to zip line in Palau (those guests who are more, well, relaxed, can ride a snazzy monorail instead), and the zip routes are outrageous, flying you above super-cool rock formations and a giant waterfall.

My turn driving the jeep. Photo by Lynn O'Rourke Hayes.

Heading to the airport?  End your trip with a visit to the Palau jail.  Think I’m kidding?  Nope.  The Palau jail has a real rehabilitation program, teaching inmates a trade and helping them build a bank account.  In the lobby of the jail (or the nearby Tebang wood carving shop), you can see (and buy!) a huge variety of classic Palaun storyboards, mahogany panels carved into works of art that tell the story of Palau’s traditional legends.  They’re beautiful and meaningful – perfect for remembering your Palau family vacation.

Tebang Wood Carving - Image provided by Molly Blaisdell

Travel assistance for this story provided by Palau Visitors Authority.

So many families these days make going green a priority. If yours is among them, the beautiful island nation of Palau is an off-the-beaten-path water wonderland – where conservation tops the list of priorities.

Photo credit: Lynn O'Rourke Hayes

Photo credit: Matthew R. Poole

Take the coral reefs, for example.  With rare foresight, the people of Palau decided many years ago to preserve their reefs, prohibiting fishing and speedboats in many outlying islands and requiring dive passes for visitors.  That means that the reefs are spectacular – multi-colored, full of sea creatures, and ever-changing, even as you swim.

Not a diver?  Doesn’t matter.  I saw more fish (and octopi and giant clams and manta rays) while snorkeling than I have in all of my previous snorkeling trips put together.  (Think about it – I’m a travel writer.  That’s a lot of snorkeling.)  Love to dive?  The scuba enthusiasts on my dive boat said that they had never seen anything like it, anywhere in the world, Hawaii included.

Photo credit: Lorry Heverly

The reefs are pretty great . . . but then there’s the shark conservation effort. Oceanic currents and nutrient-rich up-wellings combine to create perfect hunting grounds for Palau’s resident patrolling sharks.  The problem?  Sharks are being killed in the Pacific at an alarming rate, largely for shark fins.   That’s why Dermot Keane founded the Palau Shark Sanctuary in 2001; the effort achieved a major milestone in September 2009, when Palau’s President declared the waters around Palau a shark sanctuary.  Many countries have followed suit, leading to a huge increase in the number of sharks in the reefs today.

Shark conservation class in Palau school

And that’s not all!   Tova Bornovski is part of the Micronesian Shark Foundation, which is involved in many types of shark conservation efforts, including starting a shark education program in the Micronesian region and counting the number of sharks still living in the waters there.

Photo credit: Lynn O'Rourke Hayes

Add in caves and natural geological formations to explore, and you’ve got a pretty special – and sure to wow your friends – green vacation.

Travel assistance and some images provided by Palau Visitors Authority. 

When planning my visit to Walt Disney World Resorts and Parks for the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, I was excited to find out that I would be visiting EPCOT during the annual International Flower and Garden Festival. Disney hosts various annual events, but I personally don’t get to attend each one due to logistics.

My mother and I had booked a late afternoon flight home on Southwest Airlines, making it convenient for us to check out the floral beauty and garden topiaries at EPCOT. We used Disney’s Magical Express which allowed us to check our luggage first thing that morning, and we secured our carry on bag with the front desk.

Here’s a short video of some of the amazing garden creations found throughout EPCOT during the International Flower and Garden Festival.

The EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival isn’t just for adults who are into horticulture. As with all things Disney, there were plenty of designs for the kids.

Monorail passengers get a glimpse of the colorful landscaping as they arrive at EPCOT.

Kids love seeing their favorite Disney characters all over the park.

Bambi’s Butterfly House delights all ages.

Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden provides more than a leisurely walk amidst fairies. Little visitors can pick up an activity sheet that directs them to different areas of Pixie Hollow to learn all the names of the fairies.

There are various other areas located around EPCOT that promote green living and home gardening, as well as scheduled activities throughout the festival.

To plan your own visit to Walt Disney World Resorts and Parks, visit the official Disney website.

This visit was during the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, hosted by Walt Disney World Resorts and Parks. There was a small fee to attend, which included lodging, park tickets, and some meals in the package, along with a few VIP events for celebration attendees. This was not a press trip but did offer a significant discount for lodging and tickets to the group of 200 social media participants and their families.

I love all things Louisiana. I was born and raised in this state and I’m bringing up my own children to take pride in their home. That’s why I chose the moniker CajunMama when I created this website.

In Louisiana, we’re smart, sassy, and friendly. We also stay close to our simple roots through our recipes and culture. We’re a gumbo of various ethnic groups and we were also our own country, if only for 90 days. Our laws are based on the Napoleonic Code, while the rest of the US is based on English Common Law.

We’re more than just one city. New Orleans is famous, but we have so many other destinations to offer with Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Shreveport, Alexandria, and Monroe. Of course, there are a slew of smaller cities and towns, each with their own personalities. Heck even our cuisine is different when you travel to opposite ends of the state. You’ve got Creole and you’ve got Cajun, with variations inbetween.

Tonight, History Channel airs the second season of Swamp People. If you’re not already familiar with this popular reality show, here’s an introduction – The Cajun Experience.

A big question I’ve been asked lately is about where to go on a swamp tour in Louisiana. Here are a few links to area swamp tours. I’ve not been on these nor do I endorse any of them, but I did want to provide easy reference for those of you who have stopped by TravelingMamas.com in search of a swamp tour. Be sure to bring the bug spray. If you haven’t hear, the mosquito is our state bird.

Louisiana Tour Company – Swamp tours near New Orleans

Cajun Country Swamp Tours – Swamp tours near Lafayette and Breaux Bridge

Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours – Swamp and Airboat tours near New Orleans

Honey Island Swamp Tours – Swamp tour of Honey Island, site of reported Big Foot sightings.

Have you seen Swamp People? Are you planning on watching the first episode of Season 2?

We love campaigns that inspire people and we wanted to share this fabulous campaign by Carnival Cruise Lines.

2011 will be here in just a few days and many of us will be thinking of what we accomplished in 2010 and what we’d like to do in the New Year. Carnival Cruise Lines, one of the top cruise lines for families and all around fun has asked the question – “Hey America, Didja Ever?”

“Didja Ever” zip line across a rain forest? Catch air on a wave runner? Jump into an impromptu performance of Thriller between courses at dinner? Well, mark your new calendar for more fun and firsts! Carnival Cruise Lines unveiled its “Hey America, Didja Ever” campaign that inspires people to try new things to add more fun – and ultimately, happiness and satisfaction – to their lives. Carnival will help consumers share, fulfill and celebrate first-time experiences throughout the year, driven by the “Didja Ever” campaign headquarters on Carnival’s Facebook page and promoted through exciting and interactive broadcast, online, social media and local marketing efforts.

We love this campaign at TravelingMamas.com because we’re all about being happy and making travel memories – What better way to accomplish this than making a list of things you’ve always wanted to try or places you’ve always wanted to go.

Carnival is collecting the Top 100 Firsts from its more than 420,000 (and growing) Facebook fans and all of America. The company is encouraging people to check things off their lists, share experiences through photos and video, and create once-in-a-lifetime events and memories. Of course, the Fun Ship company will also help to fulfill many firsts for participants that will include everything from giving away monthly cruise vacations for four to offering once-in-a-lifetime opportunities like appearing on-stage as the opening act for a favorite band, and many other fun activities online and in major markets.

“As a company that is built upon fun and memorable vacation experiences, we thought that it was time to help Americans put fun on the front burner,” said Jim Berra, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Carnival Cruise Lines.  “The ‘Didja Ever’ campaign reminds people it’s time to make their list and start living that list to the fullest. And we’ll provide a little help along the way to fulfill some of these wishes in surprising and unexpected ways throughout the year.”

I don’t know about you, but I love to try new things, have fun while doing them, and just enjoy the adventure that is life. We took our first family cruise last year on the Carnival Fantasy out of Charleston, SC and enjoyed every moment of it (you can read my daughter’s review of Circle ‘C’). It was good, clean, family fun to enjoy a fancy sit down dinner each night as a family, ending our meal singing and dancing with the wait staff.

According to a consumer survey commissioned by Carnival earlier this month, nine out of 10 adults have a list of things they wish to accomplish in their lifetime. Robert Mack, author of the bestselling book, “Happiness From the Inside Out: The Art and Science of Fulfillment,” and celebrity life coach explains, “If you want to live your best life, start by setting a goal that deeply inspires and excites you on a personal level so you’ll stick to it. If you can stay engaged and keep it fun, you’ll be more committed.”

Mack added that another important element of success is sharing your goal with other people who will support you and cheer you on.  Studies have shown people are up to 10 times more likely to accomplish a goal when they write it down.  So sharing that wish or First with your friends on Carnival’s Facebook page is a great first step to achieving success.

I just started reading my own personal copy of Mack’s book and will let readers know my thoughts when I’ve completed this task. Don’t be surprised if you turn on your television this week to see an inspiring commercial by Carnival Cruise Line with the message of having fun and asking you the question “Didja Ever?”

Here are some of my personal “Didja Ever” goals for 2011 -

Did you ever attend the Consumer Electronics Show? I’ve always had this on my geeky tech list and things happened to work out to throw this opportunity across my path.

Did you ever go to Hawaii? I’ve been to Hawaii a few times, but my husband hasn’t ever had the chance. In 2011 we’re going there together to visit the Island of Lanai.

Did you ever take a cruise around Europe? My parents have had a cruise and trip to Europe on their lifelong list of things to do in life. They’ve been retired for a few years and keep setting this aside as life keeps getting in the way. Thanks to Carnival, the three of us will take part in the inaugural launch of the Carnival Magic, which sails from Venice, Italy to Barcelona, Spain.

An additional “Didja Ever” I hope to accomplish in 2011 – Didja Ever think to incorporate giving back on your family vacation? I’m hoping to take my family on a Volun-Cruise out of New Orleans or another nearby port and bring other families along with us.

What are YOU waiting for? Make that list and start checking off the fun things. Be sure to visit Carnival’s FaceBook page where you can enter to win a cruise of your own and don’t forget to make a wish on the Carnival Wishing Wall before New Year’s Eve!

Women can’t do anything from water.org on Vimeo.
When we travel with our families, we don’t give a second thought about handing a drink of water to our children when they are thirsty. Airports provide drinking fountains for those of us who don’t want to purchase water and most airlines provide water free of charge. Did you ever think what your life would be like if we didn’t have clean drinking water? Only 100 years ago New York and other major cities in the US experienced Cholera epidemics and disease due to unsafe drinking water. It isn’t really that long ago if you think about it. The most recent Cholera outbreak in Haiti has killed more than 600 people. Can you even begin to imagine having no clean water for your family to drink?

When I traveled on the Tweetup4Good Cruise with my friend Nancy Schretter, we visited rural communities and orphanages in Belize, Mexico, and Guatemala. In Guatemala, one of the schools we visited had dirt floors, holes in the walls, and no running water that I could see.

On the other side of the world, mothers are traveling mamas, not for pleasure trips like us, but for long journeys to collect drinking water for their families and children to survive the day. In just one day, more than 200 million hours of women’s time is consumed for the most basic of human needs — collecting water for domestic use. This lost productivity is greater than the combined number of hours worked in a week by employees at Wal*Mart, United Parcel Service, McDonald’s, IBM, Target, and Kroger, according to Gary White, co-founder of Water.org.

How can we help? Give the gift of Hope in a Bottle or donate to Water.org as a gift that helps others.

When you treat your family and friends to a Water.org, CamelBak bottle, you’ll also be giving a life-changing gift to someone in need.

• The bottles are a limited edition design, environmentally friendly and great holiday gifts.
• And 100% of the profits go directly to support nearly a billion people in the world who lack clean water.

Give just one bottle and you help a child get clean, safe water. Give more and you change even more lives – forever. The need has never been greater and you can make a real difference simply by shopping now.

Water.org has provided TravelingMamas.com with one water bottle to give away to one reader. The winner will also be sent a thank you note signed personally by Matt Damon. Because we believe in projects like Water.org, TravelingMamas.com has made a “One Life” donation, which will provide water for life for one person through the Water.org initiative. We’d like to encourage you to add a limited edition water bottle or donation to Water.org to your holiday wish list. To find out more information and to place an order, visit Water.org.

How to enter: This is a social media contest, meaning only readers with Facebook or Twitter accounts are eligible to enter. You can enter two ways -

On Facebook: LIKE Water.org on Facebook and share this post with your friends. Be sure to leave a comment here for this entry to count.

On Twitter: Follow @Water and tweet this post. Be sure to leave your tweet as a comment for the entry to count.

Contest is open to US residents 18 years of age and older. Entries close at 11:59PM CST on December 8, 2010. One entry per day per email address via each route. Comments will be rescued from SPAM. Current and former contributors of TravelingMamas.com not eligible to enter. Prize and product information provided by Water.org.

Is your family looking for a place to get away from it all and still enjoy family time with their children? Do you want vacation where you can enjoy the beach, stay active and enjoy local attractions?

Ocean Isle Inn on Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina has been named one of the Top Atlantic Coastal Destinations.  Children love it.  Families love it.  The location is great and the property keeps calling guests back again and again. 

“Ocean Isle is the way beaches use to be. Uncrowded, Unhurried, and Unforgettable. All this and more await you at the Ocean Isle Inn. Ideally situated a short distance from the historic riverfront town of Wilmington, North Carolina, Southport NC, Holden Beach NC, Sunset Beach NC, and North Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach South Carolina, the Ocean Isle Inn provides the perfect accommodations for a vacationer, business traveler, family reunion or wedding.”

Ocean Isle Inn is a beautiful ocean front property on the quiet Southern beaches of North Carolina.  Enjoy the quiet of the beaches where you can get away from it all.  Yet,  you can drive an hour to the trendy and popular Myrtle Beaches of South Carolina where wonderful restaurants, shopping and local activities abound.

Enjoy the local attractions:

1)  Ocean front beaches for families;

2)  Ten minutes from the wonders of South Carolina like  Myrtle Beach and famous Callabash Seafood;

3) Ingram Planetarium – where the Stars Always Shine!

4) Museum of Coastal Carolina

Enjoy this view each morning – after a complimentary breakfast and gourmet coffee, step out poolside and enjoy the ocean views.  When it’s breezy or it rains, take in the indoor heated swimming pool and jacuzzi!  Life is good in North Carolina.

Are you ready to get away from it all?  Take your children on a vacation they will always remember! Book your trip to Ocean Isle Inn today!  Ocean Isle Inn is offering Traveling Mamas Readers a 15% Discount if you Book with the Discount Code: CarolinaMama. Book your trip and enjoy the anticipation until you experience the pure delight of the ocean at Ocean Isle Inn.

*CarolinaMama is an Ocean Isle Inn Ambassador.