This will involve a 3-hour plane ride, two rental cars, one rented vacation house—and lots of grace on everyone’s part.

We’ve traveled together before, but the family was much smaller. When I discussed our upcoming plans with a colleague, she looked a bit horrified, and asked, “Why on earth would you do this? Why would you want to do this?”

It’s simple, really. Including my husband, these are my favorite nine people on the planet. But while we are busy creating memories, we want to make certain we are not setting the stage for conflict at the same time. As individuals, we do not lack opinions. Even the little boys who have been looking forward to this for months, have ideas about how we should spend our time. One of our goals is to live together in alignment with our faith in Christ. Even on vacation.

They do call it the Magic Kingdom, the place where dreams can come true. But sometimes fairy Godmothers need a bit of help making that happen. So since we’ve done it before, here are some tips—things we’ve learned on previous trips, about making this work for everyone.

Gather Input. It’s almost natural for the parents to assume they will set the itinerary for the group, and all will come happily along. Remember they are adults and this is their vacation, too. Talk about when, where, and what the group’s interests are. What would we all like to do? What is the meal plan for the days we eat in? Talk about it. Getting everyone to take part in the planning process helps insure there are no unhappy campers later.

Discuss Finances. Since my hubby and I made this trip part of their Christmas present, we are paying for the rental cars and the vacation house. Beyond that, we’ve all agreed each couple is responsible for their own park and attraction admissions and meals out. We will share the cost of items like gas, and stocking the refrigerator. We are willing to “go cheap” and forego fancy restaurants so we can all participate. This allows everyone to budget appropriately in advance, and no one gets caught by surprise.

Establish Expectations. Will your heart be broken if the group doesn’t spend every moment of every day together? Really? Is that much togetherness a good idea? Or is it smart to include some options for each of the couples to spend some alone time? We think so. How will we divide up the responsibility for driving? Is it okay for someone to decide, “I’m going to chill today. You go on without me. I’m going to hang here.” Yes, it’s okay. We’d rather you openly voice your preference than go along and be tired or grumpy all day, asking, “Are we done having fun yet?”

Set Some Ground Rules. Papa and Gigi are not babysitters on demand, but are always happy to plan some time when we get the boys to ourselves. This helps make the couple time possible, too. Everyone helps with making the meals we eat in and cleaning up afterward. A schedule divides the responsibility and it’s clear whose turn it is. There’s no maid service in the house, and this mama is not volunteering. Pick up your towels off the floor and put your dishes in the dishwasher, please. I have a tendency to get overly parental with these issues, and I don’t want to go there. Talking about it openly in advance makes a difference.

Everyone is busy and working, right up until the moment we head out, so email has become our method for communicating this important info, ensuring the vacation gets off to a great start.

So, our plan’s in place. A plan is a good thing, as long as the group is willing to be flexible. We may discover something wonderful we didn’t know was available until we get out there. Don’t adhere so rigidly to the plan that it wrings the joy out of the vacation.

Do I anticipate that all will run like clockwork without a single cross look or moment of annoyance? No, that’s not likely. But, if we are all still on speaking terms at the end of the week, well, that’s proof positive: we are one big well-adjusted happy family!

Originally posted on Family Matters.

Oh, just editing these pictures makes me miss our time with our kids last week near Bend, Oregon.

The weather was so amazing, we sat out every day and enjoyed the sun, rode bikes, went on hikes (looking for the perfect fly-fishing area for the next time we’re back).

Taking time to get away and still the soul is good for all. Not just for me and Paul, but for the sibs–an important bonding time.

It takes effort, planning, purpose, and a determination to put away social media for chunks of quality time together, in such a techie-world. And believe we, we are not perfect at this. But we try.

The fruit and blessings that come from getting away from speed and noise …it’s hard to even pen.

When’s the last time you purposely set aside social media for quality family time?

Originally posted on Reluctant Entertainer.

The Whiteface Lodge is located an easy and scenic ten miles from Whiteface Mountain, the host of the 1932 and 1980 winter olympics and a mountain known for the greatest vertical drop East of the Rockies at 3,430 feet. In mid-March, the temperature at the base is a brisk 16 degrees and much lower at the summit where I am not brave enough to venture. Overnight, a few inches of snow have fallen adding to the good skiable base that will no doubt go strong until the tentative closing date on April 14.

The sun appears for most of the morning making for soft corduroy thanks to excellent grooming on the lower mountain. The crowds are minimal and the only lift line is at the Cloudsplitter Gondola and that is no more than 5 to 8 minutes maximum. Well worth it, I’d say, to experience the climate-friendly eight-person lift that carries you from the Main Base Lodge to the top of Little Whiteface in 15 minutes with spectacular views.

For a mountain that has earned the moniker “Iceface” due to conditions that can be brutally cold, windy and icy, this nastier side of the beast never shows it’s face. What we are left with is excellent skiing, terrain for all abilities and I hear, some pretty good on-mountain dining options.

The room: While there is so much to do at The Whiteface Lodge, you may never want to leave your supremely well-equipped suite. The entire Lodge is designed like a luxuriously homey Adirondack Great Camp, steeped in tradition and yet far from stodgy. It’s this hominess factor that was the key driver in our decision not to flee when our son came down with an intestinal virus on the first morning of our stay.

Any family who travels has likely had to endure a sick child during travel and the awkwardness and discomfort that this scenario presents. I never felt this way at The Whiteface Lodge. We just camped out in our suite and waited for it to pass and then got on with enjoying our stay.

Our Deluxe one bedroom suite (this room type measures 725 to 925 square feet) was spacious and roomy. The bedroom and living rooms are separate, with the sleeping area offering a King bed and the living area hosting a Queen sleeper sofa for the kids. Compared to the Junior and Superior Suites, the bathrooms are larger and feature a separate two-person jetted tub set apart from the shower. Our Deluxe Suite also provide an additional half-bath which our son loved!

We had a full kitchen which we didn’t use to prepare meals, but it’s always handy to have a fridge for storing beverages and a microwave for heating leftovers and making popcorn. And when we ordered takeout from Kanu Lounge for dinner, eating at a real table with real plates and silverware was a civilized way to enjoy in-room dining.

The amenities: Looking for the perfect family-friendly getaway? You’ve found it! Families and couples, often at odds when it comes to vacationing, seem to co-exist peacefully here.

The lodge boasts an indoor/outdoor heated pool complex accessible from the main lodge via an underground hallway. In the dim afternoon light of a late winter day, snowfalls on our heads as we swim underneath the little tunnel that connects the steamy indoor pool area with the much crisper outdoor area. If you’re brave enough, you might pop out of the water just long enough to dash into one of the outdoor hot tubs. Steam rises around you from every watery surface, giving the impression of a dramatic outdoor scene.

The Whiteface Lodge is a lodge for all seasons, but it really shines in wintery weather with surprises around every turn. With onsite winter amenities such as a large lighted private ice skating rink (skate usage included), snowshoeing (snow shoes and trail map provided) and hot chocolate served in a heated yurt, you may never want to leave. A host of indoor amenities such as a two lane bowling alley, upscale game room and 56-seat movie theater with fresh popped popcorn will please even those who don’t love the outdoors. With this much to do, you’ll never get cabin fever when the weather gets too rough to play outside.

Dining: See that awesome stone fireplace in the photo? That’s in Kanu (pronounced canoe), the fine dining restaurant at The Whiteface Lodge. There are two of those massive fireplaces in the main dining room the fires were stoked many, many times during our two hour feast to keep us warm on a blustery night.

But before we sat down for dinner, I sat down with the resorts Sommelier and Beverage Manager, Scott Waller. And what a treat that was! Not only did I get to sample The Lodge’s signature “Campfire” cocktail – bourbon, maple water, apple cider, scotch and fresh sage – a campfire in a glass, but I learned about how the culinary team gets inspired to create new menus for each season and event.

With so many repeat guests, Scott has his work cut out for him keeping the wine and beverage offerings both fresh and consistent. But it doesn’t seem much like work to Scott, who was bitten by a bug that has inspired his love for creating local and seasonal food and beverage pairings to please every palate. And that even includes my chicken tender-adoring son who gave a thumbs up at Kanu’s tender all white meat version. Rumor has it that they’re a staff favorite! For young guests with more distinguished taste buds, Kanu’s kids menu offers smaller versions of basic items like salmon and filet.

Dinner service is when Scott’s education, training and experience really shine as he moves from table to table, consulting with guests on the perfect beverage to pair with their meal from conception to last bite. I couldn’t resist trying the lodge’s Winter Rum Runner – a contrast in terms – considering the storm brewing outside Kanu’s wall of windows. It was sunshine in a glass.

Our ever-smiling dinner servers conquered a difficult to achieve balance of professionalism and warmth, with a cordiality and genuine interest in ensuring our stay and meal was memorable. Every course offered bold and unexpected ingredients – like the Red Wine Poached Pear Salad with Dried Cranberries, Almonds, Maytag Blue Cheese, Baby Arugula and a Strawberry-Balsamic Vinaigrette. As a salad should be it was the point-counterpoint of savory, sweet, tangy and tart.

Everything we tried was delicious, but we especially enjoyed the very shareable “Ice Cream Sandwich” dessert – toffee ice cream sandwiched between two chewy brownie cookies, rolled in chocolate chips and set amidst sweet caramel sauce. I hope my personal trainer isn’t reading this!

The spa: It’s blustery and cold outside. You’ve skied all day or you’ve been on one of the snowshoe trails surrounding The Whiteface Lodge. Or perhaps you’ve been ice skating or enjoying any of the other winter-weather pursuits that The Whiteface Lodge or Lake Placid has to offer and now it’s time to come in from the cold. The Spa at The Whiteface Lodge is the perfect respite. It’s no surprise the spa offers treatments inspired by the the flora and fauna of the surrounding Adirondack mountains.

My dry and itchy skin hasn’t figured out that spring has technically sprung yet either and the Adirondack Exfoliation drew my attention for it’s ability to exfoliate the outer layer of dryness and provide some much needed hydration. Given the choice of three scents, I chose the bergamot, spruce and lavender blend in a base of carrier oils and minerals created by the lodge. The treatment offers a scrub, then a wrap with a face and scalp massage, a quick shower and an application of moisturizing lotion to seal the deal and seal in the hydrating effects. I haven’t itched since.

Post-treatment I joined a half dozen other ladies in the simple women’s sanctuary, set up more for social spa’ing than quiet relaxation. As with every element of this property, not a single detail deviates from the Adirondack Great Camp theme and the spa is no exception. (Well, maybe there weren’t eucalyptus steam rooms and dry saunas back in the Great Camp era, but I won’t tell if you won’t).

Originally posted on Examiner.

Point Mugu State Park

Are you tired of being cooped up in the house? In many parts of the U.S., it’s been a rough winter. Right now, all I’m thinking about is a spring road trip. If you need a winter weather break sooner rather than later, drive this Southern California itinerary to satisfy your need for the open road.

Your Southern California spring road trip starts and ends in Los Angeles

Whether you’ve just arrived at LAX (rent a Toyota Venza for a roomy ride) or driven to town from who knows where, this spring road trip begins at Lowes Santa Monica Beach Hotel in Santa Monica. I don’t know about you, but I could use a room with an ocean view right about now…and a pool overlooking the blue Pacific…with a cute attendant bringing me a margarita or a glass of sauvignon blanc to accompany my gazpacho lunch. Although it’s probably too cold for swimming, unless you’re a die-hard who wears a wet suit and has a penchant for cold water, the ocean view is still good, especially at night when the ferris wheel lights up the sky on Santa Monica Pier. And while we’re playing tourist, let’s walk over to the pier for dinner at The Lobster Restaurant. I’m ordering the grilled lobster. How about you?

LA to Santa Barbara itinerary courtesy Google maps

After a good night’s sleep, we’ll start our spring road trip to El Capitan Canyon in Santa Barbara County on a sunny southern California morning. From Lowes Santa Monica Beach Hotel, our itinerary follows Highway 1 as it hugs the coast on a curvy drive through Malibu. At Point Mugu State Park, it’s time to stretch our legs, take photos and enjoy the sandy beach that’s guarded by the jagged cliffs of Boney Mountains State Wilderness Area. With over 70 miles of hiking trails, it’s a shame that we can’t spend more time exploring, but we have a lunch date to keep in Santa Barbara.

Cedar cagin at El Capitan Canyon Resort. Photo courtesy Toyota USA

A little north of Mugu State Park, our route turns inland to connect with Highway 101. Don’t worry, you’ll see those Pacific Ocean views again after Ventura. By the time we reach Santa Barbara, we’ll be hungry for lunch. Let’s drive over to Stearns Wharf for a seafood meal at The Harbor Restaurant. Although the water’s cold, we’ll ask for a table by one of the large windows to watch the sun as it sparkles on the Pacific Ocean. Wait, what’s that? A standup paddleboarder who doesn’t mind the cold water glides into our view.

After lunch, it’s a short drive to El Capitan Canyon, our headquarters for however many nights you choose. While it might be tempting to reserve one of the safari tents for a more off-the-beaten-path experience, I recommend staying in one of the cedar cabins in the Upper Meadow. Why? The safari tents are positioned very close together. Besides, the cabins include a mini kitchen for cooking breakfast and lunch (and maybe dinner). It’s a good thing we stopped at a grocery store in Santa Barbara for supplies. Of course the Canyon Market and Deli is available for those who don’t want to cook. And, with all of the fine dining in Santa Barabara, it’s worth a drive back to town for an evening meal.

Sanford Winery in the Santa Rita Hills. Photo courtesy Toyota USA

If we’re lucky, the wildflowers will already be blooming on the hillsides, which means the hikes and bike rides will be extra special. Spring is a little too cool for ocean kayaking at Refugio State Park, but it’s also great place to walk. And we can’t be this close to wine country and not go for a ride through the vineyards. Sanford Winery is in a particularly stunning location in the Santa Rita Hills so drive by for a tasting, better yet, scheduled a winery tour.

Every California road trip that ends in Los Angeles needs a bit of glamor. We’ll complete our spring jaunt with a route that takes us back down Highway 101 past Thousand Oaks and onto the 405 and I-10 freeways to West Hollywood and the hip and happening SLS Hotel Beverly Hills. Wait until you see the lobby decorated completely in black and white—walls, carpet, furniture—and the red elevator area. If it’s a nice afternoon, we’ll hang out with the beautiful people at the rooftop pool. And, we’ll celebrate the end of a fun spring road trip with dinner at The Bazaar by José Andrés (it’s just a walk across the SLS Hotel’s outdoor lobby area). Foam topped martinis and tapas dinner anyone?

Santa Barbara to LA itinerary courtesy Google Maps

Do you have a favorite spring road trip itinerary in California? Post a comment to share it with us. Alan missed this boomer adventure, which means we’ll be doing it again.

Disclosure: Toyota U.S.A. provided this travel experience but the opinions are my own. 

My article is part of the spring-themed blog carnival hosted at Traveling with Sweeney. Be sure to check out all the spring related posts, they’ll make you want to get up and go.

Originally posted on My Itchy Travel Feet.