On the Ground

Category Archives for On the Ground.

a birthday banner on a wall

Hyatt Regency Long Beach Wins for Families

a birthday banner on a wall

As a parent, you’ll do anything to make your kid’s birthday special. I was shocked, however, to see just how far the Hyatt Regency Long Beach went to make my son’s birthday stay at their property a massive success. For my son’s 4th birthday this year, we gave him a choice: a birthday party with…

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a cave with water and stalactites with Reed Flute Cave in the background

The Secret Mexican Cenote You Have To Visit!

a cave with water and stalactites with Reed Flute Cave in the background

When I started planning my first-ever trip to Tulum, there’s something I knew I had to do: visit a cenote. If you’re not familiar with cenotes, they’re natural pools that reveal themselves when a cave collapses. The Yucatan Peninsula is full of them, with thousands of cenotes; some of which are developed and welcome visitors.…

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Lido House

Newport Beach Hotel Lido House Gets It Right

Lido House

After the last few years of stories about staffing shortages and customer service fails, my expectations were fairly low for our first (and last) hotel trip before our family of three becomes a family of four. Lido House in Newport Beach not only met my expectations; it far exceeded them. The Marriott portfolio property truly…

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Costa Rican food

Eating in Costa Rica on a Budget

Costa Rican food

By Fly&Dine Contributor Nate Federman Before traveling to Costa Rica, I repeatedly heard three things about the food there: it’s lots of rice and beans (true!), bland (false!), and expensive (only partially true). Yes, there are plenty of restaurants catering to tourists. If you eat at them, you’ll pay US prices for unspectacular food. Or……

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Stay. Costa Rica. An Open Air Rainforest Lodge with Monkeys.

What: Lapa Rios Where: Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica What makes it special Combine the Blue Lagoon with Swiss Family Robinson and Lost and you’re getting close to the experience of Lapa Rios. With 1,000 acres in the middle of a rainforest, this expansive luxury resort gives you a sustainable tourism experience where you can co-exist with Costa Rican nature without the restrictions…

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a house with a porch and a lawn

Stay. Upstate New York. Escape to a Cottage in the Finger Lakes.

a house with a porch and a lawn

What: Single Island Shores Where: Finger Lakes, NY What makes it special While concrete jungles have their own beauty, they typically lack the color green. If you’re looking for a little nature time away without the buzz of the city, the Finger Lakes are a perfect quick drive upstate. Single Island Shores offers well-appointed cabin rentals right on Seneca…

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a lake surrounded by trees and buildings

Do. Slovenia. Follow a Dirt Path in Vintgar Gorge to Lake Bled.

a lake surrounded by trees and buildings

What: Vintgar Gorge to Lake Bled Where: Soteska Vintgar, Slovenia What makes it special Around the river and through the woods (and two Slovenian ski towns), to Lake Bled you should go. Vintgar Gorge (also known as Bled Gorge) is a 1.6 kilometer gorge in northwestern Slovenia. Up for a little adventure? This journey is right up your alley. Begin on…

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a castle with a lake and trees

Stay. Ireland. Live Your Own Game of Thrones in One of Ireland’s Many, Many Castles.

a castle with a lake and trees

What: Dromoland Castle Where: Dromoland, County Clare, Ireland What makes it special It’s not often you get to stay in a 15th Century castle built on ancestral lands that have been overseen for over a thousand years, but Dromoland Castle gives you that chance. Don’t worry about that medieval stank, because the whole place was renovated to…

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a person taking a picture of a man in a parking garage

Do. Los Angeles. Take a Virtual Tour of Walt Disney Concert Hall.

a person taking a picture of a man in a parking garage

What: Thought Experiments in F# Minor   Where: Los Angeles, California   What makes it special Many know the Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA to be the home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, offering stimulating orchestral performances, innovative music education, and engaging community programs. What many do not know is that the Walt Disney Concert Hall…

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