Off To See The
Wizards
By Marisa Cohen
“Mom, look! You can go to Florida
and actually fly a broom with Harry Potter!”
My 7-year-old daughter Molly had just seen a commercial for
the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the new park-within-a-park at Universal
Orlando. After I gently explained that commercials can be deceiving, I raced to
the computer and booked the trip. Molly, her 9-year-old sister, Bellamy, and I
are all crazy about those wizards, and my husband Jeremy is an awfully good
sport.
When we arrived at Universal, we merged with the massive
crowd of families walking toward the Harry Potter section of the park, which
opened just last year. As the towers of Hogwarts
Castle came into view, we felt as
if we had just apparated into the village
of Hogsmeade. Vendors were selling
pumpkin juice and butterbeer. Shop windows were filled with clever nods to the
books and movies—a shaking box of Quaffles and Bludgers in the Quidditch supply
store, a replica of Hermione’s Yule Ball gown in the Wizardwear store.
But the real magic happened inside the castle walls. While
waiting on a line that can be as long as an entire Harry Potter movie, we wound
through the halls of Hogwarts, visiting Professor Dumbledore’s office, checking
out the Gryffindor common room, and listening to the chattering portraits on
the walls. Finally, we reached the main event: the high-tech, virtual ride
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.
And this is where I apologized to Molly for not believing
her. Because once we were on that ride, we truly felt 
like we were flying,
following Harry on a heart-stopping chase through the Chamber of Secrets, into
Aragog’s lair, smack dab in the middle of a Quidditch match. The major
downside: Molly could not experience the magic herself, since children have to
be 48 inches tall to ride, but the experience was so insanely wonderful that
Bellamy and I went on a second time. Luckily, Molly’s disappointment was easily
eradicated with the purchase of a stuffed owl and several rides on Flight of
the Hippogriff, a traditional roller coaster.
Now that we’re back home, Molly measures herself every day.
I have a feeling that as soon as she hits that magical 48, we’ll be flying
right back.
For more information,
visit universalorlando.com/harrypotter.
Where The Water Is
Clear
By Megan Maxson
Whenever I think of a beach getaway, it’s always to an
island or somewhere south of the border because I assume that the beaches in
the U.S. just
can’t compare. Clearwater, Florida
proved me wrong. Its beaches have the softest, whitest sand around and there’s just
so much of it. I could lure my
4-year-old daughter from the pool to the ocean just by asking her to pick up
the pretty shells in the shallow water.
Where to stay? Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater,
is an eco-friendly hub that’s just 30 minutes south of the Tampa
airport, and gives you access to the beach as well as nearby family attractions.
A walk down the shore will take you to Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise, where kids
get to be one of the crew, have water gun fights, search for treasure, and sail
around Clearwater. You can also take a trolley from the resort to the
Clearwater Marine Aquarium—home to Winter the dolphin who uses a prosthetic
tail after he lost his own in a crab trap. The Aquarium, which acts like a
hospital and rehabilitation center for rescued animals, is also home to
turtles, otters, stingrays and nurse sharks.
The resort itself has impressive amenities—poolside cabanas,
a full spa, modern gym and lobby café. You can also feel good about staying at
Sandpearl because it’s one of the few LEED Certified resorts based on its
energy-efficient and environmentally conscious elements in design and
construction, like a chilled-water air conditioning system.
But Sandpearl is especially nice for fams because it’s got
something for everyone—cooking classes and boating activities for the adults,
and a kids club for little ones ages 5-11. My own kiddos had to be dragged away
after making Camp Ridley
shirts and building sand castles all day!
For more information,
visit sandpearl.com.
Naples Our Way
By Clint White
Marilou and I love to bring our two-and-a-half-year-old son
Liam to visit my mom in her adopted home in Naples,
Florida. It’s a beautiful area on the Gulf
Coast, directly west of Fort
Lauderdale, across “Alligator Alley,” with gorgeous
beaches, ample sunshine, friendly people and great restaurants.
What we admittedly don’t love is her place of residence—a 55
retirement community a bit too far off the beaten path.
The solution, however, is an easy one: we make our trips to Florida
into a retreat to the family-friendly (albeit elegantly casual) Ritz-Carlton
Beach Resort. Sure, we make a day of hanging out at Grammy’s house and at
Grammy’s pool with Grammy’s friends, but we still get to stay at the Ritz,
where service, luxury and convenience reign supreme.
During our most recent trip, Grammy courageously volunteered
to spend time on the
beach with her grandson building sand castles, destroying
them and repeating the process—giving me and Marilou a chance to retire to the
spa. We both marveled at how sublime it was to languidly skim through magazines
in the calm of the spa’s expansive relaxation area, with nothing to worry about
except whether or not to sneak off for the tennis clinic or perhaps take Liam
to the Nature Center,
which is of regional museum quality experience for kids over five.
As for meals, we loved the family atmosphere while overlooking
the impossibly blue Gulf of Mexico at Gumbo Limbo. We
also enjoyed Bites—a tapas-style restaurant in the main lobby of the hotel that
gave Liam a chance to try international food like hummus, black olive tapenade
(a hilarious addition to Liam’s vocabulary), and lamb gyros.
Marilou and I—now with a second child in tow—agree that
strategic compromise is the key to happy family travels. If Ritz-Carlton Beach
Resort in Naples is the compromise,
count us in!
For more information,
visit ritzcarlton.com.
Four More Florida
Tips
Most growing families have already taken a trip (or two) to Disney
during their kids’ youngest years. Once to be cast under the spell of the Magic
Kingdom. And again to experience Epcot. If this is the year for the famed
Disney vacation for your family, check out The
Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2012 by Bob Sehlinger
and Len Testa. To complement it, bring along a copy of Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World’s Best Kept Secrets
by Steven Barrett so your clan can uncover all the clandestine images of their
favorite mouse.
Orlando-goers who check out Disney or Universal should
also plan a day at Discovery Cove. Swim with dolphins, experience colorful
birds at the Explorer’s Aviary, take an underwater walking tour of The Grand
Reef, snorkel with tropical fish and rays, or simply float down the
Wind-away River. If water play is your favorite pastime, you don’t want to miss
this attraction. (discoverycove.com)
If you like South Beach
but worry it’s too young and hip for fun-loving families, keep the Loews
Hotel in mind. The Loews Loves Kids program offers special “kids” clubs, camps
and menus, as well as on-call gear, Fisher-Price toys and entertainment. With
its wonderfully serene pool, next to which you can nosh on smoothies and frozen
grape kabobs, Loews is a great balance to the frenzy of Disney. (loewshotels.com)
Looking for something entirely serene? Go north to the
Panhandle. Stay at the WaterColor Inn & Resort at Santa Rosa Beach for the
ultimate relaxation experience. Think sugar-sand beaches and picturesque parks
and gardens. Also in the area is beautiful Pensacola with history, arts and
culture for the entire family. And a short drive west is Gulf Shores, Alabama—a
hidden gem with water parks, zoos and kid-friendly restaurants like The Hangout
and LuLu’s. It’s worth the trip! (thehangoutal.com and lulubuffett.com)
