Hip Travel Mama: Seattle travel expert. Luxury family travel guide. Luxury hotel reviews for families.

Hip Hotel Postcard: The Shore Hotel, Santa Monica

Posted by Anne Taylor Hartzell on January 27, 2012 at 9:25 am

I am a bit obsessed with California Modern style and that is why today’s Hip Hotel Postcard goes to the Shore Hotel, a new oceanfront boutique hotel in Santa Monica, California. This Santa Monica hotel has been on my radar for some time and fits our love of modern style and affordable luxury. This Santa Monica luxury hotel features cutting-edge, environmentally-conscious amenities and a fun vibe that evokes California dreaming.

Why we like this hotel:

The gorgeous rooms have a modern, Southern California beach feel and the decor echoes the deep blue of the Pacific Ocean across the street. Located on Ocean Avenue, Shore Hotel is convenient to Santa Monica restaurants, bars, and attractions, has stunning views of Pacific Ocean, a gorgeous outdoor pool located in the center courtyard and rooms with private balconies. I’m looking forward to our stay there soon! Rates start at $254 per night and Shore Hotel is offering two unique packages for families right now:

Experience Cirque Du Soleil’s acclaimed show “Ovo” on the Santa Monica Pier

Ovo kicked off Friday, January 20, 2012 and runs through March 25, 2012. Guests of Shore Hotel are invited to experience the popular show under the big top and learn how to do some of the moves from “Ovo” at the Trapeze School also conveniently located on the Santa Monica Pier.

Shore Hotel’s Cirque Du Soleil package is available January 20 – March 25, 2012 and includes:

Overnight accommodations
Two tickets to “Ovo” at the Santa Monica Pier
Lessons for two at the Trapeze School
Rate start at $443*/night

*Prices based on two adults, however package can be modified for a family of four.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with the “Pink Goes Green” package. The “Pink Goes Green” package starts at $469 per night includes:

Overnight accommodations
Two bicycle rentals for the duration of your stay
Bottle of organic wine or champagne upon arrival
60-minute couples massage at Tikkun Spa
$50 credit to The Lobster Restaurant, located on the Santa Monica Pier

Shore Hotel’s “Pink Goes Green” package is available for stays February 1-February 29, 2012. Guests who wish to book the “Pink Goes Green” package can call Shore Hotel reservations at 800.599.1515.

Twitter Contest: Submit Your Love Poem for a Chance to Win A Romantic Valentine’s Day Getaway

Shore Hotel is celebrating Valentine’s Day by hosting a Twitter contest to win the ultimate romantic beach getaway. Starting January 17, Shore Hotel invites fans to tweet their best love poem to Shore Hotel (@ShoreHotelSM) for chance to win a one-night stay during the month of February. The fan with the most unique and creative poem will be announced by Shore Hotel on Twitter on February 1. The “Love Poems by the Shore” Twitter contest runs Tuesday, January 17 – Tuesday, January 31, 2012.

Have a hip hotel you would love to share? Post a picture of your favorite boutique or luxury hotel to our Facebook wall and it could become one of HipTravelMama’s Hip Hotel Postcards.

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Hip Hotel Postcard: Disneyland Hotel

Posted by Anne Taylor Hartzell on January 13, 2012 at 11:31 am

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If you haven’t visited the Disneyland Resort in a while, you may be surprised by just how much has changed. During the holidays, we had the pleasure of staying at the newly renovated Disneyland Hotel. It was nothing short of spectacular. From the retro Disney details, to the new Monorail slide pool and restaurants, The Disneyland Hotel has put a fresh and fun facelift on this iconic property and is a relaxing retreat for families to stay onsite at the Disneyland Resort.

Why we like this Hip Hotel: The updated rooms are beautiful, the pool area rivals our favorite Disneyland Hotel property, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, and it’s close enough to walk to Downtown Disney, or catch the monorail for tired little feet. And the best part? At night, your kids can go to sleep under the stars as the headboards in the rooms illuminate and play a magical tune.

Photo: Here at HipTravelMama, travel is a family affair. All photos courtesy of Hip Travel Dad, Randy Taylor, SunChaserStudio.com

Have a hip hotel you would love to share? Post a picture of your favorite boutique or luxury hotel to our Facebook wall and it could become our hip hotel pic of the day!

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What is YOUR Intention for the New Year?

Posted by Anne Taylor Hartzell on January 4, 2012 at 10:41 am

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“Be the change you want to see in the world.” – Ghandi

I love the first week of the New Year. People are buzzing with positive energy, celebrating possibility and setting intentions for 2012. For me, it’s also the week of my birthday, a time to reflect on what I’ve accomplished and evaluate if I’m living my life with purpose and intent. To celebrate, I buy a new notebook, reflect on accomplishments from the previous year, set new personal goals, and take a step back to recalibrate my priorities. I have a quote on my keychain that serves as a constant reminder to stay focused on the things that bring me joy and find joy in the every day. On one side it says; “Live the Life You Love” and the other side, “Love the Life you Live.”

My intention for 2012 is to simplify. Life doesn’t have to be so damned complicated. We have control over our schedule and how busy we make it. We run ourselves into the ground signing our kids up for endless activities to create “great experiences” for them, pile on responsibilities until we are drowning in to-dos and endless must haves. What purpose does any of this serve? Are we really creating family experiences that we can be proud of when our kids are grown?

This year:

I intend to be more present with my children and husband.

I intend to make more time for our family and the inspirational people in my life.

I intend to create more space for the things in my life that bring me joy.

I intend to travel more, worry less.

I intend to seek out extraordinary experiences and share them with others.

I intend to stay focused on my goals and chart my own course.

I intend to practice yoga, meditate and rock a beautiful forearm balance.

I intend to use my passion and knowledge of travel to inspire others.

I intend to step out of my comfort zone and visit a new country this year.

I intend to follow my intuition, even if it is not popular.

I intend to do the work it takes to get me there.

What are your intentions this year? How will you live the life you love in 2012?

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Travel Channel Hot Spots 2012 with Johnny Jet

Posted by Anne Taylor Hartzell on December 30, 2011 at 10:52 am

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Ready to ring in the New Year 2012? Each year, my husband and I meet for coffee and set our goals for the year. Travel is always top of the list. You can set your intention to make travel a priority in 2012. Need a little inspiration on where to go? You can start by watching Hot Spots 2012 on the Travel Channel on New Years Day at 9:00 pm PST/12:00 AM ET to get a sneak peek at the newest, most exciting travel destinations for 2012. My friend and fellow blogger, Johnny Jet will be hosting this fun show sure to excite the adventurer in you! John DiScala (a.k.a. Johnny Jet) conquered his fear of flying and has built a career on traveling for a living and sharing his experiences with others. He travels around 150,000 miles and visits about 20 countries each year and shares his tips for travel in 2012.

Hip Travel Mama: It’s the New Year and people are planning their New Year’s Resolutions. How can we all make travel a priority in 2012?

Johnny Jet: I hate when people tell me they don’t travel because it’s too expensive as they sip their daily mocha Frappuccino. If you really want to travel, you can make it happen. One way to do this is to cut back on items you don’t really need and then find creative ways to save on a trip. There are plenty of ways to do this. Sign up to my free newsletter to learn how. I believe everyone should go to at least one new country a year, so if you are 40 years old hopefully, you’ve been to 40 countries.

Hip Travel Mama: What are some hip destinations travelers should add to their bucket list for 2012?

Johnny Jet: London for the Olympics. Belize for the end of the Maya Calendar. New Zealand because they filmed the movie The Hobbit there and the last time Peter Jackson filmed one of his epic features, tourism had a huge spike. If you want a once in a lifetime travel experience, buy a ticket on Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic and go up into space.

Hip Travel Mama: Airfare can eat up a large portion of our travel budget. What are some tips to find great deals on airfare in 2012?

Johnny Jet: Be flexible on dates, times and airports. Look into alternative airports to save money. I’m writing to you from South Florida, but instead of flying into Miami, price out Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach… In New York look at JFK, LGA, EWR, HPN. You can find alternative airports all around the world.

Hip Travel Mama: You travel to more than 20 countries a year. What are some destinations on your bucket list in 2012?

Johnny Jet: Actually, I only went to 18 in 2011, so I was kind of a slacker. But for 2012 I want to visit at least 5 new countries that I’ve never been to. At the top of my lists are: Egypt, Indonesia, Vietnam, Croatia, Cuba…

Hip Travel Mama readers, what Travel Hot Spots are on your list this year? Leave us a comment below and share the destinations on your list for 2012.

Here’s a link to all of the air times for the Travel Channel’s Hot Spots 2012 on your time zone. Congrats John on your Travel Channel spot – we’ll be tuning in to see the travel destinations on Hot Spots 2012 on New Year’s Day!

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Hip Hotel Review: Hotel Monaco Seattle + Kimpton Hotels Giveaway!

Posted by Anne Taylor Hartzell on December 7, 2011 at 10:09 am

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Kimpton signature goldfish pet during our stay was a big hit!

What fuels my passion for travel? My thirst for Experience. In my travels, I love to discover hip luxury hotels and share my expereinces with friends. Kimpton Hotels understands what it takes to create a great experience for families who want smart luxury and appreciate style that is also approachable. Recently, my fellow travel writer friends at four other great blogs, MotherofAllTrips, The Vacation Gals, Ciao Bambino and PitStopsforKids took on a challenge – to send five travel writers with their families to five Kimpton properties across the country for a simultaneous overnight stay and share our experiences. The participating hotels included our stay at The Hotel Monaco Seattle, The Hotel Monaco San Francisco, The Hotel Monaco Baltimore, The Hotel Monaco Portland and The Hotel Marlowe Boston.

Holiday Sleepover at The Hotel Monaco Seattle

The Hotel Monaco Seattle all dressed up for the holidays

With two kids and our chocolate labradoodle Roxy in tow, we arrived at The Hotel Monaco Seattle on a cold winter day. We were greeted with beautiful holiday decorations and the signature Kimpton pet goldfish we affectionately named Bing Crosby. A dog bed and treats for Roxy were also waiting for us in our room. We loved the central location of the Hotel Monaco Seattle, the simple elegance of our room and the warm welcome for both our kids and our furry companion.

Just a short walk to the holiday festivities in downtown Seattle, we had a great meal, watched it snow in Pacific Place, visited Santa at Nordstrom, rode the carrousel and feasted on hot mini-doughnuts and hot cocoa in Westlake Center under the Macy’s star. Cozy animal print robes were waiting for all four of us when we came back to our room and snuggled in for a family movie night.

It’s the little touches that make a stay at Hotel Monaco Seattle special. Complimentary wine happy hour nightly, free hot chocolate with marshmallows for the kids, the loaner goldfish and the itty bitty animal print robes make this hotel experience feel more like coming home.

Complimentary hot chocolate for kids at Hotel Monaco Seattle with mini marshmallows!

When we woke in the morning, we enjoyed a late breakfast at the adjoining Sazerac restaurant. With menu items such as “Eggs in Hell” and Brioche French Toast with Bananas Foster, it is nothing short of divine.

GIVEAWAY: Win your own two-night stay at any Kimpton Hotel

UPDATE: Congratulations Lucia Jones, winner of our Kimpton giveaway! Have fun!

Now comes the fun part. Want your own Kimpton Hotel getaway? You can win a special Kimpton Hotel giveaway for your family including a two-night stay at any Kimpton Hotel property of your choice to help you experience your own family Kimpton Holiday! Five fabulous family travel bloggers spent a night this past weekend at a different Kimpton Hotel with her family. Since we’re all participating in the giveaway, you have up to five chances to win. You get one entry for each of the five participating Kimpton Holiday blog posts you leave a comment on (up to five entries, or one per blog). Here’s how to enter:

1. Leave a comment below on this blog post answering the following question: “What Kimpton property are you dreaming about staying the weekend?

2. Leave a comment on our other 4 great participating Kimpton reviews this week including:

- MotherofAllTrips blog post on her stay at Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco Baltimore

- PitstopsforKids blog post on her stay at Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco Portland

- The Vacation Gals blog post on Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco San Francisco

-CiaoBambino’s blog post on Kimpton’s Hotel Marlowe in Boston

And answer the question. (now you just increased your odds of winning x5!)

3. Each day from today through Saturday, follow my fellow family travel writers at MotherofAllTrips, Pit Stops for Kids, Ciao Bambino, and The Vacation Gals as they share their own blog posts on their Kimpton Holiday experiences. Check their blogs and when their review goes up, enter this answer for additional chances to win! Entries close on Sunday Dec 11, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. PST. The winner will be announced Monday, Dec 12, 2011.

Hotel Monaco has stylish details and simple elegance.

Promotion Rules: The Kimpton Hotel Holiday getaway prize is a gift certificate for two-night stay at any Kimpton Hotel in the Continental US and is valued at $500. Up to five entries per person. No purchase necessary to enter. Void where prohibited by law. You must be a US resident, 21 or older to participate. Employees, partners, agents, vendors, or immediate family members of Mother of All Trips, Hip Travel Mama, The Vacation Gals, Ciao Bambino, and Pitstops for Kids are not eligible to enter. This is a random drawing, so odds of winning will depend on number of entrants. Rules are governed by the state of Washington. Hip Travel Mama, The Mother of All Trips, and other participating sites reserve the right to cancel, suspend, and or modify a promotion if any problem corrupts the administration, security or proper play of the promotion. In the event of a dispute as to the winner’s identity, entries will be deemed made by the holder of the email account associated with the entry. Entrants agree that Hip Travel Mama, The Mother of All Trips, or any of the other participating sites are not responsible and cannot be held liable for any unauthorized intervention, technical errors, printing errors, mail delays and any other errors in connection with the administration with this program.

Disclaimer: Kimpton Hotels paid for our room at the Hotel Monaco Seattle and also treated us to breakfast at the Sazerac. We were not required to write or express any opinion on our stay.

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Disneyland Resort Celebrates the Magic of the Holiday Season

Posted by Anne Taylor Hartzell on December 2, 2011 at 2:45 pm

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Considering a special family vacation with kids to celebrate the spirit of the holidays this season? I recently shared our experience at Disneyland for the holidays. The Disneyland Resort is a magical place and fun for kids of all ages. But don’t take my word for it, I put together a quick slideshow for you to experience the Disney magic through HipTravelMama’s eyes. Get inspired by Christmas at Disneyland Resort and make your own memories at the park!

Disclosure: A big thank you to The Disneyland Resort for hosting us during our holiday trip to Disneyland! The opinions here are my own. We were not required to write or express any opinions on our stay.

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Win a Washington Wine Country Experience and Bring Books to Kids in Zambia

Posted by Anne Taylor Hartzell on December 1, 2011 at 2:57 pm

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“Be the change you want to see in the world.” - Ghandi.

Everyone should have a personal mantra. This is mine. These are the words that bring me back to center when life gets off balance. Sometimes we need a reminder that even the smallest of our actions can create big change. This year, I’m proud to participate in Passports with Purpose, the travel blogger community’s annual fundraiser that gives passionate travelers and their friends the opportunity to create big change in just $10 increments. Here’s how it works – each $10 donation you make enters you to win one of these amazing prizes. Every time you make a $10 bid, you get one entry and increase your odds of winning the exact prize you want. I’m hosting a prize alongside 1oo+ other travel bloggers from around the globe.

How Passports with Purpose works

You have from now until December 16 to bid and then the PWP crew will randomly choose a winner for each prize. This year, Passports with Purpose is aiming to raise $80,000 in just two weeks to build two libraries in Zambia through their partnership with Room to Read. Over the last four years, my amazing fellow Seattle friends and the founders of Passports with Purpose – Debbie Dubrow, Pam Mandel, Beth Whitman and Michelle Duffy, have raised $100,000 to fund projects for Heifer International, build a School in Cambodia, and build an entire Village in India. I had the privilege of spending time with them last night at Hotel 1000 for the Passports with Purpose kick-off party and am moved by their ability to make big change with a simple idea.

HipTravelMama’s Passports with Purpose Prize: Washington Wine Country Experience for six with IMBIBE Wine Tours and Dusted Valley Vineyards

Each blogger hosts a prize and I’m thrilled to announce my prize this year is for one of my favorite weekend getaways in the Northwest: a Washington Wine Country Experience for six including a wine tour with IMBIBE wine tours in Walla Walla and a private tasting for six at Dusted Valley Vintners! Earlier this summer, I took a group of girlfriends for a getaway to Walla Walla and was blown away by IMBIBE Wine Tours. Proprietor Sam Galano has something truly special and unique in his tours. Beyond the very hip vintage checker stretch limo, IMBIBE also has traditional luxury transportation for sampling one of Washington’s best wine regions. It is the service, attention to detail and fun and friendly nature of this duo that makes IMBIBE’s wine touring experience spectacular. After our tour and a long day wine tasting and a stop off at Starbucks, I consider myself lucky to have two new friends in the IMBIBE crew.

Become a Member of the Stained Tooth Society

We are also thrilled to add on to this special package a private wine tasting for six at Dusted Valley Vintners. Well known for their Stained Tooth Syrah and the “Stained Tooth Society” wine club, Dusted Valley is a family winery that embodies the American dream and shows what’s possible when two friends and families follow their passion to create a life and business together. My husband and met Dusted Valley founders Chad and Corey when they first opened their tasting room in their basement back in 2004/2005 and it has been exciting to watch their success.

Most notably, I chose this prize because both of these businesses embody what is near and dear to me – family, friends and a love for what you do in life and our connection with others.

The package includes the following:

IMBIBE wine tasting tour to 4-5 Wineries for max six people. I will also personally work with you to put together recommendations for wineries to visit and recommended accommodations in the area.
Private wine tasting for six at Dusted Valley Vintners winery in Walla Walla, Washington.

Restrictions. Must be 21 years or older to participate. Excludes Spring and Fall release weekends. Wine tour includes custom itinerary of 4-5 wineries in Walla Walla, Washington.

So get out and BE THE CHANGE and the earn your chance to win a trip to celebrate giving back!

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Hip Holiday Family Fun at The Disneyland Resort

Posted by Anne Taylor Hartzell on November 23, 2011 at 10:45 am

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The holidays are a magical time of year. It’s the time when we have the opportunity to give thanks, celebrate family and reconnect with what matters most in our lives. This past weekend, our extended family, including mom, dad, kids and grandparents had a chance to kick off the magic of the holiday season at The Disneyland Resort.

This was a particularly magical trip for us because it was one of many Disneyland firsts – the first trip for us during the holiday season and my first trip back with my dad since I was a child. Disneyland holds so many special family memories for us and this trip was extra-special because we did this as a team. With my reporting, my dad with his camera and my kids and hubby and amazing step-mom Jennifer experiencing the magic, we no doubt made memories to last a lifetime and have some spectacular stories to share with you.

Holiday Magic at The Disneyland Resort

The Disneyland Resort is a special place to experience the magic of the holidays. In true Disney detail, each area of Disneyland and California Adventure Park have their own unique holiday decorations. Here are just a few highlights of what you can expect to experience at The Disneyland Resort this season.

Mickey’s Toontown is a fun place to visit Mickey, Minnie and friends all decked out for the holidays. Goofy gives Clark Griswold a run for his money and sculpted garlands and wreaths adorn the Toontown gazebo. All decorations carry on a “toon” theme.

Santa’s Reindeer Round-up in Big Thunder Ranch, Frontierland was one of my favorites. Santa, Mrs. Claus and all of his reindeer make for a fun way to take a picture with Santa.

It’s a Small World Holiday is adorned with more than 300,000 glittering lights during the holiday season. Nightly on the façade is “The Magic, The Memories and You!” show with its new holiday sequence and a beautiful 14-foot sparkling snowman. The Haunted Mansion makes its own statement on the holidays with a mash-up of Halloween and Christmas decorations in line with “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Hip Tip: Both of these attractions were extremely popular and had long lines, so make sure to get fast-passes on these rides during the holiday season.

One of my favorite holiday celebrations is the “A Christmas Fantasy” parade. I’ve seen a lot of Disneyland parades over the years, and this is a festive twist on a classic Disneyland tradition. Larger-than-life toy soldiers march down Main Street, each character has their own holiday themed float, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse skate on real ice and Santa waves from atop his huge sleigh.

The real magic of the holidays at Disneyland Resort begins when the sun goes down. On Main Street, U.S.A., the traditional, 60-foot-tall Christmas tree greets you with more than 62,000 energy-efficient LED lights. In the distance is Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle. The finale of the show includes the legendary “Believe … in Holiday Magic” fireworks show that ends with a beautiful rendition of “White Christmas,” while snow falls on Main Street, It’s a Small World and New Orleans Square. Even the biggest Scrooge will have a hard time not feeling joy and hope.

In Disney California Adventure Park, we enjoyed the “World of Color” nighttime water spectacular. with a special appearance from Lanny and Wayne, Santa’s techno-savvy elves from the “Prep & Landing.” Bugs Life was also adorned with larger-than-life decorations.

If you are looking for a special place to celebrate the season, the Disneyland Resort is a magical place to celebrate with your family! more pictures and tips from our trip coming soon. Happy Holidays!

Disclosure: We were hosted guests of the Disneyland Resort, but were not required to express any opinion, or to write about our experiences at the resort. The opinions here are my own.

All photos int this post are licensed property of SunChaserStudio.

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Celebrate Family and the Magic of the Holidays at Disneyland

Posted by Anne Taylor Hartzell on November 17, 2011 at 10:37 pm

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“It all started from a daddy with two daughters wondering where he could take them where he could have a little fun with them, too.” – Walt Disney

This week marks the official start to the magical holiday season at The Disneyland Resort, which runs Nov 14, 2011 to Jan 8, 2012. I can’t think of a more magical way to celebrate the child-like wonder of the holidays, than to see my two girls’ faces light up when they learn they are going to see Disneyland all dressed up for the holidays with their daddy, mommy and grandparents. Forget the October commercials for holiday gifts. This is one gift of experience that will last a lifetime for us, and them. While we’ve made many trips to Disneyland, this will be a first for us to celebrate the magic and traditions of Disneyland Resort during the holidays. On our trip, we will explore a few Disneyland firsts including:

- Our first trip to see Disneyland dressed up for the holidays. We’ll explore some of Disneyland’s long-standing holiday traditions and what’s new this year, including a special holiday segment for the World of Color show, a Christmas Parade and snowfall on Main Street.
- Our first look at exploring the parks in three days, including the Disney California Adventure Park’s new The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure (I hear this is also decorated for the holidays)
- My first trip back to embark on new adventures at the Disneyland Hotel with my daddy since I was a little girl. We stayed there just once when I was a kid and that visit holds very special memories for me.

If you are considering a trip to Disneyland, I’m an advocate of making it your only destination and staying on property for a few days to immerse yourself in the experience. Disney’s Grand California Hotel and Spa (our favorite Disneyland property hotel), Disneyland Hotel or Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel are all good options and will keep the magic alive until the moment you tuck them into bed at night. Disney is currently offering up to 30%* on stays most nights at Disneyland property hotels between November 1 and December 24, 2011. Travel must be complete by December 25, 2011.

So stay tuned soon as we explore Disneyland all dressed up and savor the spirit and joy of the holidays!

Disclosure: We have been invited guests of the Disneyland Resort to visit and experience the Disneyland Resort during the holiday season. We were not required to express any opinions, or write about our stay.

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Northwest Getaways on The Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda

Posted by Anne Taylor Hartzell on October 21, 2011 at 5:56 pm

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What an incredible week! Coming off of a very successful Mamacation at the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle, I had so much fun sharing some of HipTravelMama’s favorite Northwest escapes on the Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda during their recent visit to Seattle. With Pike Place Market as our backdrop, we talked about all of the great getaways around the Northwest. I was also thrilled to see all of the great experts sharing their passion and knowledge of this amazing city and Washington state. Some of my favorites include: Washington Wine Country got some well deserved attention and it was great to finally meet Barbara Evans, aka SeattleWineGal in person. She did a great write up on Washington Wines on the Today show and had a fun ‘taste off’ segment with Washington wines vs. Washington produced beers. Brad Goode led a fun segment on Seattle trivia in “How much do you know about Seattle?” And don’t miss Kathi Lee and Hoda visit iconic sights on Seattle. The experience reminded me that we really are blessed to live in such a beautiful place (even if we complain about the rain and gray days). No matter what getaway you choose, there is so much to see and do around Seattle and a quick escape is never far away!