I am finally writing about this juicy part of our trip to San Francisco, the Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort. Half Moon Bay breakfast at Ritz Carlton is one of my favorite but the whole place is pretty amazing.
I got to San Francisco to visit my friend, she was expecting her first child, and I wanted us to stay at a luxury resort. So my choice falls on this fantastic place.
And here is what we got!
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort
I will tell you everything in order.
Table of Contents
How to get to the Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort
The closest Airport would be SFO (San Francisco International Airport). You can take a bus from San Francisco (SFO) to The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay via Daly City, Daly City BART-Bay 4, Linda Mar Park N Ride, and Hwy 1 & Redondo Beach Rd in around three h 37m.
Location of Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay.
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort
What Ritz does the best is choosing a location. They find a lot that gives you the best views and places their properties there.
This resort sits right on the cliff! Yes. Its backyard ends up with a scary and beautiful cliff at the same time. No worries. There is a fence along the ridge, so you can not fall off accidentally. Its golf courses surround the resort all around, making it unforgettable.
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort. Ocean and golf courses view
Thanks to the landscape, you get the best views whether you dine, walk, bike, swim or play tennis.
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort what to expect
Ritz will greet you with a valet to park your car in the garage around the corner if you drive a car. Porter will bring your luggage to your room. We just went to the front desk to get our keys. There is an option to use your phone as a key. Ask about it at the front desk.
The hall is spacious and bright, with a high ceiling and beautiful chandeliers. I love that everything is white and sparkling clean.
We got a room with Ocean View, and it was MAGICAL! Once you open your eyes in the morning, you see OCEAN! So that makes me excited and curious about what else I can see or experience today.
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort. Room tour. Room 403
All rooms are 450 sq ft; they upgraded our room to the ocean view. It also was handicapped accessible, which means the bathroom had rails. It sleeps four people and has enough space for a pack&play so the total would be 5. Suits are much bigger and would work for larger families.
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay first day
Once we checked in and were situated, we got hungry and went downstairs to check for food. There are three dining options Navio, The Ocean Terrace, and The Conservatory. Unfortunately, only the Conservatory was available for the weekend, so we dined in exclusively there.
Half Moon Bay Restaurants
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort. “Conservatory” interior.
The restaurant has huge windows that face the ocean, and you can enjoy your meal or the view, or both. Mesmerizing!
I got seafood soup. Oh boy! It was a pot filled up with mussels, shrimps and loaded with crab meat. It was a good thing to try, and I enjoyed every bit. My son got spaghetti and fruits. He ate everything.
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort. Spaghetti and seafood soup.
After supper, we went to the backyard. The evening is a lovely time to be outside. It is hard to call it “yard” because it borders the ocean, and its open ends stretch as far as you can see. But the way Ritz designed the resort makes me feel like I am at some club, where people gather together to socialize. We would sit together at a pit fire, and some people were roasting marshmallows, talking, laughing, and you would feel like you were part of the group.
Others were walking around drinking wine or simply standing and looking at the sunset. Since it was getting dark, we didn’t risk leaving the backyard and hanging out there taking pictures, enjoying the ocean air, and sharing highlights of the day. Mine was the supper at the Conservatory.
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort. Bagpiper
Around 8 pm, we heard a bagpipe. Yes. A real bagpipe! A man dressed up in a Scottish national dress was playing it the whole evening. He was playing a melody from the “Outlander” show. Ah! It made me want to visit Scottland.
Here is a short video on how that backyard looks like.
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort. “Back yard.”
We slept tight, and I woke up hungry!
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Day Two
Half Moon Bay breakfast at Ritz Carlton
My friend is still sleeping, but my son and I are at a different time and wake up at 5 am. Ha! Ha! First time in my life, I woke up early and slept in. I should move to San Francisco, or even better to the Ritz-Carlton.
We were the first in the restaurant. Very hungry because we waited for two hours before they opened! My son was constantly repeating, “Give me food!” “Eat! Eat!”
half moon bay breakfast with a view
I tried to convince him to enjoy the morning ocean view, but he was not interested. Before we placed our order, the waiter brought us a little treat, a croissant with a “green drink.” My son grabbed the bun, and I looked suspiciously at the green liquid doubting to take a sip.
I smelled it, and it seemed like mint, but it looked like pond water, plus there was a piece of actual grass floating on the surface… Ok. I thought I was at Ritz-Carlton; they wouldn’t give me pond water; it at least would be an ocean one;). So I dared and… OMG! It was soooooo good. Indeed it’s a mixture of pineapple juice with mint and something else. I didn’t care what else was in that drink and asked if a waiter could bring me a full glass of that green liquid. He did, and I drank it ALL.
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort. Bacon and Eggs for 42 dollars.
I ordered two eggs and bacon with hash brown and sausages. Just regular eggs and bacon, but the price was irregular – 42 dollars. Yep. To let you know, everything on the breakfast menu that had proteins was 42 dollars. If you are ok with an oatmeal porridge made with water, and avocado sandwich, or Belgium waffles, it would cost you 20 dollars.
My friend woke up and joined us by the end of the feast. Since I was hosting her, I paid for all the meals. She didn’t look at the menu; she just looked at my plate and said she wanted the same food… She didn’t know:).
Ritz-Carlton swimming pool
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort. Hot tub and a swimming pool.
After a good breakfast, we were determined to exercise and headed straight to the pool. The pool in Ritz-Carlton is indoor, but it is not in the hotel building. Instead, it is located in an impressive glass building behind golf courses. So it’s not that long a walk, just enough for you to enjoy the sun and the weather. Maybe 10 minutes long.
When we got there, it was not crowded. The pool was enormous, and the water was incredible. Good thing there are two hot tubs where we spent half of the time. I am not a big fan of cool water, but my two-year-old son is fishy. He jumped in and out about 300 times, and I even got a little dizzy watching him. This place was a stop for families with kids. I didn’t see any severe swimmers for the whole time we were there.
We quickly splashed there between the pool and the hot tub until lunchtime. After that, my son got a bit overstimulated and tired. He had a meltdown and fell asleep as soon as we went outside. He just crashed.
Lunch Half Moon Bay
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort. Best hamburger in the world!
My friend and I headed straight to the Conservatory, where we both had the best Hamburgers in the world and the best dessert we ever tried. We both voted 10 out of 10. The food was delectable! Seriously, the meat was tender and juicy. All the hamburgers I ever tried had relatively dry and chewy meat, even if it claimed to be made of steak, but this one was flavorful and juicy and yet fully cooked.
The hamburger was filled up with stewed mushrooms that were crunchy and flavorful. Oh! I would give a lot to know how to make it. The hamburger was also giant! It would feed two adults easily. Unfortunately, none of us could eat it all. We took leftovers hoping to find a way to store them. If you noticed on the room tour video, there is no refrigerator, but guess what? You can request one, and they will bring it. That’s what we did. It’s a tiny cute refrigerator just enough to store your leftovers from one or two meals.
The next best piece was dessert. OMG! It’s a chocolate cake with waffle crumbs. It has three layers, and each one has its density and flavor. Yum! And all three together give you an unforgettable taste. Its sweetness level is just perfect! It is made in the kitchen from scratch, so this resort is the only place on earth where you can try this masterpiece.
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort. Best Chocolate Cake Ever!
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort Beach
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort. Observation stations.
After lunch, my friend went to rest, but my son and I went on a pleasant promenade. It took us about 15-20 minutes of walking along the cliff to reach the stairs down to the beach. The views were breathtaking. The resort puts some chairs along the fence on the way to the beach so you can rest comfortably, enjoying the sounds of the ocean.
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort. Stairs to the Beach.
The beach is public and doesn’t belong to the resort. We saw a few other families with kids digging the sand and taking pictures. Since the water was cold, we didn’t dare to dive into the ocean, but I saw people and even some kids swimming. Probably locals…
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort. My son on the Half Moon Bay Beach
It is not only cold but also windy and humid. This combination makes cold piercing, so make sure you wear a rain jacket or something to protect you from the wind.
Once we got back and my friend woke up, we had our fantastic hamburger leftovers and went out to hang out at the fire pit and found some guests with pets. So I have great news for those who travel with their furry family members!
The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay Resort is pet-friendly!
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort Day three.
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort. English Muffins with poached egg and crabmeat.
If you are looking for the best restaurants in Half Moon Bay. You found it!
Breakfast was uneventful despite the thing that I got pouched eggs on an English muffin loaded with crab meat, and when I tried it, it gave me a bitter aftertaste, so I replaced it with Belgium Waffles. After the first bite, I realized that it was just me; everything tasted a little bitter that day. Nothing serious, just some days it happens. If I could choose again, I would get the English muffins again. The dish had a nice texture and flavor.
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort. Belgium Waffles.
My son got oatmeal. He is used to oatmeal made with milk, but they make it only with water and couldn’t make it differently in the kitchen. So I added milk to the porridge myself, and my son ate a few scoops. But he didn’t like it.
My friend, on the other hand, found it very tummy soothing.
Check-out is at 11 am, but we could extend it to 1 pm with my Gold Status. It gave us plenty of time to eat, pack and relax. As a pregnant girl and mom with a toddler, there were activities that we found a bit challenging to do, but I think anyone with older kids would enjoy them much.
Bike riding.
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort. Someone’s bike parked on the beach.
There are lots of trails for biking and hiking, and I bet it’s a pure joy to ride your bike along the cliff.
Tennis
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort. Tennis Courts.
Love tennis? I play only when the weather is perfect. It has to be sunny but cool. Well, San Francisco’s weather is ideal for tennis!
Surfing
The ocean is always moving here. I bet with the right gear, you can practice and enjoy being in the water.
Golfing
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort. Golfers.
I know my husband would love to spend a day or two playing at Half Moon Bay golf course.
Expenses that you should expect
Resort fee – 50 dollars/day
Parking fee – 45 dollars/night. Daily parking is 20 dollars but if it was just a drop off don’t park in the garage and you won’t be charged.
Dining in – 20-70 dollars per meal/person
The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Resort is one of those places with it all. It is family-friendly, romantic, and fully equipped for business meetings or conferences. So if you need a reason, pick any and book the room!
Hello Friends, I found another gem for you to consider doing this year. It is a Tecumseh outdoor drama played in one of the biggest and oldest amphitheaters in the US since 1973. Over 5 million people saw it, including us. We went there twice and are planning to come back when our two-year-old grows up a bit.
He doesn’t like loud sounds, and I am pretty sure he would not be able to enjoy guns and cannons shooting, so it was the right decision for him and daddy to stay in a hotel and splash in a pool. But my older kids were all in awe watching the show. It was mesmerizing!
A deep appreciation to the Tecumseh administration for sponsoring this visit. The experience was sponsored, but all opinions are mine.
All theater lovers who would like to learn more about Ohio history through creative drama should watch this play. Although the subject and dialogs do not have historical value, but names and places are correct, and the performance itself is phenomenal.
Table of Contents
About the place
Tecumseh outdoor theater is located at Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre, 5968 Marietta Road, Chillicothe, Ohio 45601. It’s an enormous outdoor stage that allows you to experience a performance played in unity with nature and the time of the day.
There is only one performance each day, and it starts at sundown (at 8 pm) and lasts for two and a half hours.
The location of the theater is pretty much the place where featured historical events took place.
The stage itself is an open space with a natural lake and woods behind it. Those rocks were built (of course).
It’s was a perfect half a day trip for us, and besides the show, we did tomahawk throwing, gem’s prospecting, a backstage tour, and even had supper there. So budget time for that extra fun because you will not want to miss it.
Extra Activities
When you visit this place, don’t watch just the show, do extras, you might not be back for a while, and they have some unique or just great activities.
I would highly suggest getting VIP tickets that include
Show Ticket
Backstage Tour
$5 concessions voucher
Souvenir Program or Poster
Rain Insurance
Collectible VIP Lanyard & tote bag
With this option, you also will get one of the best seats. Although any seating gives you a full view of the whole performance, VIP seats are closer to the stage. We were on the fifth row, right in the middle. It was just perfect! Hear everything, see everything, and far enough, so you don’t feel like you are performing.
Backstage Tour
It gave us a glimpse of the prehistory of Tecumseh’s life, some facts about the theater and the show, and they revealed some tricks they use in the show.
Groups leave every 15 minutes. I would recommend arriving by 3:15 pm just when they open and getting in one of the first ones. There were six more people when we got there, and the limit per group that day was 20: the fewer people, the better, and the closer to the show, the bigger the crowd.
We found out that they use actual guns and gunpowder, but instead of bullets, they use a ball of hey, so all together, this gives you a real gunshot sound with fire but causes no harm. I bet you will jump up on the first shot because it will catch you by surprise. We did as well as the whole house.
And the blood is made of food coloring, starch, and a dishwashing liquid. So they put it in a syringe, and every knife has a case where you hide the syringe and squeeze the “blood out” by pressing on the handle of the knife. All knives are dull, by the way.
View from the back of the stage
Even if you took a backstage years ago, do it again because they differ. Last time we didn’t have a chance to go behind the stage, but they shared where the actors land while jumping off the cliff and how to fall to be safe if you suppose to fall like a dead person.
Tomahawk Throwing at Tecumseh outdoor Drama
It was the most favorite activity of my athletic 10-year-old son. He was throwing like a pro and would hit the target every time. He managed to hit five bulls’ eyes and was very proud of it.
My 7-year-old daughter was working hard on her throw and eventually hit the target three times.
Tomahawk throwing is a 15 minutes activity where you and your kids can pretend to be Indians and throw the axes at a target. So again, go early and enjoy the whole place just for yourself. A family runs the place, and it was interesting to know that the guy working there has the same name as Tecumseh’s Producer, Brandon Smith.
The activity does not come with a VIP ticket but totally worth the extra bucks.
Gems Prospecting
One of my bucket list activities is to do gems’ prospecting. We had a taste of it at Tecumseh’s Gift Shop. Here is how it happened. You buy a bag filled with sand mixed up with gems, and a seller gives you a leaflet with pictures and names of gems.
Then you go to barrels filled up with water and wash all the sand off. You get a lot of gems left in your mesh.
My kids were all screaming excitedly, finding arrowheads, crystals, fools gold, peacock gems, and much more…
They sorted all their findings and then were busy trading them with each other. They were playing for an hour and would play even more if they didn’t get hungry.
Where to eat
The Amphitheater has a pizza, burgers, and hotdog place with soft drinks. So we got pizza and hot dogs and a huge bucket of popcorn. My youngest really likes popcorn, and he ate a lot.
Tecumseh Drama Prologue
If you didn’t know, Tecumseh was a real person and considered the greatest representative of the Native Americans. Despite his young age, he was a brilliant speaker, politician, extraordinary leader, and a great worrier. Just imagine, at the age of six years old, he already was an established hunter and could provide for himself, and at the age of 24, he became chief of his tribe (not by his will though), and people loved and followed him. He had a tremendous influence over other tribes.
When he was born, a bright meteor flew through the sky, so his father named him Tecumseh, which means “The panther passing across.”
He had the vision to unite all Indian tribes under one Indian Nation and to get rid of Americans. Who knows, if his plan was successful, maybe we would not be here…
Tecumseh Drama
With the first seconds of the Tecumseh play, the performance captures and holds your attention with actions and dialogs. Indians riding horses without saddles, guns, and cannons shooting, fire, dancing, costumes… You are immersing. You will be right there. You will be a participant, not an observer.
I am not going to tell you the subject of the drama. You should come and watch it yourself. See it with your own eyes and hear with your ears.
But I will share some details that impressed me the most about the show. The performance takes place under an open sky, an,d actors do not use microphones, yet we could hear every sound, even when the cannons were shooting. Yes. The acting is terrific.
Some of the horses have been performing in the show for ten years, and they actually know their roles. Onсe, a rider fell off the horse right before coming to the stage. His horse came out alone, stood there the right amount of time, and then went back. I call it high professionalism.
For the two hours we spent there, kids were sitting and watching the whole time. They were mesmerized, and so were I.
You cannot take any pictures or videos of the show, but you can take memories with you. So come to make them! You can book the tickets here.
Hi Friends, we just got back from an adventurous and educational trip to Kentucky Horse Park, in Lexington Kentucky, and I put together all you need to know before you go.
Table of Contents
First of all, I would like to express a deep appreciation to the Kentucky Horse Park administration for sponsoring our visit. They sponsored the trip, but all opinions are my own.
A little about the park.
It’s an enormous property of 1200 acres of pastures and premises created for educational purposes and to help develop friendship between people and horses. I really liked the way they designed it. Despite its huge size, you don’t have to walk for hundreds of acres. All activities are concentrated in the heart of the Park, and the rest is green pastures.
The place, by the way, is very well maintained, clean and not smelly. Horsies do smell like horses, though:). The park is a home for over 300 horses, and some of them are the best and fastest horses in the United States. I will tell you more about it later but if you would like to know about the park itself, click here.
Where to stay when visiting the Kentucky Horse Park.
If you are a camper, I have some great news for you. Kentucky Horse Park has a campground with many amenities such as swimming pool, tennis, basketball, volleyball courts, a grocery store, and two bathhouses. Ah! It sounds like a paradise!
If your paradise looks different, there are plenty of hotels nearby. Just google:).
What to do in Kentucky Horse Park?
A lot to do! We took a full day trip, and the whole time there, we were busy. Here is our itinerary.
Once we arrived, we went straight to the Visitor’s Center and got our admission tickets, and if you plan to do horse and pony rides, get tickets right away, so you don’t have to come back. When I asked a girl at the front desk what would be the best time to ride horses if we want to see all the shows? She suggested 12:15 p.m, and we took that time.
Park opens at 9 am. and the first activity is
The Grooming at the Barns.
We caught a moment when a worker was “vacuuming” a horse. At least it looked like that:). Just a usual morning routine to keep a horse clean and healthy.
Right after this activity, we ran to catch the Horse Drawn Trolley.
It starts at 10 a.m. and goes till there are people in line. It’s about 10 minutes ride. Try to get to the first load, and then you have enough time to get to the next show that starts at 10:30 am. Two big, massive horses pull the trolley. They are so tall that you can see under their bellies when they pass by. In my estimate, their backline height is over 6 feet. I’ve never seen animals that tall. My kids were in awe!
It was both entertaining and useful to take the trolley first. It took us around the place and showed us where everything was located, so it was easy to find places. In addition, the tour guide was sharing lots of facts about the place. For example, the Big Barn was the biggest in North America at the time it was built. It’s about a size of a football field.
Once we hopped off the trolley, we ran straight to the Hall of Champions Show. The first horse that greeted us was Go for Gin. He peeked out the window and was sticking out his tongue. He wanted some treats:). My son immediately ran to him.
At the show, we were loaded with a stream of information about famous Horses in history. This is where I heard the first time that Secretariat (also known as a Big Red) had not only a “perfect” exterior, including body length, chest width, angle of the hind legs that allowed him to reach far under himself, increasing his drive but also his heart was almost 3 times larger (22 pounds) than a heart of an average horse (8 pounds), which altogether gave him an ultimate advantage to outperform any living horse.
In addition, they say that he was so fast that he could beat any horse at any distance.
We were listening, our ears open. Even my 7 years old daughter was impressed with the facts. Then they brought out the actual Champions. We saw three of them.
The first one was, Go for Gin. It is the world’s oldest living Kentucky Derby Winner. He is 30 years old and still looking great. Very sweet and interactive. He didn’t want to live on the stage because he loves attention. Before he left, he made a few childish skips to make us all smiling. Later, one of the workers pointed to a picture of his very first victory. He said that the trace was sloppy that day, but the horse on the picture looks clean, and then he asked: “What does that mean?”
We didn’t know…
The worker said: “It means Go for Gin was leading the whole time. All other horses got dirty.”
This fact makes me emotional. So touchable… Did you know that victory is in the heart of the horse? They don’t just run; they run to win.
The second one was Western Dreamer. He is the only gelding of any breed ever to win a Triple Crown. Yeah. Nothing is an obstacle! You would think since he is fixed, he would have a meek character. Nop. He loves people but absolutely hates horses. They say he was winning because he didn’t want any other horses around him.
The third Champion was Funny Cide. Yes, yes, his name starts with the letter C. He got his name as a combination of his parents’ names. His sire was Distorted Humor, and dam is Belle’s Good Cide, so he came out as a Funny Cide. He was very popular and still is and earned over 3,5 million dollars during his 7 years career. Pretty impressive!
We heard so many fun and interesting facts about these amazing horses, but I will leave something for you to come and enjoy in person.
So the next show that was super educational and entertaining is Parade of Breeds Show.
We saw several breeds with distinctive differences. Before I saw this show, all horses looked the same to me. Well, maybe they have different colors:). But at the performance, they demonstrated Arabian, Turk, Belgian, Spanish, Friesian, and more. Some horses were created for speed, others to pull heavy loads, thirds to tolerate low temperatures…
My favorite is Arabian (the photo with me next to the horse). What a beautiful creature! Light, long legs, short torso… They are also very intelligent. Napoleon and Alexander the Great loved this breed too.
The Spanish horse made us all smile. The way it walks looks like a speed-up video or a cartoon, but it is totally natural. The horse was not trained to walk like that; it’s one of the breed’s characteristics.
So if you would like to learn more about horse breeds, definitely watch this show. It starts right after the Hall of Champions Show and takes place in a next-door barn.
If you would like to get the best view, choose a sector opposite from the entrance. For some reason, it’s the only one that is not shady. But if you prefer the shade, choose any seats under a roof.
After this show, go back to the Hall of Champions and ask a worker to tell you more about the Champs. There will be just a few spectators so you will get lots of opportunities to take pictures, ask questions, pet and even feed them.
By the way, once a month, they choose a volunteer to ride a Horse named Point Given without a saddle. You get on, and the worker smacks the horse’s butt. It gallops through the alley and, in the end, gets on its legs.
Ha! Ha! Just kidding:).
Horse/Pony Riding at Kentucky Horse Park
The worker from the Visitor’s Center was right; 12:15 pm is the best time for horse riding if you want to see all the shows. We just finished taking pictures and went straight to take that ride.
The day was cloudy and pleasantly windy, so we all were fine with open shoulders, but sunscreen is a must if you come on a sunny day. It’s a half an hour slow pace ride with a group of 30 other riders. Water bottles are not allowed, so drink your water and use a bathroom before you go because you will not stop anywhere.
At the very beginning, you will be asked to split into two groups, the beginners and the experienced riders. You are experienced if you rode 10 or more hours. Both of my older kids and I were experienced.
I asked why they did that; the worker said beginners get very obedient horses that follow the leader. None of the horses are out of control, but some express more will than others. And I witnessed it myself. My horse named Honey tried to turn away or to slow down. The horse in front of us kept biting another horse’s butt, making it messing up the line.
The one behind me was trying to itch its head against my leg. One other horse was weaving the whole time, and the second-last horse was stubborn and refused to go even with the effort of two people. Fun! Eventually, we all moved on and had the most beautiful and relaxing ride surrounded by green pastures and trees. It was fabulous!
Talk to a walker closest to you during the ride; she will tell you many interesting stories and facts about the horses. For instance, her horse was fidgety and loud the whole way. She said it acts this way because usually, they let him go and run around freely, but they have to ride him every day, and he doesn’t like it. So he throws back his head and knocked her in the nose several times. Or another horse is great while you are riding it, but it bites you as soon as you get on the ground. Yeah…
The horse ride is for kids 7 years and older, so my two-year-old did a pony ride instead. He was thrilled! Now every time we say the word “horse,” he says: “Me ride more!” So I think we have to buy a pony now.
Options for lunch
After the ride, we got all hungry. The park has several stations where we could buy some dry snacks and drinks. They also have a restaurant that was closed due to Covid. So we just got some sandwiches in the nearest fast food and had a picnic next to the enormous playground. Kids quickly ate and spent about half an hour chasing each other and doing slides and swings.
There is a Kid’s barn, and our kids had the most fun jumping there over the obstacles.
Competitions
In the afternoon, they repeat the Hall of Champions Show and Parade of Breeds Show; it’s your chance to recap if you missed it or enjoy it the second time. We were having lunch during those shows, but there was a competition going on, so we checked on it. The racing part was interesting, but the other parts were not so intense. Riders showed movements and walks, and kid’s got bored, so we left. One thing I can tell, ALL the participants were stunningly beautiful.
We got to the last show at 3:30 pm, the Derby Winner Nightcap, where a worker lets horses out to a fenced yard and shares facts of their lives. It’s your chance to ask any questions about the horse you see. It was interesting to know that some horses can eat and do not gain weight, others eat and get fat, so they have to put horses on a slow-feeding diet. It’s when they put some bag with a hole on a nuzzle, and the horse still can eat, but the amount of food is smaller, so it eats less.
International Museum of the Horse.
After this show, we had about an hour, and we spent it in the International Museum of the Horse. One hour is not enough to explore, read, play, touch, and hear everything that offers the largest museum in the world dedicated to the history of all horses. Learn here how relationships developed between people and horses from ancient times up to nowadays.
Throughout the museum, our kids would find interactive stands with toys of flips to read. This is where they would spend most of the time. They didn’t want to leave, and we, of course, couldn’t read and search everything in the 60 000 square feet museum.
Museums are fun! But my kid’s favorite part was, of course, horse riding. My oldest son wished they let us do some tricks and somersaults while riding horses. Well, maybe next time;).
I enjoyed the trip to Kentucky Horse Park all over, the time in the park, and working on this article.
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Hi Friends, I chose a great place for you to put on your food bucket list. Visit this one absolutely adorable and check on Aquarium Restaurant in Nashville, TN pictures!
Aquarium Restaurant in Nashville, TN pictures. Interior
This seafood restaurant in an Opry Mills Shopping Center is not only a restaurant but a kind of sightseeing. It greets you with a tank with cute fishes. That one is small compared to a tank that you find inside.
The enormous 200,000 gallons tank filled with tropical fishes, and they are not your ordinary ones from a pet store, and not even all aquariums carry them, but they are really amazing examples of sharks, pufferfishes, stingrays, even morena was hiding there in a hole, the more you look, the more you find. It amazed my kids. They were observing how the habitats eat, swim, hide, and chase each other. It was a great activity to occupy them while waiting for food.
It is pretty dark in the restaurant. The light is bluish, which makes you feel you are dining on the bottom of a sea. And they have pleasant music playing in the background. Although I must confess with the noise level between music and kids screaming with excitement, it was pretty loud there.
We came for supper, and the restaurant was full. I think wonderful food combined with an extraordinary interior makes this place very popular.
Aquarium Restaurant in Nashville, TN pictures. Service
We were seated in a comfortable half-circle-shaped booth and studied the menu. If it is a seafood restaurant (which it is), Kevin and I aim for seafood; kids get whatever they are craving for.
Our server was a very nice and friendly guy. He gave us some recommendations on the most popular item on the menu, which we followed and ordered.
While taking our order, he educated us on fishes in the tank. Kids were interested in the yellow fish that appeared to be a Dog Face Puffer Fish. Now we have to get one… We literally could ask anything about any fish in the tank. He was very knowledgeable. He could tell where they live, how big they grow, what they eat and etc. Impressive!
This guy did his job very well. He advised us to get a Landry’s card, which is free and would save us 25 dollars on next visit, it also helped us to get seated faster in (Joe’s Crab Shack) another restaurant of the chain.
Food. Aquarium Restaurant in Nashville, TN pictures
I got Sauteed Gulf Snapper, Kevin got Tilapia New Orleans. Kids got 2 Surfers Mac and Cheese and Skipper’s Shrimp as you can see, kids’ meals come with two sides. Michael picked fruits, and my daughter picked mashed potatoes and fruit and picked tilapia with fruits for the youngest one. Maria almost always gets macaroni and cheese at restaurants. She is a big macaroni and cheese expert, and these were not her favorite; she said they were too cheesy, but my youngest eat them all.
Our meals were pretty good, and portions were significant. We didn’t plan to take leftovers home, and I must confess two entrees and three kids’ meals were too much for our family of five. So I would get a salad instead of one entrée, share it with Kevin, and get only two kids’ meals. One kid’s meal was perfect for a ten-year-old boy and younger kids could easily share.
For dessert, kids got Sharkey Freeze in a character cup. There is a little toy at the bottom of the cup, and the kids were doubly pleased. Next, Kevin and I got chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. That would be my husband’s favorite dessert, super sweet, chocolaty with ice cream on the top.
Cleanliness. Aquarium Restaurant in Nashville, TN pictures.
Cleanliness is one of the key requirements for me when I dine in. If the restaurant is not clean, I would not recommend it and would not come back. The restrooms were clean, which is a good sign.
Total
All that experience cost us about 110 dollars, including tips.
We left full and happy. I would come back for food and hear more facts about those marine creatures. They also have mermaid shows and educational tours that sound appealing.
Hi friends, I shared The 12 Top Exciting things to do in Orlando with kids in the last post. In this post, I will share the best family restaurants that will double your fun while you are in Orlando, Florida. They all have a great interior, unique atmosphere, great food, and the best desserts in Orlando. Prices are above average (40 dollars and up for an entrée) but fair compared to food quality and ingredients. The restaurants are perfect for a special event or high-end craving food and want to spice your trip with a memorable meal. I also included some tips on how to make these visits more affordable.
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All these restaurants require reservations, and it took us about 2 hours to finish our meals, which was a pleasant break for tired legs and relief from masks on a hot day.
When you visit Universal Parks in Orlando, stop by at this black-colored restaurant that looks like a factory. You will be surprised by what you see inside.
Best Family Restaurants in Orlando with Delectable Food.
We were in awe of the great food choices and an impressive amount of desserts.
Best Family Restaurants in Orlando with Delectable Food.
When you go to a place like that, you always expect they have something to surprise you with. This time the surprise was sweet. Chocolate Emporium is famous for its milkshakes. It’s not only delectable, but it also comes in an immense size. Unfortunately, we made a mistake and ordered two desserts, and one would be enough for our crew of two adults and two kids under nine y.o. So we had to take another one to dessert for the next day for the entire family.
Tip for Universal Parks.
We figured it is worth it to get seasonal passes, which pay itself with two separate visits. One parent should contact the more expensive Preferred Membership for free parking and food/merchandise discounts, and everyone else gets a cheaper seasonal pass. So long as blackout dates are not an issue, this plan works great.
Tip.
Our Preferred Pass got us a discount at this restaurant.
It is at Disney Resort, but you can dine there even if not staying at the hotel. Just make a reservation. Parking is free.
African restaurant with Indian food. I know it doesn’t sound clear. To make it simple, I will add that the interior is all about Africa, but most items on the menu have curry. I am not a big fan of Indian food, but this restaurant is worth visiting at least once, and honestly, I plan to come back. The food is spicy and delicious. Although bread is not something, I would advertise but get their flatbread, please. It is so good. Freshly made, cooked especially for you, have different flavors, and comes with several dips. The dips’ taste varies from sweet to spicy and everything in between. YUM!
This restaurant is not only beautiful inside, but it also has an outstanding view of the Animal Kingdom Lodge savanna. You can watch gazelles, zebras, giraffes, kudu, ostriches, cranes, and more than you dine. Unfortunately, we came for supper, and it was dark outside, but I plan to visit during the day next time.
Are you an Italian food lover? Lasagna, spaghetti, calamari make you drool? Then visit this restaurant. It is at Disney Springs, and no Disney Parks ticket is required, and parking is free.
This restaurant and its back story melt my heart. It was named after Maria and Enzo, who fell in love at school and separated during a war. Enzo became a pilot, flew to America, and by coincidence found Maria there. This beautiful restaurant appeared due to their “lived happily ever after.” The restaurant is themed as an airport gate. You get checked in by an administrator dressed up as an air hostess. She leads you to a gorgeous dining room decorated with travel-themed wall paintings. The restaurant is spacious with a high ceiling and a beautiful interior.
Food is the same great. Among other dishes, we got crispy calamari, which was the best item on the menu. Some places know how to make them; some don’t. Maria and Enzo are experts in this area.
Kids got ice cream; I got cannoli. Chocolate ice cream is always good. Right? I couldn’t figure out what they made it off; Cannoli had a thick cream that was not too sweet. If you like desserts that do not cause cavities, that would be your choice.
There are also other great things going on at Disney Springs. We were lucky to hear a cover band playing Lincoln Park music. It was a pleasant surprise. There are plenty of different shops and other restaurants at the place.
The place is spacious, and the interior is uncomplicated. Some marine-themed signs here and there, but I liked the aroma most. Once you enter the restaurant, you get wrapped up by this flavor of baked seafood with butter and garlic and something yummy that makes your tummy grumble. There are several Crab Shacks in Orlando. We were next to the Orlando Eye (a sky wheel) with free parking.
This is the most favorite seafood restaurant in Orlando for our family. It provided the same high-quality fresh-made food, excellent service every time we went there, and it was reasonably priced. Kids were begging us to go back, and we were glad to revisit. We liked it so much that we went there three times during our two-week trip. Kids loved crabs, it seemed like it always was not enough, but by the end of the third visit, they got more content.
The big hit would be seafood pot. It provides a great variety and a generous amount of seafood for a reasonable price. We would get one per adult, and kids would order crab legs from the kids’ menu. Everything would be gone; nothing would be left.
Desserts are super sweet, and you can get rice crispy treat crab or a sea star to paint. Adults enjoyed s’mores dessert. Boy, it was a lot of calories!
Tip.
It’s a chain of Seafood restaurants owned by Landry’s, Inc., the second-largest seafood dining chain after Red Lobster. If this information doesn’t boost your appetite, it saves you money. I would highly recommend you sign up for a Landry Card and save 25 dollars on your next visit to any chain restaurant. This card gives 1 point for each dollar spent. Two hundred fifty points equal 25 dollars. It also helped us to get seated faster.
The place is popular and gets filled up quickly. Get there for early dining time around 4 – 4:30 pm to avoid crowds. It takes a while to get your food, so don’t worry, you will get hungry when it arrives.
Tip.
The following four restaurants are on the territory of Disney Parks, so enjoy their fantastic food while you are visiting Disney. You will get a discount if you carry a seasonal pass or a Disney club membership card.
It is in Animal Kingdom Park, and there is no better place to put this Asian restaurant.
This is my husband’s favorite family restaurant on the list. He liked it all over. His food was fantastic, and he was happy with the prices, service, and interior. I have a feeling we will go back. It has a beautiful interior decorated with all sorts of gorgeous pieces of art.
This restaurant had exotic dishes on the menu, and we all were curious about what we were going to get. The home run of the meal was a dessert, which is simply a culinary piece of art. Everything on the plate, including the words and image of Simba, is eatable. And this Lion King dessert was perfect. Usually, desserts taste too sweet for me, but this one was ideal. This melting in my mouth caramel mousse, Chocolate Brownie with Strawberry-Mango Sauce, takes well deserved first place on my desserts list.
Tip.
If you cancel Disney Dining reservations within 24 hours, they will charge you a fee; however, they will reverse the charge if you call the dining reservations line.
I think this would be my 2-year-old son’s favorite family restaurant in Orlando because of the Disney Characters that would come out every 15 minutes and would wave to him and other guests. The interior was simple, but the food was good and very expensive. Attention: we paid 250 dollars for two adults and two kids’ three-course meals. Each of us got a salad, entrée, and dessert.
Yay! One of my items on a food bucket list was to try truffle. Those two large flat pieces on the dish in the middle look like tofu, but it is a Black Truffle mushroom stem. Yes, they are that big and delicious. They call it the delicacy of all mushrooms, and now I can say it’s true.
The desserts were exceptionally delicious. My favorite Cream Brulee was gone in a blink of an eye, and I even didn’t share! Our kids got cold desserts. Michael ordered a lemon Sorbet, which made me wonder how they made it? It was completely white but didn’t feel/look like snow. It had a different texture. Undescribable. You have to try to understand.
It is a spacious restaurant with a beautiful view from the windows found in the Magic Kingdom Park. I love when I am dining, and sunlight comes through the windows. It makes me feel thrilled and relaxed. And this is how I felt today, having a splendid dining experience here.
And desserts are just beautiful and in a tremendous amount.
I couldn’t eat any of those desserts because they had brown sugar, and I am allergic to it, but I got this raspberry sorbet that was a pure delight on a hot sunny day. Yum! They made it out of strawberry puree, and it even had seeds in it.
We found this Canadian/French restaurant at Hollywood Studios.
It is a Canadian restaurant with lots of choices that include maple syrup. Unfortunately, I am allergic to this substance, but one option worked for me, so we all had a fabulous lunch.
Just look at this chocolate ice cream moose! So cute!
So that was my list of fantastic family restaurants. Share in the comments below which one did you like the most.
Also, feel free to share this list with friends. They will be thankful for tasty reference:).
Hello, friends! We just got back from Florida and had a total blast and flood of activities that I am eager to share with you so you too would have a list of the 12 Top Exciting Things to Do in Orlando with Kids. I listed them below in random order with some highlights. Let’s GO!
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And I will start with a tip.
Tip # 1. To make the most of your experience, buck and time always, always get deals. The next 5 activities we got from Groupon and their prices were a fraction of what we would get online directly from companies’ sites. You can also use the https://www.sightseeingpass.com/ website for amazing deals.
This is one of the craziest and awesome experiences I’ve ever had. While it’s all loud and bumpy (if the weather is windy), the view and feelings are just breathtaking. I remember ten years ago when we visited Niagara Falls; there were helicopter rides for just 300 dollars per person. My husband and I were passing by that place on our first-anniversary road trip to Canada, and it was big money, so we decided we will do it but at a different time.
Can you imagine how excited I was when we found one in Orlando for the entire family? Even our two years old son took the ride and said he liked it. You can choose to fly over Disney, Oldtown, and some other places. We choose Old town and Gatorland. I was both nervous and excited.
Water skiing in Orlando seemed too risky for me, but we found this outstanding place in RD Keene park surrounded by luxury villas of celebrities such as Tiger Woods, an owner of West Gate, and some others. Plus, the ski business is owned by Franck Desboyaux. If you didn’t know, they rank him second in the world in waterskiing.
The ski instructor assured us that there were zero alligator attacks on this lake since the Civil war. All that together convinced me to try waterskiing, and we had a BLAST! Both Michael and Maria got on within the first three tries and Kevin as well. I was the only one who didn’t manage to get up, but I still had fun.
Oldtown. 3rd of the 12 top things to do in Orlando with kids.
It is one of the places that I thought, “meh. Everything is old and outdated, but I changed my mind on the way. Everything was reasonably priced but yet of high quality.
They have an awesome magic show where the magician demonstrates different styles of tricks. I was impressed with the one where you sit very close to the table, and spectators can see all the manipulations from different angles, and yet he still manages to trick us. It was the best 10 dollars spent.
I am not a fan of any hamburgers, but the one from A&W All American Food was juicy and tender and tasted really well, and french fries were fresh made and crispy. And the root beer was just amazing.
I tried my first Garra fish SPA. What a ticklish experience! Cried from laughter.
Wonderworks. 4th of the 12 top things to do in Orlando with kids.
It is an indoor science-focused amusement park. And it is so fun! From giant bubbles to water illusion and electricity experiments. If your child likes science or loves to explore, take him there—fun for the entire family from 2 years old to 99+.
Wild Florida. 5th of the 12 top things to do in Orlando with kids.
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A great place for animal lovers. We did a lemur and sloth encounter. Kids were thrilled and loved to pet and feed those cute animals.
It is the only place where I saw a giant alligator being hand-fed. It made us all a bit nervous… Highly recommend you watch the show with Crushy.
This is a pedal boat which means one person pedals others push. It goes as fast as you can:))). To be serious, it is an airboat, and riding it gives you an unforgettable sense of freedom. The cool breeze and wildlife around you make you scream with excitement.
Gatorland. 6th of the 12 top things to do in Orlando with kids.
I would highly recommend their zipline. It was the best one for a while, and now it is one of the ten best zip lines in the US. You go right over gators!
You never know until you try. I never thought I would try an alligator. It is more like I always was afraid to be an alligator’s snack. Well, I tried it there, and I wouldn’t say I liked it. I hope all gators have the same thought when seeing me. Well, this place is all about gators. I think they have a few hundreds of them. Small, medium, huge. Green, browning, albino. You can feed an alligator or watch them “hunt.” When I left the place, I had a feeling like I am not sure I liked everything I saw, but I definitely learned a lot.
This attraction is considered one of the 10 best ziplines in the US and is an absolute must-try. It is long, and you swing over the gators, which makes it extra exciting.
Universal Studios. 7th of the 12 top things to do in Orlando with kids.
We call it the Park of Harry Potter, which is where we spend most of the time. It’s just so awesome to be a wizard! Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is our favorite ride. Please make sure you check our blog on a visit to Universal Studios here.
Legoland. 7th of the 12 top things to do in Orlando with kids.
Our kids love this park. It is perfect for kids between 2 and 12—lots of rides and playgrounds. Waterpark costs extra, but it is a perfect place for a hot afternoon. We stayed at the Legoland Hotel; it was super fun and the food there is the best! I have the whole blog post devoted to this cool place. You can find it here.
Tip 2. We got a great deal for the next three places from here. It was a package with a 50 % discount to Discovery Cove, plus 2 weeks in Seaworld and Aquatica, on top of it we got free parking. The deals change, so keep an eye to catch the best for you.
Discovery Cove. 8th of the 12 top things to do in Orlando with kids.
A luxury place for memorable experiences. Swimming with dolphins, swimming with sharks, feeding exotic birds. It is all here. If you have these activities on your bucket list, no need to travel far; just stop by here. Their lazy river is so cool! You go through caves and swim over treasure chests and cannons. The atmosphere of adventure persuades you wherever you go.
Sea World. 9th of the 12 top things to do in Orlando with kids.
This is an enormous place with different animal shows and exhibits. The shows are spectacular, and we watched them each several times. Try feeding sea lions and stingrays. The kids were thrilled doing it. Try SeaWorld during the big Holiday season. Last time we were there for Christmas and saw a beautiful ice skating show and the decorations were amazing!
Aquatica. 11th of the 12 top things to do in Orlando with kids.
A huge water park for the entire family, baby pools, slides, lazy river, gigantic water playground. Perfect for a hot sunny day. They also have a dolphin slide where the slide goes underwater, and you can see dolphins playing around. Spectacular!
Disney World. 12 of the 12 top things to do in Orlando with kids.
And last but not least is Disney World! It includes four Theme parks that are all by themselves are a separate world.
Animal Kingdom
Ah! My favorite park. I love animals, and watching them is a pure delight for me. We do Kilimanjaro Safaris every time we go there. Great ride, knowledgeable guide, lots of great animals, and a bumpy road:).
Enjoy! I would watch all their shows again and again. I tried Avatar Flight of Passage. Another of their most recent ride is Na’vi River Journey. For more references, check our recent visit to this great park here.
Epcot
What an outstanding idea of placing 11 countries in one park and run amazing festivals throughout the year! We were lucky that our trip falls into the Taste of Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Beautiful! The park is great by itself, but during the flower festival, it’s blossoming. If you can plan your trip for one of their seasonal celebrations, do it. You will get extra magic if it is even possible with Disney.
Hollywood Studios
The highlight would be the Star Wars Zone. If I had to choose just one ride, I would do Rise of the Resistance. It’s a mixture of animation, real actions, and illusion. (I know it’s hard to explain). You participate in an adventure, where you will be kidnaped, escape and get involved in an intergalactic war… And yeah, you will be in the epicenter of the event. Unforgettable impression. My older kids liked it, and they both took it twice and wanted some more.
Magic Kingdom
The park has a lot of rides for the whole family. Our favorite ones are Space Mountain, the Pirates The of The Caribbean, Peter Pan’s Flight, and It’s a Small World.
I hope you liked the list. Let me know in the comments below if I missed any great attractions. And if you find this post useful, feel free to share it with your friends.
