Tag Archives: Travel

The King and Prince Resort on St. Simons Island, Georgia

Remodeled King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort

The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort

Location:
201 Arnold Road
St. Simons Island, GA

About a 5.5 hour drive from Atlanta
About an hour drive from Jacksonville International Airport

Reservations: 877-724-3170
www.kingandprince.com

St. Simons Island, GA map

St. Simons Island, Georgia is home to an award-winning vacation destination called The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort.  If you live in Georgia, chances are you and/or your friends and family have been to The King and Prince and many families have memories of visiting the quaint seaside resort for decades.   The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort, opened in 1941, recently underwent a head-turning remodel.

My family stayed in one of the The King and Prince’s rental homes called the Familia Meadows House in July and experienced the beautiful renovations first-hand.  During our stay at The King and Prince last August, Bud St. Pierre – director of sales, explained the upcoming renovations and while I had reservations about the indoor heated pool being taken out and replaced with a seating area, I can’t imagine it any other way now.  The King and Prince’s lobby, bar and restaurant were completely remodeled and look better than ever.   It’s hard to believe that the work was completed in just three months.

The King and Prince Resort on St. Simons Island, Georgia

The newly remodeled lobby features a huge fireplace with a plush and relaxing seating area where the indoor pool used to be.  My kids were concerned that the indoor pool was ‘missing’ but quickly formed a bond with the seating area and view in the lobby, like kids do.  The mixture of hardwood, tile, modern and vintage fixtures in the lobby and dining areas grab visitors attention while at the same time the beautiful use of these elements relaxes the mind and body.  The gorgeous view of the ocean from the lobby and ECHO restaurant and bar, doesn’t hurt.

St. Simons Island is a barrier island off the southern coast of Georgia that offers visitors a wealth of scenic views, historical sights and tours such as Fort Frederica and St. Simons Island Lighthouse Museum as well as wildlife viewing areas, great food, fishing, and boutique shopping.  St. Simons Island isn’t what I would call a touristy beach town but more of a town where year-round residents welcome visitors and share the beauty St. Simons Island has to offer with guests. 

St. Simons Island, Georgia beach

What my kids love most about The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort and St. Simons Island the beach.  The hard-sand beaches make for amazing sand castles, great bike riding, and easy walking.  Twice a day, as if by magic, large sandbars appear about 25-75 yards from shore and closer in some places.   Many visitors swim or kayak to the sandbar to look at shells.   During low tide my kids found dozens of empty knobbed whelk shells in the large rocks.  We learned from a St. Simons Island native who walks the beach every morning, that the snails living inside the knobbed whelk scurry (slowly I suppose) out of their shell to get to water once the shell gets stuck in the rocks at low tide.  

The King and Prince St. Simons Island sandbar

The King and Prince Guests See A Lot of Marine Life

You can’t get much better than St. Simons Island in regards to viewing marine life.  During our visit this month we saw small sand sharks playing near the sandbar early in the morning when the tide is very low as well as lots of hermit crabs, blue crabs, purple crabs, horseshoe crabs, and sea anemone.

Grab your family and watch the short video below to see what is so great about
The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort on St. Simons Island, GA

About 15 minutes from The King and Prince Beach & Golf resort is one of the greatest opportunities for your kids to learn about and see what is in the waters of the St. Simons Sound.  On board the Lady Jane shrimpin’ excursion is marine biologist, Mr. Phil – as the kids called him, who explained in detail the marine life that was pulled up in the net during the 2 hour ride through the Sound.  The kids loved seeing and learning about the stingrays and squid while I enjoyed learning about the delicate yet thriving ecosystem of the area.  I highly recommend that you take a trip on the Lady Jane shrimpin’ boat during your next visit to St. Simons Island.

St. Simons Island beach - kayak and bike rentals

Water Activities

Not one’s to miss out on adventure, my husband and 14-year-old son took to the ocean in kayaks.  Kayaks are available to rent right from the beach at The King and Prince and if kayaking isn’t your thing, hop on a bike rented from one of the local shops and ride the shores to take in the scenery and wildlife.  For the entire family, I recommend hopping on a trolley tour of St. Simons Island.  Standup paddleboarding is big now and we got to see plenty of paddle boarding action, including paddle boarding yoga, from the beach.  Paddleboards are also available to rent.  Visit the concierge desk at the resort to plan your itinerary during your stay on the island.

The King and Prince Resort Accommodations

Accommodations include 2-bedroom villas, oceanfront suites, oceanfront rooms, partial ocean view rooms, resort-view rooms, standard rooms, and private guest houses. Guests can enjoy access to the onsite pools and exercise facility.  Spa/massage services are available in the Royal Treatment Cottage.

During our stay in July, we stayed at the Familia Meadows House at The King and Prince.  The five level, 4 bedroom pet-friendly house has 4 decks/patios, a loft living room with large flat screen TV, stainless-steel appliances, beautiful hardwood floors, a huge walk-in closet in the master bedroom, and a fenced in yard.  The top deck looks out onto the resort property and has a fireplace, seating area, and a sink.  The kids spent most of the time we were in the house on this deck.

The King and Prince Resort - St. Simons Island Meadows House

The King and Prince Dining Options

ECHO is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and its menu, which changes seasonally, features ingredients provided by fisherman and farms in the local region such as fresh Georgia shrimp and peaches as well as local cheeses.   On days you want to relax by the pool all day, The Sea Shack Bar + Bites, will happily serve your family items such as all-beef hot dogs, chicken tenders, ceasar salad, and shrimp cocktail.

Connect with The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort

The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort
201 Arnold Road
St. Simons Island, GA

Reservations: 877-724-3170
www.kingandprince.com

More articles in The King and Prince Resort / St. Simons Island, GA series:

Lexus RX suv

Lexus RX 450h Test Drive – A Safe, Family-Friendly, Luxury Hyrbid SUV

MSRP: Starting at $47,445
ESTIMATED MPG: 30–32 City / 28 HWY
ENGINE: V6 | 3.5 L | 295hp

Family Car Review - Test Drive

I recently test drove a Lexus RX 450h, a five-passenger luxury hybrid mid-sized crossover for a week and neither my kids or I wanted  to part with it.   Experiencing the luxury hybrid SUV for a week gave me some insight that parents who are looking for a safe, luxury suv will appreciate having.  The RX is available in three styles; the RX 450h that I drove for a week is the hybrid version of the RX.   The RX 350 is a regular gas model and the RX 350 F is the sport style.

Lexus RX suv

Being short (about 5’3″) can pose a challenge when adjusting a driver’s seat and steering wheel in many vehicles.   Because of my height, or lack of, I sometimes find it difficult to see the top of the speedometer and gauges because of the position of the steering wheel in relation to my height but between the seat and steering wheel adjustment options (tilt/telescopic) that the RX 450h offers, I was able to see all of the gauges and sit at a comfortably height.  The fact that the steering wheel is leather wrapped providing a comfortable and smooth grip, doesn’t hurt!

A full hybrid, the RX 450h can operate in electric only, gas-engine only or combined gas and electric modes.   The engine has multiple driving modes: Normal, Sport, ECO and EV, with a net 295-hp.  I accelerated from 0-60 in 7.9 seconds, pretty fast for a mid-sized SUV.  The RX 450h doesn’t make a big production out of being a hybrid.  There were no noticeable sputters, sometimes experienced with a hybrid vehicle, when the RX 450h switched from hybrid to gas or from an engine-off stop to a start which made the ride smooth and quiet. 

Safety First!

Parents will appreciate the 1-year subscription trial to SafetyConnect, a package that includes Stolen Vehicle Location, Emergency Assistance Button (SOS), Automatic Collision Notification and Enhanced Roadside Assistance. SafetyConnect is linked to the 24-hour Safety Connect Response Center. The Heads Up Display in the dash keeps information clearly visible while driving. This feature projects information on the windshield, such as speed, audio, RPM and current gear.   To avoid a collision, the Pre-Collison System (PCS) will prepare Brake Assist (increasing the braking pressure) as well as retract the front seat belts and reduce the throttle.

The RX has a voice activated navigation system and a hard drive that stores needed maps.  The optional voice activated navigation system offers real-time traffic and weather alerts.  I really like having real-time alerts when on road trips with my kids.  It’s nice to know when we might run into significant traffic and be given an alternate route.

Lexus RX 450 and 350

I all but refuse to drive a vehicle that doesn’t have a backup camera.  I’ve heard one too many stories about a child being injured or worse, because a driver didn’t see the child behind the car.  While our kids have been taught to never go off the sidewalk to our driveway when someone is in the driver seat, kids are impulsive and don’t always remember the rules.   The RX’s backup camera allowed me to see if kids were behind the vehicle before backing up.   The outside mirrors are heated to ensure constant visibility even in a snowstorm, something we don’t experience a lot of in Georgia but I’m sure those of you in the Northern states are all too aware of.  To also help with visibility, the front-door glass is water-repellent, and the rain-sensing intermittent windshield wipers keep water away.

The Blind Spot Monitor alerted me  when a vehicle entered my blind spot.   To help with parking, the Intuitive Parking Assist let me know where an object is, which is especially helpful during the parallel parking process, something I luckily don’t have to do often but wouldn’t be such a burden to do in a Lexus RX.

Other safety features include a four-sensor, four-channel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Traction Control (TRAC), Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) which help prevent a skid and the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) which keeps the wheels from slipping.

The Lexus RX has airbags galore.  It has 10 standard airbags.  The front-passenger seat is designed to detect whether the seat is occupied by an adult, a child or is vacant. In case the system detects a child or empty passenger seat, the system prevents the passenger’s front, side and knee airbags from being deployed. 

Once we got home from a long day at the lacrosse field, I was able to use HomeLink, a transceiver that enables the garage, home lighting, gate and home security systems, making for an easy transitioning after a long day.

How Comfortable is the 2014 Lexus RX?

The interior cabin is stealthily quiet.  Like I mentioned earlier, the driver’s seat is highly adjustable but the front passenger seat is as well.  In addition to being adjustable, the 10-way power-adjustable front seats that are both heated and ventilated for either cold mornings or hot afternoons.  The Lexus Memory System will remember the driver’s seat settings, outside mirrors and steering wheel and adjust accordingly.  My  husband is almost a full foot taller than me so a driver’s seat memory system is something we look for in a vehicle so we don’t have to go through the cumbersome task of adjusting the seat, mirrors, and steering wheel when we switch who’s driving.

Lexus RX 450h SUV test drive

My daughter loved that the RX’s rear seats recline; a feature not found in many mid-sized SUV’s.  The rear seats also slide forward to make room for the cargo area.  The back seat armrest provides a great little storage area for a book or dvd along with two cup holders.  Ensuring the kids devices are always fully charged was a breeze with the 120-volt outlet easily accessible to the kids.

The RX 450h cargo area holds an impressive 80.3 cu ft, the same as the non-hybrid RX 350 models.

What About Entertainment?

The 2014 Lexus RX 450 comes with a Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound Audio System, complete with a DVD/CD player and 15 speakers. There is also a USB for an iPOD as well as HD Radio with iTunes.  My daughter and her friend didn’t hesitate to jump in the backseat for a short road trip because of the dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system with 7-inch LCD screens behind the front headrests, along with wireless headsets and a wireless remote.  They enjoyed a movie while I enjoyed peace and quiet in the front cabin. 🙂

What Else?

MPG is a big deal for the 2015 Lexus RX 450h.  It gets 18 city, 25 highway and 21 combined.  The RX 450h accelerates from 0-60 in 7.7 seconds, should the need ever arise.

Lexus RX Models

  • RX350 starts at $40,795
  • RX350F Sport starts at $48,535
  • RX 450h starts at $47,445

If you’re budget is in the $40k-$50k range, you can feel confident that you won’t have to sacrifice comfort and style for reliability if your family chooses the Lexus RX 350 or 450h.

Go to Lexus.com to learn more about the Lexus RX and test drive a RX 450h at your local Lexus dealership!

 

 

The Marriott Rewards Member Experience {Video} + Year Of Surprises Giveaway

The Marriott Rewards Member Experience {Video}

Mom Central Consulting Marriott Rewards Marriott Rewards

Lately, I don’t know which end is up.  Not generally speaking, but around my house.  When the kids are out of school I sort of lose my mind between trying to work, entertain my youngest, be a mediator between the kids, and keep up with the dishes and laundry..my brain turns a little mushy in the summer.   Given that, I like to get away from home as much as possible in the summer.  Away from the dishes, laundry, and yard work.  I actually enjoy my job though so I take it with me wherever I go. 🙂

I’m always on the lookout for fun places to take the kids and recently got enough points through the Marriott Rewards® ambassador campaign I’m participating in to take my daughter and one of her friend’s on a girl’s trip to Marriott’s Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville.  I could make a long story short by telling you that Madelyn wants to live at Opryland, or any hotel for that matter, but I want to tell you why our experience at Opryland and other Marriott hotels we’ve stayed at this summer, has been so great.

When my daughter, her friend, and I arrived at Opryland after the from Atlanta, we were thrilled to see that there was a line for Marriott Rewards® Platinum Elite members… a SWEET reward after driving for 5 hours and hauling way too much luggage for three people, through the hotel.  Hallelujah!  The receptionist talked to us like she knew us and when she told us that our room was upgraded and gave us a $10 voucher to spend at the hotel, Marriott Rewards® Platinum Elite member perks, Madelyn just about “fainted”.  She rolled her eyes back and her jaw dropped.   I think she thought $10 was more like a million dollars. 😉

Our room was gorgeous.  It had a balcony and a view of the atrium.  The girl’s could have spent the entire trip on the balcony but after they learned that there were two pools, tons of shops, a frozen yogurt shop, and a boat ride, they practically ran out of the room.

Marriott Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, TV

During our stay at Opryland, a Marriott property we received excellent service.  I had to call the front desk a few times to ask about the indoor boat ride schedule and pool hours, and later about late check-out and each time I called I was greeted by name and overall pleasantry.

Opryland pool

The Marriott Rewards member perk I appreciated the most during our stay was late checkout.  The girls and I stayed up pretty late swimming, shopping, and wandering around Opryland and it was really nice to know that we didn’t have to wake up early and rush to shower, eat breakfast and pack the morning of checkout.  You’ll definitely enjoy this perk!  As a Marriott Rewards® Platinum Elite member you’ll also get 48-Hour Guaranteed Availability, Platinum Exclusive Elite offers, dedicated Platinum reservation line, free wifi, and select Marriott properties offer Platinum Elite members free breakfast during their stay.

Watch my video below to hear about my experience as a Marriott Rewards® member

 

Go to Marriott.com/rewards to become a Marriott Rewards® member today, free!

marriottrewardslarge

 

Now that I’ve shared some of the benefits of being a Marriott Rewards® member with you I want to tell you about the Marriott Rewards® Year Of Surprises giveaway that is going on right now.  Marriott Rewards® is celebrating their 30th birthday with the Year of Surprises.com giveaway contest, during which you can nominate someone who deserves a vacation.  If the person you nominate wins, Marriott will throw them a huge surprise party/vacation!  Creative submissions are a must, so plan ahead!  The third round of nominations begins August 1st and ends August 31st, 2014.  Read more about the Year of Surprises contest and the yearofsurprises.com rules.

Enjoy earning points and rewards during your next Marriott stay!

– Alicia

 

Mom Central Consulting Marriott Rewards Marriott Rewards

Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival Presented by HGTV March 5th – May 18th

Heading to Walt Disney World this Spring?

Starting March 5th at Epcot® is the International Flower & Garden Festival Presented by HGTV!

flower-garden-beauty-beast-04

From toddler’s to adults there is something for everyone during the 10 week event.

Topiaries of some of your favorite Disney characters including:

  • Mickey, Minnie and Pluto
  • Disney•Pixar Buzz Lightyear
  • Mater’s Parts, Plants & Play Garden Disney
  • •Pixar Toy Story Characters – Woody & Lotso
  • Lady and the Tramp
  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
  • AND MORE!!

You won’t want to miss the Designer’s Stage where every weekend they have a different  HGTV and DIY popular Network personality!

Some that are lined up already to be there are Vern Yip (one of my favorite!), Chris Lambton, Matt Blashaw, Tanya Nayka and many, many more.  From help with your garden to selling your home, come and learn from these experts!

Plus, no festival would be complete without music!

Flower Power Concert Series will take place every weekend from Friday – Monday at 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM and 8:00 PM.

The music line up includes:

  • Village People
  • Paul Revere & The Raider’s
  • The Grass Roots
  • STARSHIP Starring Mickey Thomas
  • Chubby Checker  The Wildcats
  • Plus More!

PicMonkey Collage

But I think the one thing that I am looking forward to the most is the Outdoor Kitchens!  Walk your way around the countries exploring different treats from around the world.  From afternoon tea’s near the United Kingdom Pavilion, barbecue near the American Pavilion to tacos and fruity drinks near the Mexican Pavilion there is something for everyone in your group.

I have just highlighted a few of the many happenings that will be going on during Epcot®  International Flower & Garden Festival.

For more information on this event and others going on at Walt Disney World Resort on Florida or for help planning your next vacation. Contact me at kim@magicalvacationsbyme.com or find me on Facebook and on Twitter.

Image source: disneyworld.disney.go.com

Atlantis, The Palm: A Great Family Vacation Destination!

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Busy parents need vacations more than anyone else.   Can I stop there?  🙂

Have you run into the same issue as I.. you search for a family friendly vacation and most of the vacation destinations are theme and amusement parks?  If you are a busy mom but you still want to have a luxury vacation and want to bring your kids with you, then you will want to consider Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai.

Atlantis, The Palm - Dubai travel

Atlantis, The Palm, offers amenities for parents as well as lots of fun things for the children. Don’t worry about having a room designed for a toddler.  The luxury suites at Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai will have you feeling like a king and queen. Mom and Dad can schedule massages and spend time next to the pool while the children are safely looked after by their babysitting service.  There are websites that are the Best At Dubai Holidays.   Websites are often the best way to plan a vacation because they are easy to share with your family and to see all of the amenities in photographs!

The rooms have balconies with a choice of king or queen beds, and large bathrooms with walk in showers and separate tubs.  There is cable/satellite television, mini bar, bathrobes and slippers. You will stay in the lap of luxury!  A deluxe upgrade will offer you views of the Arabian Sea or a view over the beach across the Palm Island with Dubai skyline.

Just a few Atlantis, The Palm amenities

  • A sprawling water park
  • Fitness center
  • Spa
  • 20 restaurants and bars
  • Brilliant view of the azure waters of the Arabian Gulf
  • Cable/satellite TV
  • Fully stocked minibar
  • Bathrobes and slippers
  • Turn-down service
  • and much more!

You may opt for Imperial Club rooms and there are some fabulous benefits!  You will have use of the sauna, steam and jet pool, 2 complimentary head, neck, and shoulder massages per stay, and special rates for cabana rentals at the pool beach and Aquaventure.   Why on earth would you pass any of that up?   It also includes complimentary access to Atlantis Kids Club where your kids can enjoy from 10 am until 6 pm daily. Fun for them and time for you. The amenities are too many to mention but it is guaranteed that they will all make your stay the most relaxing and refreshing vacation you have had in a long while. It is almost guaranteed that it will be the best family vacation you have ever had.

Travel Tips

Travel can be tricky when you travel with your family.  The flight to Dubai may be a long one, so here are some tips for traveling with your children.

  • Children often get board on planes. The fact of the matter is that each child can carry a personal bag on the plane. Make a custom activity bag for each child containing several activities they love.
  • Put a travel pillow in each child’s bag so they can take a nap on the plane. It is a great idea to try and avoid naps before you leave so children will be tired and can pass some time sleeping.
  • Always check the weather before you pack. Make sure you are packing for the conditions. Most weather websites will give you an extended forecast. This will ensure that you don’t over pack.

If you are looking for a great getaway, either for the whole family, or just you two then Atlantis, the Palm in Dubai is the place for you. It is a great cross between family fun and adult relaxation.

Enjoy!


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