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Aloha high: Liz Jarvis discovers paradise in Hawaii

Photo: HTA/Tor Johnson
 
DREAMING of escaping to a tropical paradise? Would-be bounty hunters should head for the Hawaiian island of Oahu, and beautiful Waikiki beach.

By Liz Jarvis, LivingwithKids editor

IT doesn’t get any better than this. Offspring happily playing in the nearby pool, I’m laying on the softest golden sand, with an uninterrupted view of the clear azure Pacific ocean, the waves crashing against the shore. Every so often a surfer emerges, riding the white stuff Keanu Reeves-style.

'Magical' pre-Christmas getaways from LivingwithKids

LUCKY Liz at LivingwithKids is off to Disneyland Paris.

And she also takes the opportunity to list some more wonderful destinations for a short break before the festive season kicks in for those with a few quid to spare.

Check out Liz's picks - and see how you can book and save money here.

Photo by Emily Aitchison

From burgers and fries to escargot - how theme park food is changing

 

No burgers on the menu at Epcot's Teppan Edo. 

By Camilla Chafer

CHICKEN nuggets or burgers and fries - they're all on the menu at theme parks.

In America, your eyes may also have boggled at the turkey legs families plump for.

Who could blame you for turning your nose up at such an artery clogging, lack lustre menu? 

Photo blog: Bahamas cruise and Walt Disney World press trip

HERE are some pictures showing some of the sights on our recent press trip. Fuller reports will follow:

 

Blue Lagoon, Bahamas, where we spent a wonderful day swimming with dolphins and lazing on a beach, while our daughters played in the sea. Photo by sikulasa on Flickr.

Win a trip for four to Walt Disney World, Florida

NEWS reaches Have a Lovely Time this morning of an intriguing search to find a UK town to 'twin' with Walt Disney World, Florida. And for one family, it brings with it a chance to sample what Mickey has to offer in person.

If you reckon your city, town or village is the most magical place to live then Disney want to hear from you.

"Now's your chance to tell the world why your home town is so special," says Hugh Wood of Disney Destinations International.

From now until 22 November 2009, anyone aged over 18 in the UK can nominate their home village, town or city to become the Walt Disney World twinned town by visiting www.waltdisneyworldtwinnedtown.co.uk.

The winning location will be announced as having official Walt Disney World Twinned Town status and arrangements will be made to hold a magical Disney party in January to celebrate.

A boot scootin’ holiday: Johanna Payton on Nashville

SINCE I fell in love with country music, I’ve dreamed of visiting Nashville, writes Johanna Payton.

Taking up line dancing in 2008 did nothing to bring me to my senses, but I wasn’t sure if my partner, Matthew, and son Eliott, five, could be talked into holidaying there.

By negotiating an extended stop-over in New York en route (and selling Tennessee to Eliott as ‘cowboy world’) I eventually got my way. We were stunned by the sheer scale of The Gaylord hotel at Opryland.

Three huge, glass-ceilinged atriums house 2,881 guest rooms, nine acres of indoor gardens, the ‘Delta’ river (complete with boat ride) and a host of bars and eateries.

After dipping in one of three pools, and de-stressing in the outdoor hot tub, we devoured delicious burgers in the Jack Daniel’s Saloon.

Once we’d adjusted to the sensation of being trapped in a log flume (numerous indoor waterfalls give the resort a whiff of the theme park) we reckoned that The Gaylord is an attractive, fun and luxurious resort for families.

Jane Alexander's picky parents' guide to Walt Disney World

IF like me you've never taken much notice of what a Disney parade must be like, then the above video, by Erica at Littlemummy, shows you what to expect in just one of the many you could witness during your holiday.

Erica, along with Jane Alexander, Becky from English mum in Ireland, Lulu from Family Affairs, Laura from Are We Nearly There Yet Mummy, Alice from Dulwich Divorcee and yours truly made up the Disney Seven recently when we were flown to America courtesy of Disney.

Coming soon on Havealovelytime.com

THANK YOU so much to everyone who has been in touch to tell us about how much they have liked the look of this new blog.

And there have been a fair few - despite the rollercoaster pictures that have featured so far!

Thank you to everyone who has already commented on our posts or emailed to say they have appreciated the information included. Not surprisingly, my mega post about Disney has proved popular, with commenters also sharing their own tips and experiences.

Have you voted in our poll on 'Baby on Board' stickers yet or told us what you think about attitudes to children in public? Why not have your say?

Camilla and family are off to Denmark soon, so I'm looking forward to reading about that. Erica from Littlemummy has 'outed' herself as a member of the team too and she's off for a night in a lovely looking hotel in Inverness.

We've also prepared tips on packing, driving abroad and other handy hints. And we are set to review a range of Frommer's guide books.

Englishmum on Disney food: Gourmet delights amid the hidden Mickeys

WHO'D have thought it? The first time I tasted crab cakes and red snapper came at 1.30am our time on Disney's Boardwalk, from a very fancy menu, personalised especially for our arrival.

As someone who struggles with their weight, it's fair to say I love my food * far* too much and I eat too much crap. That's why I was worried about what would be on offer at Walt Disney World, during our PR-hosted stay. (I'm fully aware how ridiculous this sounds by the way. Worrying about the free food on offer isn't exactly up there with solving third world debt, now is it?)

Even my fellow traveller, Becky from Englishmum a gifted foodie no less, who when not cracking up at all the talk of hidden Mickeys (in Ireland it means d*ck in case you were wondering - no beating around the bush there) was well impressed.

Here's an adapted version of a recent post from her brilliant blog. Thanks Becky for letting me post it. For anyone heading out to Walt Disney World, anytime soon, please bring me back some doughnuts.

How my heavy heart melted to Disney magic: Plus top tips for taking toddlers to theme parks

WHEN I imagined motherhood, I thought I knew where I stood.

There would be no yelling at my children in shops, no sitting in front of the telly for them while I finished whatever I was doing and definitely, yes definitely, no trips to see Mickey Mouse and pals in Florida.

While the first two of these rather deluded expectations were proved wrong a long way back, I've resolutely stuck to the last.

Every time the words "Disney theme parks" were uttered in my house, I sort of shrugged and looked away if I was in a good mood or muttered darkly under my breath if I was feeling a bit stressed.

Over the years lots of friends have raved about Disney, about the fun to be had and the beautiful sunshine. Meanwhile, I just sort of resigned myself to the fact that well, it wasn't for us.