Since it first came out probably in the late 90s I have always adored Novica.com and all it stood for. Over the years I’ve bought a number of gifts for friends here. Even set up a wedding registry.
It’s grown a lot since then but always with the same mission. It brings beautiful crafts made by local artisans around the globe, right to your door. You’ll get things here you would never find yourself unless you were a world traveler. And when you get your shipment, you get a little note from the artist, and it’s like getting a gift from yourself. And you can follow them online and learn about other artists. It’s just so great.
Not only does this site bring us cool stuff, it helps support these artisans locally and helps whole communities. I can’t tell you how much I love, love, love this site. I have often wanted to give up everything and go work for them. When I worked on women’s consumer sites like ModernBride.com, Disney.com, Babyzone.com and more, I dreamed of working for a site as meaningful as this.
Someday, someday. Who knows. But in the meantime, please check out all their amazing stuff. You’ll spend hours on it I guarantee it.
So please check them out. Right now. I mean, like right now! 🙂
So over Spring Break we took a much needed trip to the US Virgin Islands. While we stayed on St Thomas, we took the car to the ferry in the morning and headed over to St John’s by the port in Redhook.
My advice is to get to the ferry early. Sometimes there are not as many ferries as expected because they are still rebuilding on the islands after the Hurricane, and may need the ferry for supplies. Other times one is just plain ol’ broken down, so you have to wait for the next one. Even if you get on the line, the ferries can fill up quickly so you might find yourself parked and waiting for the next one that could be an hour later. Welcome to island time.
Making the Ferry
If you miss the ferry it’s not the end of the world as you can walk over to the little shops and cafes across the street from the Redhook ferry and get a smoothie and chill out and drool over all the beautiful yachts parked in the Marina. Then you can dream about how you will sell everything and move down here and live on one of them.
Me after we missed the ferry and had to wait for the next one at Redhook. I had to drink smoothies and check out yachts in the beautiful weather. Poor me.
It only really stinks if you’ve already gotten a really late start. Remember the last boat back is around 6 pm so its not a bad idea to book a room for a night or two on St John’s, if you are going to head over there and really want to see it. I know people do it without renting cars but I think it’s a much better experience if you get to drive wherever you want.
The Beaches
We drove to the different beaches in St John’s and while parking can be an issue, the beaches are absolutely amazing. And remote. Think Blue Lagoon remote. The beaches on St John’s are very raw and pristine and don’t have a lot of amenities or restaurants nearby, so make sure you bring your own water and snacks. Some of the beaches look like they had amenities but then the Hurricane came along and wiped them out. However, every one of the beaches we went to had bathrooms, so that’s one thing not to worry about.
We drove with my picky, hot and sweaty teen to see the various beaches on St John’s and finally stopped at Turtle Bay. We parked and strolled right in and vegged out on this medium-sized, blue-water gem, and there were only a few other families around.
Me at Turtle Bay on St. John’s Island, US Virgin Islands
Across the way from the Turtle Bay parking lot, we went for a hike on the nature trail and my daughter was in her glory looking for Golden Orb spiders. She thinks she saw one in between discovering all the other critters she was enthralled with–deer, hermit crabs, lizards, spiders, dragonflies, and Lord knows what else. This trip was great for getting her out in the woods and breathing in the sea air. She only took out her phone to either take pictures or look up what she’s looking at.
Cell Reception
Be aware that you don’t get a ton of reception on this island and it’s dead in some places. We also got a text while we were on the East side of the island that our AT&T International plan had kicked in because we must’ve been close enough to the UK part of the Virgin Islands. We had to pay $10 for that but I’m sure if I gotten around to to to call AT&T I would’ve likely gotten that reversed. Same thing can happen when you are near the Canadian border by the way.
We then drove through all the twisty, narrow, island roads, got turned around a lot, and then eventually made our way back to town in time to pick up the ferry.
Morgan looking for her Golden Orb spiders
Of course we were the first car in the cut off and had to wait for the next one so we parked the car and headed into town to check out the scenery and get some food. We went into one restaurant and ordered a chicken burger.
Free-Range Chickens
As I was about to bite into my chicken burger, I felt a pair of eyes staring at me. I looked up from my burger and there was a big Red Rooster with his big flowing tail feathers, glaring at me. And his girlfriend was right next to him. Clearly they were horrified. I felt a little guilty but once he strutted off down the aisle and out the door I went back to eating my burger.
Feeling guilty in a restaurant eating chicken on St. John’s with a rooster giving me the stink eye.
So apparently, this is a pretty common thing in St John’s. Free-range chickens alright. They have the life these guys. After we left the restaurant, we strolled around into a few shops and art galleries, a and had a lovely conversation with a woman who had moved down there from Boston and opened her own gallery. It was great to hear her story and chat with the locals. We also bought some nice jewelry out in the plaza.
More Ferry
I am an awesome car ferry parker!
Morgan and I started heading back to the ferry and there were already cars going around us and getting on the boat. I was freaked out thinking we’d missed our spot but there was still plenty of room. So I turned the car on and headed on. I then found myself having to go through the Herculean task of parking super close to every other car on the boat, and squeeze right up on the side of the boat.
It was no small feat. While I was comfortable driving stick, I had to stay away because the stick was on the right, like any other car in the US, but the roads were opposite. So it’s like driving in England with an American car so you have to stay really aware of your surroundings.
Here are some pics from our trip to St John's Island in the Virgin Islands
On the ferry at St. John's Island VI
The road along St. John's Virgin Islands
Nature Hike on St John's Island, Virgin Islands
Morgan looking for her Golden Orb spiders
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Church on St John's Island, VI
Church on St John's Island, VI
Rooster
Turtle Bay, Virgin Islands
Me at Turtle Bay on St. John's Island, US Virgin Islands
The Sugar Factory Ruins, St John's VI
St john's
Hawksnest beach, St Johns Island, Virgin Islands
Amazing Views on St. John's Island, VI
Turtle Bay
Turtle Bay
Me on St. John's Island, Virgin Islands
View from road on St. John's VI
I got help from the guys working on the boat who were guiding me in from the outside, but I will say after I finally turned the car off, I felt like I’d killed my first buffalo. If you didn’t have to drive the car off the ferry in a half hour I’d otherwise recommend a good stiff drink after that. But either way, you make it. And you’re on an island, in the Caribbean, so you know…just chill.
For more information about Turtle Bay and the rest of St. John’s, go here:
My daughter and I went to the US Virgin Islands for Spring Break and I managed to find this nice resort at the last minute. It’s about a half hour away from the airport on a quiet side of the island and right near the ferry.
When we got to the Crystal Cove Resort we missed the entrance at first and had to drive back. There’s a little building in the front of a gate where you pick up the keys. The lady was very nice and gave us our keys and some beach towels and explained how the gate worked. Make sure you keep the gate number. I just put it on my phone and that’s all I needed.
Our Unit
Our unit was clean but I have a feeling this was probably the last one available because of the decor. They are privately owned units that the resort handles renting out. They are condos and you can either get a studio style place or a larger one with a master bedroom. The studio though is actually a Murphy bed with two single beds that come down. Not as comfortable as a full bed. The condo was dated and while it was great to have a kitchen, the utensils were a little cheap and the stove was old and the whole thing would get super hot.
The Twin Murphy Beds We Slept on For a Week. View from the Kitchen
I joked to my daughter that the Ropers must have left this to us for the weekend, but she didn’t get it. I had to explain Three’s Company to her but she didn’t get it. Anyway, totally Mr’s Roper’s kitchen. The porch was also not usable and clearly where they stored some things. But the price was reasonable and the place was clean and everything worked. The resort itself was very nice and right on the beach. I think we’d be happy to go back, but just be a little more discerning about which unit I’d get. I spoke with some other guests who talked about how beautiful their units were.
Hey, Mrs. Roper called and she wants her couch back!
The Caribbean Vibe
When we arrived it was Sunday and there was a great party vibe going on down by the bar and restaurant. We went and got something to eat and I had my first Pina Colada in awhile. It was great. The beach was beautiful and it has some great views. The only downside was that the bar closes at sundown, so I had thought I’d go home, take a nap and come back out. However, when I got there it was all closed down and each day it closed early. I had envisioned making dinner for my daughter, and then walking down the walkway and grabbing a Mai Tai in the evening with the adults but it was completely quiet by 7pm. Oh well. It was still relaxing.
The Wildlife
One of the first things we noticed was the free range chickens. It’s a thing in the Virgin Islands. It’s not like pigeons but these chickens just roam around freely and the chicks are so cute. Also, iguanas are fairly common so my daughter was in her glory. My daughter told me on the plane she’d love to see an iguana close up so mission ACCOMPLISHED!
Talk about free-range, cage-free chickens. If I were a chicken this is where I would want to be.
The Beach
Each morning I got up early and went out to the beach to watch the sun rise. It was so relaxing and of course, I would have brought my daughter along but you just try to get a teenager up at dawn to sit on a beach on their week off. So one of our days there I just got to the beach in the morning, took a swim and when I came out of the water there was a woman hanging dresses in a tree. So for $20 I got the loveliest tie-dyed beach coverup/dress. I wish I had bought a few more.
You can tell that the resort got hit hard during the Hurricane but they have done a lot of work to restore everything and focused on the areas where people would use most. There’s also another resort next store that shared Sapphire Beach with us that has a nice pool and also looks really nice. So when booking I’d take a look at both of them.
The Kitchen in Our Unit at Crystal Cove Resorts
Either way if you are looking for a clean, chill, quiet beachfront condo, this is the place for you. But make sure you know the specific unit you are getting and what it looks like so you can avoid the dated rooms with the ancient VCRs and resin utensils.
However, no matter what condo you get you absolutely can’t beat the sun rises. Check out my pics and also go here for more info about Crystal Cove Resort
So my daughter and I needed to get out of the city and get in some beach time. I thought the US Virgin Islands would be the easiest thing for us to do because it’s not a long flight, and there were several direct flights to St. Thomas. We went for Spring break.
Renting a Car
The best move I made was rent from Paradise Rental Car instead of going through a more well-known rental. I set the whole thing up by email and a nice man was waiting for me right at the airport with the keys to our car. In true island style we got in the car, pulled to the side in the parking lot and exchanged paperwork. It’s not a big airport and doesn’t have a lot of parking so it was great to be able to hop in and get going. I highly recommend renting a car. It made it a lot easier to go where we wanted to go. Yes the roads are a little tight, but just take it slow.
Morgan’s first discovery dive in the Virgin Islands.
Where to Stay
We stayed at Crystal Cove Villa on Sapphire Beach, which is not far from the ferry to St. John’s. It was a nice clean beach and reasonably priced. Our condo was pretty dated, with all the wicker furniture and the ancient utensils I felt like the Ropers had left it for us for the weekend. That said, I think each condo is different as they are rented out through the resort. So before I stayed there again I’d ask about the unit itself. It was a nice quiet resort though. The beach is chill, perfect views and there’s a restaurant on the premises. Just know that it closes around 6 so don’t plan on getting drinks at the bar unless it’s the weekend. The location was great though. Close to the ferry, beaches and grocery stores and a bit away from the main city part of St. Thomas.
We could see the damage still left over from the Hurricane a few years ago so I was happy to spend our money there and put some back into the economy.
We did a number of awesome things while in the Virgin Islands so I’ll I’ll focus on scuba diving here
Scuba Diving at Coki Point Beach
I am a certified scuba diver and I wanted to introduce my daughter to the wonderful world of diving . So it was important for me that we find a good spot and she had a good enough time that she’d want to go back. She absolutely loved it. We did a Discovery dive with Coki Dive Center and it was perfect. We got there about two hours early, which was perfect because they gave us some snorkel gear and we snorkeled around, getting my daughter used to using the goggles and flippers in ocean water as it had been awhile.
Putting on our scuba gear at Cokie Point Beach thanks to Cokie Dive Center.
The guy I worked with at the Dive Center couldn’t have been cooler. He hooked us up the day before and had everything waiting for us when we got there. And the instructor was very patient. We had another girl in the group who just was too afraid to try and so she backed out. No big deal but I thought the instructor was very good about it while not holding up the rest of the group too much. As for the man who set up our reservation, he also set us up with an underwater rental cameral so I got some really great shots of my daughter snorkeling and feeding the fish. By the way, SO MANY FISH!!!
Morgan getting acquainted with the local fish
And what a brilliant idea. They gave us each a big dog biscuit and the fish went nuts over them. I can’t believe I’d been scuba diving for thirty years and never thought of that. So we got some amazing shots. My daughter is now completely hooked on diving and is planning on getting her open water cert. shortly.
Close by there’s also Coral World maybe 500 feet away. After you dive, you can hang out on Coki beach itself. It’s very chill. There are some food shacks, good places to get some good drinks and a couple of spots to buy some things like T-shirts and sun tan lotion. Also, during the day they were playing some music. Very relaxed, cool place and different than the rawness you’ll find at most of the beaches at St. John’s for example. Parking can be a bit tricky so get there early if you can.
No Morgan, that means you want to go up. But glad everything is OK. Discovery Dive at Cokie Point Beach, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.
Here we are downhill mountain biking in Chamonix France.
We went to visit friends in Geneva Switzerland and took a drive out to Chamonix, France to get some downhill Mountain biking in. Amazing views, great trails, psychedelic mushrooms growing trail-side and all, I could do this every day.
Morgan Prepping Downhill Mt Biking Chamonix France
I like Okemo because it’s not Killington. Don’t get me wrong, I love Killington, but Okemo Mountain Resort has a family friendly vibe AND it’s just a little bit further down the path than Killington. So while everyone’s heading to Killington and meeting up at the Wobbly Barn to party (I still can’t believe that thing has not come down), head over to Okemo for the same great snow without the volume of humanity that you get at Killington.
Located in the heart of Central Vermont’s Green Mountains, Okemo offers eight different properties, all with their own character and charm. Okemo Mountain Resort has plenty of trails for all abilities.
1 high-speed six-pack bubble chair with heated seats
9 quad chairs (4 highspeed quads)
3 triple chairs
7 surface lifts
Other cool things to do at Okemo:
Snowcat Excursions
Ever watched those snow cats go up at night to groom the hill and get a twinge of jealousy? Some brilliant person came up with a way to make everyone happy. See the mountain from the view from inside a specially-designed cabin, attached to an Okemo snowcat! See the top of the mountain, and the valley below like you’ve never seen it before, lit up at night.
Each ride departs from the Jackson Gore base area and will last just over one hour, with time to get out at the summit, take pictures and learn a bit about the mountain and the area along the way. You must register in advance to take in this incredible experience, and we will begin offering rides as soon as weather permits.
Ride a Mountain Coaster
The Timber Ripper Mountain Coaster is Central Vermont’s favorite four-season attraction, offering a scenic and exhilarating ride through alpine forests and along the contours of the mountain at Okemo’s Jackson Gore. The roller coaster ride heads down 3100 feet of track following the contours of the mountain with added waves, camel back and banking loops down the mountain, at up to 25 miles an hour. Sled-like cars carry two passengers in comfort but can be handled easily by one alone. The riders are in control of the speed, and this gives them a unique hands-on experience, encouraging repeat visits.
Guests will load and unload the Timber Ripper in the Jackson Gore base area, near the bottom of the Coleman Brook Express lift.
Blue Mountain Ski Area is one of the most searched for ski areas on the Internet.
It’s a favorite for Pennsylvania and New York families who love to ski and snowboard. Skiing is a great way to spend time as a family and this mountain is a good size for families.Â
Blue Mountain boasts the highest vertical in PA at almost 1100 feet. There’s plenty for everyone to do there.
Located in Little Gap Valley alongside the Pocono Mountains, Blue Mountain has 39 trails, and 164 ski-able acres.  It’s definitely family friendly for parents. It has a flexible 6 hour ski ticket (so you get there when you get there) and has one of the largest beginner terrain areas in the tri-state area. The learning center offers private and group lessons, but also strangely, promote the idea of you teaching your own kids if you are comfortable (I always did this because I was a ski instructor) but I don’t know if I’d recommend that for anyone that wasn’t trained in teaching skiing.
Blue Mountain is not only for beginners, it’s also got 3,000 foot long Double Black Diamond Trails, where skiers earn a breathtaking view of Pennsylvania’s beautiful Pocono Mountains.
Blue Mountain Resort  also has some cool features where they includehands-off lift ticket scanners, RFID, that will fast track you through lift lines. The Summit can be reached by the High-Speed Detachable Quad and the 6-Person Chair Lift. In addition, three double chair lifts give access to the western mountain side where skiers and boarders will find novice, intermediate and expert terrain. Numerous mogul fields and glades accompany Blue Mountain’s varied terrain for all skill levels.
As for lodging and food. No one’s going to go hungry while skiing or boarding at Blue Mountain resort. They have over twelve places to eat slopeside and even more around town. There’s no on site lodging but plenty of local ski and stay parters in the immediate area for you to choose from.
One of the biggest holidays that you’ll always remember as a kid, besides maybe Christmas of course, is Halloween. Of course, there’s the usual trick or treating and fun hopping from one house to the next. But this year, why not make it a little different. Amp it up a notch. Take off on a road trip or fly for a long weekend to have the biggest adventure weekend your kids can handle. They’ll love you for it and be bragging to their friends for weeks. Here are some great ideas to get started:
Spend Halloween in Transylvania and Dracula’s Castle
No we’re not kidding. It’s really a place. And it happens to be in one of the most ruggedly beautiful areas of Easter Europe. Take the kids for a jaunt and experience the amazing Carpathian mountains. Take a tour of Bran Castle as well as hike along ancient paths. Besides that, the area is steeped in European history. Learn about the real Vlad the Impaler and what his significance was to the area. Go here to find out more about visiting Dracula’s Castle on Halloween.
Have a Colonial Halloween in Williamsburg, Virginia
This was one of my favorite places to go as a kid. It’s a great place to learn about US history and what it was like to live day to day in the colonial times. There’s also something very wonderful about an authentic colonial Halloween, complete with cinnamon doughnuts, apple cider and ye olde Halloween games and activities. Take the family on an adventure to Williamsburg and you won’t be disappointed. Go here to read more about spending Halloween in Colonial Williamsburg
Haunted Happenings in Salem, Massachussetts
Nothing says Halloween than Salem, long known for it’s witch trials in the 1600s and a haven for the occult. Bring the kids here for a bona fide Halloween experience complete with fireworks, spooky fairs, ghost tours, costume parties and more. Go here to read more about spending Halloween in Salem Massachussetts
First off, get over the idea that you’re going to hike like the animal that you were before you had kids if you are bringing said kids. It’s not all about you and how far and how fast you can go. It’s about making sure the next generation is exposed to the outdoors and will remember what an awesome parent you are for taking the time to do it. Your kids are lucky they have a parent that wants to do this stuff with them and even if they whine now, they will remember it when they have their kids…and the circle of life, yadda, yadda.
But in the here and now you need to be practical. So here are my tips for having fun hiking, staying sane and making sure everyone wants to do it again.
1) Take it easy on yourself and give yourself every advantage. Charge the phone and the juicepack. Make sure you have a map as a backup, or download them on your phone before hand. Don’t be a martyr. Download some apps that can give you details on flora and fauna as you hike in the area. Also do yourself a favor and download some pics of Poison Ivy, Sumac and Oak. You’re welcome.
2) Dress according and bring extra clothes. Weather changes on a dime and a cold or overly hot kid, is a miserable kid and a miserable hiking buddy. Bring T shirts and an extra sweater and depending how long the hike, extra socks etc. Cold weather requires multiple layers. Think Under Armor.
3) Bring food and water. Duh, you say but how many people go out without enough water. Remember you’re bringing not just for yourself but the kids too. Snacks, snacks, and snacks. And throw in a few Hershey’s kisses and get over it. A low blood sugar meltdown in the middle of the woods has it’s own special place in hell.
4) Wear the right gear. Suck it up and buy the kids the best hiking boots you can afford. You don’t have to go crazy, but get some kicks with serious all terrain treds. I moved to NYC and went on a three day trip with my daughter’s fourth grade class. I thought I’d see 40 pairs of overachieving, top-of-the-line hiking boots that could handle Everest, lined up outside the bunks. And there were some. But I was surprised at how many kids were hiking in rubber rain boots. Don’t do that. The kids managed but the steep slopes were extra treacherous. I’d rather they were in sneakers.
6) Ticks. I can’t emphasize enough how much you don’t want your kids getting bit by a tick. As someone who suffered a long time with Lyme Disease, it’s not fun, or pretty, and can be expensive. I hate telling kids to wear long pants on a summer hike, but if you can, do. And if you don’t hike in long pants, make sure you cover everything with bug spray including the hair lines and socks, then hose off or shower and do a good tick check under the arm pits, behind the ears and knees, ankles afterward. And be diligent even for a good twenty four hours afterward. If you do see an embedded tick, save it and take pics of it if you can. Oh and a word on DEET. If you have a homeopathic bug spray that works, go for it. Me personally, I go for the strongest thing I can get my hands on. Yes, it was so powerful it peeled the ink off the marshmallows package and transferred it to my legs where it touched (my legs were covered in Deep Woods OFF), but I’m willing to take that. And the freaky thing was, the only way to get the imprint of the marshmallow label off my legs was more bug spray. I know, I know. I don’t like all the chemicals either but I like Lyme disease even less.
6) And bring these other things accordingly:
Hats, sunscreen, diapers, bottles, backpack, baby carrier, baby food, towels, swim clothes, swimmies, band aids, neosporin, and don’t forget the aspirin, you’re probably going to need it.
Waterville Valley is a nice, quiet, uber-family friendly resort nestled in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The best part of the resort is that everything is right there where you need it, no need for driving around. In the winter there’s skiing on four different peaks, and in the summer there’s plenty to do as well.
It has a town square, places to dine, pool, fitness centers, shopping and has that special, New England country resort feel. It’s a little bit dirty dancing, a little bit Tremblant, but on a smaller scale.Â
There are 50 trails, 4000 foot elevation and plenty of terrain parks. There’s also the option of going Nordic to break up the week. You can also take the kids tubing and even dog sledding.
It’s a great place to reconnect with family and the outdoors.
The learning center offers private and group lessons, but also strangely, promote the idea of you teaching your own kids if you are comfortable (I always did this because I was a ski instructor) but I don’t know if I’d recommend that for anyone that wasn’t trained in teaching skiing.
t peaks, and in the summer there’s plenty to do as well.
