I call this a "little" vacation, not because it was in any way little, but because I live in Connecticut. And going on vacation in my own state seems a little "small" since it is so close. In the end, though, I never knew I could have such an amazing time so close to home.
People: My fun-loving family -- Myself, my husband, my six-year-old daughter Topanga, and my four-year-old son Jaco.
Car: 2010 Prius III -- I am in the process of test-driving hybrid/eco cars, and I happened to have had the Prius for this vacation. I can't begin to tell you how much I loved driving this car. It was the perfect size and hardly needed any gas. Complete with a solar-powered sunroof, it had a roomy hatchback that held all of our luggage. Everyone with kids thinks they need a huge car, but this is just not so: we traveled with kids and luggage perfectly in the Prius.
Hotel: MGM Grand at Foxwoods -- Lots of the accommodations in Connecticut are quaint B&Bs that are not appropriate for kids, so the MGM turned out to be the perfect hotel for us. I am not a gambler and was a little skeptical about spending a lot of time at the hotel, but I was so surprised at what a great time we had. My husband and I hardly stepped foot in the casino; we spent most of our time at the pool. There is an area in the pool where you can sit in your chair while still in the water. I have to say that this must be the best pool east of Vegas. We had a great dinner at Shrine, which visually is all about the peace, with lots of Buddhas and candles. The sushi is definitely NYC quality! G Spa is the on-site spa. Get the deep tissue with Rick. I heard you will not be sorry.
Show: Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy -- There are always shows running at the MGM, and Cirque Dreams, starring Debbie Gibson, just happened to be running during our stay. The kids absolutely loved it, and the show was just a one minute walk from our room!
Beach: Watch Hill, Rhode Island -- Even though I live in Connecticut, I had never been to Watch Hill, Rhode Island. It is only 30 minutes from the MGM and seriously one of the most gorgeous beaches in New England. One of the oldest carousels in the country is right on the beach. We even got homemade popcorn on the sidewalk. You have to pay to go on the beach, but it is well worth it. When driving back to the MGM, we took a wrong turn and ended up in front of the Ocean House, a grand Victorian hotel on the water in Watch Hill. (Made mental note to self: come back in the fall with husband and celebrate our anniversary here!)
Attraction: Mystic Aquarium, Mystic, Connecticut -- Mystic is only a 15-minute drive from the MGM and the aquarium was a great little escape. We touched stingrays and held star fish and parrots. The kids had a fun time, to say the least.
Healthy Lunch: Puritan & Genesta, Mystic, Connecticut -- I am always on the lookout for local health food stores. We happened to have stumbled upon this great one in the center of Mystic. They have a yummy deli with lots of healthy options! We grabbed some sandwiches and fruit and sat outside at a table watching the boats go by.
Summary: All in all, a wonderful family vacation! We ate well, swam, relaxed, laughed, learned, met new people and so much more. We had lots of fun, and, most importantly, there was lots of family bonding!
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