A Sea of Light-Christmas Celebration

The holidays are always a magical time.  The air is different.  It is the time of year where the world is lit up.  Since my daughter is a December baby, we wanted to make things very special for her.  

Thanks to Seaworld for the special invitation to join them at the Seaworld Christmas Celebration.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

Our daughter loves Christmas and everything about it.  This year we decided to make a list of the holiday activities she wanted to do to celebrate it.  And the the top of her list were some very fun things that everyone in the family would enjoy.  While decorating our house, our daughter pulled out some ornaments from Seaworld.  I realized that she had never visited during the holidays.  I had been looking for a special way to surprise our daughter and she had guided me to the perfect gift for her.  

We did not tell her about the surprise.  We only told her we were going on a weekend getaway.  She likes adventures.  This was enough of a gift for her.  Our trip almost got cancelled due to bad weather.  I am so glad we did not cancel it because our daughter loved her surprise.  

We wanted to take her to SEA a winter wonderland.  I think nine million lights are enough to light up a little girls eyes.  And light up her eyes we did.  She smiled from ear to ear.

  

We got to check off a lot of items off her list, like seeing real reindeer.  Did you know both male and female reindeer grow antlers?  

The most special part of the day was dinner because we got to Dine with Rudolph and Friends.  She even made a new special friend or two.  

  

At the end of the day, she said this was the best day ever!  I mean nine million lights, meeting Rudolph, and finishing it off with a Christmas parade would be any littles best day.  

Tips if you are planning a trip to Seaworld Christmas Celebration:

1)  Holiday Hours-Go online to check the holiday park hours.  The celebration goes on from now until January 6th.  

2)  Plan Ahead-Make your reservations early for Dine with Rudolph and friends or Dinner with Santa and Mrs. Claus.  Spots fill up quickly.

3)  Schedule-Grab one at the front of the park to guide your day.  Don't forget about the parade.  Grab a spot before the good spots are taken.  

The highlight of the night is when the park lights up and there are lights are far as the eyes can see.    

Weekend Getaway with Courtyard by Marriott

December is my daughter's birthday month.  Every year, we love surprising her and making her feel special.  As she is getting older it is getting harder and harder to compete with electronics and technology.  One of our favorite things to do is family getaways.  This helps us get away from our normal day to day and refresh from the routines and schedules.  Who doesn't need an escape?

Thanks to the Courtyard by Marriott for hosting our family over the weekend.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

To escape means to break free!  Isn't that what the weekend is all about?  Breaking free from the norm.  Sometimes you just need to get away.  Away from all of it.  The chores, cleaning, and chaos.  I know I love to leave it all behind, even if just for the weekend.  This time of year can be pretty hectic but isn't that the excuse we give ourselves all year long.  We make excuses to enjoy our lives the way they are meant to be.  All work and no play is not good for our minds, bodies, or souls.  Everyone needs refreshers.  You know what they say, "A family that unwinds together, stays together!"

Getaways are always fun.  Finding a place with all the comforts of home, that's roomie, and has all the amenities may be a little more of a challenge.  Challenge because with a family, you have to make everyone happy.  There are five things that are important to me when planning a great weekend getaway for my family.

1)  Comforts of Home-Traveling with kids can be hard.  I never want to be in a place where they are not comfortable or where we feel they can't touch anything.  Their stay should be as enjoyable as ours.  My daughter found her little spot and felt right at home, nice and comfy.

2)  Space-Kids are always dealing with finding their own space.  At home, everyone has their own space.  It should not be different when you go away.  With kids, times can get very trying.  Space is important.   

3)  Food-I know I get cranky when I am hungry.  Imagine a kid.  Getaways are about turning off the alarms and sleeping in.  Well, try to tell that to your hungry kid in the morning.  The best thing other than having two televisions in one room is being able to have breakfast available.  No matter how you like your breakfast.  No long lines, they make it how you like it, and you can even be a little carefree and do breakfast in bed!  Be that cool parent. 

4)  Pool-My daughter's requirements to any place we stay includes a pool.  Our smart girl is too smart for us because she specifically asks for an indoor pool.  Even when the weather does not cooperate, whether it is rain or the cold, the pool is a place where the entire family can have fun.  Always call ahead, check to make sure it is open and available.

 5)  Shuttles-After a long or even a short road trip who wants to continue to be the driver.  Leave the driving for someone else.  A complimentary shuttle can be great when packing the kids to your fun getaway.  No need to call an Uber or Lyft for a ride.   And the littles will be happy to see where the adventure continues!

Our stay at the Courtyard Marriott SeaWorld/Westover Hills was so comfortable that we did not want to leave.  After a scary drive in really bad weather from Houston to San Antonio, we were glad to be in a place where we felt at home.  We did not even want to leave our room.  Glad we were able to grab some food from Bistro with no need to leave the hotel.  We even enjoyed some warm Starbucks while watching movies.  It was the perfect getaway we needed!   

Travel Tuesday-Discovering Discovery Point

Do you ever want to just get away?  If I showed you this picture below, would you want to go there?

Thanks to SeaWorld San Antonio for inviting my family to preview Discovery Point and inviting us to the VIP Party.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

When you step into SeaWorld's Discovery Point, you step into an oasis.  It is so beautiful, you forget you are in San Antonio, TX. 

There is a giant Dolphin Lagoon which is home to a playful pod of bottlenose dolphins.   You can watch them from its sand-swept shores from any side of the lagoon and they swim right up to you. 

You can go deeper with the Dolphin Underwater Viewing that has an amazing view of the dolphins.

If you visited Explorer's Reef before it has been redone.  The reef is home to several species of sharks, many of which are endangered, along with exotic fish and a living coral reef. 

You can even reserve your Signature Dolphin Swim – the only place to swim with dolphins in Texas – or discover the thrill of swimming alongside Beluga Whales or Sea Lions. 

This happens to be a bucket list item for me.  Thanks to SeaWorld for granting this wish and helping me check this off my bucket list. 

Access to Dolphin Lagoon, Dolphin Underwater Viewing and Explorer's Reef is included with any SeaWorld admission.

Swimming with Dolphins - check (I even got two kisses)

But I did not just swim with the Dolphins, I got a lesson on the Dolphins in the lagoon.

The three Dolphins I got to meet were Brady, Fathom, and Gillie.  Gillie was actually rescued from Galveston, TX.  He was 2 years old.  He was stuck on a fishing gillnet and that is how he got his name.  He is not the only animal that has been rescued. 

SeaWorld Cares has done over 27,000 rescues of ill or injured animals.  SeaWorld's Rescue Team is on call 24/7, 365 days a year, and always ready to help an animal in need.

Pet surrender, Elaine.  Her previous owner could not take care of her or her roommate.  SeaWorld gave them both a permanent home.

Rescued in Houston-Otis.  He has been living at SeaWorld for 5 years under their care.  It is harder to tell how old birds are, so they are not sure how old he is exactly. 

There is so much to learn, see, and discover.  For more information, go to seaworldcares.com. 

For more information on Discovery Point, head to SeaWorld San Antonio.

Miercoles Mudo-El Tambor de mi Vida

Travel Tuesday-Seaworld Seven Seas Food Festival

***Disclosure-I am a Seaworld Wildsider.  My family and I received complimentary passes.  All opinions expressed are my own based on my personal experience.

I am always happy to bring to you the last happenings from Seaworld San Antonio.  This May, they will take us on a journey through the Seven Seas.  A food and drink journey.  How much traveling do you do?  Have you ever been to Italy, Jamaica, or Mexico?  Head to Seaworld San Antonio where you can sample food, wine, and beer.  Where will you head to first?

 Before you start your voyage down the Seven Seas, chart your course by choosing a sampler package:

-Seven Seas Festival Food, Wine and Brew Sampler $24.99-Your choice of 3 samples of food any 3 samples of beer or wine
-Seven Seas Festival Wine and Brew Sampler $19.99-Your choice of 6 samples of beer or wine
-Seven Seas Festival Food Sampler $26.99-Your choice of 6 samples of food

Here is some of the food we sampled on our culinary voyage:

 Gulf of Mexico-Street Tacos and Coco Beach

 Pacific Ocean-Korean Beef Short Ribs and Asahi Beer

Caribbean-Jerk Chicken with Rice & Gungo Peas and Caribbean Breeze

Mediterranean-Shawarma with Skhug Sauce and Goddess Athena

And this happened to be our favorite, we came back to have some more!!

But there is so much more going on, in the South Atlantic you can check out the Art of Food:

Bread Art by Victor Dagatan and Vivian Pham:

And in the Pacific Ocean, the candy creations that will be sure to tease your sweet tooth.

Wanna go behind the scenes with a Chef?  Reserve your spot in North Pacific to learn how to create recipes with Chef Virginia Willis or Chef Samuel Boisjoly.

The menus have many items to sample.  There are appetizers, salads, and desserts.  You do not need to purchase a sampler.  Each location offers a different menu and items can be purchased individually.

For more information, go to Seaworld Seven Seas Food Festival.

Miercoles Mudo - Encuentro con Pinguinos

Seaworld Al Rescate

***Disclosure-Yo soy parte del progama de Wildsiders.  Estas son mis opiniones.

Por mas de 50 anos, Seaworld a estado rescatando animales por todas partes.  El programa se llama Animal Rescue (Rescate de Animal).  Los animales que estan  en su ambiente no tienen a nadie quien les ayude.  Gracias a programas como este, animales que necesitan rescate son ayudados y despues regresados a su ambiente.

Ase tres semanas, un manati llego a Houston, Texas.  Se perdio y estaba atrapado en Trinity Bay.  El grupo de Texas contacto a Seaworld San Antonio.  Rapido agararon un grupo de voluntarios para ir a rescatar al manati.

Este es Trinidad, el manati que fue rescatado.  Pobre manati tiene cortadas por su cola de los barcos.  Cuando lo rescataron no queria comer.  Voluntarios estubieron cuidandolo por 24 horas, cada dia.  Siempre notando cual quier cosa que hacia.  Ya esta comiendo Trinidad.  Come lechuga.

Y cuando este aprobado por el estado va hacer regresa a Florida de donde viene este manati.

Este programa ha beneficiado a 24,000 animales.  Seaworld toma la vida silvestre en crisis bien serio y se compromete en ayudarlos diad tras dia.  Ellos trabajan con las agencias estatales, locales, y federales.  EL quipo esta listo para cual quier llamada las 24 horas al dia, los 7 dias a la semana.

Siempre asistiendo a los animales que estan heridos, enfermos, quedan huerfanos, o que necesitan atencion experta.  El objetivo es rehabilitar.  El gropu tiene experiencia, son apasionados, y creativos.

Esta es Estrella, fue rescatada de NASA.  No puede ver de un ojo y por eso se quedara a vivir en Seaworld.  Ayi le estan ayudando a poder usar un ojo, y sobre vivir.  Si no lo hubieran rescatado se viera murido.  Esate animal esta protejido por la ley.

Tasty Thursday-Big Lou's Pizza

Have you ever heard of Big Lou's Pizza in San Antonio, Texas?  Well this edition of Tasty Thursday is going to feature a really big pizza...

San Antonio has almost become our second home.  We love traveling there.  Every time we hit town, we want to try a new place.  We are fan's of the DDD, and Man vs Food.  This place was featured on Man vs Food for their 42" pizza.  They started out with a 37" and now have a 42". 

Our family wanted to take the challenge but when we walked in we quickly realized you don't need to go big or go home because at Big Lou's they know how to serve you.  We walked up and told them we have 4 1/2 people and what did they recommend?  We ordered the 20".  We didn't expect such a huge pizza.....

The pizza slices were huge.  This pizza was so delicious.  So cheesy.  My husband order some breadsticks and those were good too.  It was the size of a personal pizza to me.

But we were not the only satisfied customers, grandma and Lil Bit loved it too!

We stuffed our faces and yet we were not able to finish our pizza.  Check out how much we had left:

So glad we decided to try this place out, because this pizza was yummy.