Two course on my “wish list”: the Wailea Golf Club and the Plantation at Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii.

I am wondering if this is true: Ko’Olau, on Oahu: One of the toughest golf courses in the world and arguably the most beautiful. The course is located at the base of the Ko’Olau Ridge mountain range and is carved out of a tropical rain forest. There are several spectacular waterfalls and the cart path winds through a river bottom where the canopy is so dense it blocks out virtually all light. Each hole has breathtaking views and on the championship tee on No. 15 you can see Kailua beach and Chinaman’s Hat. “The course will beat you up spit you out but the beauty will touch your soul and you walk away wanting more…if you only had 20 more golf balls!” says Rhett Long, president of Hawaii.com and an avid golfer.

Florida links – a few of my favorites:

Doral Golf Resort and Spa (Miami): Four championship courses make the Doral one of Miami’s premier golf destinations. The legendary Blue Monster course was a personal favorite.

Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club (Aventura, North Miami Beach): These two 18-hole courses will not disappoint – both challenging and scenic.

Tiburón Golf Club (Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples):  Everything about this course says “class act” – to be expected, as the same can be said about overall the Ritz-Carlton experience.

Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club (Naples): This relatively flat can deceive – it is not as easy as it first appears.  The small greens and plentiful bunkers certainly tested my skills.

Michigan courses – a few personal favorites:

R&S Sharf, Oakland University, Rochester: I consider it my “home course” and I have played it countless times.  It would be a favorite even if located further away – it is nestled in a scenic, woodsy setting that offers a mix of scenic beauty and ample wildlife.  How many world-caliber courses in Florida or Hawaii can you find with deer on the greens, or turkeys trotting across the tee boxes?

Treetops Resort (Robert T. Jones), Gaylord: one of my very favorites, the course is a Rick Smith and the views are fabulous.  Resort is also pretty nice winter and summer.

Lakewood Shores Resort (The Gailes), Oscoda: Golf Digest rated The Gailes, ‘The Best New Resort Course in the United States’ in 1993, and in 1996 rated it ‘The Number One Public and Resort Course in the State of Michigan.’  Designed to recreate the actual look of the famed seaside courses of Scotland, you’ll encounter large double greens, meandering burns and long fescue grasses. So if you have never had the opportunity to play golf in Scotland, but have always dreamed of doing so, you need only to head to Lakewood Shores Resort.

I’ve unfortunately had one of those not exactly ideal pregnancies and have been very sick; the thought of being stuck on a plane for so long is a bit miserable.

So to make me forget about the actual traveling part of our trip, I’ve decided to focus on all the great things I plan to do once we arrive. The spa at the Fairmont has what looks to be a luxurious coco butter massage, made from real Maui coco- ideal for moms to be! The Fairmont also has some great yoga and stretching classes  that I hope to get involved in to stay active and healthy as well.

Stay tuned, and I’ll update all of you on all the great things to do in Hawaii while pregnant and how to travel safely!

Exclusive Hana Picnic

Escape the large cruise line tours on this intimate, personalized tour. Enjoy a relaxing, personalized tour by our Hawaii state certified guide, who will entertain as well as educate in an air-conditioned luxury van. With only 6-8 guests per tour, explore the spectacular Hana coast and navigate the 617 curves and 54 one-lane bridges on the road to Hana.

View glistening waterfalls, exotic tropical flora and lava sea cliffs through panoramic windows. You will also enjoy a continental breakfast and a scrumptious beach-side tamari and ginger chicken and baked mahi mahi lunch, elegantly served at one of Hana’s black sand beaches.

Walk through enchanting Kakala gardens, offering 50+ acres of beautiful tropical flowers. Finally, enjoy an ocean swim at a black sand beach or take a splash into a cascading waterfall.

Approximately 210 per person.

These tours all sounds so wonderful, perhaps we’ll do them all!

Helicopter tour

This Air-Land Combo offers superior sightseeing value. Tour beautiful Hana and the majestic Haleakala Crater, the world’s largest dormant volcano, by helicopter and luxury van. With only 6 guests per tour, explore the Hana coast narrated by our Hawaii State Certified Guide.

Fly the reverse leg in a comfortable air-conditioned helicopter to view dramatic, hidden waterfalls and pristine rainforest, and soar high above Haleakala Crater. This half-day tour provides a scrumptious beach-side Tamari and Ginger Chicken and Baked Mahi Mahi lunch, elegantly served at one of Hana’s black sand beaches. See a quaint Hawaiian Village at Keanae peninsula, and watch ocean waves crash against jagged lava rocks. Take a splash in the ocean at a black sand beach, or a dip in a freshwater pool at a cascading waterfall. Stroll through enchanting Kakala Gardens and enjoy the aromatic tropical flowers.

Note: This tour departs from the local airport which is a 10 minute taxi ride from the pier. Specific instructions will be provided in your e-ticket. Approximately $360 per person.

Next: A Picnic On Black Sand Beaches

Upcountry photo tour

Whether you are a part time shutter bug, or a full time photographer, this scenic tour will give you endless opportunities to take photos of beautiful scenery.

From the cruise pier, proceed to one more pick up point in town before beginning a scenic ocean view tour through the old town of Paia, then on to Ho`okipa Beach Park for some photos overlooking the magnificent surf.

You’ll see the wind-surfing capital of the world and why it is so spectacular… On the bus you will be provided water and an assortment of juices and drinks. We’ll travel through Pineapple Country for a lush green drive up the slopes of Haleakala towards Kula. Your driver/guide, who grew up in Hali`i Maile, will tell you all about The Maui Pineapple Company pineapple camp. (He will also cut a pineapple for you on the picnic)

Then we head to Ulupalakua for a wonderful scenic drive and stop at Ulupalakua Ranch Store and Maui’s Winery. This is a charming old Maui Ranch and you’ll learn about the history of Maui. The Wine tasting room at Maui’s Winery is actually in the King’s cottage. Wines can be sampled and purchased in the beautiful gift store. After the stop at the winery, proceed to your picnic lunch. We do it in style with a lovely Hawaiian Print tablecloth. We’ll serve fresh island fruits like pineapple, papaya, bananas, lilikoi, mango, locally grown salad greens and delicious sandwiches and dessert. The menu will change depending what is freshest at the time.

After lunch, we’ll stop at beautiful Kula Country Farms where they lease over 180 acres to grow all kinds of vegetables, including corn, beans, lettuce, spinach, peas, artichokes, herbs, pumpkins, tomatoes, zucchini, strawberries (depending on the season) and raise goats and chickens in this most beautiful setting on the mountain. Strawberries can be picked Feb-May. Pumpkins are harvested in September and October. On Mondays, Kula Country Farms is closed so we stop just for photos overlooking the farm after our picnic lunch.

Next we do a walking tour of magnificent AKL Lavender Farm where you can shop and have a lavender tea. It’s gorgeous for photography!

From here it’s down a country road to the Surfing Goat Dairy tour to sample some gourmet cheeses.   Approximately $179 per person

 Next: A Helicoptor Tour to Remember

We didn’t get the to the hotel until after 11pm, so when we walked into the lobby, the Bleu Bar was alive with people and awesome music. Check in was quick and easy, we were given a room in the Chateau tower and headed up to change so we could come explore some late night Miami nightlife. Our room was an Oceanfront king balcony room, the room was average size, with a floor to ceiling marble tiled luxury bathroom, and boasted a corner balcony that wrapped around the hotel. We had views of the gorgeous pools, the port and downtown Miami and breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean.

View from our balcony in the Chateau tower of Fontainebleau

We headed to SET, a club on Lincoln Rd to meet other friends. SET is a typical high end Miami nightclub, where drinks are high priced, but the music is amazing and the dancing doesn’t stop. After leaving SET, we headed next door to Groovy’s pizza, which is one of the best late night eats, before heading back to the hotel.

After a great night’s sleep, we woke up to the sun shining through our windows and the sight of the gorgeous Atlantic. The main bowtie pool was already starting to fill up at 9am, so we hurried downstairs to get coffee from Solo, which has great coffee and even better pastries. We wanted to check out all of the resort’s six pools, so we first walked the property before deciding on a spot to settle and relax. If your looking for a bit of quiet, the round pool is a perfect spot, a little more hidden from the action, however if your looking for a great Miami pool party head to the main bowtie pool which is packed with people and fun! For an ultimate pool day, try renting one of the luxurious cabanas surrounding the pools. All of the cabanas, have butler service, flat screen TV’s, a comfy sectional and Wi-Fi. We ordered lunch poolside; I definitely recommend the cubano sandwich or a shrimp cocktail for something lighter.

We decided to watch the sunset from our balcony and then head down to Ocean Dr. to take in a bit more of South Beach. We ate at one of the many great restaurants on Ocean Dr. sitting right outside in the middle of all the action. South Beach definitely comes alive at night, and I recommend just hanging out and exploring the city.

South Beach will always be one of my favorite spots, whether we are there for a party weekend or a layover before we depart on a cruise, I always get so excited to be there. On this trip, the Fontainebleau was the highlight of our Miami stay and we give the resort a 10 out of 10, for luxury, fun and a classic Miami experience.

We have been looking for a great location to try a canopy tour (aka. zip lining) and we found the BEST expierience in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Our trip was booked through Vallarta Adventures, and outstanding company with a reputation of professionalism, safety and most of all FUN! They have a ton of tour options, but we wanted the biggest thrill, so we chose the Outdoor Adventure. We started off the trip in true 007 style with a speed boat ride to Boca de Tomatlan, a secluded beach at the edge of the jungle on the southern shores of Banderas Bay. We flew across the bay, passing in front of all the large cruise liners and along the scenic coastline. Once we arrived at the small fishing town, we were met by a giant 4×4 Mercedes Unimog that took us off-roading  2,000 ft above sea level to the Vallarta Adventures base camp deep into heart of the Sierra Madre Mountains. We all hopped off the 4×4 to meet the rest of our tour guides and get fitted with our canopy gear and mule. Yep, you heard me,I said mule. While I was definitely a bit anxious about riding a mule up the side of a very steep mountain, it was nothing compared to how scared I got when we saw the first zip line!  I was shaking so badly the whole way across I barely enjoyed the scenery, but by the 2nd line I was already feeling like a pro and loving every second! About five lines in we came to a beautiful waterfall in the heart of the jungle with just a tiny platform sticking out over the edge and only one way down! The water was freezing, but it felt great after being quite sweaty from all the zip lining and light hiking. The next zip line was one they called “the wet chicken”, which was a lower line that splashed down right into a natural pond below the waterfalls, it was so much fun splashing down! A few more zip lines, a tight rope walk, and some light hiking we ended back at base camp. We all dropped our gear in a hurry since we could all smell the homemade quesadillas cooking and we had defintely worked up an appetite.

The entire outdoor adventure was just amazing, it included a little bit of every type of thrill, yet is still enjoyable for all ages. I give Vallarta Adventures and the Outdoor Adventure a 10 out of 10 and a definite must when visiting Puerto Vallarta!!!

We wanted to start Cabo off with a party, so we asked to be pointed in the direction of Squid Row, a well-known party spot, to grab a few Corona’s and start the day! We were craving some delicious Mexican food and were told that he marina had a variety of restaurants and was a close walk. The Marina was beautiful, full of luxury yachts and a great view of Lover’s Beach could be seen in the distance. As we walked the boardwalk checking out menu’s and and stopping occasionally to shop in the local gift shops we decided on a restaurant near the end of the Marina, Baja Cantina. The restaurant had a really cool tree sheltering the whole front dining room, with simple little lanterns all hung from its branches and wrapped in white lights, it was a great atmosphere.

After dinner, it was on to explore more, I was on the hunt for the famous Cabo Wabo Cantina, dragging Alexander along for the walk, I was determined to try the infamous Cabo Wabo tequila! The bar founded by legend rocker Sammy Hagar, was just as you would imagine, much like walking right into a Van Halen rock video. The walls graffitied in neon and black-light paint, big screens everywhere just jamming to the greatest hits of Van Halen, and about a thousand bra’s hanging from the bar, I’m sure left by women who tried their luck with a few shots of Cabo Wabo tequila!

If your looking for a destination full of life, beach and an endless supply of tequila, Cabo San Lucas is definitely worth the trip!!!

On our recent trip back to explore Playa we stayed at the NOW Jade Resort, it was a beautiful, well maintained resort and had gorgeous landscaped grounds! Upon arrival you are greeted with champagne and coconut scented towelettes, we upgraded to the “Preferred Club” a section of the hotel reserved for Preferred guests only. We were directed to the preferred club lounge for check-in where a lovely spread of breakfast pastries, cheeses and other items were waiting. We arrived early so our rooms weren’t available, but we planned on that situation and brought our bathing suits in our carry-ons, so we quickly changed and headed to the pool and sun.

There are 2 pools at NOW Jade, one being for adults only, “the quiet pool” and the other a winding pool with bridges, pool volleyball and all guests are allowed. We mostly enjoyed the adults only pool, it was a beautiful pool with a pergola on one side with over-the-water hammocks and an infinity end that seemed like it dropped right into the ocean. We did venture over to the larger, active pool on occasion for a change of scenery. NOW Jade is an all-inclusive resort so other than when we were in Playa, we just ate our meals at the resort. Normal All-inclusive fare, large buffet with a good selection for all meals, as well as 7 specialty restaurants to choose from. The Italian and Japanese, Teppanyaki, were our favorites. I would rate this hotel a 7 out of 10.

We are both sun and beach lovers and we surely got our fill, but the reasoning for staying here was to travel back to our favorite port Playa Del Carmen. We took a taxi into town every chance we got, unfortunately the only negative about NOW Jade that it is a 30 min taxi ride from Playa, had we known that it was that far we might have chosen a resort closer. Nevertheless, we had an amazing time and are counting the days till our next cruise stop in our favorite little town, Playa Del Carmen!

We only had 2 days in town, the first which was spent mostly at a beach front bar/restaurant, Mamacita’s. Playa was hosting an annual techno/house music conference so the beaches were packed with locals and tourists enjoying the music. We decided to rent a cabana for the day at Mamacita’s, which ended up being the perfect spot right in the middle of everything. There are several other beachfront bar/restaurants on the same stretch of beach, all fairly similar, and all very nice. When it gets dark they all become the hottest nightlife stops and are a great spot to dance the night away! That night however, we had our fill of the beach and decided to walk around town a bit to do some shopping. Playa del Carmen is full of all kinds of different shops, you can find everything from a hand woven bracelet for around 110$ pesos to Dior and Chanel’s hottest watches and sunglasses! Zingara was one of my favorite shops, it was a bit pricey, but there swim and beachwear was just beautiful.

The next night we decided to start our night in Playa a bit earlier, in search of some authentic Mexican food, we were advised to try La Papilla’s. We were a group of ten for dinner, and arrived during the dinner rush, but the staff quickly pulled tables together on the 2nd floor balcony and sat us with an awesome view of downtown. The food was great, amazing burrito’s, shrimp filled quesadilla’s and Margarita’s made to perfection. After we ate, off we went to conquer some of the shops we had explored the day before and quite a few new ones. Most of the stores stayed open till about 10:30pm when the streets started to quiet down on the main drag, however the party moves back down to the beach if your looking for drinks, dancing and fun! We decided to check out the Blue Parrot, a well known stop in Playa. The dance floor is right on the beach and you can feel an amazing warm ocean breeze while you dance the night away! As if we weren’t having a great time already, they dimmed the lights and performers came out onto the beach for a fire show that was absolutely incredible!

Playa Del Carmen is an adorable and fun little Mexican town about an hour south of Cancun and only a ferry ride away from Cozumel. I would make this town a must see or stop on any Mexican adventure, and I can’t wait to go back!