We stayed at the ultra modern and luxurious Hotel Healdsburg on our recent trip to Napa/Sonoma during crushing season. We had a great experience, rooms are gorgeous and the modern design of steel and glass makes you feel like you're staying at a luxury condo and not a hotel. They have an outdoor patio in the middle to hang out and enjoy wine in the evening. Since it was early fall, the colors on the trees were changing and we're beautiful backdrop. The hotel doesn't miss any beat, to fresh fruit in the rooms, and bottled water and lemonade in the lobby. Continental breakfast is complimentary and included smoked salmon with baguettes, muffins, toast, granola, everything you expect from a high end hotel. The concierge was great, often getting us great restaurant reservations at prime hours and having tasting fees waved. She even offered us a roundtrip ride to a winery so we could enjoy the tasting session. We love this place and hope to make it back every year. Charlie Palmer's dry creek kitchen is right next door and the food was outstanding as well.

This is probably the best airport hotel we've ever stayed in. We had an early flight out on our last night in Florida and stayed at this location. It's a brand new hotel, so everything is modern and updated like you expect from the Westin Brand. You get to sleep in a comfy heavenly bed and enjoy all the amenities the hotel has to offer. Great pool, nice outdoor lagoon area, hip bar and free transportation to the airport the next morning. Your kids and family will appreciate everything on their final night in Florida, or if you're on business it's a very convenient hotel.

Don't be fooled by the lobby, this hotel is old, loud, and out dated. If you're stuck in the front, you'll have a tough time sleeping with all the street noise. If you're stuck in the back, it's separate from the main hotel, and all they have is a security guard sitting there to try and keep out non hotel guests. Thankfully, we only stayed here a couple of nights, but that was two nights too many. All you hear at night is shouting from the bars, the busses, the motorcycles, in a city that pretty much doesn't sleep. We tried to change rooms, but the only one they said was available was in there second building behind them, that didn't even have a front door. Just walk up to the elevator old school side of the highway motel style. The pool is small and shaded most of the day, so little one's probably won't enjoy it as much as the ocean.

If you live in Chicago or the midwest and looking for a quick getaway, Silver Beach about 90 min drive from the city and a great place for kids. The Michigan side of the lake is so beautiful and you get to see the sun set on the west side. The beach has full facilities for changing kids, if you're going for a day trip. There's an outdoor play area in the sand where kids can climb when they get bored of the water. There's also a big carousel and indoor arcade to beat the heat when you need a break, and they have a huge outdoor water fountain that sprays water from about 20 different areas. Before heading home, hit the pizza parlor that's nestled in an old train depot. Parking is approx $10 and there didn't look like any area to rent umbrella's or chairs so make sure you bring your own. A great fun day for the kids, not too expensive and quick ride back into the city.

Millennium Park is one of the best things about Chicago. In the center of a hustle and bustle city is a beautiful park, with great art sculptures like "the bean" and water fountains that the kids can run through. If you go on a week where there's a festival or the orchestra is playing, definitely check those added features out. There's a peaceful contemporary garden to walk through and plenty of room for the kids to run around. A nice outdoor eating area, kids can grab a burger and the parents can grab a pint. In the winter there's an ice skating rink. Terrific area to visit and enjoy the outdoors.