My kids and I have taken two whale watching trips with Dana Wharf and while the trips were very different from one another, they were both great days.

The first time trip was in early December on a calm and seasonably warm day. There were only about twenty people signed up for the trip so we took a smaller boat and headed south along the Laguna coastline. The views of the coastline were spectacular and it was very cool to see beaches and landmarks that I know so well from a completely different perscpetive. December is pretty early in the gray whale watching season (prime time seems to be between January and March) and we didn't have any luck spotting any whales or dolphins. As a matter of fact, the only wildlife we saw were some sea lions hanging out on a buoy and a pelican who decided to hitch a ride on the stern of the boat (we named him Bruce). Luckily that small glimpse at wildlife and a nice day on the open water were enough to make my kids beg to take another trip. Since we did not see "a good showing" of whales or dolphins, every person on board was given a voucher to take another trip for free. To be honest, I almost felt lucky that we didn't see any whales that day because it meant we got to go again!

The second trip was vastly different than the first. Since it was just after New Years, the winter tourists had booked trips and about 80 of went boarded a much bigger boat complete with table seating up top. My kids and I stuck to standing near the bow of the boat so we could get a full view of what was going on in the water. As soon as we left the harbor, the captain spotted a gray whale! Everyone onboard was pointing and yelling with excitement as the whale came up for a breath before diving back down to feed. Unfortunately, since it was so close to the harbor, there were several private boats in the area that didn't appear to know whale watching etiquette, so our captain decided to head south in search of more whales.

I was a bit worried that it would be our only sighting of the day but after a 20 minute cruise, the captain spotted two whales on their journey south to Baja. The whales seemed to like our company because they hung out in the water with us for a long time. Word must have gotten out under the sea because the next thing we knew, a pod of bottlenose dolphins joined us and appeared to be playing with the whales! They whizzed right past us on the boat and then joined the whales as they breached. Shortly after the dolphins made their appearance, I spotted a sea lion bobbing on the waves, watching all the aquatic fun! The whole scene was incredible. Unfortunately, after some time passed we needed to head back port so that the next boat could go out. Bummer! You could even hear the disappointment in the captain's voice. We all knew we were witnessing something special. Luckily on our trip back to the harbor, a pod of common dolphins decided to say hi and frolic in our wake. One dolphin jumped nearly 20 feet in the air!

We all walked off the boat that day pumped with adrenaline and memorized by what we had just seen. My family are official whale watching addicts. We can't wait to head back in the summer for blue whale season. I can only imagine how amazing it must be to see the largest animals on the planet!

Disclosure: My family received a complimentary whale watching trip in order to write this review and a blog post. All opinions are unbiased and entirely my own.

As an Orange County resident and frequent visitor to gorgeous Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point, I have always admired the stunning Ritz Carlton resort sitting up on the bluff and wondered what it might look like inside. I was quite excited when the Oceanfront invited me and my family to stay at the Ritz Carlton to experience Dana Point from the tourist’s point of view.

When we arrived at the resort it was all dressed up for Christmas with multiple Christmas trees and the most elaborate gingerbread/candy display I have ever seen. In true Orange County style the display took on a beach theme complete with swirling seas, a giant tall ship and adorable beach shacks. My kids were upset that they couldn’t snack on the amazing display! Another great touch of Orange County was the display of various artist designed surf boards which were being auctioned off for charity. The boards were each unique and truly works of art.

Rooms

My family stayed on the concierge level which was definitely a treat. One this level, guests have free reign at various food options which are served throughout the day as well as complimentary beverages, including alcohol. Being able to step outside our room and find a wide variety of delicious food was almost as exciting as Santa Claus for my kids! Mommy found cocktail time after a long day to be quite nice herself. It would be very easy to dine exclusively on the concierge level the entire time you stayed at the Ritz and be fed quite well.

Our room was a standard sized hotel room and truth be told, did not stand out compared to other luxury hotel rooms I have stayed in. The décor was simple and the bathroom was pretty standard. The beds were comfortable, the fridge was very useful (especially since it was not stocked with annoying minibar items), and the complimentary wireless internet was very much appreciated, however I did find it odd that there was no dresser in the room to store clothes. There was certainly nothing wrong with the room, but the ocean view was definitely the star.

Location

You know the old saying “location, location, location”, well the Ritz most definitely has that covered. Whether you are sitting on an Adirondack chair on the lawn overlooking the ocean; watching the waves from the outdoor patio at 180blu or the expansive picture windows at Raya, the resort’s signature restaurant; or have taken a complimentary ride down to the beach for a few hours of fun on the sand, it is hard not to be enchanted by the picture perfect surroundings. I am told the pool area is quite enchanting as well but unfortunately it was being redone during our stay. Honestly, with Salt Creek next door, I see little need for pool time. Salt Creek is a an incredible beach for families with huge grassy areas which are perfect for picnicking or throwing a football, a seasonal snack bar, beach volleyball courts, and waves perfect for surfing or skipping over. Orange County has several great beaches and this one is definitely one of the best.

Dining

During our stay at the Ritz we had the opportunity to dine at Raya, the resort’s all day dining establishment with incredible views of the Pacific. The children’s dinner menu features selections such as spaghetti, fajitas, beef tacos, fish, and chicken strips (of course!). My fish loving daughter gobbled down her salmon while her carnivorous brother ate his taco. We enjoyed a ceviche sampler for an appetizer and found the tastes to be quite refreshing. My kids were not fans of the plantain chips that it was served with but we all definitely enjoyed the yucca. For dinner I dined on ancho-pistachio crusted ahi tuna which was perfectly seared and was accompanied by a divine crab stuffed squash blossom. I even managed to find room for a side of wild mushrooms which make me salivate just thinking about them!

If your family is looking for a sweet treat or you need a great cup of coffee, the Marketplace is the place to visit. Every single dessert in their glass display case looked like it was too pretty to eat but to delicious to pass up!

Ambassadors of the Environment

One of the Ritz’s signature offerings is the Ambassadors of the Environment program, designed in part by Jean-Michel Cousteau. Expert naturalists can take children and families on 15 different excursions including whale watching, organic cooking classes, snorkeling in kelp beds, and wave-based adventures. My family didn’t have the opportunity to enjoy this program but I have heard that kids have so much fun during these programs that they don’t even realize they are educational!

Bottomline: The oceanfront location and stunning grounds of the Ritz certainly do not disappoint!

To find out more about luxury experiences in coastal Orange County, check out the destination resource The Oceanfront http://www.theoceanfrontca.com/

Disclosure: My family received on complimentary night stay at the Ritz as well as dinner at Raya in order to complete this review for Trekaroo. All opinions are my own.

Recently my family and I had the opportunity to stay at the hotel voted the best in the United States by Conde Nast Traveler and one of the world’s best by Travel and Leisure, Pelican Hill. I have driven by the property several times on my way to Crystal Cove or Corona del Mar, but had never set foot on its grounds, known to play host to the rich and famous.

Set on 504 acres of the bluffs of the exclusive Newport Coast, Pelican Hill is a Renaissance-style resort with architecture reminiscent of Andrea Palladio’s celebrated churches, villas, and palaces in Northern Italy. Everything about this resort is grand and luxurious, from the massive arch your car passes under as it heads up the hill to the resort to the circular infinity-edged Coliseum Pool (one of the world’s largest) with its 1.1 million hand-cut glass mosaic tiles which mirror the brilliantly blue coastal skies. The stunning views from the lobby, with the Tom Fazio designed golf course in the foreground and the brilliant Pacific looming behind, are breathtaking and best enjoyed with a cup full of house made gelato from the Caffé.

Spacious Bungalows and Villas

One thing that families always appreciate in a hotel room is space! Those staying at Pelican Hill will be happy to hear that the smallest room is a spacious 847 feet. Each bungalow features a private terrace with ocean views, a fireplace framed with Italian limestone, and décor that is the finest in understated luxury.

My family had the pleasure of staying in a villa. Massive two-, three-, and four-bedroom villas ranging from 2,193 to 3,581 square feet feature the best of everything including huge patios with expansive ocean views, private garages, plenty of privacy (the villas are in a guard gated area to protect the rich and famous, or just regular folks like me), full kitchens, large living areas, plenty of room for the kids to run around, and personalized service from your butler. Truth be told, I am not accustomed to having someone wait on me (typically I am the one meeting my family’s needs) so I had a hard time calling for our butler to do anything besides carry my luggage to the bedroom since I had thrown my back out and my husband hasn’t yet arrived. Still, it was a very exciting concept and my husband and I had plenty of fun sitting on our patio, with its incredible ocean view, and daydream about all the things that a butler might do for us! While we did this, our kids had a blast riding their scooters on the private walkway between our garage and 3-bedroom villa. My personal highlight was the bubble bath I took in the huge sunken tub with the bubbliest bubble I had ever used. It was pure heaven.

Camp Pelican

My kids enjoyed a morning session at Camp Pelican, the resort’s kids club for ages 4-12, during our stay. My kids loved their time at the club and after seeing all they have for kids to enjoy, I have to admit I was a little jealous! The club itself is top of the line with its own swimming pool, splash area, heated outdoor patio, ping-pong, Karaoke, board games, video games, big screen televisions, and enough arts and crafts to send my daughter into a tizzy. Since it was the holiday season, the counselor made the kids an awesome 3-D snowflake to hang in their bedroom as a keepsake, in addition to the backpack all kids get to keep their trinkets from their time in the club. Speaking of keepsakes, I also have to mention that children under 12 receive the most adorable stuffed pelican, Murdoch, in their rooms when they check in. How sweet is that?

Complimentary Extras

Staying at Pelican Hill is not cheap, rooms start around $400 per night, but the bungalows truly are a great value. Unlike many luxury resorts, you aren’t nickel and dimed with resort fees and hidden charges. Internet is complimentary (charging for internet is a HUGE pet peeve of mine), self-parking is free, use of the house cars (a bunch of Escalades and one sweet Bentley) is included, and even usage of the spa facilities is complimentary! While my kids were enjoying Camp Pelican, I was happily relaxing in the sauna, whirlpool, and quiet room (a luxury in itself to any mom) while sipping on refreshing spa water.

Another complimentary extra that every family staying at Pelican will definitely want to enjoy is the Beach Experience at my favorite beach in Orange County, Crystal Cove. It includes

• Complimentary round-trip coach service
• Set-up of complimentary beach chairs and umbrellas on the sand
• Food and beverage service on the sand from The Beachcomber Café
• A Complimentary Adult Beach Bag for two with two towels, two bottles of water, sunscreen, Smashball paddles and ball
• A Complimentary Children’s Beach Bag with two towels, two waters and assorted sand toys
You haven’t really experienced pampering until you have experienced a beach day like that!

Dining

My family dined at the Coliseum Pool & Grill, the resort’s casual dining spot. My kids were in heaven the moment they stepped in this restaurant and found the big red wagon filled with toys to play with. They grabbed a couple things that caught their eye and took them to the table, entertaining themselves while my husband and I actually had a conversation! For $10, kids can enjoy endless pizza, pasta, and gelato- quite the bargain. This isn’t kraft macaroni and microwave pizza like some all-you-can-eat offerings seem to be. Everything was high quality and well balanced. Adults can enjoy pizza, pasta, seafood, and more.

Bottom line

The resort is gorgeous, the location is ideal, the service is top notch, and the experience is luxurious. If your family is looking for an upscale getaway, look no further, every member of your clan will fall in love with Pelican Hill.

Disclosure: My family received a complimentary stay at Pelican Hill and meal at Coliseum Pool & Grill in order to complete this review. All opinions are my own.

Families staying at the Montage know they are in for a first class experience from the moment they check in. Every guest is given a brief overview of the property from the lobby’s fifth floor balcony, which overlooks the infinity edged mosaic pool and the stunning blue Pacific, before being escorted to their room to complete the check-in process. Parents don’t have to worry about their stir crazy children running in circles around the lobby or whining as they stand in line at check-in. This detail may be small, but it is one of the many small details found all throughout the resort that add up to a first class experience.

The resort’s Laguna cliffside location allows for each spacious guestroom to feature an ocean view. Room amenities are top notch and include feather-top beds with 400-thread-count sheets, marble bathrooms featuring products by Agraria, and luxuriously soft bathrobes. The patio outside our room made for a great place for my kids to run around while I relaxed on the lounge chair and took in our gorgeous ocean view. Since Laguna Beach was originally founded as an art colony in the early 1900’s, the resort was built to reflect that era’s architecture with Craftsman-style design featuring rich dark wood, copper gutters and a shingle-style roof- another detail that created the ambiance of detailed perfection.

The property’s infinity-edged Mosaic Pool sits center stage with its heated waters floating parallel with the surrounding sidewalk as it reflects the sunshine. Cabanas feature the typical amenities such as beverages, fruit, and dedicated servers but are also furnished with Dyson fans and iPad2s loaded with games and access to online movies. As perfectly luxurious as the pool is, it still can’t compete with Treasure Island, the beach that lies just below the Montage grounds. One of Laguna Beach’s finest stretches of sand, Treasure Island has turquoise waters, white sand, nice tide pools, and a dramatic natural sandstone arch, perfect for framing sunset shots. The Resort offers beach service, complete with comfortable chairs perfect for lounging on while soaking up the sun’s rays. Be sure to find time to enjoy a sunset as it dips below the Pacific from this spectacular stretch of sand.

Dining at the Montage’s The Loft, the resort’s all-day dining establishment, is quite a treat. The restaurant features a cheese gallery with over 150 different cheese selections as well as an impressive honey collection from around the globe. The restaurant’s fromagier is happy to recommend a customized cheese plate, complete with handpicked accompaniments, based on your preferences. There is a kids menu with a variety of options, and cozy blankets are available for those who want to enjoy a meal on the heated patio. As with all things associated with the Montage, prices are not cheap, so expect to spend approximately $40 per adult entrée at dinner. Luckily, as with all things associated with the Montage, the experience is first class, the food is amazing, and the views of the Pacific are incredible. Studio, the five star restaurant on site is not really suitable for children.

Paintbox, the children’s program at the Montage, is one of the finest I have come across. My kids had so much fun that my son actually cried when I came to pick him up- he never wanted to leave! The camp counselors took my kids down to the beach, for a swim in the pool, and helped them make crafts including personalized backpacks to carry home all their treasures. One counselor painted my daughter’s face while another played Spiderman computer games with my son. My children are lucky enough to visit kids clubs quite frequently but their excitement about this particular program really stood out.

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Montage offers a special program for teens as well. 12-17 year olds can enjoy outdoor sports, learn to tie-dye, go stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkeling, and take various art classes which reflect Laguna’s vibrant art scene. On Saturday night they take teens into town to visit local hot spots, have scavenger hunts, geocache, or watch a movie.

Laguna Beach is a great town for families who love the outdoors and Montage is happy to set families up on a variety of adventures. Guests can arrange guided sea lion kayak tours, stand-up paddle board lessons, bike tours, and even private family surf lessons. Just imagine what sort of lasting memories could result from those sorts of experiences!

The perfect complement to a stay at the Montage is a few hours of pampering at the Spa Montage. Wraps and scrubs incorporate local elements such as seaweed and citrus and customized facials focus on each individual’s needs based on an expert esthetician’s knowledge and diagnosis of your skin. The esthetician that gave me my facial had the absolute softest hands I have ever felt and I loved that she wrote down all the products that she used on me so that I could reference my card if I wanted to purchase products that I especially enjoyed. After your treatment, be sure spend some time in the sauna, whirlpool, cold plunge, or just lounging by the spa pool while sipping on a pear, avocado, and mint Ecto Smoothie and taking in the incredible ocean views.

Bottomline: I truly can’t say one bad thing about the Montage. The setting is spectacular, the service is first class, and the experience is second to none. Rooms at this hotel do not come cheap- expect to pay over $600 per night- but for those who can afford it, the resort is worth every penny. Time and again I have found that luxury resorts prove to be among the most family friendly and the Montage is definitely welcoming to guests of all ages.

Disclosure: My family received a complimentary stay, meals, kids club, and spa treatment in order to complete this unbiased review and a story for the blog. The resort did not request that I state anything specific and all reviews will always reflect my honest opinion.

Families looking for a casual dining experience at the Four Season Resort should head to Crescent Moon. The restaurant features modern Mexican cuisine with entrees such as deliciously rich lobster enchiladas and creative pasilla braised short ribs with chorizo mac ‘n cheese featured on the menu. My son and I loved the queso appetizer so much that we fought over who could be closer to the bowl! And while the usual “safe” foods such as pizza are on the children’s menu, the focus is on dishes that compliment the adult menu such as carne asada tacos with rice and beans, as well healthy options like grilled salmon with rice and veggies (which my daughter left no trace of on her plate).

Of the three restaurants on the Four Seasons property, I would most recommend this one for families. The menu offered great food and the atmosphere was very family friendly. I like eating places where I don't have to worry about my five year olds dropping a fork a causing the whole restaurant to stop in it's tracks.

Disclosure: My family received a complimentary meal at Crescent Moon while staying at the Four Seasons on assignment for Trekaroo. The review is unbiased and all opinions are my own.