The ‘Family Adventure’ Category
San Diego, Martha's Vineyard Mix
Perth may be the most isolated city in the world, but she's second to none when it comes to the infrastructure that has been thoughtfully created for her sport loving community.
Imagine hundreds of miles of powdery white sand beaches lined with beautifully maintained boardwalks perfect for biking, jogging or walking with friends and a string of friendly beach towns in between.
Head to Cottesloe Beach, or "Cott" as the nickname loving locals call her. You'll find a vibrant family atmosphere bustling with ocean front parks offering modern facilities for the kids, grassy lawns & beaches perfect for picnics and plenty of dining options.
A little bit further along the coast, you'll find Fremantle, or "Freo," a historic port full of charming buildings dating back to the 1830's along with hopping pubs, mouth watering fish & chips, an interesting shipwreck museum that actually displays the hull of a real Dutch ship that never made it to her destination of Jakarta, Indonesia in 1629.
The coolest spot in Freo is the oceanfront brewery and restaurant, Little Creatures. We walked into the breathtaking warehouse to see children on the floor drawing masterpieces with free flowing chalk, along with fresh flowers and candles everywhere. Try their pale ale and a simple pizza topped with sea salt and rosemary.
We also loved the underwater shark viewing at the Perth Aquarium and the dinosaur skeletons at the Western Australian Museum in the historic city centre.
Follow the yellow brick road…
Having grown up in one of the most beautiful places on earth, I try not to set my expectations too high when we travel.
This wasn't the case for Margaret River though - Australia's version of Napa Valley with a little Santa Cruz and Provence thrown in the mix - my expectations were very high and "Margs" as the Aussies' call her did not disappoint.
We decided to take a break from the Bali heat and visit during Western Australia's off season which is our summer, their winter -and not even the hail, cold rain or frigid wind could dampen our spirit - an unusual cold snap for the area that definitely fulfilled my desire to wear fleece and get cozy by a fireplace.
Dramatic white sand beaches, idyllic rivers with bridges and walking paths, acre upon acre of pristine forest and to top it all off - over a hundred wineries within an hour's drive; one more beautiful then the next surrounded by vineyards as far as the eye can see, local breweries with the freshest beer on the planet and lively Aussie family ambiance and restaurants that serve only the most incredible fare produced right there in the shire - cheese, cream, butter, eggs, pastry, fish, chocolate, jam - you name it, Margaret River makes it.
For breakfast head to the eclectic Margaret River Bakery - I became addicted to the freshly baked scones topped with Devonshire Cream and local strawberry jam and served with a flat white, an Aussie version of a cappuccino topped with a creamier foam, of course.
Southeast Asia's hottest surf spot…
You don't have to be a pro surfer to immerse yourself in the lifestyle and surf culture of Uluwatu - one of the world's most renowned international surf destinations.
Just a hundred or so steps down a stone stairway will lead you to a cliff front warung (casual open air restaurant) perfectly positioned to provide not only jaw dropping views, but fairly close proximity to many of the top surfers around strutting their stuff right before your very eyes.
If you're up for a higher level of adventure including an energy cleansing swim, head down another couple hundred steep steps to the Uluwatu cave and white sand beach where the color of the Indian Ocean is a gorgeous milky turquoise.
Ask about the tide before you decide to go down though, as the cave can be treacherous on a high tide with big swell. This is where surfers paddle out to catch some of the most perfect and consistent waves on the planet.
This surfing mecca is located near Pura Luhur, a Balinese sea temple built in the 11th century! Try the Blue Point Bay Villas & Spa if you want to be within walking distance or Alila Villas Uluwatu if you're looking for eco-luxury eye candy.























