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Stanley the giraffe
Travel and Events

Malibu Wine Safari- A Bucket List Check Off

by Kelly Castillo

This weekend was my birthday weekend and my husband and youngest daughter took me up to Malibu for a few nights of relaxation and adventure. I have always wanted to try the Malibu Wine Safari and what better excuse than my birthday, right? My husband is kind of a picky guy and doesn’t love trying new things, isn’t outdoorsy, and doesn’t like crowds, so the only way I could convince him to give it a shot is if it was a birthday excursion for me. He can’t say no to me on my birthday, it’s the law.

malibu winesIf you’ve never been to Malibu Wine Safari, it’s basically a tour of the Selman family’s private ranch and winery where you get to taste wines made from their 27 varieties of grapes, see some of their exotic animals and take in views of their beautiful 1,100 acre property. It’s really an extraordinary place- many of their animals are retired from TV and movie acting including their most famous resident, Stanley the giraffe. You may have seen him in movies such as Hangover 3. They offer many different tour packages, most lasting about an hour and a half. We saw alpacas, donkeys, horses, zebras, water buffalos, a camel, cave paintings from the local Chumash Native Americans, and of course, Stanley.malibu wine safari

malibu winesIf you’re from the LA area, this is a great thing to do when you have guests visiting from out of town. It’s also a great add on activity to a day spent in Malibu or Santa Monica. We did the 10 am Vineyard lunch. I was expecting maybe more of a picnic lunch spread, it ended up being so hot we ate in the “lakehouse” which was a manufactured home on the property although the views of the small lake were quite lovely. I think we could have skipped the lunch portion and had an equally enjoyable experience with a lower priced package. The highlight was 100% meeting Stanley and hand feeding him! It was well worth any extra expense to have that once in a lifetime chance to feed a giraffe up close and personal. I’ve seen other “giraffe feeding” experiences at the San Diego Wild Animal Park and places like that and nowhere lets you get this close and pet the giraffe and take so much time one on one.

Stanley the giraffeI think I will definitely come back to Malibu Wine Safari, it’s a great option for a bachelorette party, birthday celebration, girls trip, or for out of town guests to see the beautiful Malibu hills.  I will be writing a separate review of the ranch we stayed at in Malibu as well, it’s not to be missed. As a tip if you’re planning on a wine safari in the summer- take note it’s HOT and the Jurassic Park style trucks are open air and uncovered. I wish I had paid attention to that on the website photos or if it had been stressed in their FAQs as I would have brought a hat or umbrella. I am fair skinned and got a bit too much sun during the 90 minute tour. Also ladies, leave the heels and tight clothes at home. I know we want to take cute pics but you’re climbing in and out of a giant truck and walking on gravel and grass all day. It’s not a heel type of a place. Especially after all the unlimited wine they give you. That being said, our guides Kyle and Christiana were funny and sweet and the whole thing couldn’t have been more fun! If you’re wanting more info, their website is right HERE.

xo Kelly

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Tips For A Summer Disney Day From An Expert
ParentingTipsTravel and Events

Tips For A Summer Disney Day From An Expert

by Kelly Castillo

disney balloons                                                         

So I know a lot of people plan a special day at Disneyland as part of their Summer vacation plans and I thought I would tap into the expertise of my girl Megan, who is an annual passholder and goes to the park several times a week for a list of the best tips for a summer day at the happiest place on Earth (that’s definitely open to debate). Personally I would rather wrestle that bear from The Revenant than stand in those lines of sticky children in the heat, but to each his own I guess.  We will definitely be doing more of these Disney insider posts as this was just the tiniest tip of the iceberg of her knowledge. She takes her little ones to Disneyland every week and knows all the ins and outs of that godforsaken place. All photos are Megan’s own by the way. Here is what she had to say:

disney popcorn                         disney lolly                            disney cotton candy

First things first, get there at park opening or as insiders say “rope drop”!  The parks opening times vary by day, but most park goers don’t get there for about and hour or two after that.  If you want to maximize park time and get on as many rides as possible, while avoiding the heat and crowds, research what time the park opens the day you’re visiting and try and make it at that time (leaving plenty of time for parking and walking through the turnstile lines etc). Disneyland hotels also offer a “magic hour” with your stay which means you get to experience the parks an hour before everyone else does. Totally cool if you’re a hotel guest so take advantage of that if you’re planning an overnight.
Want to score a free souvenir? If you stop in any retail location, they will give you free buttons to take home. They have various buttons for various occasions, but all super cute and totally collectible! Also, if you head to the Jungle Cruise ride and ask for a map they’ll give you an authentic map of the ride to take home free of charge. But be sure to go early- they tend to run out  before lunch.
Don’t waste time buying bottled water.  Every restaurant has free cups of ice cold water…all you need to do is ask.  When water bottles are up to almost $5 a bottle, save that money for churros.
Make sure to bring your own sunscreen. They do sell it in the parks in the baby center and in front where the entrance is located, but it’s way overpriced and not worth the hassle.
Have small kids and want to beat the heat? If you’re heading to Disney’s California Adventure,  they have a few locations to get wet, so bring a swimsuit. In Bugs Land, there is a sprouting water area that is perfect for hot summer days. They also have a sprouting location in front of Ariel’s Undersea Adventure.
Get to know where the air conditioned inside areas are. Disneyland has Star Wars: Launch Bay, which is nice and dark and air conditioned with plenty of things to do and characters to meet.  Disney’s California Adventure Park has Animation Academy, which plays Disney movies above you and has multiple rooms to have fun and explore in. Both locations are good for taking a break from the heat for a few minutes.
Utilize the fast pass! If you know it’s going to be a hot day, pick your rides based on what you want to go on most. Know that hot days mean the water lines will be VERY long, so maybe get a fast pass for one of those so you don’t spend half a day waiting for a log ride.
The slushies near the coke corner on main street are worth every penny.  They come in multiple flavor options and you can choose them all to make a rainbow colored icy perfection.

Looking to take an amazing photo at Disney for your instagram? Of course you are! So is everybody else unfortunately. Everyone heads to the front of Sleeping Beauty Castle,  but it’s actually one of the worst spots to take a picture. It’s always crowded and the sun directly hits it all day, meaning you’re staring into the sun, making for squinty eyes and bad lighting.

Instead of the castle, head to these great locations:

1. Just to the right of the castle on the walkway to the wishing well. Not only can you still get a great view of the castle in the background, but the lighting is better and the people are not as condensed in one spot.

2. Minnie Dot Wall in Toontown of Disneyland:
This is the newest trendiest wall currently at the parks and I believe it’s only temporary. Located next to Minnie’s house in Toontown.

                         

3. Monorail line entrance in Tomorrow Land:
This photo spot is located on the ramp up to the loading dock for the Monorail. It’s great for photos because you can see behind the Matterhorn as well as a great view of the park.

4. The Buzz Wall:
A temporary photo opp wall located next to the Monsters Inc ride in California Adventure Park. Great for photos,  but if you’re a kid, you’ll have to jump high to get it just right.

                             

5. The classic Disney Blue Wall:
So popular, it’s got its own Instagram hashtag! #bluewallpics

bluewallphoto

6. The Small World Wall:
Another pretty wall photo that’s got a bit of a following on Instagram. Located on your way to Its A Small World at Disneyland next to Mickeys Magical Map

small world

7. Radiator Springs Racers walkway in Cars Land:
Located in Disney’s California Adventure, these photos end up being breathtaking due to its realistic look.

xo Megan

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Travel tips
TipsTravel and Events

Travel Tips To Save Your Sanity

by admin

Listen and learn, grasshopper. The wise travel master is speaking now. Don’t worry, I’m gonna spill the travel tea without any wax-on-wax-off BS. Wait, I just completely switched karate/kung fu references, didn’t I?

So I have traveled a lot. Both with and without kids. I usually make all my grown kids’ travel reservations as well because at this point, I know what I am doing. I know what mistakes NOT to make that can derail even the most laid back traveler. Plus, I have the WORST luck on the planet. Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong for me. So I don’t take chances anymore just living life expecting things to go right. Because they never do. Ever. But I’ve made peace with it.

Here are my top travel tips for your summer vacations- do these things and avoid some major headache.

  1. Carry-on wisdom: your carry on is your lifeline. If you miss a connection, if your luggage gets lost, if you have to emergency land in the middle of nowhere, your carry on will save the day. It is essential so even if you feel like you will be fine with just a purse- do not, I repeat, do not skip the carry on. I bought each of the kids these amazing luggage sets from Away (that’s them in the pic) and the carry on even has a built in usb charger. Amazing, right?
    1. Pack an extra outfit in your carry on. At minimum, an extra shirt. A long sleeve shirt so you can tie it around your waist or if you end up somewhere cold when you expected the tropics. This is non negotiable. On one 6 hour flight to Hawaii, Collin threw up all down the front of my tee shirt (he gets terrible motion sickness). I smelled like Hawaiian Punch vomit for 6 hours!!!! The best I could do was turn the thing inside out so I didn’t gross everyone else out as badly. Learn from my disasters! Bring an extra shirt. Your fellow passengers will thank you. Another time, Alex knocked his entire glass of ginger ale onto my lap. I tied my extra shirt around my waist and at least it didn’t look so much like I had peed my pants. If you’re traveling with children, every person gets an extra shirt in the carry on.
    2. Bring at least one tampon/pad. I don’t care if it is 100% NOT your time of the month. Mother nature likes to fuck us up and a long flight would be the perfect time for her to decide to give you random unexplained spotting. If not, hooray, maybe another passenger in need could benefit. Never hurts to be prepared.
    3. If you take medication regularly or even only on an as-needed basis, it goes in your carry on. Again, non negotiable. If your luggage is lost, if you’re rerouted to Timbuktu, if you have some kind of allergic reaction to something, who knows? Bring all prescription and otc medications that you take on any type of regular basis with you onto the plane. That includes an epi-pen or benadryl if you have an allergy, even an obscure one you’re not likely to encounter. That includes chewable aspirin if you have even the most mild heart issues. You could save your life or that of another passenger.
    4. Do not pack your charger in your luggage even on a short flight. Planes get delayed and can sometimes sit on the runway for hours.
    5. Snacks. Not just if you’re with little ones. Bring food, you’ll be a lot less grouchy if the plane’s catering is delayed or canceled, if there’s too much turbulence for service, if you get stuck on the runway. Bring snacks that have protein and fiber like some kind of bar or something that will keep you satisfied for a few hours if need be.
  2. Travel document 411: This is SO important! I know we are living in an amazing age of digital technology. Boarding passes can be scanned right from your phone, all your reservations import automatically to your phone’s calendar. What a time to be alive! However, if like me you leave your cell phone on the kitchen counter while tracking your uber and you don’t realize until you’re at the airport OR if you’re also like me and drop your phone in the toilet of the airport bathroom…. you can’t rely on technology to save the day. I cannot stress to you enough the importance of printing out your travel confirmations. I print every reservation, boarding pass, voucher, and confirmation email and I put them in an accordion file folder in order that you will need them. As you use each thing, move it to the back. You’ll have phone numbers, addresses, everything you need handy. And it’s also a great opportunity to take one last look at each reservation and check for errors. Alex and I once got into a taxi at the airport and the driver asked for our hotel’s address- I went to pull it up on my phone and of course, no service. Another time I had a hotel check in clerk tell me my reservation was for a different category of room then I had booked. Printed confirmations saved the day on both occasions.
  3. Layovers: For many of our favorite destinations, layovers are inevitable. I have learned a few things along the way. Never book your flights with a layover shorter than 45 minutes. An hour is preferable. If your first leg has a delay taking off, you’ll be grateful for the extra time. If there’s a shortage of meals or the bathroom line is long, you’ll be grateful for the delay to grab a bite or use the facilities without rushing. If you have a longer layover, say 1.5 hours or more, do a little online research about the airport food options and lounge options. That way, you’ll know where to head instead of wandering around somewhere unfamiliar. This is especially important if you’re traveling with a pet, a nursing infant, or someone with dietary restrictions. My daughter can’t eat wheat, eggs, or dairy so I always scope out the menus of airport restaurants and make a plan. If I’ve got my pup with me, I want to know where the pet relief areas are.
  4. Checked baggage tips: I am not an expert packer, I am always amazed at the videos where people roll and fold their clothes so precisely to fit everything in small bags. Alex insists on all of his travel clothes being hung, so we always carry at least one suit bag. But here’s what I have learned- the secret to avoiding the worst headache with checked bags- lost luggage! It’s awful. But since it’s happened to us before, now we know better and all our luggage is cross packed. Every person in our group carries at least 1-2 complete outfits of another person in their checked luggage. That way if someone’s luggage is lost or delayed they aren’t stuck in the same clothes for days. Another few great tips, especially if your luggage is not distinctive: put a second luggage tag inside your suitcase with your cell phone number and name, not just tagged to the outside. If the outside tag gets wet or ripped off, they can identify that it’s your bag. Also helps if someone else accidentally takes you bag and needs a way to contact you to return it. And also, put some sort of sticker or ribbon on your bag if it’s a common looking suitcase so you’ll be able to identify it as it comes off the carousel.

Hope these tips help make your summer vacation more enjoyable. I’ve included some of my fave travel must-haves below. Safe travels!

 

xo Kelly Castillo

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LifestyleTravel and Events

My Kentucky Derby Experience: A Love Letter to Louisville

by admin

Kentucky Derby Kentucky Oaks

Alex and I have always thought about going to the Kentucky Derby. It seems so glamorous and such a bucket list trip! This year we decided to go and see for ourselves what all the fuss was about. Many hours were put into planning including the all important outfits and hats. We were able to score passes to the Barnstable Brown party, which is the event of the year in Kentucky as well as tickets for both the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby in Millionaire’s Row- the private dining room and viewing box at Churchill Downs.

The first hurdle was actually getting to Louisville, no direct convenient flights from Southern California, we ended up having to connect in Chicago, getting delayed in bad weather and barely making our second flight. Stressful beyond belief as neither of us are familiar with the Chicago airport and we had to rush to find out gate and then stress about our luggage making the connection (what would have happened if my hats had been lost, oh the horror!)

We arrived and headed straight to our hotel, the 21C Museum Hotel in downtown Louisville. To be honest we had never been to Louisville and had no idea what to expect but man, the downtown area is a ghost town. More than half the buildings are boarded up or empty, hardly anyone walking around on a weekday- we are used to bustling big cities with vibrant downtown areas and it just felt kinda sad and dead to us. So much beautiful architecture and brick buildings just sitting empty. But our hotel was amazing and definitely lifted our spirits. The coolest, hippest most avant garde hotel in the middle of Kentucky? Modern art exhibits, interactive art, a super amazing foodie restaurant that we wanted to eat every meal in. Our room was small, but looked out over Main St and the river and was clean and nicely furnished. But no tub? No double sink? We were also seriously bummed at the fitness center and “spa” which consisted of like three machines, some dumbbells, and a steam room that was not working. Very depressing. Thankfully, we got our steps in walking all over downtown Louisville.

The first day we relaxed and explored the city a bit and then went in the afternoon to watch the famous Pegasus Parade. Alex had never seen a hometown parade before so he basically thought everyone had lost their minds, but I thought it was fun and a nice local thing to do. Unfortunately we had zero luck finding a taxi back to our hotel and walked half way there before giving up and calling an Uber. The highlight was dinner at the hotel restaurant, Proof on Main, which rivaled any urban foodie restaurant we have been to (and we have been to a lot). Every dish was perfectly executed and the cocktails were on point although heavily skewed towards bourbon drinkers (go figure).

The hotel hosted an exclusive brunch on Oaks day which was a wonderful way to kick off Derby weekend. Afterwards we headed to the Kentucky Oaks on a perfect sunny day to watch the races. The Oaks is a female cancer awareness day and everyone wears pink, it’s super appropriate as it is the day they race the fillies. We donned our pink outfits and took a tram to Churchill Downs. The place was packed and the corridors were lined with vendors selling everything and anything Derby related. We didn’t stop to browse since we had already been gifted 5 (!!!!) gift bags and I was beginning to worry how I would get everything home. We headed through the glass doors and up the escalators to the exclusive “Millionaire’s Row”. Tables are set for 8 and assigned in advance so we joined our group and made introductions. The other couples were all very nice, it’s definitely a mixed crowd.

The decor in Millionaire’s Row is definitely lacking. It reminded me of a hotel ballroom or meeting room type look and the buffet they were serving all day was about the same. Considering how expensive the tickets were, I was a bit disappointed. It was all you can eat and drink though, so we did not miss out on mint juleps and lilies. People watching was more interesting than the races although we did go out to the viewing terrace and watch several races in the afternoon including the Oaks. The racetrack is beautiful and it’s very exciting as the energy from the crowd is contagious. Heading back to the hotel we could not locate the shuttle and there were no Ubers or taxis available, but we managed to find a for hire driver who offered to chauffeur us the remainder of the weekend, thank goodness as I had not anticipated how difficult it would be to get anywhere during Derby weekend.

The driver picked us up a few hours later to head to Barnstable Brown. It is considered one of the top 10 private parties in the world and we were very curious, we had no idea what to expect. It’s at a private home in an area of Louisville known as The Highlands and considering how many parties we throw, I knew how much work it would be to pull off. There was a red carpet, several buffet stations set up, bars, and a stage and dance floor. We ate and drank and listened to the live music- Salt n Pepa, DMC, Kid Rock, Richie Sambora, Boyz II Men, and Joey Fatone. It was quite a mix of people from celebrities like Ty Burrell and Johnny Knoxville to professional athletes like our neighbor Bode Miller, and regular folks like us. It was quite fun and a much more up close and personal house party than any gala I have ever attended.

The next day was pouring rain, but we still walked around downtown a bit and were surprised consistently with the arts and culture available to Louisville as well as the urban trendiness of the people that live downtown. Sitting at a cafe and eating farm to table while served by a bartender wearing vintage and a man bun, we could have just as  easily been in San Francisco or Savannah. After filling up on craft cocktails, oysters and bone marrow, we headed to the Derby in rain ponchos. The covered walkways were so packed with people trying to avoid the rain that we could barely squeeze through to head to our section. The viewing terrace was not completely covered, so most people were choosing to watch the races from the tv screens in the banquet area. Kind of silly to spend the fortune we spent on tickets just to watch it on tv like we could have done from home.

By the time we got through the parking lot to our waiting driver we were both soaked and covered in mud. It was less than ideal.

The consensus- I have now been to the Derby and crossed it off my bucket list, I don’t need to go again. That being said, I really enjoyed Louisville and would visit again just to enjoy the art and the restaurants and people.

xo Kelly Castillo

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