Spring is a time for renewal. After a long winter, our skin can also use some pampering. One of my favorite products is a resurfacing peel that I use three times a week.  Skincare experts say that one should try to get a professional facial with the change of each season.

The Five-Star Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, North Carolina is one of the best places in the Southeast to get a facial, but spa experts tell me that it's also wise to use some natural ingredients at home to give your skin the renewal it needs, especially in the Spring after a dry winter.

The Umstead Spa in Cary, N.C.

DIY at-Home Spring Facial Tips from the Umstead Spa

Wash face with a mild cream cleanser, rinse well and pat dry. 
         
In a small bowl, mix half of one lemon (Organic lemon is best), with 2 tablespoons of raw honey.
       


Lemon and water. I think we can all get those ingredients easily.

Spring will be a great time to enjoy the outdoor areas at the Umstead Spa in Cary, N.C.

Skin Perfecting Facial (80 minutes, $185)

I love a wedding. Make it a royal wedding and I can't contain myself. I will set an alarm clock and watch the events unfold live on TV this month. No one better disturb me.

Photo: Kensington Palace

I will not be making a child a bowl of cereal on this morning. My children are now 12 and 8. They know how to make their own bowl of cereal as does my husband. Someone else must let out the dog. Well, I may do that during a commercial break. I'm sure he will be snuggled up with me watching the wedding, too.

I also vow not to wake my husband or children that early in the morning. I've already been told that I should sleep upstairs and use the big TV in our bonus room.  It's new. We bought it when we moved in our house. It's big and away from everyone. The only thing I need to learn to do before May 19 is how to turn that TV on. I always sit down and someone else does it for me, that is when I take the time to watch TV in that room.

But, I'm not the only person with royal wedding fever. This wedding is huge for Britain's tourism market and many of the hotels are marketing the fun, too.

Are you also named Named Harry and Meghan?...

Wonder what the chances are for an actual couple to also be called Harry and Meghan or even spelled as Megan?  I'm sure it's possible and those lucky people can apply to stay complimentary at either Mercure London Kensington or Mercure London Hyde Park on May 19.

Which one would you choose?



Royal Tea Adjacent Buckingham Palace

If you love to partake in afternoon tea then London is a wonderful place, but the Rubens at the Palace offers guests the Royal Tea with an overnight stay. As the Queen's neighbor adjacent to Buckingham Palace, the hotel has a package that wants you to live like a royal, too. From July 23 to September 30th, Rubens at the Palace will offer this special package that includes two nights accommodations, royal afternoon tea, a royal cocktail or your choice.  royal turndown service, full English Breakfast, and tickets to the State Rooms in Buckingham Palace.  How cool is that? I want to do that.

The hotel is also offering  Royal Wedding Celebration Tea on May 18 and 19, the weekend of the wedding.  To mark the occasion, the hotel's Executive Head Chef has created “The Royal Wedding Celebration Afternoon Tea”, consisting of four specially created pastries inspired by Royal wedding cakes of the past.  The ceremony will be screened live. 




Feel like a Princess with a Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride Around London 

Leading Hotels of the World hotels are known for luxury and extravagance.  The 5-Star Boutique Hotel The Milestone Hotel and Residences will have you swooning with envy with its Royal Engagement Package. 

Shoot. I'm turning 50 this year and I just want to do it for my birthday.   Wonder if I can convince Will to pretend we just got engaged. The package is valid until the end of the year. This great opportunity comes with a photography session, your own Bently ride, your own horse and carriage, royal tea service, a private tour of Kensington Palace and a lot of wonderful memories.

Who will be watching the wedding of Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle?

Asheville's Renaissance Hotel has some history in the city. It was one of Asheville's first modern skyrise hotels, built decades ago. Even though it's not historic, it is located next to the historic Thomas Wolfe House and is within walking distance to all that downtown Asheville offers travelers. 



We all know that a hotel or its staff can't do anything about its location, but the good news for the Renaissance is that this property is prime when it comes to downtown real estate. It's a great location for travelers to get to restaurants and shops on foot. Once you park for free in the hotel parking lot (another perk), you never have to move your car.  No doubt. This hotel has a great location, but this Marriott branded property has more than just its location that makes it shine.

Here are five other reasons that will make you, especially those traveling with children, want to stay at the Renaissance Hotel in Downtown Asheville.

5. The Perks of a Full-Service Property 

The Renaissance Asheville Hotel is a full-service property. What does that mean? It means someone will help you with your luggage if you want. If you're a traveling family, you typically have a lot of it with you. Families usually have multiple bags, electronic devices, pool toys, drinks, snacks, and lots of stuffed animals.





It also means room-service is available to you at full-service properties.  What? You mean your kid didn't eat his dinner at 5 pm and all the sudden he's famished at 9:30 pm.  Yeah, that! As parents, we've all been there. Room service can be a nice luxury perk. Full-service also means concierge services, outstanding housekeeping services, and a full-service restaurant.

4. Modern Updated Rooms

The rooms in this Marriott branded hotel are modern and fresh. Staff was quick to respond to any need. I'm a Mom. I always have many needs when I'm staying in a hotel such as band-aids, extra towels and extra coffee cream and sugar packets.




The bathrooms in this property are updated with marble and subway tile, but it is on the smaller side due to the age of the hotel. A family will manage just fine though.



3. Top-Notch Food 



The food at Renaissance Asheville Hotel restaurant, The Writer's Bistro, is farm-to-table delicious with plenty of options for the pickiest child. My family originally ventured to the West Asheville neighborhood by car one day to get brunch/lunch during our stay, but after finding no parking, seeing tons of people standing outside restaurants in the area, and experiencing the biggest family feud of our lives, we drove our irritated behinds right back to the Renaissance Hotel and had lunch at the Writer's Bistro. It was very good. It was our saving grace for the day. We kicked ourselves for not just going downstairs to this restaurant in the first place.

But, I know. It's fun to try different local restaurants and soak up that atmosphere. I want you to do that, too, but when you stay at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel, it is nice to know that you do not settle for mediocre when you dine at this property. It's a good solid, first choice and you (not just guests) should come in and try the restaurant when in town.

2. You can bring your Family Dog



The Renaissance Asheville Hotel is also pet-friendly. I've not experienced that aspect as a guest because we had not yet adopted Andy when we there.  Asheville is supposed to be one of the most pet-friendly places in North Carolina so he's barking to go with us. I did see some happy dogs in the lobby until they had to go on the elevator. Yeah, I don't blame them. I don't really like elevators either. But, with 12 hotel floors, dogs and people need to take the elevator. If you want to take your family dog, the pet fee is $75. Dogs are allowed in the lobby, but not in the restaurant.

1. The Best Hotel Feature: The Indoor Pool 





It's time to reveal the top reason families will keep staying at the Renaissance Asheville year after year. The indoor pool is my number one reason why I think this hotel is perfect for families. The salt water, indoor pool is a huge drawing card for families. It's a good size. It has a resort feel and it does not smell like an indoor pool.

It is spectacular and perfect for all four seasons in the North Carolina mountains. Sometimes, summer can be cool so with an indoor facility then families can splash around year-round.

In 2018, the hotel conducted public spaces renovations so the pool and fitness area were closed, but it should have been back in operation by April 17, 2018. I've been waiting since December to do this post because I wanted the pool back open before publishing.  My best advice though if you are booking this property, be sure to call the hotel to make sure renovations are complete and all amenities I've mentioned are available.

Charlotte, North Carolina is known as the Queen City so it is only fitting that The Ballantyne Hotel and Lodge, a member of Starwood's Luxury Hotel Collection, serves afternoon tea fit for a queen. The Ballantyne, a resort hotel with a top-rate spa and championship golf course, offers a different type of tee-time for the public on Wednesday through Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. It's traditional afternoon tea delights with a local culinary twist. 

Here are some of my reasons as to why you should have afternoon tea at the Ballantyne Hotel


1. It's fun to take a break in the afternoon and catch up with a friend

Luxury. Sometimes that word scares people when it comes to travel and they immediately think "that's for people who are ultra wealthy." Travel is about experiences and yes, some luxury vacations may be out of the price range for a lot of people including myself, but on the other hand, I like to think you may be more like me. I travel less often in a year and splurge when I do because it's about the experience. I want a quality and memorable experience for my family.

Experiencing Southern Hospitality at the Jekyll Island Resort a few summers ago.

You may want to think of it like shoes.  Do you buy a few type of classic shoes you can wear with most anything for the quality or do you have 25 cheaper shoes in your closet?  It's basically a style and budget choice.  A family's choice of travel is no different. Yes, it would be nice to never have to worry about the cost and just go as you desire, but that is just not reality for most people. For most families who earn less than 200K a year, travel becomes a lifestyle choice on how they want to travel.

Do I go to Disney every year or do I go less often and spend more money on my vacation when I go?  I fall into the less often camp. We only take the kids to Disney every four years. Our last trip was the WDW Yacht Club Resort. 2018 is supposed to be our year to go again and I have one child who wants to go to Universal Resort now.

Our last Disney trip was almost four years ago. Liza was four. Jack was eight. It is time for another Orlando vacation, but I want to curate it differently this year. Less about the parks and more about the resort and experiences.

Sure, if I had more income then I probably would travel more often because I would have more disposable income.  Who wouldn't? I also think it boils down to your partner's likes, too. Will doesn't like to spend money often so he has no problem traveling less often. He also has the philosophy that traveling with older kids is more enjoyable as a family or at least that is what he says right now.  He has not traveled with a teen so he really does not know, but he's finally ready to start talking about taking the European plunge in the near future with our children.  He thinks they are ready because they will remember it.

Because of his travel mindset, I can get away with my luxury travel ways and desire for nice experiences. I travel to experience culture, food and to feel pampered a little even on shorter excursions. We are also middle-aged and had our children later in life.  Some of our friends are even grandparents now. I think that our age dictates how I want to travel. However, my college friends will tell you that I have not changed in 25 years either.  Rest and relaxation always come first even with children in tow.  I've always joked that my blog should be the lazy traveler's guide.  Here is how I did  Asheville, N.C. this summer and I still have lots more to write about on this trip. We give our son the experience of a summer mountain camp each year near Asheville. His Dad went to the same camp and I've now embraced Asheville as an area I frequent often.




Virtuoso, a leading luxury travel company with curated travel experiences revealed this their annual Luxe Report which forecasts travel trends for 2018.

There were two trends on this list and you can read the entire press release here, but these two trends continue to resonate with me and are really how I like to travel. I think of more of my immediate family which is the four of us, but I want to create lifelong memories, strengthen our relationship as a family, and I want my children to learn and experience. To me, travel is the best classroom.

1. Connecting with family through travel. After topping the list of trends since 2010, multigenerational travel has firmly established itself as a travel niche. Following close behind is travel with immediate family, also a consistent trend that will carry forward in 2018. Whether renting a European villa for a celebration with loved ones, cruising to the Galapagos Islands, or snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef, a family trip creates lifelong memories, strengthens bonds, and plays a pivotal role in childhood education.
2. Be a traveler rather than a tourist. Immersive experiences not found in a guidebook or brochure, opportunities to meet locals, wandering neighborhoods and making spontaneous discoveries are the best ways to experience a destination, according to Virtuoso advisors. Whether it is wine tasting, or learning a traditional craft or a new language, travelers will be seeking out the true culture of that area they are visiting.

What reward program do you use most?