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As a self-employed travel writer, I am my own boss…the captain of my own ship. (Sorry for the bad pun, but couldn’t resist). That means I’ve got the flexibility to attend media events when deadlines permit. Since the Celebrity Silhouette leaves out of Cape Liberty, New Jersey—just an hour from my Westchester, NY home—the complimentary 2-night press sailing in early November was easy to fit into my schedule. It was my first time on a Celebrity ship, though I’ve written about the line before.  I was eager to finally experience it for myself, with my sister as my guest.

The vibe: This stylish ship is sophisticated without being stuffy. It’s being marketed as affordable luxury. The Silhouette is the newest member of Celebrity’s Solstice class, set apart from other large mass-market ships by its sleek design, personalized service, intimate spaces, and high-end amenities and cuisine.

Best for: Families with older school-age children and tweens/teens; multi-generational vacations; and couples’ or girlfriend-getaways (sisters too!).

What’s special: For starters, almost the whole top deck is covered with real grass. It’s called the Lawn Club, and it’s where you can practice putting, play croquet or bocce, listen to outdoor concerts, or hang in a hammock or oversized deck chair. For an extra fee, you can rent one of the 8 Alcoves—plush, private, shaded, wi-fi-wired cabanas with dining tables and gourmet picnic baskets made to order. There are some very pretty restaurants up there too, with great sea views. We loved the breakfast paninis at The Porch (it’s open till late afternoon). And at The Lawn Club Grill (one of the ship’s specialty restaurants, available for an additional charge), you can fire up your own steaks, fish or kabobs, or create pizzas with your choice of toppings. Families nominate a grill master or pizza maker from their group, and he or she dons a souvenir apron, selects pre-seasoned ingredients from the fridge, and cooks up a customized meal. If that sounds like too much work for a vacation, the chefs will be happy to do the cooking too!

The Lawn Club feels like a big back yard!

Nooks & crannies: Though this isn’t a super-sized ship, it’s not tiny either. Yet it feels very intimate, thanks to the cozy spaces you’ll find throughout. One of my favorites was The Hideaway, with its treehouse-style retreats (grab a book and climb up) and hippy-dippy 60s-style pods with beaded curtains. Having lots of choice is a good thing—especially when family members don’t agree on their relaxation style. Let’s just suppose, for example, that your sister is a wind-in-her-face kind of gal who doesn’t mind hanging on the deck in the crisp November air. You can grab a blanket and nap in the warmer adults-only Solarium, with its teak lounge chairs, hot tubs and café. I’m just sayin’!

The Solarium is a great place for a nap!

Serenity now! Personalized service is a hallmark of this ship. Pool butlers hand out chilled towels, while you soak up the sun or snooze in one of the super-comfy canopied daybeds (my sister’s favorite place to unwind). All the staterooms have flat-screen TVs and down comforters, and most have verandas, as well. If you book into the extra-plush Aqua Class cabins (equipped with jetted showers), you get complimentary use of the spa’s Persian Garden relaxation area (the heated lounge chairs are to die for!) and aromatherapy steam room, plus a concierge to make last-minute spa reservations. Aqua Class passengers also get exclusive access to Blu, a specialty restaurant with a menu focusing on light and healthy fare.

Also on the menu: Besides its main dining room and buffet-style cafes, the Celebrity Silhouette has a number of other innovative restaurants and bars on board. The coolest eatery is specialty restaurant Qsine, which takes the small plate concept to new high-tech levels. The menu is on an iPad, and food is fun and artfully presented. Choose from entrees like Sushi Lollipops (colorful fresh fish on a stick), Disco Shrimp (nested in flashing globe bowl), or Popcorn Fish-N-Chips (served in a popcorn box). For adult beverages, try the beer tastings at Michael’s Club—featuring over 50 international craft beers—or the Cellar Masters wine bar, where you can sample whites and reds from self-serve dispensers. And don’t miss the ultra-cool Molecular Bar on Deck 5, where the mixologists use foam and dry ice to create drinks that are literally smoking! (I ordered the very beautiful Coming Up Roses, a delicious pink frothy concoction with real rose petals floating on top.)

Kid stuff: Children ages 3 – 11 can hang in the Fun Factory, where they’re split into age appropriate groups for supervised games and crafts, costume parties and treasure hunts, karaoke and video game contests. For tweens and teens 12 and up, there’s the hip XClub, with mocktail bar, dance floor, video games and energetic youth counselors leading the festivities.

Itinerary: In winter: Caribbean cruises from Cape Liberty, New Jersey. In summer: European cruises from Mediterranean ports.

More info: Celebritycruises.com.

FOR MORE GREAT FAMILY CRUISES, SEE MY FAMILY CIRCLE PIECE!

This morning the Disney PR team invited me and my son Matt to test out their new Disney Memories virtual character greetings in Times Square, New York. We didn’t quite know what to expect. But we knew we were in for something pretty big, as the gigantic Cinderella’s castle (projected onto a building) came into view.

As we got signed in, Brewer from the publicity team, explained the concept. Free augmented reality experiences allow people to interact with Disney characters, even when they’re miles away from Disney World or Disneyland. You line up (it wouldn’t be a theme park experience without a line, right?), and when it’s your turn, you are escorted to a pair of blue footprints in the video area. You’ll see yourself on the huge screen, above the Disney Store across the street, and before you can say pixie dust, a surprise Disney character appears on the screen with you. You and your character (we got Minnie the first time, and Goofy the second) will clown around in an interactive show that’s broadcast live on the billboard for all of Times Square to see. Afterwards, your picture is taken (the grand finale!) and displayed for about 5 minutes on another billboard–the one with the huge castle. Disney also emails you a copy as a souvenir.

But here’s the trick. Even though that Disney character might be dancing or high-fiving you on the big screen, they’re not really next to you. This is virtual reality, remember?  So you have to watch the screen, follow their cues, and hope you get it right. It’s a little like playing a Wii video game, which explains why my attempt to kiss Minnie on the cheek was a major fail! And when Goofy dropped a bunch of imaginary boxes for us to pick up, our attempts were, well, kind of hilarious. But that’s why it’s fun!  Each experience is different, depending on which character you get. We watched 2 guys get in a sword fight with Captain Hook, and a group of friends dancing with Toy Story’s Woody. I was there about 45 minutes, and never saw a character repeated. Old favorites (Minnie, Goofy and Cinderella) were joined by newcomers like those from Tangled and The Princess and the Frog.

The virtual greetings will be available on 45th Street in Times Square (in the center island, right across from the Disney Store) today (Friday, November 18) and tomorrow (Sat, November 19). So if you’re in the area, check it out! Though it’s a limited engagement for now, I wouldn’t be surprised if we start seeing this in major cities nationwide in the near future! This cool video shows more about what it’s all about.

Here’s a look at how our own Disney Memories virtual experience unfolded.

Minnie joins us virtually.

Photos get displayed.

Our Goofy photo opp

See you real soon!

What’s new in Disneyland this summer?
Hint: You’ll go under the sea and to a galaxy far far away.

I’m so lucky that as a travel writer I often get invited to press events for sneak peeks at what’s new in the industry. In early June I flew to Anaheim, California for Disneyland’s Soundsational Summer event, where they unveiled 2 new rides, a funky parade down Main Street, and the latest improvements to the Disneyland Hotel, which is getting a spiffy makeover. We also got to see the construction site of the new Cars Land, opening in Disney California Adventure Park next summer.

Many of you already know that I come from a family of Disneyholics. We’ve taken our kids to the California and Florida parks countless times, and my husband and I even spent a milestone anniversary running in a Disney marathon. I’ve written about Disney theme parks for Family Circle, Parents, iVillage.com and many other outlets, and I’m always eager to get the inside scoop on their latest rides and attractions. Though my kids are now young adults and couldn’t join me cause they have jobs of their own, it was so much fun texting them as I got to see the big reveal.

First stop: Star Tours—The Adventure Continues. I arrived a few hours before the official press ceremonies began, and ran straight to Disneyland’s Tomorrowland to catch previews of this ride before the grand opening. The previous Star Tours had always been a favorite of my family’s—especially my son, Matt, 24, a big fan of the Star Wars movies. But it sorely needed updating. I mean how many times can you keep going light speed to Endor, before it starts feeling a little, well, old? Matt was excited to hear about the revamp, yet protective of the original and worried that it might become too high-tech in its transformation. “Hope they don’t screw it up,” he texted me, as I walked through the queue. He needn’t have worried. The 3-D version has preserved the very best elements of its predecessor, while throwing in some surprising new twists. You still ride in a motion-simulator Starspeeder (this time wearing 3-D glasses, and with C3PO at the helm), but you never know where you’ll wind up or whom you’ll meet along the way. Imagineers have added a bunch of new hi-def images from the prequel trilogy, but here’s the really cool part: The ride’s random sequence generator mixes up the scenes and characters “like a slot machine,” according to Tom Fitzgerald, Executive VP and Senior Creative Executive at Walt Disney Imagineering. There are up to 50 different storyline combinations possible, so the ride feels fresh and different every time you board. I rode 3 times: First to the icy terrain of Hoth; next to Tatooine for a pod race; and last to Kashyyk, home of the Wookies. My text to Matt when I emerged: You. Will. Love.

Touring Tip: Head here first thing in the morning, and grab a Fast Pass before riding. Then return at the Fast Pass time and board it again. You can also catch this attraction in Disney World, Orlando.

The media went wild when Darth Vadar and the Storm Troopers made a surprise appearance.

Next Up: The Little Mermaid—Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. With my feet back on planet Earth, I made my way toward Disney’s California Adventure Park for the grand opening of The Little Mermaid—Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. Before the ride was premiered, there was a star-studded ceremony featuring Jodi Benson (who voiced Ariel in the movie) singing “Part of Your World.” I couldn’t help but get a little emotional, remembering all the times my daughter Amy and I cuddled up while watching that movie. And, so of course, I had to text her some photos of Jodi in her spectacular sea-green dress. “So cool!” came the response from my now 21-year-old, still a kid at heart. Finally it was time to test out the ride. After all the intense high-tech thrills of the new Star Tours, I admit that at first I expected more in-your-face special effects from Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. Then I realized that it is the hidden technology that makes this new ride so charming. It’s a classic dark ride, similar to Snow White’s Scary Adventures, but with surprisingly lifelike Audio-Animatronic figures. As Ariel sings and swims, her movements are so natural and graceful—even her hair seems to bob in the water. Sebastian has eyes that blink and change expression—all powered by an invisible tiny projector planted in his golf ball size head. And just like in the movie, Ursula the Sea Witch stretches, bounces, and changes form, as she belts out her signature song, “Poor Unfortunate Souls.” Most of the movie’s main numbers are represented, as you journey through the scenes in a clamshell vehicle. By my third time through, I totally got why Imagineers chose to keep this ride so simple. It’s an homage to the classic kind of ride that made Disneyland so special when it opened back in the 50s. So it makes perfect sense to put it in the revamped California Adventure Park, where the theme is movie magic. Of the more recent Disney movie classics, “The Little Mermaid, remains a perennial favorite,” says Larry Nikolai, Principal Concept and Show Designer at Disney Imagineering.

Touring Tip: While the ride is mostly lighthearted, very young kids may get scared at the dark parts with Ursula and her evil eel sidekicks Flotsam and Jetsam. This ride will also come to Disney World, Orlando next year, as part of the Fantasyland makeover.

Ariel looks so lifelike--even her hair seems animated.

I Love a Parade: Disneyland’s newest, Mickey’s Soundsational Parade, is all about music and percussion.  ”It is designed to be a river of sound,” says Steven Dawson, VP, Parades & Spectaculars for Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment. It opens with 6 dancing drummers (some of them from the movie Drumline)  and then continues with songs, scenes, and characters from popular Disney movies (like Aladdin, Tarzan, Little Mermaid, and Princess and the Frog), all grooving to the rhythmic backbeat. Check out the cymbal and castanet dancers in this preview.

Touring Tip: Nab a curbside seat on Main Street at least an hour in advance. Have a family member save the spot while you do a snack run!

Down the Road (so to speak): Before the press event wound down, I gathered with fellow travel journalists for updates on Cars Land, a 12-acre expansion of Disney California Adventure Park, due to open in summer 2012. Patterned after the town of Radiator Springs in the Pixar movie Cars, this auto-themed land will feature 3 exciting rides: Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, with spinning tractors; Luigi’s Flying Tires, a cross between bumper cars and flying saucers; and the showcase e-ticket attraction, Radiator Springs Racers, where you zoom around a speedway, competing neck and neck with the car beside you. (It’s kind of like Orlando’s Test Track, except you’re racing against others.) From the looks of the construction site, this is going to be HUGE! Here’s a little coming attraction, courtesy of fanpop.com.

Are you headed to a Disney theme park this year? Share your questions or experiences here.

I am always so inspired by the entrepreneurs I meet in my travels. Last time I visited Hawaii Island, I met a fit and fabulous businesswoman who has capitalized on her love for biking. I’ve chronicled her journey in Part III of my series, Working in Paradise.

Enjoy!

Ellen

WORKING IN PARADISE, PART III: CYCLING TO SUCCESS

The road that led Gwendolyn Hill to launch BikeVolcano.com was a curvy one indeed.  Here’s how she turned her passion for pedaling into a dream-come-true business on Hawaii Island (also known as the Big Island).

The journey: The Oahu native graduated with a business degree from University of Redlands, California in 1990. She was managing an art gallery on Maui and volunteering as a Humpback Whale Interpreter on the weekends, when she became interested in wild dolphin communication research. She’d heard about several pods that regularly visited beaches on Hawaii Island, and decided to move over in 1992. “There was not much work or industry on the Big Island, so that forced me to become creative and start my own business,” she says.  Her first was an adventure tour company, specializing in hiking, biking, camping and shore fishing, co- founded with her then-boyfriend in 1994. He financed the enterprise and Gwendolyn provided the business know-how, but after 2 years he decided to pursue other things. “I did not have the finances or the confidence to buy him out, so I closed the business down begrudgingly,” Gwendolyn says.

Exploring new directions: Instead, she researched and wrote a grant, and started a Hawaiian Koa Farm, planting 30,000 native Acacia Koa trees on her family’s land along the Hamakua Coast on Hawaii Island. It was a long-term project, and the trees took several years to plant and manage.  Meanwhile, Gwendolyn also studied and taught African Dance, another passion of hers.  She traveled to Africa to learn native dances and created a jewelry line inspired by African artwork.  “Once my trees were up and running, and basically taking care of themselves, I found myself at a crossroads,” Gwendolyn says. “I wanted to run one successful business, instead of several somewhat successful businesses. I always believed that my adventure tours company was a great idea and could be profitable, especially with the Internet allowing worldwide access,” she says. So, in 2006, she mustered up the courage to reopen the tour business, this time specializing in her favorite activity, biking. Since Volcanoes National Park is the top attraction on Hawaii Island, and was one of her most popular tours the first time around, Gwendolyn decided to focus on bike tours through the park. She’d name her enterprise BikeVolcano.com.

Fueling up for the ride: It took Gwendolyn about 9 months to write a business plan and obtain a $50,000 loan to purchase bikes, a van and trailer, and cover other costs. “I needed every type of insurance and license that you can think of,” she says. “The red tape for operating a bicycle tour business is quite intensive.  You have to be willing to jump through several hoops.” Her loan got rejected at first, but Gwendolyn was not discouraged. “I went in with a determined attitude that I was going to get a loan and do whatever it took to obtain it.”   She got some advice from her local Small Business Development Center, resubmitted her application with additional information, and was awarded the loan.

Putting the wheels in motion: She incorporated, and BikeVolcano.com officially opened for business in 2007. A friend helped design and build the website, and Gwen methodically implemented the marketing goals she’d set for herself in her business plan.  The word spread, and customers came. At first it was just Gwen working as a guide, with her new (and current) boyfriend driving the van.  As the business began to build, she hired an additional driver. She now has 7 employees.  “I am having to hire even more staff to keep up with the demand,” she says.

Handling roadblocks: As Gwendolyn’s business became established, one of the biggest challenges was finding time to take a vacation herself. But “now that I have been in business for 3 1/2 years, I have been able to figure out the slower seasons and have timed my vacations accordingly,” she says. “I also give myself a break every day where I can go to the beach and swim, bike ride, take a yoga class, read, or even nap for a couple of hours.  This time adds up to a huge vacation, and helps me achieve a more balanced lifestyle.” Gwen is also learning to delegate more of her responsibilities.

On a roll: As BikeVolcano.com continues to grow, Gwendolyn has stayed true to her original mission. “My formula is essentially the same, to provide a quality tour with professional guides and good customer service,” she says. BikeVolcano.com now offers three tour courses:  Summit Tour Special (a half day tour, 10am to 1pm);  Bike Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, with an optional Wine Tasting Session (full day tour, 10am to 3pm); and Bike to Pele – Kilauea’s East Rift Zone & Active Lava Flow Bike Adventure (1pm to 8pm). Business has grown so much that Gwendolyn is considering expanding even further.

Words of wisdom: What advice does Gwendolyn have for other businesswomen? “Believe in yourself,” she says. “See your dream in your mind and hold on to the vision. If you receive a ‘No’ keep asking until you find a ‘Yes’.  The details will work themselves out and your dream will manifest, as long as you believe in it and know there is infinite abundance.”

Sounds like smokin’ hot advice to us!

Ever dreamed of what it would be like to run a business on a tropical island? Here’s another inspirational woman who is doing just that, from my ongoing series about Working in Paradise.

In the 1990s, Jeanne Sunderland was a Spa Director at luxury hotels on Hawaii Island, where she founded the Spa Without Walls at the Ritz Carlton (now the Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii), and revolutionized treatments by offering them outdoors. Today, she and her husband, Robert Watkins (who is also a physician on the island), run Hawaii Island Retreat, an eco-friendly, boutique-style hotel and spa, specializing in health and wellness. It took nearly 10 years to complete, but Jeanne & Robert persevered, believing that it was their mission to create this peaceful sanctuary on Hawaii Island’s North Kohala coast.

Here’s how they took their idea from vision to reality.

Noticing a need in the market. During the 13 years she worked in spa management, clients would often ask Jeanne if she knew of a place they could go for health and wellness retreats. “Though there were some, most were operating without proper permits, and lacked the grace and comforts of upscale hotels. “I realized there was a need for elegant facilities that could accommodate 30 – 50 guests for spa getaways, honeymoons, small weddings, and group or corporate events,” says Jeanne. “The existing hotels were too large for such intimate gatherings, and B&B’s were too small.” Jeanne imagined a refined place that would specialize in Hawaiian healing treatments for mind, body and spirit, and be completely sustainable, too. Hawaiians have great respect and love for the land; they call it aina, and believe it has sacred power. “We wanted our lodge to be in total balance with the earth, and show that it is possible to be green, while providing high-end accommodations,” says Jeanne. Her retreat would have 5-star amenities, as well as eco amenities for the earth. Electricity would be provided through solar energy cells and windmills, sparkling pools would catch rain water for resort use, meals would come from their organic fruit and vegetable gardens and the cattle, chickens and sheep raised in lodge pastures. “Our goal was to be as self-sustaining as possible,” Jeanne says.

Trusting her intuition. Though originally from Kansas, Jeanne found herself at home on Hawaii Island as a young adult, and fell in love with the Kohala Coast and settled there. She became interested in Hawaiian culture and therapies, and began studying with native healers. She recalls that over 30 years ago, her spiritual teacher, Uncle Tommy, brought her to the very land that Hawaii Island Retreat now sits on, but she didn’t know why. “He said he was told to bring me there,” remembers Jeanne. Years later, when she was searching for a tranquil setting to build the lodge on, a friend showed her that same piece of property, and she immediately recognized it. “I knew I was home,” she says. It was as if she was destined to start her venture there. Business owners are often surrounded by critics and naysayers, but “you have to trust your gut and listen to your inner voice,” Jeanne says. It turns out that the land has a very interesting and sacred history. It is believed that Hawaii’s famous King Kamehameha The First met with his advisors in the grassy outdoor ampitheater in the valley, and that the ancient boulders there have spiritual power. It was while meditating by the rocks that Jeanne heard the Hawaiian name for her retreat: Ahu Pohaku Ho’omaluhia, which means place of the Sacred Peace-Giving Stones.

Building blocks. Jeanne and Robert bought the land with money borrowed by mortgaging their home and other properties purchased through years of living in Kohala. They applied for a Special Use Permit, which they obtained in August of 2001. Robert and their grown son, Daemion, an engineer and general contractor, began building the lodge and surrounding structures themselves, and Robert worked to cultivate the fields. But it took 9 long years before they received their Certificate of Occupancy and welcomed their first guests. One setback was the earthquake of 2006, which delayed things nearly 12 months. Stucco and drywall had just been completed and needed to be extensively repaired; finish work and painting had to be redone; and although the structure was sound, the couple chose to add more reinforcement. The rules, regulations, permit process and business taxes also slowed things down, and made the cost of doing business extremely high. During that time, Jeanne continued working for local hotels, and Robert, who is a doctor, kept practicing as a primary care physician and Director of Emergency Services at Kohala Hospital (a position he still holds). “It would be hard to view this state and island as business-friendly,” she says. “You need a lot of patience!”

Persistence pays off. Hawaii Island Retreat opened it doors on April 1, 2009 and built a buzz in the first few months by hosting non-profit fundraising events for community organizations, like Kohala Hospital, and Friends of the Library. Word of mouth referrals, a beautiful (and peaceful) website, a You Tube channel, Facebook Fan page, and partnerships with the Big Island Visitors Bureau help Jeanne reach more potential guests and get covered in many newspaper and magazine articles.

Pools catch rainwater for recycling.

Guests dine in the open-air courtyard.

Rooms are decorated in classic Hawaiian style, and each one is different.

Serenity now! Today, “the grounds and facilities are even more beautiful than we dreamed,” says Jeanne. The main house has an open-air dining room and courtyard, and 9 guest rooms (including a penthouse honeymoon suite), all decorated in classic Hawaiian style. The spa has 2 yoga studios (with floors made from eco-friendly wood imported from South America), outdoor massage cabanas, and a saltwater infinity pool that seamlessly blends into the surrounding landscape of ocean, cliffs and sky. Jeanne was savvy enough to notice that travelers were looking for a retreat like this, and truly believed that if they built it, guests would come. She says her greatest reward is seeing the transformation of her visitors. “They come with the stress of their lives showing on their faces, and leave at ease, peace-filled and happy.”

For more success stories, read Working in Paradise, Part I: Slow Down and Smell the Coffee

As a travel writer, I have been lucky enough to visit all the major Hawaiian Islands. My most recent trip was to Hawaii (known as the Big Island), in December of 2009. It was my first time there. Each Hawaiian island has its own special personality and appeal, and if you asked me to describe the Big Island in one word, that word would be “adventure.” During my stay, I went biking, hiking, and ziplining. I also took a pre-dawn boat ride to watch red-hot volcanic lava slide into the sea.

This island is huge—so big that you could fit all the other Hawaiian Islands onto it…not once, but twice. It has a diverse terrain, with 11 climate zones—from rainforests to deserts to snowcapped mountains to tropical beaches with sand that can be white or black or green. And, the Big Island is home to 5 volcanoes, including Kilauea, one of the world’s most active. According to legend, Hawaii’s fire goddess, Pele, lives in Kilauea’s crater, and the frequent eruptions are said to be expressions of her anger. She must be in a pretty surly mood lately, because lava has been flowing consistently in recent months. There’s a very good chance you’ll spot some when you visit. I guarantee it’s an absolutely awesome experience you will never forget.

The Big Island is best for outdoorsy, active families—especially those with tweens and teens, who are more likely to have the enthusiasm and energy for exploring. (In upcoming blog posts, I’ll share my top Big Island adventures and also introduce you to some of the cool entrepreneurs I met during my travels.) I recommend allowing at least 5 days for your visit, and staying on both sides of the island. You’ll find the best beaches on the Kona/Kohala coast, on the sunny western side. But you’ll also want to spend time in Hilo on the eastern end, because it offers easiest access to Volcanoes National Park www.nps.gov/havo. Hilo is also close to the Hilo Coffee Mill, run by 2 amazing women entrepreneurs who are working with local farmers to revive coffee production on the island’s eastern side. (I’ll be introducing you to them in a later blog post.)

I stayed in 3 different hotels on my visit, and have described them briefly in the “Where I Stayed” section below. But you’ll find plenty of additional options at BigIsland.org , along with updates on lava viewing opportunities.

Where I Stayed:

Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. This is a convenient, fairly inexpensive option for days you plan to explore Volcanoes National Park and the nearby waterfalls on the island’s east side. Though it’s not fancy, it overlooks scenic Hilo Harbor and a charming park, and has a fresh-water pool, a buffet restaurant, and balconies in many of the rooms—all within a short drive from Hilo’s main sights. Rates start at around $99 per night.

The Fairmont Orchid. Set on a beautiful beach on the sunny Kohala coast, this upscale resort has a cool pool and snorkeling lagoon, along with surfing and outrigger canoe lessons. There’s also an archeological preserve right next door, where kids can glimpse rock drawings created by ancient Hawaiians. The “Everyone’s an Original Summer Offer” is good through October 2010 and starts at around $269 per night.

Hawaiian Island Retreat. Located on the North Kohala Coast, this eco-friendly, serene sanctuary is a good choice for girlfriend getaways, or for couples vacationing without the kids. The focus is on relaxation and wellness. You can take daily yoga or meditation classes, learn organic gardening and cooking, and indulge in massages, facials and other soothing spa treatments. Stay in the luxurious 9-room lodge, or in rustic yurts. Nightly rates start at around $175 for yurts; $275 for lodge rooms.
(Look for my profile of the cool woman entrepreneur who runs the place in an upcoming blog post.)

What’s a blog about travel doing on a site about working from home? Well, many of you already know that besides co-hosting this site, I have another full-time business: Freelance writing. I get to report about inspirational entrepreneurs and do-gooders, and family and parenting topics for national magazines. And one of the coolest perks of that job is that I do a lot of travel writing. That means I get to visit fun places (often on complimentary press trips—full disclosure here), and tell about where I’ve been.

My first travel stories were inspired by family vacations to Disney World and Hawaii. I’d already been writing on general parenting topics, but wanted to share what I’d learned from vacationing with my kids. So I pitched some ideas to editors I’d already been working with, landed the assignments…and my travel-writing career grew from there.

On this site, we talk a lot about pursuing your passions and creating business opportunities that bring you profit and happiness. Don’t be afraid to speak up and let people know you are an expert in your field. If I hadn’t told my editor how many times I’d been to Disney with my kids, she never would have considered letting me write my “Disney World for Every Age” article, all those years ago. Now I get to combine my two great loves—writing and traveling with my family—into one dream job. I’m no Samantha Brown, mind you, but it’s a pretty big deal for me, considering that I rarely ventured out of the Bronx as a kid.

When I was growing up in New York City, my family didn’t start vacationing regularly till I was in my teens. So the extent of my traveling was a trip or two to Montauk Point in Long Island (still one of my very favorite places). Any additional sightseeing came from reading my dad’s National Geographic magazines, and spinning his black Starlight globe and imagining what it would be like to visit Africa…Australia…Tahiti. Not that I’ve been to any of those places yet. But I have explored many family vacation spots throughout the U.S., including every major Hawaiian island. And I’ve seen a fair amount of Mexico and the Caribbean too.

So, I thought it would be fun to share some of my journeys with you. I’ll give you the inside scoop on great places to vacation with your family, and share deals that will make it easier and more affordable to take a break from your home office. I’ll also introduce you to some of the cool entrepreneurs I’ve met along the way. The mom who runs a surf school in Huntington Beach, California. The family who leads hikes through the rain forests of Hawaii’s Big Island. For any of you who have ever wondered what it would be like to work in paradise, these inspirational business owners reveal exactly what goes into livin’ the dream.

So stay tuned for Ellen’s excellent adventures. First up: Hawaii: The Big Island.

Aloha!