"Road to 50" Travel Adventures (New Zealand)

I love birthday travel...

so imagine my delight when
one of our featured travelers

agreed to take us along on her

"Road to 50"
Travel Adventures

Missed the first destination?

STOP

go back and
read that first

Now on to the next...

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The Schaffer Family

featuring
"The Doctor"


Bora Bora to New Zealand

(approx. 2,479 miles)

The Doctor was so excited when she booked her trip
several months prior, that she forgot to check the weather

She left tropical Bora Bora
(and 5 hours later) 

landed in a New Zealand WINTER!

(when something like this happens)

No worries...

hop in a cab
head to the mall

and "trade in"

swimwear for warmer clothing!

Traveler's tip:

To ensure availability, sign up (in advance) for

any tours/excursions you'd like to experience

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

She said...

"Our first stop was my dream come true... Lord of the Rings is my favorite movie. 

New Zealand is so beautiful, and the property is still being used as a farm."

Then...

 prepare to head underground for a

different type of "Thrill or Chill" Adventure

"Black Water Rafting"

through the

Waitamo Glow Worm Cave

Photo Cred: Waitamo Caves

(offering certain tours FREE for children

and teens during the month of July)

Can't make it in July?

No worries...

tours are available 364 days a year

(closed only on Christmas Day)

check out the various tour options (click here)

and choose one that matches your adventure level

Then with another sunset and

one... 

two...

three...

items checked off of the list

it's time to head to the next location!

Say...

"E Noho Ra" 

(when you are the person leaving)

(and the locals will reply)
"Haere Ra"

as you prepare for
the next adventure!

Australia

(find more Family Adventures here)

Tasha's Top Three (Outdoor Brunch Spots in Los Angeles)

Whether you

live in the city

or visit from another

Los Angeles, California

is a foodie paradise!

The beautiful

views

people

weather

mixed with a little

Hollywood flair

(and world influenced cuisine)

make for the perfect outdoor eating experiences

almost every day of the year!

----------------------------------------

Popping in today we have

Tasha (far right) from

The Dobson Family

"The Adults"

Photo Cred: Philicia Scott

sharing her... 

"Top Three"

(Outdoor Brunch Spots in Los Angeles)

PUMP

West Hollywood, CA

Grilled skirt steak and eggs

boasted as 

"LA's sexiest restaurant"

step out onto the covered garden patio for a dining experience

guaranteed to transport you to another place and time

enter here

Tasha says...

"The décor is fabulous and since owner Lisa Vanderpump
loves dogs, you can bring your pooch with you...

they're completely pet-friendly  

(info on Lisa's nonprofit)

Whether you decide to eat outdoors or indoors is up to you,

but the rock shrimp appetizer is a MUST!"

-------------------------------------

Go back to PUMP for
dinner with the girls

or visit...

SUR Restaurant and Lounge

West Hollywood, CA

because whether you're seeking

a romantic atmosphere, or
a place to hang and chill

the down-to-earth vibes here are what
make this dining experience so special

Tasha says...

"The shrimp alfredo is to die for!
They make their noodles in house from scratch"

Photo Cred: Sur Restaurant and Lounge

-------------------------------------

Perch LA

Downtown Los Angeles

Tasha says the best part about

brunch at Perch is without question...

Perch- "An Elevated Resting Place"

THE VIEW!
(check it out)

Her recommendations include:

the French toast

for brunch...

"amazing"

Photo Cred: @PerchLosAngeles

and the braised short ribs
for dinner...

"superb"

she says...

"On nights when they have live music, what could be better than sitting
on the 15th floor while enjoying dinner and watching the sunset?"

find out who's playing

Share your favorite outdoor dining experiences...

(meet our other families and check out
Marlies' Top Five food spots!)

"Road to 50" Travel Adventures (Bora Bora)

A few years ago...

(in preparation of her 50th birthday)

"The Doctor"

made a checklist of

places
experiences
adventures

Sooo...

I asked her to share her

"Road to 50"
Travel Adventures

Annnd...

she agreed

Here are FIVE Destinations
you do not want to miss!

------------------------------------

The Schaffer Family

featuring
"The Doctor"

Los Angeles to Bora Bora

(approx. 4,103 miles)

whether you are looking for

a relaxing retreat,
a romantic getaway

or celebrating
a milestone birthday

staying in an overwater bungalow
on a French Polynesian vacation retreat

is the experience of a lifetime


Visit the website

Photo Credit: Le Meridien Bora Bora

and with direct access, you'll experience the pleasure
of freely going directly from "the room to the water"

Dive into the warm lagoon

and...

cross another item off of your "bucket list"
by swimming with the sting rays

Feel compelled to go in for a kiss?

The look on the doctor's face says...

No, thanks!

And as the sun sets take time to reflect...


Each new day brings a new adventure, and
it's only a 5-hour flight to the next destination!

New Zealand

(find more Family Adventures here)

Marlies' Top Five (Food Spots in Southern Cali)

*Summer BONUS post*

It's summer...

you're busy...
it's hot...

all reasons to turn off your
oven and head out to eat instead!

------------------------------------------

So grateful for Marlies
from...

The Harris Family

"The Single Sisters"

for popping in to share her

"Top Five"
(Food Spots in Southern California)

It's warm
It's beautiful
It's summer

so begin
with dessert

at...

Snowopolis

Long Beach, CA

ice cream
frozen yogurt
shaved ice

yes, to all three!

Gourmet Shakes pictured- "Cookie Monster", "Smorelicious" (S'more), and "Birthday Cake"

Marlies says...

"Snowopolis (at the Pike)
is a must for the summer"

click for...
menu/locations

--------------------------------------------

Hiccups Restaurant and Tea House
Paramount, CA

Asian-fusion with the freshest of ingredients is what
places this restaurant high on Marlies' favorites list

In...

Arizona?
California?
Texas?

Yep, you may find a location near you!
--------------------------------

Before this teacher/real estate agent hosts an "Open House"
she stops to fuel up at her perfect Brunch spot

Abigail's Ocean Bar/Alta House
Hermosa Beach, CA

Marlies says...

"This chicken and waffles (are) everything!!!"
--------------------------------

Pho Tasty
Artesia, CA

Pho is a Vietnamese soup made of rice noodles, meat, and herbs. 
The herbaceous broth is attributed to popularizing this dish in the U.S. 

Have you tried Pho?

Marlies says...

"I always add jalapenos, chili paste, and a squeeze of lime
to go with the onions and cilantro (in the Pho)"

"Pho Tasty is AMAZING!"

------------------------------------

Kabab Crush
Artesia, CA

she says...

"Kabab Crush is fire"

There's a dish which includes:
chicken skewers, rice, hummus, tabbouleh and pita

"that will make your mouth water"

so no matter how busy the summer gets

make time to 

thank the Lord for...

good food
great friends

and a

palate to enjoy flavors
from all over the world!

What are your "Top Five" Food Spots?


click to read...

Tasha's "Top Three" Outdoor Brunch Spots
Gardner Family's "Top Five" Food Spots

Family Time w/ Four Generations

Sometimes...

it's less
about where you are

and more
about who you are with

as our guest family proves with snapshots 

with all four living generations!

----------------------------------------

Introducing...

LaShae

"The Single Mom"

Photo Cred: Ashley Amber

It is important to

recharge

regroup

rest

recover

and 

when you're blessed

to have four living generations

Mother

Children

Grandchildren

Great-Grandchildren

rent a mansion, and rediscover
the joy of spending time together...

all under one roof!

LaShae said...

"We had so much fun, we're

planning to do this every year!"

(find more Family Adventures here)

Introducing... LaShae

Sometimes life

knocks us down

knocks us out

knocks the wind

right out of us

and in that moment

we have two choices...

we can either

stay down

and surrender

or we can

get up 

and 

LIVE!

-----------------------------------

Introducing...

LaShae

"The Single Mom"

Photo Cred: Ashley Amber

Follow along on her family adventures...

Family Time w/ Four Generations
Rent a Mansion For Your Next Family Trip

(and meet the other members of our family)