Here's our roundup of the kids' activities and family-friendly events going on in the Greater Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn for the week of August 31 - September 6, 2019!
Don't forget to sign up for our e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay in the loop of all the local goings on!! All the events and ads below are linked, so click away for more details and to double check before heading out for an event (time changes, cancellations, and mistakes do happen on occasion). Click here to submit your Bay Ridge area family-friendly event or program for a complimentary listing in an upcoming events roundup! Businesses are invited to read more about advertising with us and to sign up for our advertisers' newsletter to receive occasional ad specials and upcoming deadline.
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Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by DiscountGlasses.com, however all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased. This post also contains affiliate links, meaning you won't pay more but we'll receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.
The way kids (and adults!) lose and break their glasses, we just can't afford to be paying top dollar for designer frames at a local boutique again and again, am I right?! Thank goodness for DiscountGlasses.com, who has hundreds of stylish prescription glasses (and sunglasses with or without prescription) for kids and adults, starting at just $39.95! They've generously included a $100 credit to their website for the winner of our $400 value Back to School Giveaway (enter to win here by 8/29/19). Check out this fun unboxing video by my 3 year old and myself, and then keep reading for more!
Their website features a virtual try-on app that is quick and easy to use, and allows you to see what you look like in most frames! If you create an account, it'll save your image so you can quickly use the try-on app every time you are shopping for new glasses or sunglasses. They also include very specific dimensions for each frame, including lens diameter, bridge width, and temple length, so if you go to a local shop and find the measurements that fit you best, it'll be quite easy to find the perfect glasses online moving forward. If you don't want to visit an eyewear store in person, no worries, discountglasses.com has a 365 free return period, so it's basically risk free! They don't take insurance but check with your health/eye insurance provider - you should be able to print off the detailed receipt and submit it for reimbursement.
With such fabulous prices and style options, you can "go crazy" with several designs and not feel a bit guilty! A sensible pair, a funky pair, one for work, one for nights out with the girls, see where I'm going? And for the kids, you can keep a backup pair at home, in the car, in the backpack, at grandma's house, etc.
We've already ordered several times from DiscountGlasses.com and have had great success with every frame so far! For myself, I got the Rampage R 195 plastic frame black glasses and the Prive Revaux The Hepburn sunglasses ($29.95, pictured above - bottom left). For my daughter Mia, we got her first prescription glasses, Miraflex New Baby 1 ($100 - pictured above - bottom left), which are great first glasses for toddlers as they're hinge-free, but she refused to wear them unfortunately). We got non-prescription sunglasses for all 3 kids as well Picklez Roxy Black with orange lenses ($34.95 - pictured above - top left) for Kenzo and Picklez Bruno ($34.95) and Picklez Penny ($39.95), both in hot pink, for Emi and Mia (pictured above - top right).
This time around, Mia and I got some new frames. Since we got thick plastic frames last time, I thought we'd try something new with thin and super lightweight metal frames! For myself, I got the Lunettos Harley in Matte Black/Tortoise, base price $39.95 and added the Transistions lens package for an additional $79.95, which includes UV-protective, scratch-resistant Transition polycarbonate prescription lenses, and I also added the $20 anti-reflective coating, for a total of $134.94.
Mia picked out the Picklez Daisy in Red/Turquoise for $39.95, which includes lightweight polycarbonate prescription lenses with UV-protective and scratch-resistant lenses. I'll admit I'm a wee bit jealous of her fun frames, the sides especially are just so adorable!! But the true question is... will she wear them!?!?!
So what do you think? Have you ever bought glasses online? Willing to give it a try next time? Don't forget, you can win $100 credit to DiscountGlasses.com in my $400 value jackpot Back to School Giveaway here (enter by 8/29/19, US residents 18+ only).
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links - you won't pay more but we'll receive a small commission from sales made after clicking.
No better way to start off the new school year on the right foot than with an amazing and adorable pair of new shoes, am I right!? Of course they've also gotta be comfy, durable, and good for our children's feet, which is why my family always runs to pediped, a company that was awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance for the promotion of healthy foot development! They've sent us 3 pair of shoes in exchange for our review, and are also giving away a pair (winner's choice of size and design) in my $400 value Back to School Giveaway (enter to win here by 8/29/19)!!
We've done several reviews and giveaways of pediped shoes over the years, and I can honestly say every single pair has held up beautifully through my kids' heavy usage until outgrown, and then transitioned seamlessly into being well-loved great condition hand-me-down shoes! One of the fastest growing children's footwear brands in the United States, pediped is sold in over 750 stores in the US and 40 countries worldwide, with an offering of more than 120 designs in sizes US newborn through 6Y. They really are the cream of the crop, so when those iconic purple boxes arrive on our doorstep, we're all kicking our heels up with excitement!
This time around, I was really feeling the greys. The moment I laid eyes on the Flex Logan Silver boots with faux fur I just lit up, mostly because I knew my girls would literally squeal with joy when opening the boxes. And they did!! These sneaker boots have such a fun pattern, silver but also kind of iridescent. With faux laces (because let's face it, who has the patience to deal with 3 year olds trying to tie real laces in the morning rush to school!?) and a great big velcro strap on the top (with a velcro piece on the top of the fur tongue, to make sure they're super secure)! They feature man-made material and suede uppers, all-natural rubber soles, a breathable canvas lining, and 5 other color options in case silver isn't your child's cup of tea. Available in sizes 26 - 36 (9 - 4.5Y), they retail for $59.95 on their website and Amazon (affiliate link).
For my son, I opted for the Flex Dani Grey Orange sneakers which have a bit of a cute skater vibe, don't you think? Featuring man-made and mesh uppers and all-natural rubber soles. I'm all about nurturing my children's independence, with as little frustration (for them and me) as possible, so I'm just really loving the stretchy faux laces and chunky stylish velcro straps on all of their new shoes! Are you feeling me!? I'm not seeing this exact color on the website anymore, but you can find them on Amazon (affiliate link) or in 11 other color options in the Dani design on pediped's website, retailing for $59.95 in sizes 24 - 33 (7.5 - 2Y).
Both the Dani and Logan shoes are approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association for promoting healthy foot development, and feature pediped's Flex Fit System, meaning they come with removable inserts that can adjust the shoe nearly a half a size, meaning they will fit your child properly for longer. How's that for upping your bang for your buck!?
As I mentioned, pediped has over a hundred styles of shoes for babies through big kids. We're talking crib shoes, dress shoes, sneakers, sandals, boots, you name it! So head on over to their website to shop for your kiddo's next pair(s) of shoes!! And don't forget, you can win a pair in my $400 value Back to School giveaway ending 8/29!! Enter to win here!! 
Here's our roundup of the kids' activities and family-friendly events going on in the Greater Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn for the week of August 24 - 30, 2019!
Don't forget to sign up for our e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay in the loop of all the local goings on!! All the events and ads below are linked, so click away for more details and to double check before heading out for an event (time changes, cancellations, and mistakes do happen on occasion). Click here to submit your Bay Ridge area family-friendly event or program for a complimentary listing in an upcoming events roundup! Businesses are invited to read more about advertising with us and to sign up for our advertisers' newsletter to receive occasional ad specials and upcoming deadline. 
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Sometimes accidental, sometimes part of a tantrum or burst of energy, there's no denying that little kids are prone to messes. But I'm here to share with you a very easy way to cut down on snack time messes, with the help of Munchie Mug, who sponsored this blog post and is part of our huge $400 value jackpot Back to School Giveaway (enter to win here!!).
Munchie Mug snack cups are proudly made in America with FDA food-grade compliant materials, and the plastic parts are #5 recyclable! They are BPA / Phthalate / PVC free and top rack dishwasher safe. They come in 16oz and 12oz (both with 4" diameter), with 2 types of tops. They're really durable too. We got our first 3 two years ago. 2 got lost along the way but 1 is still going strong, and we just added 3 new ones to our arsenal! I simply cannot sing their praises highly enough. We went through a half dozen or so type of snack cups and Munchie Mug is hands down THE BEST!!
The stay-fresh lid will seal it up for snacking later, but the main lid is where the magic is, folks. It's made of overlapping fabric (food grade polypropylene/spandex blend fabric) that makes it spill-proof and SHAKE-PROOF!! Be sure to watch our demo video (with a fun blind-folded game at the end) to see it in action - shake it as hard as you can, upside down, throw it across the room, this baby is NOT going to spill a single snack!! Do note, it's not mischief-proof - my littles eventually learned they can squeeze the fabric open to dump snacks out. But kids will be kids. At least there will be no ACCIDENTAL spills. The fabric also makes them super soft and great for sensitive little hands. Got eczema or sensory issues? No problem!!
The tops come in a rainbow of colors to choose from, and the base cups come in a couple of cute designs, including ABC, 123, and clear, and are recommended for ages 10 months and up. The lids also feature a little cutout that make them easy for little hands to hold onto, easy for a caregiver to carry several at a time (i can hang onto 3+ per hand!), and you can thread a sippy cup leash to attach it securely to a stroller or car seat.
You can buy these for about $18 a piece on their website or Amazon (affiliate link) and don't forget, theres's 1 in our $400 value jackpot Back to School Giveaway!! Open to US residents ages 18 and over, enter to win here by August 29, 2019!!
Here's our roundup of the kids' activities and family-friendly events going on in the Greater Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn for the week of August 17 - 23, 2019!
Don't forget to sign up for our e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay in the loop of all the local goings on!! All the events and ads below are linked, so click away for more details and to double check before heading out for an event (time changes, cancellations, and mistakes do happen on occasion). Click here to submit your Bay Ridge area family-friendly event or program for a complimentary listing in an upcoming events roundup! Businesses are invited to read more about advertising with us and to sign up for our advertisers' newsletter to receive occasional ad specials and upcoming deadline 
ONGOING:
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Whether your kids already went back to school, go back in a couple of weeks, or don't even start school for a few more years, you have stumbled upon an awesome giveaway for parents with kids of all ages!! We've put together a $400 value jackpot featuring 10 amazing prizes - from glasses (or sunnies) to shoes and everything in between (including snack cups and pouches, bike helmet, booster seat, and even a cell phone case)! US residents ages 18+ are invited to enter to win in the Rafflecopter app at the bottom of this post (the more actions you take, the more entry points you accrue), but first keep reading for more info on the fabulous prizes for kids and parents!! Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links, we'll receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.
THE PRIZES
DiscountGlasses.Com ($100 Store Credit)
With amazingly affordable prescription glasses and sunglasses (with or without prescription), discountglasses.com is the place to shop eyewear for children and adults! You'll find classics, the latest trends, and even hinge-free nearly indestructible frames for toddlers! Worried about buying on line? Don't be - they have a great app allowing you to virtually try on most frames, with free shipping and free returns! You can shop glasses on their website (affiliate link), and our winner will receive $100 store credit to order on their website by September 30. This will easily get you several basic glasses, or 1-2 pair if selecting all the extras such as Transitions (light adaptive), anti-resistant, roll & polish edge, UV protective, and ultra lightweight. Check out my review and cute unboxing video with my daughter here! 
pediped (1 Pair of Children's Shoes)
Your children deserve to be in pediped, high quality fashionable shoes that have been awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance for the promotion of healthy foot development! With everything from water-safe sandals to washable sneakers to warm boots, they'll take your little one from baby's first crib shoe to size 6Y (about 10 years old). You can shop for pediped shoes on their website and Amazon (affiliate link), and our winner will receive one pair of children's shoes - their choice of size and gender (design choices vary by availability). Be sure to check out our latest review here! 
Mini Hornit LIDS (1 child's helmet)
With adorable helmets like these, you'll never have to argue with your children about wearing their helmets on the bike, scooter, or roller skates! We got ours in May (be sure to check out our review) and absolutely adore them! Not only are they super cute, they also have a flashing LED light on the back, and an extra sizing adjuster wheel in the back so you can be sure they fit just right! You can find these helmets on their website and Amazon (affiliate link), and our winner will receive 1 helmet in their choice of size (2-5 years or 5+ years) and design! 
Mabel's Labels (Ultimate Back to School Combo Label Set)
From summer camp to back to school, kids need a LOT of labels, and Mabel's Labels is your one stop shop! Waterproof multi-use personalized labels are great for markers, water bottles and lunch boxes, and their bag tags are perfect for backpacks, luggage, pencil cases, diaper bags, toiletry cases, and even serve well as allergy alerts! They even have clothing and shoe labels and fabric stamps, silicone ID bracelets, and medical alert labels and tags! Our winner will receive a code to order a personalized Ultimate Back-to-School Combo, including 126 washable labels and 2 tags, a best-seller valued at $42! 
Mifold (1 Grab-and-Go Booster Seat)
Perfect for travel, carpooling, and leaving as a spare in grandparents' car, Mifold Grab-and-Go Booster Seat is as compact and lightweight as they come! It easily folds up to fit in your child's backpack, or in the glove compartment, and is ready to use in seconds (it works by bringing the seatbelt to a safe position on your child's hips and shoulder), for children ages 4+ and at least 40 pounds. We've had ours for 2 years (check out our review here) and our winner will receive one in their choice of color. You can buy on their website (buy 1 get 20% off 2nd) and Amazon (affiliate link). Side note, they're now taking pre-orders on their brand new Hifold, the world's most adjustable high back booster! 
MyPhonePouch (1 Phone Case)
Here's one for the parents (and older kids or teens) - MyPhonePouch is a great way to carry your phone. No more worrying about sitting on it while in your pocket, or losing it deep within your purse or backpack! Just slip it into the fabric pocket and tuck the opposite end into the waist of your pants or skirt! You can see it in action in my video from a year ago, and my newest full review and demo video here! You can buy on their website, and our winner will receive 1 in their choice of size and color. 
Squeasy Gear (2 Squeasy Snackers)
Say hello to the world's best pouch! Squeasy Gear's Squeasy Snackers are seriously amazing - with a removable spill-proof insert (that totally works!!), these are great for pureed baby food, yogurt, applesauce, and even liquids!! They're dishwasher & freezer safe, made of 100% food-grade eco-friendly bacteria-resistant silicone self-standing for easy filling, and turn inside out (handy when for cleaning flax seed and other tricky items in your smoothies!). You can see my review here - yes, it's from 5 years ago and we are STILL using the same pouches, they seriously never die!! You can buy on their website and Amazon (affiliate link) and our winner will receive 2 pouches, their choice of size (16oz, 6oz, 3.5oz) and colors! 
My Travel Tray (2 Trays)
My Travel Tray is a handy dandy cup holder snack tray combo that fits into 90% of all car seat cup holders and 92% of car cup holders. You can even use it at the movie theater, in the stroller, outdoor chairs, you name it - use it to hold sippy cups, bottles, cups, snacks, and even small toys! They're manufactured in the USA with BPA / PHT / PVC-free materials that are easy to wipe off and are top-rack dishwasher safe. You can buy on their website and Amazon (affiliate link), and our winner will receive 2 in their choice of colors! Check out our video review & demo here! 
Wubba Water (Variety 6-Pack)
Did you know electrolyte replacement drinks tend to be full of artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners? Big Bang Beverages wasn't too thrilled with that, so they created an organic and healthier alternative to Pedialyte: Wubba Water, a children's hydration drink free of synthetic dyes, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, and GMO's! Colored only with fruit and vegetable extracts and having only 1 gram of organic sugar per serving, Wubba Water is a healthier way for your little one to replenish water and electrolytes when sick or playing sports (and they'll get a Vitamin C boost to boot)! You can find Wubba Water at Whole Foods (in NYC, CT & NJ) and local health food stores (Maine - NJ), and online at Walmart.com and Amazon (affiliate link). Our winner will receive 2 bottles of each flavor - blue raspberry, fruit punch, and orange. 
Munchie Mug (1 Spill-Proof Snack Cup)
Munchie Mug snack cups are not only spill-proof, they're also SHAKE PROOF! The unique lid features 2 overlapping pieces of fabric, that are extremely effective at keeping snacks in, and they're much gentler on the hands than traditional plastic snack cup tops! What's more? Free from BPA / Phthalate / Lead / PVC and proudly made in the USA, these are the only snack cups your kids will ever need - a staple in every car, stroller, and home! You can buy them on their website and Amazon (affiliate link), and our winner will receive one in their size (12oz or 16oz) and color of choice! Click here for my full blog review and fun demo video (with a blindfolded "what's in the Munchie Mug" game)!! 
Mama Never Told Me... A Diary of Unbelievable Comments and Questions Posed to a Pregnant Woman (1 Book)
Back to School sometimes means extra me-time (while waiting on the pick-up line at school), so you need some new reading material, right? The 1st book in the MNTM series, by Emily Van Do, pokes fun at how all of the people AROUND a pregnant woman are the ones to lose their minds! A fun read including 31 cartoons from the talented NY artist G.F. Newland! Our winner will receive 1 book from Mom Cave TV, and you can find them on Amazon (affiliate link) as well!
So, amazing products right!? Before you enter to win (in the app below), I want to take a quick sec to thank the wonderful brands sponsoring this giveaway organized by Heather of US Japan Fam, and a shoutout to the lovely bloggers helping to promote it: Kerri of Raising Three Savvy Ladies, Nancy of The Mama Maven, Jennifer of Mom Cave TV, Melissa of Just a BX Mom, and Monica of Marino Bambinos!
And now, it's go time!! Enter to win below!! There are a LOT of entry options, but you only need to leave a blog comment to officially enter. That said, the more actions you take the more entry points and chances to win you'll accumulate!! Open to US residents ages 18+. Good luck all!!! 
Here's our roundup of the kids' activities and family-friendly events going on in the Greater Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn for the week of August 10 - 16, 2019!
Don't forget to sign up for our e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay in the loop of all the local goings on!! All the events and ads below are linked, so click away for more details and to double check before heading out for an event (time changes, cancellations, and mistakes do happen on occasion). Click here to submit your Bay Ridge area family-friendly event or program for a complimentary listing in an upcoming events roundup! Businesses are invited to read more about advertising with us and to sign up for our advertisers' newsletter to receive occasional ad specials and upcoming deadline
We'll be publishing our first ever Birthday Party Guide to Bay Ridge and Beyond in a few days!!! Email us ASAP if interested in advertising, more info here!!
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Whether you're planning a bachelorette weekend with the girls, a destination wedding, a corporate retreat, a golf getaway with your buddies, or a high-end family vacation, Crystal Springs Resort in northwest New Jersey will not disappoint! We were provided a night's accommodation in exchange for our honest review, and we loved it so much we're now looking into purchasing a unit! HA! Watch our YouTube highlights video here and keep reading for more details on their beautiful rooms, delicious dining options, amazing indoor and outdoor pools, and more!
Located on a spectacularly beautiful 4,000 acre piece of land with a mountainous backdrop, just 47 miles from Manhattan, it's no doubt Crystal Springs Resort has been named New Jersey's #1 four-season resort. Featuring 2 hotels, 2 spas, 9 dining options, 6 golf courses, a sports club, indoor and outdoor pools, horseback riding, an adventure center, and meeting & event venues, as well as ski-slopes nearby! So whether you arrive by car or book a private plane with Jettly, you are sure to have a great time here!!
FAMILY-FRIENDLY LUXE:
Upon entering the Grand Cascades Lodge for the first time, as you can see in our video, we were completely overwhelmed with how beautiful and luxurious the Adirondack-inspired facilities were. With three young children, we were a tad intimidated, initially thinking this place must be too nice for our crazy kids, and we would spend the entire stay fretting over their noise and behavior. Thankfully it wasn't the case, and we were happily surprised to see the number of families with young children there! We quickly relaxed with the understanding that guests there for a quiet spa retreat, business meetings, or other kid-free indulgences would find themselves at one of the many places for adults only - such as Latour restaurant (kids must be 12 years or older), the pool hot tub areas, spa, bars, etc. While I would say this isn't a hotel made FOR kids, it is most certainly family-friendly, so don't let their AAA 4-diamond award and grandness of the resort scare you away! They have some family activities here and there, including a nightly fire pit marshmallow roasting, Saturday daytime shows, animal educators, pony rides, summer movies on the lawn, free putting course and evening glow golf, life-size chess, mountaintop adventure experience (approximately $50 per adult, $30 per child; with paddle boarding, archery, fishing, hiking, and a lake with white sand beach), KidSole (learn to fly trapeze & circus ninja warrier training), to name a few!! 
THE ACCOMMODATIONS:
Our room was absolutely fabulous, with a full kitchen, grandfather clock, huge balcony, Jacuzzi tub and full shower, indoor and outdoor dining, flat panel TVs, indoor and outdoor gas fireplaces, washer & dryer, it felt more like a beautifully furnished rental home than a hotel room! In fact, both Grand Cascades Lodge and Minerals Hotel are what they call "condo hotel", meaning you can buy a unit (which are shockingly affordable, especially compared to prices here in NYC) and the management company will rent it out on your behalf when you aren't there, leaving you with a full-service luxury vacation home that potentially pays for itself. I'm currently obsessed with this idea and figuring out how to make it happen for my own family! 
our sweet suite
We were provided a suite and an adjoining room in the Grand Cascades Lodge, where overnight accommodations include complimentary use of the Biosphere Pool Complex as well as facilities at the Minterals Sports Club, just 3 miles away by free shuttle at Minerals Hotel, with 7 indoor/outdoor heated pools, sauna, steam room, indoor running track / tennis / raquetball / basketball, a 6,000 sqft fitness center, and more. Alternatively you can book a (cheaper) room at the Minerals Hotel, but you won't have access to the Biosphere Pool Complex over at Grand Cascades Lodge in that case.
the premium 2Q adjoining room
THE POOLS:
The pools at Grand Cascades Lodge (GCL from here on out) and Minerals Hotel (MH) are everything you could ask for and more! Each place has a large amazing indoor pool, so you'll have a splashing good time no matter what time of year. They also have outdoor pools, some were heated to wonderfully warm bath temp and others were cool but not uncomfortably so. GCL's 10,000 square foot indoor Tropical Biosphere was of course, the most impressive, with its massive palm trees, it will certainly be a standout on your Instagram feed! The ambience is magical, you feel you've been transported to the jungle, not northwestern New Jersey! It also features a 140' waterslide (min 48" to ride), grotto-like jacuzzi (age 16+), underground aquarium, and cave-themed sauna & steam room. I didn't realize at the time, but keep in mind the retractable roof is made of "advanced German Foiltec roofing material, allowing nearly 100% light transmission for year-round tanning"... so don't forget the sunblock! 
If you take a left out of the Biosphere, less than a 5 minute walk away you'll find two more pools in the Vista 180 Pool Complex. One is very luxurious with infinity pool edges and breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. There's a cafe next to it, offering a selection of quick eats and yummy cocktails!
The other pool out that way was my son's favorite, with a water slide and a really unique "rotational current vortex pool" (we dubbed it the washing machine), where the jets cycle swimmers around and around. I've never seen anything like it and it was really fun!! Even our 3 year olds in their puddle jumper floaties were loving it. They have life guards all around, but stay close to little ones or children who aren't strong swimmers because those jets are strong and our toddlers ended up getting dunked quickly a couple of times. 
Over at Minerals Hotel Pool Complex, you'll find heated indoor and outdoor pools, a 12 foot cliff jump (don't miss my husband doing this in our video!!), underground aquarium, steam room & sauna, jacuzzis and cold dip, moonshine bar and twisted treat ice cream bar! Unfortunately, neither location had a "kiddy pool" per se, the pools were all 3-4 feet in the shallowest areas, though Minerals does have a large "splash yard" near their outdoor pools.
THE FOOD:
There were 9 dining options to choose from, so whether you wanted a pool-side burger and Frosé, a gourmet pizza and bottle of wine, or an adult-only award-winning fine dining experience, you'll find it all right on the premises! You can find menus (and kids' menus), hours, and locations all on the website, making it easy to plan ahead or research quickly just before each meal. Reservations are recommended at most, but we didn't bother and had no issue (but keep in mind we were there mid-week). We arrived super hungry at around noon on Tuesday and our room wasn't ready for us until 4pm, so we had a quick casual lunch at the Biosphere Cafe, the only thing we could find open. The food was good, a smoked salmon sandwich ($15) for myself, the Gardener sandwich for my husband ($13), and a chicken finger basket ($14) for the kids, however it was uncomfortably warm and humid in there, it's like a greenhouse basically, which is great for swimmers but not so much for hot and sweaty fully-clothed travelers trying to down some food! Still, it got the job done and we were off to the pools! 
For dinner, we went to Springs Bistro, cuz the kids had a hankerin' for some pizza and I was intrigued by the authentic Italian cuisine Tuscan-inspired menu. The littles devoured a couple of baskets of complimentary warm bread and rosemary salted butter while hubby and I indulged in some delicious wine ($12/glass), before the main course arrived. We got 2 "personal pizzas" ($13 each) for the kids to share, I had a "pizzetta" topped with prosciutto, fig, red onion, and pecorino romano ($18 and possibly the best pizza I've ever had in my life, opinion only partially influenced by extreme hunger and Riesling-induced buzz), and Ryoji had the tagliatelle ($28, with littleneck clams, pancetta, and crushed tomato - as delicious as it was beautiful). The Bistro is located on the first floor, beyond the lobby and at the exit to the patio, which meant we could take turns bringing the kids outside to get out some energy, leaving the other to enjoy some quiet alone time with their wine! Bonus: they boxed up our leftover pizza which the kids chowed on the next morning while watching TV in the living room, letting us sleep in a bit!
For breakfast, we headed to the Crystal Tavern, a short walk down the corridor to the Clubhouse, where I found a list of SEVEN corporations scheduled to host events at Crystal Springs that day! WHOA! We peaked into a few ballrooms and other spaces, some were decked out for what looked like would be amazing rehearsal dinner or wedding reception venues, others great for business meetings and conferences. The view from Crystal Tavern was beautiful, and we thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast there. My son was begging to order Fruit Loops, and was shocked that he loved what I ordered even more! To share, we got pancakes with whipped vanilla butter and berry capote ($12), açaí bowl ($12), and pork belly lardons and aged cheddar omelet with fried potatoes ($12). Breakfast of champions, if you ask me!
We took our last meal (lunch) at Kite's American Grille, located within Minerals Hotel. It is a great spot to grab a casual meal after spending the day at the pool! My husband got their vegan Beyond Burger ($16), I got the short rib grilled cheese ($16), and the kids shared their kid's pizza ($12) and hot dog ($12). As was the case with the other restaurants - service, food, and ambiance were all on point and we had a great final meal to fill our bellies and allow the kids to sleep the entire drive home (which was 2 hours thanks to heavy rain and rush hour traffic).
Amazing easy relaxing luxurious vacation for New Yorkers, am I right!? It's hard to include the "relaxing" part when you have young kids on vacation, but husband and I both agreed this was the most relaxing hotel stay we've had since having kids, and we really can't wait to go back!!
Head to their website to book your next getaway!! Room rates start from $199/night in Minerals Hotel and $299/night in Grand Cascades Lodge (more for the suites, of course), with special packages and deals popping up from time to time! 
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About ME:I'm a NYC metro area mom blogger living in NJ with my Japanese husband & our 3 kids (twins plus 1), focusing on fun and honest product and travel reviews, saving moms time finding the best for their families! Find what you need in the menu bar or search section above! 
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