Cari Fit

Fitness Advice, Workout Tips, and Inspiration

family travel

Family Travel Review – Margaritaville Lake Conroe

My family and I just got back from a super fun staycation at the Margaritaville Resort at Lake Conroe, TX. It’s perfect for families in the Houston area that want a tropical resort vibe, but don’t want the hassle of flying somewhere or taking a long roadtrip with little kids. Don’t let the name fool you….this place isn’t just for grown-ups! There are a ton of things to do with kids of all ages and could even be a romantic getaway for a couple. Scroll down to snag my coupon code for a discount! Here is what we loved about this resort…

Accommodations

Lakeside Cottage With Loft
Cottage Bathroom

We stayed in one of the lakeside cottages which are super cute and very spacious. We had a loft cottage, so our 2 older kids each had a bed (and tv) of their own. When you first walk in, you are in the living room which has a sleeper sofa, tv, desk and plenty of room for a large family to relax. There is a small kitchenette in the middle that has a full sized refrigerator/freezer, sink, coffee maker (with coffee pods and bottles of water). The large bathroom is in the hallway with 2 sinks (with cute fishtail faucets!), a large shower and lots of storage and counter space. The main bedroom is in the back with a king bed, night tables and a large closet. The decor was amazing. I seriously felt like I was at a tropical resort in the Bahamas. If you want something more in the center of the action – you may want to get a room (or one of the large suites) in the main hotel building. They also have the cute tropical decor and many rooms have balconies.

Food

Eggwhite Skillet at License To Chill

There were two main restaurants open when we went (the others are closed for the season). License To Chill Bar and Cafe and the Landshark Bar and Grill. License to Chill is located in the main hotel building and has indoor seating and lots of great patio seating overlooking one of the pools. The food was really great – we ate breakfast here both mornings and my kids said the pancakes here are the best! I opted for a egg-white and veggie skillet which was healthier and super tasty! They had a lot of other great options too. One night we had dinner to-go and sat outside to eat by the fire-pits. The ahi tuna salad was amazing! They have a kids menu too with lots of options. Landshark Bar and Grill is adjacent to the pool area and is a free-standing large restaurant with outdoor seating overlooking the lake and beach, as well as an indoor restaurant (and gift shop) and bar. We got lunch to-go here one day and ate by the pool. They have a kids menu and tons of unique salads, burgers and sandwiches….oh and of course margaritas! For dinner, we sat outside near the fire-pit and the kids played at the enclosed beach area (there are also palapas and outdoor chairs in the sand). Our fish tacos were great and they have a really good key lime pie if you want to indulge!

Kid-Friendly Pancakes at License To Chill
Ahi Tuna Salad Fireside

Pools

Family Pool With Slides

The pools here are probably the main attraction. They have a large resort pool with infinity edge (chilling out here with a margarita at sunset is a must) and hot tub. The kids area is a little seperate, which is nice if you are on an adult trip. There is a huge kids/resort pool that has water slides, large stair entry and is heated, which we really enjoyed. Next to the kids area is a toddler pool/splash pad that has a cool pirate ship with slides and activities for the younger age (probably under 10) and zero entry pool for toddlers. As if that wasn’t enough – there is also a lazy river with tubes!

Health/Fitness/Spa

St. Somewhere Spa

I love a good fitness center when I travel. However, during Covid I’ve kinda steered away, especially if it’s crowded. Well, the fitness center here is HUGE (it’s in its own building) with plenty of room to space out. The cardio equipment is in one room and strength training in another. Prefer to take a morning yoga class or group fitness class? They have that too! They have pilates room (with reformers), spin studio room and group fitness room and offer classes daily (check the resort’s schedule). The St. Somewhere Spa is also in its own building and is very spacious. The relaxation room is just that…very relaxing with water, teas and other treats you can enjoy before/after your treatment. I opted for the signature massage which was wonderful. The property is spread out, so if you like to run or walk, you can create some cool routes along the water and docks. There is also mini golf which is fun for the whole family – or if you are into “real” golf, there is a course nearby.

Fitness Center

Other Amenities We Loved

  • Grab and go food at Joe Merchant is great and they have a nice mix of healthy snacks, breakfast sandwiches made daily, pizzas and even Starbucks.
  • The lake! If you have time, you can rent a boat onsite and take your family out for a cruise! They also have a selection of kayaks and other water sports rentals. Being on the water definitely helps give the place a more tropical vacay vibe.
  • I also just really loved the decor! The entire resort is filled with nautical and tropical decor and furniture and you can tell a lot of thought went into every little detail.
  • The landscaping is also super pretty with all the mature palm trees and plants.
Grab-And-Go Snacks at Joe Merchant

Tips

  • You may want to pack a stroller if you get a cottage that is farther away from the resort.
  • If the weather is bad, you can order food to-go from one of the restaurants and eat in your cottage or even order Door Dash or delivery.
  • Landshark Bar and Grill has a great fire-pit and they used to do s’mores. You may want to bring your own as back-up and they will let you make them yourselves.
  • There isn’t a baby changing station in the lobby bathroom, but if you go upstairs next to the arcade – the restrooms there have one.
  • They play music nonstop out by the pools and Landshark Bar and Grill. It’s a great mix and keeps the vacay vibes going, but sometimes it can be a bit loud. If you don’t want to hear it from your cottage – I suggest getting a cottage with a higher number so that you are farther away. I actually called the front desk and asked them politely if they would turn the music down one day and they did it immediately and were so nice.
Lots Cute Seating Areas With Tropical Vibes

Ready to Book? Use my promo code CARIFIT15 to get 15% off!

Tips For Traveling on Carnival Breeze

I recently got back from another amazing vacation with Carnival Cruises. This time my family and I went on the Carnival Breeze. The Breeze is one of their bigger ships and has lots to offer everyone including families, fitness enthusiasts, spa lovers and even foodies. I had an amazing time and want to especially thank crewmember Ivana – who went out of her way to make us feel special! She was truly amazing and she made us feel right at home!

I’ve traveled quite a bit on Carnival and I can say that they are my favorite cruise line. In my experience (myself and close family members have traveled on many different cruise lines) – Carnival is the most fun and definitely have more things to do for kids. This was my second time on the Breeze – so I wanted to share some of my top tips if you are thinking of cruising on the Breeze – or other Carnival Cruise.

Book your trip early. We sometimes wait too long and are surprised by how many of the rooms are already sold out. So, book your trip as soon as you decide to go. Carnival is also really good about allowing you to cancel without penalty (date restrictions apply) or use your deposit towards a future cruise.

Pack lightly and take advantage of storage in the room. For my first few cruises, I always packed way too much! Then, I realized that I was either in workout clothes, bathing suits or evening attire. So, now…I usually pack about 5 mix and match workout outfits that can also double as bathing suit cover ups (tanks and shorts are great for this) and that I can also wear out on excursions (there is usually a lot of walking). Then, I usually pack 2-3 bathing suits and a 1 good cover up dress. For the evenings – we love dining in the dining room (see below) so I have fun planning outfits for this. Also, in the evenings they have photographers set up all over the ship ready to take your photos- so it’s fun to dress up! I usually bring 5-6 new outfits but sometimes will rewear my dark jeans or top (to layer) and then 2 “formal” outfits that are usually dresses or rompers. Also, the less you pack – the more room you’ll have in your stateroom. The staterooms are surprisingly laid out well though and take advantage of the drawers, closets and cabinets for your things and store your suitcases under the bed.

Getting ready for dinner in my stateroom

You may want to bring a stroller. Check your itinerary and also what excursions you plan on doing. Some cruise terminals are very long (like in Cozumel) – where you have to walk quite a far way before you get to your excursion check-in point. Also, if it’s in summer and super hot – strollers with sun shades can be great for little ones. However, if you aren’t getting of the ship much or are taking a smaller boat directly from the ship – you may be able to leave your stroller at home. Just do some research first.

Eat most of your dinners in the dining room. The evening dining on board is really a great experience and the food is fabulous. I have to admit – before I started cruising, I expected most of the dining to just be so/so and very limited. That’s not the case on the Breeze (or other Carnival ships). The chefs on board have many years of experience and come from all over the world. The dishes are very creative with great presentation and above all – taste amazing. I was fortunate to get a private tour of the galley and tasting with Senior Sous Chef Davide and Executive Chef Shiva. I want to give special thanks to them for allowing me to sample all of the wonderful dishes! The food is very creative and there is something for everyone – foodies, vegans and healthy eaters.

With Chefs Davide and Shiva

      

A sample of the evening’s appetizers

Definitely visit the steakhouse. – The small extra charge is way worth it. The Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse on the Breeze has a cool modern atmosphere and they really go above and beyond to make your dining experience special. I had the lobster tails with baked potato and it was fabulous and still healthy. Don’t miss the amazing presentation of the “Art at the Table” dessert. The chef comes to your table and basically creates a piece of art on a large board with fruit syrups, jellies and candies for paring. Then, the finale is when you crack open a chocolate ball with your spoons to reveal a surprise! Highly recommended!

         “Art at the Table” dessert

              With Fahrenheit 555 Chef Brendan                       

Take advantage of the gym and outdoor fitness equipment. I did a mix of workouts including indoor gym workouts (treadmill and free weights) but then also ran on the outdoor track and used the outdoor gym stations (body weight machines and boxing bag). They have mini golf and basketball too! Sometimes it’s hard to fit in workouts in between all the fun things to do, but you will feel so much better about yourself – even if you just take 20 minutes a day.I did most of mine early before my kids woke up. Then, I didn’t feel so bad about indulging in some of the amazing desserts on board (hello chocolate melting cake!). Check out my other post for sample workouts to do on board a cruise ship.

Mini Golf!   

Fitting in my workouts!

If you have kids – make sure to reserve the Dr. Seuss breakfast. This is such a fun event where they transform one of the dining rooms into a Dr. Seuss wonderland with red, fun table decorations, an ice sculpture, special appearances from Dr. Seuss characters and of course…a very special breakfast. Although the “green eggs and ham” weren’t appealing to me – they had many other fun items for the kids as well as “normal” things for the adults like eggs your way, turkey bacon and more.

Play with your kids at Camp Ocean. If you don’t want to leave your kids at Camp Ocean (which is amazing and super fun) or they don’t want to stay – you can play with them during “family play” times. Just check the schedule for available times when you can go.

If you get sick, they have you covered. I can sometimes be a worrywart – so  I like to know where I can go if one of my kids or myself gets sick on vacation. Luckily – they have a full staff of onsite doctors and nurses there on the ship to help. They can even work with your insurance.

Fit Family Travel – Walt Disney World

Did you know that “The Happiest Place on Earth” can actually be one of the Fittest places on Earth? Walt Disney World and their resorts actually offer many options for healthy families who want to stay fit and healthy while on vacation. If you make some healthy dining choices and combine that with all the walking you will do – it might be one of the healthiest vacations you take!

Workout clothes are great for the theme parks – and princess dresses for the girls are a must-have ; ) 

This was our second time to go with our son and first time with out daughter who is almost 2. I’m in no way a “Disney Expert” but I think after going with young children twice – I’d share some of my best tips for families with small children. Also, as a fitness blogger – I want to share some tips on how you (and your kids) can eat healthy and squeeze in some workouts so that your trip ends up being a fun AND fit one for the whole family. This is a long post (sorry) so feel free to skip around and be sure to check out Disney’s recipe (they sent it to me!) for a great healthy quinoa salad at the bottom!

What to Pack

I will try to do another post soon on traveling (via air) with young kids. We travel a lot and I do kinda feel like I’m an expert at this now! For Disney – here are what I consider the essentials for Disney:

    • Comfortable clothes, walking/running shoes and layers. It’s usually pretty warm in Florida but you don’t want to end up having to purchase extra bulky layers at the theme parks if you don’t have to. I wore workout clothes a couple of days and comfortable jeans with a workout tank and light jacket on other days. You also need walking shoes – for the whole family. We literally walked 6 miles one day at Magic Kingdom, so you don’t want to be in new shoes or ones that won’t hold up.
    • Snacks. Disney has a lot of dining options (more on that below), but I recommend packing a few healthy things in your suitcase and then also bring some of them along at the theme parks. For me, I like healthy bars like LaraBar, ThinkThin, RX Bar, etc. and for my kids I packed extra food pouches (ones with veggies are good because theme parks are usually lacking in veggies), goldfish and other small snacks. I also brought along some protein powder packets to mix in my water bottle. Most likely your hotel will have milk if your kids drink milk – or I recommend packing (or buying once you land) a package of milk like the ones from Horizon that don’t need to be refrigerated. We always request a room with a refrigerator so we can store milk, snacks, etc and if your hotel doesn’t supply them automatically they sometimes will give them to families with babies at no extra charge. Also, be sure to bring your kids favorite milk cups, sippy cups and bottles.
    • Cleaning supplies/sanitizer. I usually pack an unscented soap and small bottle cleaner (for cups too) so I can wash them regularly at the hotel. Theme parks are loaded with germs – so it’s good to wash your cups and bottles every day! I also bring lots of sanitizer wipes (for planes, busses, etc) and gel. I also bring my own laundry detergent and sometimes wash a few things in our bathtub. If you use the community washer/dryers just make sure to wash your clothes on hot to kill the bacteria from the previous person’s clothes (yuck).
    • Sunscreen. Because of the time of year we went – the UV rays weren’t too bad but I brought mini sunscreens like these with me. I also brought sunglasses and hats for me and the kids. I usually wear spf in my moisturizer -  (I use either Aveeno, Charlotte Tillbury’s Magic Cream with SPF and/or Tarte’s 12 Hour Foundation with SPF.
    • A Good Stroller. Depending on the age of your children – I would highly recommend a good double (or single if you have one child) stroller. I love my double UppaBaby one because it’s lightweight but also the seats recline for naptime – since you probably won’t be back at your hotel for naps.Snacks and a Double Stroller Are Key!

Where To Stay – The Swan and Dolphin

This was our second time to stay here as a family. Surprisingly it’s not an actual “Disney Resort”. There are some perks at staying at a Disney Resort such as using the magic bands to unlock your hotel room, the abundance of shuttle busses to take you to your hotel and also take/store your luggage, etc. BUT, I really loved the Swan and Dolphin. It has the perfect location, the rooms are great, dining is very kid friendly and you still get free shuttle busses to all of the Disney parks. We stayed at the Dolphin but got to use the amenities of the Swan which is directly across (they are connected by a walkway).

 

Newly Remodeled Dolphin Lobby

Rooms: We just had a normal Deluxe room with 2 beds and also a crib. The last time we stayed we had a suite which was nice. They also have “family rooms” but these were sold out when we visited. Their rooms are updated and very nice with modern decor. We had a coffee machine and refrigerator and I liked having the sink outside of the tub/toilet area.

Dining: Dining is expensive when you go to Disney – period. Be prepared to spend more than you would at home or even some other resorts/hotels in the US. But, with that being said – the Dolphin had lots of great options for families. They have a new Fuel market that offers many healthy items for breakfast, lunch and snacks. We went here daily to stock up on fruit, bars, yogurts and usually got coffee and breakfast sandwiches to eat on the bus on the way to the parks in the mornings. They also have a cafeteria style restaurant in the basement that even made me hardboiled eggs one morning. Most of our lunches and dinners were at the Disney theme parks.

Fitness Amenities: The Swan and Dolphin has excellent fitness facilities. The Dolphin’s gym has been newly updated and has a large cardio area, a fitness studio room and another whole room with weight machines and free weights. It’s very large (and clean) for a hotel gym. Every morning I was there I got up early and went for a run. The running path is awesome and they have many routes available for you (there is a map out front of the gym) depending on how far you want to go. I usually just did the 2 or 3 mile loop that took me around the Disney Boardwalk and waterways. I would highly recommend it. Then, on our last day there I went across to the Swan hotel and tried one of their Pelotin bikes. I was so glad they had one because I have been wanting to try a “class”. I thought the workout was great and will do a review on this soon. Their gym was also nice but smaller than the one at the Dolphin. They also have a lap pool there – but the Dolphin has amazing pools (see below). If your hotel doesn’t have a good gym and you don’t want to go outside – you can try these sample workouts to do in your hotel room.

Family Amenities: The Dolphin has daily activities for the family ranging from story times, scavenger hunts and even s’mores out by the pool. Unfortunately, we didn’t participate in many of these because we were at the theme parks most days. The Dolphin has amazing pools! All of them were heated so even though it was still cool outside, we were able to swim. They have a kids pool (with shallow areas), a larger pool with grotto and large slide and also a lap pool with cabanas nearby. The pool food/drink service was great and they allowed me to swap fries for fruit and customize some of our menu options. The hotel also has a great playground between the Swan and Dolphin for kids. There is a nearby “beach” with sand for kids to play in that borders the lake (no swimming is allowed). Bottom line- this hotel is very family friendly and has fun actives for all ages.

Visiting Walt Disney World

During our visit we went to Magic Kingdom twice and Epcot once. My kids are still very young, so I knew they would like Magic Kingdom due to the variety of rides and attractions for those under 5 and then I knew we wanted to do Epcot to try the new Frozen Ever After ride in “Norway”. Here are my tips for staying fit at the theme parks:

Healthy Dining: You have to get a little creative when eating healthy at both Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Most places serve typical fare such as sandwiches, chicken fingers, burgers, etc. However, I found that many did offer fruit, hardboiled eggs, cheese and snack options that were healthy. Sometimes we just ate a bunch of healthy “snacks” for lunch instead of a big meal that wasn’t the healthiest. However, throughout the Disney properties (even restaurants at The Boardwalk) they offered “Mickey Check” meals for kids. These were healthier options for kids but not every restaurant offered these. Some of them were really good and offered fresh veggies and grilled meats. I even ordered some of them for myself a few times! However, they are mostly offered at “table service” restaurants at Magic Kingdom, which is about 8 restaurants (fyi if you want wine or alcohol you have to dine here).

It was slightly easier to eat healthy at Epcot since there was more variety because they offer authentic foods from all over the world at the various countries represented in the World Showcase. Epcot had more adult-friendly restaurants (and wine!) – but I found that most are geared towards “foodies” and those that want to indulge a little (which is ok after you’ve walked 5+ miles that day! haha). I would highly recommend getting reservations as far out as possible – for all of the theme parks – especially fine dining or table service restaurants. Some people book their meals 6+ months out. You can do this online or via the Disney App.

We dined at the Be Our Guest restaurant (MK) last time we went and I had the quinoa salad which was amazing (See Recipe Below). That restaurant was beautiful and worth it just to go see the Beauty and The Beast theme/decor. This time we had lunch at Cinderella’s Royal Table (also at MK) and they offered some nice salads, fruit and other healthy options. Just like regular restaurants – you can customize and ask for no oil, dressing on the side, etc. My kids loved Cinderella’s Royal Table – the kids meal was great and almost all of the Disney Princesses visited our table for photo ops! They also loved the cute “make your own cupcake” mini dessert with pretty Cinderella-blue icing. We tried to limit the amount of sugar our kids had (which is hard at Disney) so we looked for very small treats or treats they could share and limited them to once or twice a day.

Kids Build Your Own Cupcake at Cinderella’s Royal Table

Healthy Quinoa Salad and Kids Meal with Green Beans at Be Our Guest Restaurant

Other Ways to Mix In Fitness: Other than walking…which you will do A LOT of, there are a few other ways you can make fitness a priority. If you want to make your trek around the theme park more of a challenge you could bring a jogging stroller and run some of the way through the property! You can also mix in intervals of fast and slow walking and even find outdoor areas for pushups, tricep dips, etc! You may get some looks – but it might be fun to do your workout at Magic Kingdom! I just got my workouts in at our hotel (see above) each morning. But, once I realized how much walking I was doing, I scaled back my runs a little and focused more on strength training to give my injured knee a break (more on this in another post).

Another great way to make your trip to WDW is to sign up for a race with Run Disney! Disney has many races all year ranging from 5k’s to marathons and many that are family friendly and stroller friendly! Once I get back into running marathons I can’t wait to try the Walt Disney World Marathon! Disney also offers training programs too – check it out!

Keeping Kids Active: This is pretty easy since most of the time they will want to run around and explore. Also, almost all of the rides make you park your stroller in the stroller parking area and you and your family have to walk/stand in line. It can be hard for little kids to just stand around, so you may want to swap with your partner and one of you take your kid(s) out to play or explore while the other waits in line. Also, there are designated places for kids to play such as the play area inside the Dumbo ride (Dumbo’s Tent), the mini playground outside of the Winnie the Pooh ride (Pooh’s Garden) and lots of other areas in the Frontier Land area of Magic Kingdom.

I contacted Disney a couple of years ago when we first went with our son. I was IN LOVE with the Quinoa Salad at the Be Our Guest restaurant, but unfortunately they weren’t able to share the recipe. However, they did send me the recipe for the Quinoa Salad with Hearts of Palm and Shrimp from “Crystal Palace” restaurant in Magic Kingdom. It’s amazing!

Official Disney Recipe: Shrimp, Heart of Palm & Quinoa Salad

The Crystal Palace
Lake Buena Vista, Florida

YIELD: 6 Servings

1 lb steamed & chilled shrimp
2 ½ cups cooked quinoa (can substitute bulgar wheat or cous cous)
1 can hearts of palm
2 cups fresh baby arugula
½ cup diced red peppers
¼ cup chopped cilantro
1/3 cup mustard dressing

Mustard Dressing
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon chopped shallots
½ tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
2 tablespoons dijon mustard
1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
1 ½ tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
½ tablespoon celery salt
½ teaspoon Tabasco
Salt & pepper to taste

METHOD:
Cook the quinoa in a large quantity of salted boiling water (4 times the volume of the quinoa – this washes out the slight natural bitterness of the grain) for about 20 minutes.  Strain and cool off.

Steam and cool off the shrimp.

Cut the hearts of palm into ¾ inch coins or half coins depending on size.

In a food processor or blender, combine all ingredients for the dressing except the oils.  Slowly drizzle in the oil to form the dressing.

Assemble everything together in a mixing bowl.

Enjoy!