Roadtrips

We went to see the National WWII Museum and Arts District, and it was the perfect time to go. This funky, cool part of New Orleans has as lots of room… and hardly any crowds. Right in the middle of the Arts District, and across the street from the museum, is the Higgins Hotel.

The Higgins Hotel, by Hilton, is the Official Hotel of The National WWII Museum and the profits go back to the museum. It’s named for the local Higgins Industries shipbuilder Andrew Higgins and the boats that helped win World War II.

A friend told me that New Orleans is close enough to drive from Houston… but when you arrive, it feels like a world away. We just made the trip, and I have to agree!

We went to see the National WWII Museum and Arts District, and it was the perfect time to go. This funky, cool part of New Orleans has as lots of room… and hardly any crowds.

Right in the middle of the Arts District, and across the street from the museum, is the Higgins Hotel. They invited us out for the weekend and it was perfect.

The Higgins Hotel, by Hilton, is the Official Hotel of The National WWII Museum and the profits go back to the museum. It’s named for the local Higgins Industries shipbuilder Andrew Higgins and the boats that helped win World War II.

The museum and hotel are within walking distance of the French Quarter. But unlike the French Quarter, this area is much easier for driving and parking (and even for walking!). It’s in the middle of all the action… but easier to navigate.

The art deco design of the Higgins Hotel is beautiful and the location next to the WWII Museum is awesome.

With our big family, we always look for the cleanest, safest hotel, in the most popular area… for an affordable price. The Higgins Hotel is gorgeous (just think of hosting a nice wedding reception here), it is right in the middle of all the New Orleans activity… and especially now, there are really good deals.

Check for discounts, including some stay and park packages, some stay and museum packages… and right now you can save $20 per night by going HERE. (In order to book this rate, you can call our direct reservations line at 833-357-1172 and ask for the “Eureka Rate” or click HERE. (Psssst… Visit the WWII Museum and you’ll know to what Eureka refers!)

At the Higgins Hotel we parked the car one time and then hopped between the Nation WWII Museum, the French Quarter and the Arts District. We ate at beignets, went to Mother’s (with no line), enjoyed food and the rooftop view from Rosie’s and got far away from our daily routine.

At the hotel, masks are required, housekeeping is only on request, extra cleaning product is in the room if you want to use it and hand sanitizing stations are everywhere.

(Know that the Higgins Hotel, WWII Museum and Arts District were great about keeping things clean and social distancing. The French Quarter gets crowded by late afternoon… so I would clear out when it gets crazy.)

If you are considering a visit the hotel, here are some tips to help you plan your trip:

• The Higgins Hotel is the official hotel of The National WWII Museum, is right across the street and shares a parking garage. It’s the perfect place to stay if you want to visit the museum, Arts District or French Quarter (but without the headaches).
• Profits from the Higgins Hotel go back to the WWII Museum.
• You can use/accrue Hilton points.
• The WWII Museum allows you to leave and re-enter during the day. You can hop between the hotel and museum all day (and the museum is plenty big to spend the whole day there).
• Rosie’s on the Roof is open at the Higgins Hotel. It’s family friendly (especially outside on the roof) and serves food and drinks… and has an amazing view.
• The French Quarter is about a 20 minute walk from the hotel. (You probably want a stroller for the littlest ones.)
• The rooms are very nice and have a minifridge and coffee maker (but no microwave).
• Paid garage parking is available. (There is also paid street parking, but the hours are limited.)
• You can read Hilton’s health and safety guide HERE.
• The fitness center is really good. They have treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, dumbbells (up to 75lbs), cable resistance machine, kettle bells, medicine balls and resistance bands.
• Check The Higgins Hotel for discounts. They have some stay and park packages, some stay and museum packages… and right now you can save $20 per night by going HERE.

This may have been the first time in the history of the world that all four Jarvis kids and two Jarvis parents loved the same activity. We went back to Margaritaville Lake Conroe, and with the tropical storm gone, we were able to rent a boat. And it was AWESOME!

And it’s not just something I’m saying… I laughed and smiled until my cheeks hurt.

Margaritaville is located right on Lake Conroe and has 80 boat slips and a variety of watercraft rentals, including pontoons, kayaks, SUP boards, and more.

Einstein’s Surf & Boat Shop is located at the resort and has equipment available to resort guests and members. (You can find the rates HERE.)

When we first visited Margaritaville, I was planning to spending the days at the great pools, on the little beach and in the room doing school work. The staff encouraged me to try out the boat rentals… and it was the best recommendation ever. Getting out on Lake Conroe was the highlight of the trip!

We spent two hours on the lake, pulling the kids on the tube. Even our youngest insisted on going on the tube… and kept yelling “faster” as she bounced along the lake. Everyone wants to go back (even the parents) and everyone wants more time on the lake.

If you plan to visit Margaritaville and to rent watercraft, here’s what I know:

• Go HERE to see all our resort highlights. It includes all the information about rooms, parking, pools, amenities and more.
• Einstein’s Surf & Boat Shop is at the resort and watercraft is available to rent by resort guests and resort members.
• Rentals are not cheap… but it’s much cheaper than owning a boat!
• You must be 21 years old to rent a boat or have a valid boat license.
• Everyone must watch a safety video and fill out the appropriate paperwork before getting on the water.
• On the boat, the staff will give you a quick lesson and provide a map of where to go on Lake Conroe. (We had a quick lesson since my husband has experience, but I bet they would spend as much time as you needed.)
• You can bring coolers, towels and gear on the boat (and the staff will help load them).
• Margaritaville Resort is great and the pools are fantastic… but the boat rental really made the trip special! (The pools are open through October.) Learn more HERE.
• And a fun fact: When my boys get on a boat, they automatically reenact Washington crossing the Delaware. Evidence below.

If you are looking for an easy getaway, go HERE to learn about Margaritaville and HERE to learn about Einstein’s Boat Rentals.

See the video below (or HERE):

Staycation at Margaritaville Lake Conroe! (Use Margaritaville coupon code JillB to save 30% through April 21, 2021! Go HERE to check rates.)

This year is messy. And I’d like to make the most of it.

I don’t love the way work and school and life have been put on hold… but it does give my family the unique opportunity to try some new things.

Most school years we would be busy with school and sports and homework and have little time for anything else. This year, we can work and learn from anywhere… so we’re taking advantage of it.

And this is what led us to Margaritaville Lake Conroe.

About Margaritaville Lake Conroe:

Our host, Margaritaville, is on 186 waterfront acres on the shores of Lake Conroe. It is a beautiful, family friendly resort with a three acre waterpark, boat rentals, restaurants, mini golf, tennis, pickleball, big fitness center, spa, golf course and 80 boat slips (for anyone bringing their own boat).

As you might expect from the name, everything about this resort will transport you to Key West… from the colors, to the music to the laid-back attitudes.

Right now, Margaritaville is sticking to capacity limitations, they are requiring masks, staff is not entering guest rooms during the stay and they have handwashing stations everywhere. And it just so happens we visited during a tropical storm, so we had the place to ourselves.

About our Staycation:

When we booked our trip, we knew we were gambling with the tropical storm… and the tropical storm ALMOST won. But there is no way Jimmy Buffett would let a little rain get him down.

We floated down the lazy river, played in the splashpads, raced down the slides and had the pools mostly to ourselves. We played minigolf, visited the restaurants, fitness center and arcade… and then retreated to our suite for school work and Mathnasium. Rain or no rain, Margaritaville certainly made our school day more exciting!

We did push out our boat rental out by a couple of weeks, so we get to go back and cruise Lake Conroe soon! (UPDATE: We went baaaaaack and it was awesome! Read about the pontoon boat rental HERE!)

Tips for a staycation at Margaritaville Lake Conroe resort:

• Use Margaritaville coupon code JillB to save 30% off through April 21, 2021! Go HERE to check rates.
• Margaritaville Lake Conroe is family friendly. The restaurants have kids meals and the resort has a lot of amenities and activities meanhttp://bit.ly/3arD3BOt for families. It’s a great family staycation.
• The staff is very very friendly. We did not pass one employee that did not smile (under a mask) and speak to us.
• Margaritaville has 303 suites and 32 waterfront cottages. (There are no non-suite rooms.)
• The suites are in the tower and have a bedroom, living room and really nice bathroom. The suites have a minifridge and coffee maker (but no microwave). The cottages have a living room, bedroom, nice bathroom and kitchenette with minifridge, coffee maker and microwave. Some cottages have lofts with more beds.
• The suites are a little closer to the pools and most of the restaurants.
• The cottages give you your own little house… which is great for a noisy family like mine. The cottages also have their own assigned parking spot and boat slip, right outside (so you don’t haul everything up the elevators).
• The suites and the cottages have the same fixtures and furniture… so you’re not roughing it in either spot!
• Free self parking is available (as well as paid valet).
• You can read Margaritaville’s health and safety guide HERE.
• Some of the resort restaurants are open to the public, but everything else requires a guest wristband to access.
• The waterpark includes a lazy river (with tubes included), splash zone, two waterslides (with 48″ requirement), hot tub and one heated pool.
• Pool towels are provided.
• The resort will close the pools for very severe weather… but will stay open in the rain.
• There are no lifeguards on duty, except by the big slides.
• One pool is for adults-only. Everything else is open to all.
• In addition to the pools, there is a small beach with lake access.
• Weekends are the busiest time… so if you can do a weekday staycation, you will probably have more space.
• The fitness center is really great. You know how some places call one broken elliptical machine a fitness center? Not Margaritaville. They have three studio rooms, free weights (dumbbells and Smith machine), resistance machines, lots of cardio equipment, spin room, racquetball courts and locker rooms.
• At the resort you can rent equipment for the lake. They have 22’ Tritoon boats, 19’ Runabouts, electric paddleboats, stand up paddleboards, kayaks, fishing poles and bait. The rain canceled our boating plans… but we’ll be back in a couple weeks to enjoy Lake Conroe!
• Check the Margaritaville website for discounts. They have some for Texas residents and a Work Here, Learn Here, Play Here, Save Here package. Plan your staycation!
• Use Margaritaville coupon code JillB to save 30% off through April 21, 2021! Go HERE to check rates.

Find more pictures below (and just imagine how it would be even more beautiful with some Texas sun)… and if you go to Margaritaville, tell us about it!

See the video below (or HERE):

Did you know that your Houston museum and zoo membership can get you into museums, all over Texas (and the world), for free or discounted rates?!

Here is a guide to the museums or zoo discounts you can get. And as a disclaimer, this list changes so check before you go!

• If you have a membership to the Children’s Museum of Houston (Thinker or Above), you can visit these ASTC Museums for free! This includes The DoSeum (San Antonio Children’s Museum),  Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, The Thinkery (Austin) and museums all over Texas, the United States… and the world. Get all the details HERE.
• If you have a membership to the Houston Health Museum or Space Center you have the same ASTC benefits as the Children’s Museum membership. (You cannot visit the Children’s Museum of Houston with the Health Museum or Space Center membership because venues must be 90 miles apart to get the benefit… otherwise one Houston membership would get you in all over Houston.)
• If you have a membership to the Houston Zoo, you get discounted admission to these AZA zoos and aquariums. ​This includes 50% off the Texas State Aquarium, Dallas Zoo, San Antonio Zoo and more.
• If you have a membership to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (Patron Level or Above), you can visit these Museums for free. If your membership is Supporter or Above, you can also receive discounts. Go HERE for details.
• If you have a membership to the Houston Maritime Museum (at Family Level or Above), you can visit these Council of American Maritime Museums and North American Reciprocal Museum Association. Go HERE for details.
• If you have a membership to the Asia Society, you get free admission to the Asia Societies across the world.
• If you have a membership to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, unfortunately there are no reciprocal benefits.

Other museums in Houston also seem to have Reciprocal Membership Privileges… so always ask. If you know of any other good deals for Houston museum and zoo members, let us know!

We just came back from glamping at Thousand Trails Lake Conroe!

This campground has a beach, boat rentals, games, mini golf, playground and more. There were a million RVs here for the holiday week, but we “roughed it” in a Petite Retreats cabin… We got to do all the camping things, but with heat and showers and a kitchen!

I had six kids with me on this trip… and they had the best time in the sun AND the rain. And I really liked keeping all the kids close by as we played at the beach and made smores and told stories.

We had recently been to Thousand Trails Colorado River… and Thousand Trails invited us to the Lake Conroe location.

This campsite is a lot like the Colorado River location, with lots of things to do… but it has fewer trees and trails and no deer, racoons and armadillos by the sidewalk. Lake Conroe is bigger and has a beach and access to boat rentals.

You can launch your boat from the campground or borrow a jon boat, paddle boat, kayak or canoe. Or you can find mini golf, pool, basketball courts, activity center and more.

It was chilly when we visited, so we skipped the pool and boating… but we had a seriously good time on the tennis courts and mini golf course. And when the two cousins joined my four kids, they had even more fun running around and playing on all the equipment.

All the gear (like balls and rackets) are out and there is no need to check out equipment. You just go and play! Check out all the pictures!

If you want to rent the cabins, more tips are below:

• There are two sizes. One sleeps 4 and another sleeps 6. On this trip, we had the big cabin!
• The mattresses and pillows are covered in a slick cleanable cover and linens are provided.
• The cabins are air conditioned and heated with a kitchen, bathroom and satellite TV. A propane grill is outside.
• Thousand Trails also has spaces for RVs.
• Soap and shampoo is provided. (But I like my own better!)
• Towels are provided.
• The kitchen is fully stocked with pots and plates and silverware… but you need to wash and return everything you use.
• The campgrounds have a lot of things to do! Fishing, playgrounds, basketball, volleyball, pickleball, mini golf and more.
• If you have room in your car, bring bikes and balls so you have even more to do.
• The really cool campers seem to bring rope lights to decorate their cabins, RVs, golf carts and bikes… and one of these days we’ll be the cool campers!
• The campgrounds are pretty close to I10, so you can get groceries/gear if you forget anything.
• See the video of the cabin:

If you need a list of things to bring, here’s what we packed:

• Maybe the most essential:
  • Bug Spray
  • Sun Screen
  • Water
• For the cabin:
  • Shampoo and Soap. (Some is provided, but I like my own shampoo!)
• For the Fire:
  • Firewood
  • Lighter/Matches
  • Lighter Fluid
  • Leather Gloves
  • Stick for roasting marshmallows
•  Groceries:
  • Bread
  • Cheese and Turkey
  • Peanut Butter
  • Marshmallows
  • Graham Crackers
  • Chocolate
  • Water
  • Snacks (Granola Bars, Trail Mix)
  • Fruit
  • Supplies for Foil Dinners
    • Foil
    • Tongs (for taking them off the fire)
    • Vegetables
    • Hot Dogs
    • Butter
    • Salt
  • Cooking Supplies:
    • Knife
    • Veggie Peeler
    • Cutting Board
    • Paper Towels
    • Paper Plates
    • Sporks
    • Cups/Water Bottles
    • Plastic Bags (for storing food)
    • Cooler
  • More supplies:
    • Flash Lights
    • Duct Tape
    • Pocket Knife
    • Hand Sanitizer
    • Trash Bags
    • Deck of Cards
    • Phone/Charger
    • Batteries
    • For the pool:
      • Flip Flops
      • Swim Suits
      • Goggles
      • Beach Towels

We the addition of two kids, we managed to eat all our food the first day. Lucky for us, the Kroger in Willis was just a short 10 minute drive away!

If you are looking to glamp close to Houston, check out Thousand Trails!