Page 44 - Susan Taylor

I found in my bathroom, I called up room
service and our cart was swiftly delivered
with one of the best breakfasts I had ever
had. Chef Fabrice Hardel created a menu
with so many delectable treats; it was
hard to choose what to have. We enjoyed
every last bite. Room service is another
critical component of the staycation. Who
wants to battle mealtime in a restaurant
with toddlers? Find a hotel with a world-
class chef to tantalize your taste buds.
Relax and enjoy your lunch in the privacy
of your suite.

Rested and fueled, we were ready to take
on our staycation. We took a walk out the
lobby and found ourselves in the mood
to check out Balboa Park. We called up
an Uber cab via smart phone and a black
limo arrived in less than 5 minutes. We
were on our way to a fun filled day at the
Natural History Museum. After our fill of
dinosaurs, we carelessly wondered about
Balboa Park, breathing in the sights and
sounds of this local treasure. It was easy
to capture the day in photographs, as we
were smiling so beautifully in the bright
sunshine San Diego is so famous for.
After enjoying our time in Balboa Park,
we headed to Little Italy to grab a casual
slice of pizza and a walk about. Easy
enough, we headed back to our suite a
few blocks away to soak up some more
Westgate Hotel glamour for the evening.
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Another wonderful perk to having a
staycation is it is an opportunity to share
time with friends in a unique setting. I
invited some girlfriends to meet me for
the Westgate’s famous high tea. The
harpist filled the grand lobby with the
most elegant sound as we noshed on
tiny sandwiches, sweet pastries, scones
and seasonal berries. We gabbed the
afternoon away while sipping on imported
British tea out of perfect white porcelain
cups. We lounged around the lobby and
enjoyed the friendly company of the staff
who were polite and proper, speaking in
accents from around Europe.

We ended the days, tucking the chil-
dren into the freshly turned down beds
and topped with the most precious little
chocolates. The mornings filled with
edible treasures that were delivered on
silver trays decorated with perfect pink
roses. Thanks again to the help from
Grandma and Grandpa, the kids had fun
splashing around on the sun-drenched
rooftop pool in the afternoon while we
spent a few relaxing hours at the hotel’s
rejuvenating spa.
Next time you are considering a vacation, consider a staycation. Skip the expense of the flight and find an exceptionally wonderful hotel
to set your scene. Return to your home truly rested. Call some friends to join you for an amazing culinary experience and exceptional
resort. You have all of the resources you need on hand to relax without the hassle of traveling with toddlers.