All-you-can-eat… Resort Style

I am a firm believer that staying at an all-inclusive resort is one of the best ways to vacation… because everything is included. Food, drinks, hotel amenities, all included in one package price, which in return affords you the luxury of a more relaxing vacation. When I vacation, I really enjoy doing nothing but taking in the moment in a peace-induced manner. I don’t want to have an agenda, I don’t want to be on the go, I only want to allow my body the rest and rejuvenation that it deserves. So for me, all-inclusive translates to stress free and hassle free, and is the only way to go. 

This past winter, in an attempt to escape the cold New York winter and rid my body of its winter blues, I took a trip to Cabo. The resort, all-inclusive of course, was beautiful and loaded with amenities. With a dozen different restaurants and pool side bars, finding food and drinks throughout the day was quite easy… and easy always equals relaxing. The resort boasted cuisine from across the globe, so there was really something for everyone, served at all hours of the day and night, both indoors and outdoors. With no need to search for restaurants or plan meals, choosing an all-inclusive vacation really heightened my stress-free holiday. 

Outside of stress-free dining, choosing an all-inclusive package also takes the stress out of finding activities to do while on vacation… if you’re in to that sort of thing… but I however, as mentioned above, am not. Most resorts offer a plethora of activities to keep you occupied throughout the day and night. The resort that I stayed at had 10 pools, a bowing alley, two spas, a shopping center, a sports club, two night clubs, water aerobics, pool side entertainment with a fabulous entertainment staff, and nightly shows. For people like me, the resort also had beautiful beach cabanas for endless hours of lounging by the water. 

With airfare, hotel, and food all bundled together in one package, all-inclusive travel really does make for the most stress-free vacation. 

Happy travels!

Payton 

Seas the Day!

There is nothing better than lounging on the beach on a hot summer day. With easy access to a plethora of beautiful beaches via public transit, we New Yorkers are quite lucky! From Far Rockaway, to Fire Island, to the Hampton Villages, there is no shortage on beautiful beachfront fun. Laying in the summer sun near the water with a cocktail in hand and a speaker loudly singing makes for the most perfect day, so gather up your friends, pack a cooler full of snacks and our Watermelon Margarita Slush Punch, maybe a volleyball and frisbee, and make a day if it. It’s also important that you go prepared, regardless of which beach you choose to visit. A proper beach bag should contain a blanket or beach towels for lounging, a Bluetooth speaker, a hat, sunglasses, loads of sunscreen, water,  a book or a few magazines, and maybe also a collapsible beach umbrella. For snacks, it’s important to bring foods that don’t easily spoil — so I would personally avoid any type of meat or seafood unless you have a really well insulated cooler — like fresh fruit kabobs, vegetable crudités, chips and dip, or maybe even a classic PB&J…using Gus & Grey Jam of course!  Most importantly, pack plenty of water, as staying hydrated is imperative when spending a day outside in the heat of the summer. Spending most days surrounded by concrete, it can be hard to remember the beauty that surrounds us, but luckily so, the beauty of nature and the roaring ocean is only a quick train ride away!

Happy summer!

Payton

Watermelon Margarita Slush Punch

Ingredients:

1/3 c sugar

1/3 c fresh lime juice

5 c cubed seedless watermelon

1/3 c tequila

Fresh mint leaves

Method:

-Heat lime juice and sugar in a small saucepan until sugar is dissolved. Allow to cool.

-Add watermelon, lime syrup, tequila, and mint to a high speed blender and blend until smooth.

-Place in a shallow dish and freeze, agitating mixture with a fork every 30 minutes to create slushy texture. Transfer to a freezer safe storage vessel when completely frozen.

-Pack in cooler completely encased in ice.

-To build cocktail, add slush to a glass, add in another shot of tequila, and top with club soda and a wedge of lime! Enjoy.