A member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Willows Lodge is a refined property with a rustic Northwestern feel. Spread out over 5 acres of gardens, the lodge is only 20 minutes from Seattle and within walking distance of several wineries, making for an easy romantic getaway. Travel + Leisure rated Willows Lodge #12 in its list of Top 100 Hotels in the US & Canada, and several accolades have been heaped upon the property from area wine associations and national wine publications.

The lodge provides several special packages designed to make your vacation extra special. After the jump, two to choose from:

Willows Lodge

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hotel exterior, copyright Hotel Plaza Athenee

New York City in the summer can be hot, sweltering – and loads of fun. For your next luxury family vacation in New York, plant yourself at The Hotel Plaza Athenee, a member of Leading Hotels of the World and rated one of the world’s best hotels by both Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure. This boutique hotel, with European elegance and excellent service, is on the Upper East Side, offering you and your family a place of respite as well as close proximity to to the action when you’re ready for it. Check out their NYC family vacation package after the jump. (more…)

If you’re anywhere in the Northeast or Midwest parts of the US, you’ve probably seen enough snow this winter to last you a lifetime. Just when you thought winter was over…

If you’re like us, one of the ways to beat the winter doldrums is to daydream about – or even take , if you can do spur of the moment – a warm-weather vacation. So it’s the perfect time to point out that Travel + Leisure Family has come out with its list of Top 10 Family Resorts in the Caribbean. What we love about this list besides the whole “Caribbean” aspect? The fact that all of these places are great for kids while maintaining some kind of adult sophistication. (Although Beaches might be the only one we would pass up – you know our rule about Elmo on vacation.)

Royal Beachfront Villa
Four Seasons Great Exuma, #3 on the list

In short, here is the list:
1. Las Casitas Village and Golden Door Spa, Puerto Rico (we had the best massage we’ve ever had right at this spa)
2. Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort & Spa
3. Four Seasons Great Exuma at Emerald Bay, Bahamas (haven’t been yet but if it’s Four Seasons you can bet we will get there)
4. Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas
5. Paradisus Puerto Rico Resort (we’ve heard fab things about the Costa Rica property of Paradisus too)
6. Four Seasons Resort Nevis (again, Four Seasons – enough said)
7. Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino
8. Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Jamaica
9. Beaches Negril Resort & Spa
10. Westin St. John Resort & Villas, USVI (a personal favorite over here so we’re glad it made the list)

Grab a cup of cocoa – or a shot of brandy – and then check out the full list, along with descriptions and pricing for the properties, here.