Happy Monday everyone, I hope you had a great weekend! My mojo was a little all over the place given some personal matters with friends and family, but no doubt there's an awful lot to be grateful for and I took comfort in the little things like planting flowers, stories and snuggles with the girls, and good coffee. Meanwhile, let's get Monday rolling with a big Weekly Blueprint -- let's make it a great week!

August 4 + 7: Celebrate World Breastfeeding Week with events at Mama & Me. (Jamaica Plain)

August 5: Friends of Titus Sparrow Park Stacey Peasley concert. (Boston)

August 5: Eco-rock with Johnny Fireseed and the Junkyard Dogs. (Cambridge)

August 5: Downtown dancing with Greg Coles. (Ipswich)

August 5: Ice cream and...bats! (Natick)

August 5 + 7: Performance by Berklee musician Kathryn Hallberg. (Boston)

August 5 - 8: Free jazz performances from the New England Conservatory. (Boston)

August 5 - 10: Free performances of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. (Boston)

August 6: The Landmarks Orchestra presents The Boston Lyric Opera. (Boston)

August 6: Explore the shore family tour. (Chappaquiddick)

August 6: Creatures of the night family hike that promises not to be creepy. (Chappaquiddick)

August 6: Outdoor story hour. (Hingham)

August 6: Spend an evening at the beaver ponds. (Lenox)

August 6: It’s time to play in the park. Admission is free. (Lincoln)

August 6: Dragons and damsels on a farm? (Lincoln)

August 6: Learn all about our honeybee helpers. (North Andover)

August 6: Free concert - The Dave Macklin. (Plymouth)

August 6:  A night of arts and fun for teens. (Boston)

August 6: Sit out on the patio and enjoy a great local band. (Somerville)

August 6: Step back in time and become a colonial kid. (Wenham)

August 7: The jazzy sounds of Sarah McKenzie. (Boston)

August 7: Hop on your bike and explore the city’s farmers markets. (Boston)

August 7: All about dinosaurs drop in day. (Easton)

August 7: Summer concert with Black Marmot. (Harvard)

August 7: Thursday night picnic concert with The Beantown Swing Orchestra. (Ipswich)

August 7: Children’s tour of the farm. (Lexington)

August 7: The cucumber crops have grown and it’s time to start pickling! (Lincoln) 

August 7: Yum! Make your own ice cream with foraged fruit and high quality ingredients. (South Wellfleet)

August 7: Edwardian-era lawn games, and a garden adventure. (Stockbridge)

August 7: Enjoy some after work wine and chocolate therapy. (Framingham)

August 7 - September 1: Cape Ann Ceramics Festival. (Various locations)

August 8: Free admission to The Discovery Museums. (Acton)

August 8: Free admission to Boston Harbor Islands National Park. (Boston)

August 8: Free admission to Clark Art Institute. (Williamstown)

August 8: Free admission to Wenham Museum. (Wenham)

August 8: Free admission to USS Constitution Museum. (Charlestown)

August 8: Free admission to Children’s Museum at Holyoke. (Holyoke)

August 8: Free admission to Volleyball Hall of Fame. (Holyoke)

August 8: Free admission to Fuller Craft Museum. (Brockton)

August 8: Music on the harbor with Mas Ysa. (Boston)

August 8: Free Friday Flicks at the Hatch Shell: The Lego Movie. (Boston)

August 8: Family hayride and campfire. (Lincoln)

August 8: Happy hour yoga in the park. (South Boston)

August 8-10: The Bolton Fair kicks off. (Lancaster)

Image credit: Cape Ann Ceramics Festival

Happy August everyone, I hope you're having a great week and are looking forward to the weekend! I've been a little scattered all week due to work (vacation re-entry is always challenging) + some personal matters, so I'm looking forward to some quiet time to recalibrate and (hopefully) restore physical and emotional order! If you're looking for something to do, I've got a great roundup of 28 weekend events to consider. Enjoy!

1. The museum becomes a Lego zone this weekend. (Acton)

2. The ultimate block party. (Beverly)

3. Free jazz performances from the New England Conservatory. (Boston)

4. Free performances of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. (Boston)

5. Free family film festival presents Despicable Me 2. (Boston)

6. Celebrate the opening of the new exhibit, MySky. (Boston)

7. Puppet show version of The Jungle Book. (Brookline)

8. Regattabar Kids’ Summer Music Series presents the Okee Dokee Brothers. (Cambridge)

9. Enjoy some Sunday Parkland Games. (Cambridge)

10. Round up your little buckaroos for cowboy and cowgirl weekend. (Carver)

11. Music at the Manse. (Concord)

12. Twilight walking tour of West Hanover Farms. (Hanover)

13. Celebrate World Breastfeeding Week with events at Mama & Me. (Jamaica Plain)

14. It’s ice cream weekend on the farm. (Lexington)

15. Visit the MAKEmobile traveling creative and tactile experience cart. (Lincoln)

16. A festival by the sea. (Manchester-by-the-Sea)

17. Rock out at the Nantucket Music Festival. (Nantucket)

18. You can also rock out at the Onset Blues Festival. (Onset)

19. Honor thy forefathers at this Family Fun Day. (Plymouth)

20. Games, music, food, and a movie all at the beach. (Quincy)

21. The 18th Annual Arts Affair at Marina Bay. (Quincy)

22. All aboard for the Salem Maritime Festival. (Salem)

23. Family friendly fun at the Water Street Wing Fling. (Sandwich)

24. Enjoy the Handmade Arts Market. (Somerville)

25. It’s a Pet Palooza. (Somerville)

26. Riverfront Park Movie Series: Men in Black 2. (Somerville)

27. Free movie night at Bird Park. (Walpole)

28. Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary fundraiser concert. (West Tisbury)

Image credit: Plymouth 400

I'm thrilled to share another Local Gems post today (be sure to check out the Arlington Center, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Easton, Jamaica Plain, Lexington, Medford, and Watertown features)! Today's Wellesley recommendations come from reader Melissa, a five year resident of Wellesley, mom to an adventurous toddler son and soon-to-be-kindergartener daughter, and patent law attorney with Wolf Greenfield. Thanks for sharing these 13 local gems in Wellesley, Melissa! 

1. Weezie’s Garden at Elm Bank. This enchanting natural play space includes a giant red chair, a koi pond, a tree house, a sand play area, and enough nooks and hiding spots to keep kids lost in their imaginations for hours. My daughter likes hosting tea parties at a table so well-hidden within the draping branches of a tree that it took a couple visits to discover.

2. Wasik’s. Wasik’s is a cheese lover’s happy place. Turophiles from all over greater Boston travel to this 35 year-old family run shop for its friendly, knowledgable service and wide selection. Having trouble deciding? Ask for a recommendation!

3. Ollie Turner Park. I’m charmed by secret spaces, so there is something special about kicking around a ball at this secluded field tucked away at the far end of Longfellow Pond. Yet what appeals most is the journey to get there - a serene hike along the Longfellow Pond Trail.

4. Cafe Mangal. My favorite date night restaurant in town, Cafe Mangal has the ambiance of a Turkish friend's house. Don’t forget the bottle of wine - it’s BYOB!

5. The Margaret C. Ferguson Greenhouses at Wellesley College. Looking to escape the cold or rain? These interconnected greenhouses are my favorite of the many gems that Wellesley College offers. Whether I’m cultivating my inner botanist or snapping candids against the lush backdrops, I always leave feeling a bit more Zen.

6. Little Bits Toys. Shop while the kids play at this thoughtfully stocked toy store, or take advantage of their priceless (yet free!) call ahead service: Tell the friendly staff what you’re looking for and they’ll wrap it and even run it out to your car.

7. Centennial Reservation. A popular spot for dog walking, Centennial Reservation offers trails that are great for kids as well. Highlights for my little ones include Bezanson Pond, which teems with tadpoles and bullfrogs, and a scenic hillside meadow that has the perfect grade for skipping downhill at full throttle.

8. Green’s Hardware. This extraordinary hardware store is like having a handy uncle around the corner. After being greeted at the door, tell the gentlemen your home issue, and they’ll find the items you need, explain how to use them, and bring it all to your car. 

9. Tutto Italiano. Pick up some top-notch meatball subs at this quaint corner Italian grocery/deli, then head across the street to the picnic tables at Morton Park where the kids will enjoy watching the ducks swim in the pond and the geese brazenly approach.

10. Healthy Habits Kitchen. Whenever I’m short on time or inspiration for dinner, I’ll head to Healthy Habits Kitchen and stock up on their pre-packaged meal kits. With all of the ingredients and directions for healthy and kid friendly meals, their kits make dinner prep a cinch.

11. Hills Branch Library. The book selection is not vast; I frequent this single-room branch library because I love the historic ivy-covered stone building with its church-like interior. The library recently added a coffee, tea and cocoa station, adding to its homey charm.

12. Jammin' with You. The most popular class at this music mecca is JamBaby, which features sing-alongs to songs by kindie rock artists Josh and the Jamtones and a mid-class jam session to adult faves from the likes of Pharrell and Robin Thicke. Classes led by Jamtones frontman Josh fill up fast.

13. Warren Park. This busy playground has it all - tables and fields for picnicking, playground equipment for all ages, bathrooms in the adjacent Warren building, a hill for sledding in winter, and a prime Marathon viewing location.

Do you have other Wellesley gems you love? Feel free to share in the comments below! And if you want to pen a Local Gems guest post, contact Christine at editor@bostonmamas.com to check on availability.

Image credits: all images via linked websites or associated Facebook pages.

As many of you know, I love random holidays -- they inspire me to research fun things like ninjas, cupcakes, and cookies! Subsequently, when The Cheesecake Factory invited me to participate in a sponsored campaign to celebrate National Cheesecake Day (tomorrow!), I was like, YES. Because the thing is, whenever I think of cheesecake, I think of my mom. Also, I like sharing about tasty bargains (and in this case, a rad giveaway). Allow me to tell you about all of these things today:

I grew up in a family of 9, so we rarely dined out. In fact, with a handful of exceptions, dining out didn’t really happen much until my older siblings started to fly the coop and there were less people on the tab (as the 6th of 7 kids I benefited from this effect). When my parents and I dropped two of my siblings off at Dartmouth in the fall, we grew a tradition of stopping in to a nearby steakhouse on the way home -- because my dad loved steak and my mom loved classic cheesecake with strawberries.

Now, the part about my mom and the cheesecake is actually a little unusual because Koreans tend away from rich desserts, usually opting for fruit. But I think cheesecake -- especially classic cheesecake with strawberries -- was a real Western novelty and delight to my mom. I still smile when I think of my mom's face lighting up over this treat. We endured so many hardships that it was all kinds of wonderful that a small thing like cheesecake could elevate her mood. Not surprisingly, every single time I eat cheesecake, I think of my mom.

My life as a parent is very different -- we don’t have seven children and we’re comfortable financially, so going out to eat (or ordering in) is pretty much a weekly occurrence. We recently dined at The Cheesecake Factory, and while a menu that size generally induces paralysis for me (I’m definitely better with less options!), it was easy to order a range of options that satisfied everyone (including our vegetarian + picky toddler...ahem). And though I was totally stuffed after sampling the calamari (Jon’s favorite), fried macaroni and cheese (Laurel’s favorite), and spicy ahi tempura roll (my favorite) appetizers (not to mention my herb crusted salmon salad entree), at the end of the meal I couldn’t resist ordering my mom’s favorite -- classic cheesecake with strawberries (and Laurel ordered the ultimate red velvet).

These treats didn't disappoint, and -- probably not surprisingly given the above -- as I ate, I was overwhelmed by a wave of nostalgia for my mom. So we ordered cheesecake with strawberries to go and dropped it off at my mom’s house afterwards.

+ + + + +

Now, whether or not you have emotional ties to cheesecake, you can join in the celebration of National Cheesecake Day with The Cheesecake Factory! Here are two ways:

1. The Cheesecake Factory wants to keep the National Cheesecake Day party going across two days, so on July 30 + 31 you can visit The Cheesecake Factory and enjoy half-priced cheesecake when you dine in. Yum. There are lots of flavors so this will be the perfect time to sample!
2. On July 30 + 31 submit a selfie with your favorite slice of cheesecake by pre-registering here then sharing your cheesecake selfie using the hashtag #SayCheesecakeContest on Instagram or Twitter, or via the #SayCheesecakeContest tab on The Cheescake Factory Facebook page. Registered participants will be eligible for a $4,000 cash prize (whoa!) or $100 gift cards.

Image credits: 1 + 2 by Christine Koh; 3 via The Cheesecake Factory.

Disclosure: This blog post is part of a paid SocialMoms and The Cheesecake Factory blogging program. The opinions, ideas, and storytelling expressed here are -- of course -- my own.

Happy Monday everyone, I hope you had a great weekend! We enjoyed a wonderful week on the Cape with family, and man, it was tough getting the troops up and out the door this morning! Today (apparently aided by the rain) I'll be in catch up mode, trying to shake the beach brain. To kick things off, if you're looking for things to do, here's an amazing roundup of events for the week, including lots of great freebies. Enjoy!

July 28: Mondays are the perfect day to get messy. (Boston)

July 28 + 29: Explore the shore family tour. (Chappaquiddick)

July 29: Zombie science. (Acton)

July 29: Spend your lunch hour with Berklee College of Music. (Boston)

July 29: Meet Roast Beef the penguin! (Boston)

July 29: Learn about and enjoy cultural dance with Inkas Wasi. (Cambridge)

July 29: Downtown dancing with Greg Coles. (Ipswich)

July 29: Never learned to ride a bike? Now’s your chance. (Roxbury)

July 29 + 31: Performance by Berklee musician Luke Niccoli. (Boston)

July 29 + 30: Circus Smirkus performs Anchors Away for Atlantis. (Northampton)

July 29 + 30: The Recycle Shop is popping up for one week only. (Boston)

July 29 - August 10: Free performances of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. (Boston)

July 30: The Landmarks Orchestra presents the Longwood Symphony. (Boston)

July 30: Take me out to the ballgame...er...museum. (Boston)

July 30: Creatures of the night family hike that promises not to be creepy. (Chappaquiddick)

July 30: From field to farm mid-summer crop dinner. (Concord)

July 30: Outdoor story hour. (Hingham)

July 30: Learn about blueberries at Smolak Farms. (North Andover)

July 30: Free concert - Cheap Voova. (Plymouth)

July 30: A day at Peabody Essex just for the kiddos. (Salem)

July 30 + 31: Chatham Arts and Crafts Show. (Chatham)

July 30 - August 2: Puppet show version of The Jungle Book. (Brookline) 

July 31: Spend an afternoon in the beautiful Children’s Garden. (Beverly)

July 31: Move your feet to Cuban jazz and dance music. (Boston)

July 31: Flying turtles and talking bears animal adventure tales. (Cambridge)

July 31: Summer concert with the Love Dogs. (Harvard)

July 31: Thursday night picnic concert with Grupo Fantasia. (Ipswich)

July 31: Family picnic on Long Point. (Martha’s Vineyard)

July 31: Free Movies at the Mansion: Some Like it Hot. (Waltham)

August 1: Free Friday Flicks at the Hatch Shell: Men In Black 3. (Boston)

August 1: Free admission to Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. (Boston)

August 1: Free admission to Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. (Boston)

August 1: Free admission to American Textile History Museum. (Lowell)

August 1: Free admission to The Discovery Museums. (Acton)

August 1: Free admission to Hancock Shaker Village. (Pittsfield)

August 1: Free admission to Concord Museum. (Concord)

August 1: Free admission to Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. (Great Barrington)

August 1: Swing by the pop up oyster bar. (Boston)

August 1: Celebrate the opening of the new exhibit, MySky. (Boston)

August 1: Ahoy! Pirates are welcome to drop in and visit the museum today. (Easton)

August 1: Happy hour yoga in the park. (South Boston)

August 1 + 2: Circus Smirkus performs Anchors Away for Atlantis. (Newbury)

August 1 - 8: Free jazz performances from the New England Conservatory. (Boston)

Image credit: Boston Children's Museum

Happy Friday! You probably already know this if you follow me on Instagram, but I've been on the Cape this week and it has been wonderful. I'm grateful to Kris-Ann for helping me produce such wonderful editorial this week and can't believe my vacation is coming to an end! (Other than launching and sharing editorial, I've been super lazy -- it's been awesome!) Before I prepare to leave the Cape, here's a great roundup of 28 weekend events. Enjoy!

1. The Barnstable County Fair. (Barnstable)

2. Free family film festival presents Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs Evil. (Boston)

3. Animal enrichment day at the zoo. (Boston)

4. Harvard University Summer Pops concert. (Boston)

5. The Recycle Shop is popping up for one week only. (Boston)

6. Get the facts about sun safety. (Boston)

7.  A entire weekend dedicated to the arts. (Boston)

8. A summer playdate at the ICA. (Boston)

9. Berklee Music Fest. (Boston)

10. Kids cruise free on the Spirit of Boston. (Boston)

11. Hooray for junk! (Boston)

12. Kids can test out their improv skills with Duck That. (Boston)

13. Free performances of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. (Boston)

14. The Pirate, the Princess and the Pea puppet show. (Brookline)

15. Regattabar Kids’ Summer Music Series presents Tim Kubart. (Cambridge)

16. Enjoy some Sunday Parkland Games. (Cambridge)

17. The perfect weekend for all your future train conductors. (Carver)

18. Free Music at the Manse. (Concord)

19. Eastham summer arts and crafts show. (Eastham)

20. Great lineup at the Upper Valley Music Festival. (Greenfield)

21. Celebrate ye olde Ispwich. (Ipswich)

22. Brush up on your Gatsby and go back in time to the Roaring 20’s. (Ipswich)

23. Art, nature and poetry celebration. (Lincoln)

24. Hop aboard the Yankee Clipper for a Saturday morning beach creatures cruise. (Newburyport)

25. Enjoy the Handmade Arts Market. (Somerville)

26. Art in the Park: the art of pastels. (Somerville)

27. Wave your jazz hands for free dance classes. (Somerville)

28. Circus Smirkus performs Anchors Away for Atlantis. (Waltham)

Image credit: Zoo New England

Happy Monday everyone, I hope you had a great weekend! We enjoyed a lovely one and I've been reveling in the fact that this summer has been so different and wonderful for Laurel regarding camps and things. I hope to find the space to write more on that soon. Meanwhile, welcome to a new week and another packed edition of the Weekly Blueprint (including lots of free picks!). Enjoy and share with your friends!

July 21: Design and construct a junkyard croquet course. (Acton)

July 21: Everything you always wanted to know about lightning. (Edgartown)

July 21 - 23: Circus Smirkus performs Anchors Away for Atlantis. (East Sandwich)

July 21 - 27: The Barnstable County Fair. (Barnstable)

July 22: Performance by Berklee musicians The Bonobros Trio. (Boston)

July 22: Free music on the river with Bron Don. (Ipswich)

July 22 + 23: Orleans Summer Arts and Crafts Show. (Orleans)

July 23: The Landmark Orchestra presents Fiesta Sinfonica. (Boston)

July 23: It’s time to play in the park. (Lincoln)

July 23: How to fit fitness into your busy family. (via the internet!)

July 23: Animal friends at Smolak Farms. (North Andover)

July 23: Free concert - Steve Smith & the Nakeds. (Plymouth)

July 23 - 26: The Pirate, the Princess and the Pea puppet show. (Brookline)

July 23 - August 10: Opening week for free performances of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. (Boston)

July 24: Performance by Berklee musicians HartBeat. (Boston)

July 24: Jam to the eclectic soul sounds of LowTone Society. (Boston)

July 24: Sunset clambake on Spectacle Island. (Boston)

July 24: Petting zoo drop-in day. (Easton)

July 24: Thursday night picnic concert with The Fools. (Ipswich)

July 24: Children’s tour of the farm. (Lexington)

July 24: Use your voice to help create a Hackerspace after-school program. (Somerville)

July 24: Free Movies at the Mansion: Little Shop of Horrors. (Waltham)

July 24: A baby gearapalooza. (Wellesley)

July 24 - 30: The Recycle Shop is popping up for one week only. (Boston)

July 25: Free admission to The Discovery Museums. (Acton)

July 25: Free admission to The Freedom Trail Foundation. (Boston)

July 25: Free admission to Battleship Cove. (Fall River)

July 25: Free admission to Children’s Museum in Easton. (North Easton)

July 25: Free admission to Tower Hill Botanic Garden. (Boylston)

July 25: Free admission to Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. (Boston)

July 25: Free admission to Cape Cod Museum of Art. (Dennis)

July 25: Free admission to Danforth Art. (Framingham)

July 25: Free Friday Flicks at the Hatch Shell: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2. (Boston)

July 25: KidsJam family dance party. (Boston)

July 25: Happy birthday Beatrix Potter. (Cambridge)

July 25: A summer evening stargazing party. (Sharon)

July 25: Bubble, bubble...pop! (Worcester)

July 25 - 27: Circus Smirkus performs Anchors Away for Atlantis. (Waltham)

Image credit: Puppet Showplace

Happy Friday everyone, I hope you're having a great week! I'm not sure what's going on, but I've been vascillating between feeling totally awesome and totally crappy all week long -- and from what I hear from others I'm not alone! I'm hoping to recalibrate this weekend, and if you're looking for something to do, there are 31 events to consider in this weekend's roundup. Let's all make this weekend fantastic, shall we? Enjoy!

1. Magic show with Rupayan Neogy. (Acton)

2. Free family film festival presents The Smurfs 2. (Boston)

3. FAME JR. THE MUSICAL. (Boston)

4. Get your DIY on with Splendid. (Boston)

5. Make your own ice cream sandwiches and join the ice cream social. (Boston)

6. A special bike ride just for moms and kids. (Boston)

7. Kids cruise free on the Spirit of Boston. (Boston)

8. Interactive event featuring screenings of the new make-along, create-along Amazon Original Series, Creative Galaxy. (Boston)

9. Put your engineering skills to use and build your own boat. (Boston)

10. Family jam with Karen K and the Jitterbugs. (Boston)

11. Relax on the porch of Spectacle Island and listen to the jazz of Berklee College of Music. (Boston)

12. The Great Red Ball Rescue puppet show. (Brookline)

13. Enjoy some Sunday Parkland Games. (Cambridge)

14. Regattabar Kids’ Summer Music Series presents Alastair Moock. (Cambridge)

15. Calling all superheroes and princesses. (Carver)

16. Chatham mid-summer craft show. (Chatham)

17. Blueberry pancake breakfast and pie eating contest. (Concord)

18. Music at the Manse. (Concord)

19. Civil war themed Bryant Day celebration. (Cummington)

20. Visit the MAKEmobile traveling creative and tactile experience cart. (Lincoln)

21. Family canoe trips on the Charles. (Medfield/Dover)

22. Board the Captain’s Lady III for a family whale watch. (Newburyport)

23. Bust out your bagpipes and head over to the Scottish Festival. (Northampton)

24. A most beautiful pick your own opportunity. (North Andover)

25. Check out the creations at the National Sand Sculpting Festival. (Revere)

26. Get hands on in the art gallery. (Salem)

27. Read about, investigate real clouds and create fanciful fabric art of your own.  (Salem)

28. Enjoy the Handmade Arts Market. (Somerville)

29. Art in the Park: the art of pastels. (Somerville)

30. Family campout along the river. (Topsfield)

31. Learn all about birds of prey. (Worcester)

Image credit: Revere Beach

Last weekend I had the lovely opportunity to visit the Sea Crest Beach Hotel in Falmouth on a media visit. I took Laurel and Vi on my own since Jon was working all weekend and despite missing him, it was a fantastic visit! And totally doable parenting solo due to various amenities. In a nutshell, I think Sea Crest is utterly perfect for families, but here are 12 specific reasons why I recommend you consider visiting.

1. Location. One of the great things about the Upper Cape is that that it means less driving, coming from the city. Located in Falmouth, Sea Crest is about 1 hour, 15 minutes from both Boston and Providence, RI.  

2. Beach proximity. Sea Crest’s positioning right on Old Silver Beach is part of what makes the experience so amazing and also convenient for parents. Even though I toted a well-stocked bag with me, I had to head back to the room with one or both girls many, many times (potty! milk cup! change of clothes! etc!). It was great that our room was mere steps away.

3. Room options. The hotel offers a variety of accommodations, including several types of guest rooms (I highly recommend ocean front) + they have a 3 bedroom cottage, which would be great for larger parties. I also asked about adjoining rooms (early on Jon and I discovered the beauty of this when traveling with Laurel), and they do have some available in case you need a larger setup and the cottage isn’t available. Of note, though the hotel has 264 rooms, the rooms are spread out over eight 1-2 floor buildings so it doesn't feel monstrous at all. All rooms come with standard amenities, including a mini-fridge, which is perfect if you need to tote allergy-friendly foods as I do.

4. Beach-side service. I’m not going to lie, I'm a person who really, really appreciates convenience and a helping hand, especially when I’m traveling alone with my kids. Sea Crest has chair, umbrella, and towel service and you can basically set up camp for the day -- just leave a few non-valuable personal effects on your chairs and staff and other guests know not to flip your space. Also, later in the afternoon when my sister and her family arrived to hang out, we enjoyed a beach cocktail via the roaming server; the berry mojitos were divine!

5. Pools. Need a break from cleaning up sandy feet? Outdoor plans blown by a rainy day? The property has both indoor and outdoor saline pools.

6. Family friendly (+ grown up) dining options. Sea Crest offers a range of dining options. On a return visit, I’d love to try Shutters (the fancier restaurant) with Jon, but alone with the kids, the buffet breakfasts at the Ocean View Room were perfect. There were lots of cold and hot options, including waffle and omelette stations (Laurel LOVED the waffles). It was perfect for getting a range of food quickly. We also dined twice at Red’s Restaurant (which also has a poolside bar and takeout window if you want to tote lunch to the beach) and I was very happy with the food there. I’d say the only thing I wished were different was that the kids menu items came with a little fruit or vegetable on the side. There’s also a cafe with Starbucks. Mmm...Starbucks. Also of note, despite the size of the property and the fact that it's peak season we never had to wait for a table. They clearly have the dining mechanics down.

7. Ice cream. Yes, this deserves its own bullet. Right near the pool, Sea Crest has its own little ice cream/snack store. I recall there were about 8 flavor options and along with my sister's family we collectively tried almost all of them. Totally delicious.

8. Fitness options. My main fitness activity was giving Vi uppies across the sand (no small feat), but Sea Crest has a fitness center, beach volleyball, bike rentals, water sports, and a yoga/Pilates room (when I got there I learned that my sister teaches yoga there on Wednesdays...CRAZY!). There’s also plenty of golf to be had nearby. I'd love to go back with Jon with us so we could do some paddle boarding (I couldn't negotiate this alone with Laurel and Violet).

9. Activities for kids. In addition to a tween room and arcade, there’s regular programming through the day for kids (field day, parachute games, arts and crafts, etc.), including outdoor movies on a mega screen in the beautiful courtyard.

10. Service in general. Top to bottom, the service at Sea Crest was wonderful -- friendly and helpful, though not overbearing at all.

11. All inclusive-ness of the property. Though I always love exploring when we travel, given that we were only in Falmouth for about 36 hours and given that I was solo with the girls, I loved that the hotel had everything we needed. We were having so much fun that we never even left the property!

12. Off-property attractions. The flip side to #11 is that Sea Crest is close to lots of great local attractions. On a longer visit, I'd love to support the rest of the local economy! Last summer we spent an afternoon in Woods Hole and I'd love to get in some more time there.

In summary, the Sea Crest Beach Hotel is wonderful -- it's a fantastic destination for families, and they also have meeting and event spaces (I'm fantasizing about hosting a conference there and Laurel was so excited to spot a bride on Saturday!). I’m eager to return and am already thinking about booking a trip before the end of the summer or in the fall). I recommend you consider visiting soon!

Disclosure: my accommodations and some meals were provided per my media visit; all opinions on the awesomeness of the property are, of course, my own.

Image credits: Christine Koh