The expansive pool and helpful concierge were property highlights

We recently traveled down to Aruba to visit the new Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort and were immediately impressed by its welcoming hospitality, spacious rooms, and sprawling, beautiful pool. The sun in November didn’t disappoint either.

Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort opened in February 2023, and its location on J.E. Irausquin Blvd makes for a central location to everything the island has to offer. The property finds itself just south of the main strip in Noord, and at the top of Eagle Beach, which means you’re off the main stretch just enough to enjoy some proper R&R.

Embassy Suites Aruba

Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort has everything you need to make for a fun, relaxing, and delicious on-site-only vacation. The free-of-charge breakfast, which includes a continental and hot selection, fuels you up for a full day of adventure. For lunch, there’s drink and food service provided poolside or you can pop out of the water to enjoy a seated meal at the Splash Pool Bar. The food was good all around at the property—and we especially enjoyed the ceviche and fish tacos at Splash Pool Bar.

Embassy Suites Aruba

For happy hour, the property kindly provides two free drinks daily to all guests. If you’re there for 5 days, yes, you’ll receive 10 drinks per guest for free. The adults can enjoy a glass of wine or beer, and those under 18 can happily sip on juice or soda. At happy hour, Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort also provides its guests with some chips and crudité type snacks to nibble, which makes for a nice communal moment with other guests.

Speaking of other guests, several of the other families we met had been returning to Aruba as their #1 island of choice in the Caribbean for 10+ years. All of these Aruban regulars said they were happy with their choice to try the new Embassy Suites and considered it a great alternative to more expensive properties like Marriott’s Aruba Surf Club.

It’s worth noting that the beach at Embassy Suites is small, and it’s really the pool that’s the main attraction. There’s a trafficked street between the hotel and the beach, but the beach is accessible with the underground walking tunnel built by Embassy Suites to allow its guests to get from room to sand safely. The tunnel is a huge win for those traveling with strollers or wheelchairs.

Embassy Suites Aruba Eagle beach

If you want to spend your vacation on the beach, rest assured the famed Eagle Beach is only a 5-minute car ride from the property. Eagle Beach is often written up as one of the best beaches in the Caribbean, and we are confirming it’s worth taking the $15 roundtrip taxi fare from Embassy Suites to enjoy it.

The concierge at Embassy Suites was also a highlight. They helped us book dinner reservations off-property, organize cab rides, and most notably, a ½-day island tour, which was a trip highlight. On the island tour, our favorite stops were visiting an Ostrich Farm and enjoying art murals. On our ½-day tour, we enjoyed observing a landscape in Aruba that’s much different than other Caribbean islands outside of “the ABCs”. It’s more desert than tropical, with sprawling fields of cacti.

We understand why families return to Aruba year after year for sun, hospitality, and good times. We expect Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort to become a mainstay for traveling families. For price, service, location, and a beautiful pool, it’s a slam dunk in Aruba for families, especially those traveling from anywhere on the East Coast.

Make sure to capture all the vacation fun—and share them with your family and friends near and far—with the Tinybeans app. The secure platform puts parents in total control of who sees and interacts with photos and videos of their kids.

Editor’s note: This trip was paid for by Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort but all opinions belong to the writer.

Christmas might be over, but the gifts are still coming from Starbucks. Now through the end of the year, you can celebrate the end of the year at Starbucks Pop-Up Parties.

Starbucks will be hosting over 1,000 Pop-Up Parties at select locations nationwide between Dec. 27 and Dec. 31. Each day the Pop-Ups will appear at 200 new Starbucks stores across the country from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Guests visiting the select locations during those hours will be treated to a free tall handcrafted espresso beverage of their choice, hot or iced, including Peppermint Mochas, Iced Toasted White Chocolate Mochas, lattes, macchiatos and more (one per customer).

To find out if a Pop-Up Party is happening at a Starbucks near you, check out the party website StarbucksPopUp.com. The locations change daily so be sure to check back each day if you don’t see your local Starbucks listed.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Courtesy of Starbucks

 

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Back in ye olde days, tired moms and dads used to have to settle for a cup of Folgers while the kids screeched through the back yard. That’s still an option—we wouldn’t recommend the instant java, though—but when the day calls for getting out of the house, go beyond the Starbucks and Top Pot locations and try one of these, our favorite Eastside coffee shops. From north to south, these spots cater to the kiddies as well as the paying adult.

photo: Yelp user Booyeah B.

Issaquah Coffee Company
Stumptown beans and great customer service make this coffeehouse a darling among Eastside locals; regulars especially love the Tiger Mountain mocha and Cougar Mountain latte. If you and your hungry monkey are looking for a snack, there are plenty of fresh-baked goods, some of which are gluten-free. A train table in the window-lit corner provides entertainment for toddlers while guardians gab or relax. Looking to fill the whole morning? Take a wander through the charmingly country Gilman Village and try your hand at pottery painting or sign the kids up for a class at The Musik Nest.

Beyond the Joe: Issaquah Coffee Company no longer serves gelato like they used to, but try a Creamsicle smoothie for a warm-weather treat.

317 N.W. Gilman Blvd #46 (in Gilman Village)
Issaquah, Wa 98027
425-677-7118
Online: issaquahcoffee.com or on Facebook
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 6 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat., 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

photo: SoulFood CoffeeHouse and Fair Trade Emporium Facebook page

SoulFood CoffeeHouse
Sure, SoulFood smells like patchouli and, if your kids are anything like ours, they may have a hard time keeping their hands off the incense candles and dreamcatchers. But despite its eclectic décor, this Redmond space is actually very kid friendly. The beverage menu borders on absurd: there are more than 50 different tea, coffee (the Karamel Sutra is particularly good), and caffeine-free drinks available, and a dozen of those are designed for kids. Take your order to one of the tables that edge the modest kids’ space in the front corner—bins of toys, a train set, plenty of books—and leave time for a trip to the spectacular toy store next door.

Beyond the Joe: Don’t be fooled by the SoulFood name, though; there aren’t many food options, and what is available is serviceable but not extraordinary.

15748 Redmond Way
Redmond, WA 98052
425-881-5309
Online: soulfoodcoffeehouse.com or on Facebook
Hours: Mon.-Tue., 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Wed.-Thu., 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri., 7:30 a.m.- 10 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

photo: Village Bean Facebook page

The Village Bean
Bothell’s Country Village is a trip—a small-town shopping center straight out of the Midwest decades ago. There’s a train ride for kids, plentiful lawn space, frilly-footed chickens wandering about and Village Bean, where the espresso drinks and full food menu play second fiddle to the clean, expansive activity room. Three bucks buys entry, but it’s a small price to pay for access to a wooden play house, play kitchen, train table, magnetic wall, ball-and-pipe maze, and enough seating for possibly thirty. There’s also a magazine rack full of periodicals to luxuriate in while your littles are amusing themselves.

Beyond the Joe: Try the raspberry lemonade, a house specialty.

720 238th St. SE, #A (in Country Village)
Bothell, WA 98021
425-481-7900
Online: thevillagebeanbothell.com and on Facebook
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

photo: Chelsea Lin

Third Place Commons
OK, it’s not quite the Eastside, but this place is so awesome we think it’s worthy of a mention (and you can stop by from Seattle on your way around the lake). Fans of Third Place Books’ Ravenna location will recognize some similarities here in Lake Forest Park: the low-walled, enclosed play space stocked with miscellaneous toys and ringed with chairs for parents to sip coffee and work on laptops without taking their eyes off their energetic kiddos. But the Commons area of the Lake Forest Park location includes not only a full-scale Honey Bear Bakery (with drinks, savory lunch items, and baked sweets galore), but also a barbecue joint and a Japanese one as well. There’s a stage, a giant chessboard and an active calendar of community events. Don’t miss a visit to the old-school photo booth for a nostalgic snap with your little love.

Beyond the Joe: Honey Bear makes some adorably delectable goods, but you’ll definitely want to opt for the chocolate cupcake frosted to look like a bear face.

17171 Bothell Way N.E.
Lake Forest Park, WA 98155
206-366-3333
Online: thirdplacecommons.org or on Facebook
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sat., 8 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun., 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

photo: Franky and Dom’s website

Franky and Dom’s
This petite bistro doesn’t have a fancy play area or even a ton of tables—the few outside are the best bet for rambunctious little ones—but they do have one thing kids of all ages adore: candy. The shelves of vintage-era candy is the first thing tiny hands go for; adults tend to prefer the Italian coffee, French pastries and daily changing homemade soups. While Franky and Dom’s may not be big enough for a play area, they insist some of their favorite customers are the kids—something we always see as a good sign.

Beyond the Joe: Complete your European experience with a Belgian waffle, not the sort from your local diner, but the chewy, sweet true street food style.

7420 S.E. 24th St., Suite 3
Mercer Island, WA
206-232-3221
Online: frankyanddoms.com or on Facebook
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

We love hearing about new places. Are we missing any of your favorite Eastside hangouts? Spill the (coffee) beans in the Comments below!

—Chelsea Lin

Times might be tough for your wallet but that doesn’t mean your date night needs to suffer too! After all, you’ve made the effort to get out of the house and that babysitter is getting paid,  so go enjoy a parents night out at one of these fine picks  for cheap (or even free!) drinks around San Francisco.

1. Burritt Room First Anniversary: The Burritt Room, a former speakeasy and current craft cocktail purveyor located inside the Crescent Hotel, turned one year old this month. …read more

2. Bottomless Sangria at Ki: The former Prana space inside Temple nightclub has transformed into Ki, a sustainable sushi bar with an atmosphere that’s akin to Blade Runner gone Technicolor. To lure post-work happy hour fans, they’re offering $15 bottomless shoju sangria, accompanied by omakase-inspired small bites. Drink a couple of glasses, and be prepared to be mesmerized by the chameleon-like walls. (Tuesday-Friday, 4:00 – 7:00 pm, at Ki, 540 Howard St., SOMA.)

3. Pizza Nostra Happy Hour: Pizza Nostra, a neighborhood Italian spot in Potrero Hill, is expanding its reach with its first-ever happy hour. On offer: $5 glasses of wine, $3 beers, and $2.50 slices of pizza margherita, along with a selection of $6-7 appetizers. Can’t make the early hour? Keep tabs on their Facebook feed, where they occasionally offer free wine or mimosas to customers on select evenings. (Tuesday-Thursday, 5:00 – 6:00 pm, at Pizza Nostra, 300 De Haro St., Potrero Hill.)

4. Friday-Night Happy Hour at EAT: In its new incarnation as a rotating pop-up space for restaurants, The Corner is offering some irresistible happy hours. EAT Restaurant has the Friday shift, luring weekend revelers with two-for-one Peroni and Kingfisher, two Chimays for $10, and glasses of wine for $5-7. The menu changes weekly, so check their website before visiting to see if any of the dinner options catch your eye. (Fridays, 5:30 – 7:00 pm, at The Corner, 2199 Mission St., Mission.)

5. Happy Hour at Nombe: Late-night drinkers in the Mission, heads up: if you’re looking for a place to snack after a bar crawl, or to continue said crawl, Nombe’s got your back. Their new late-night happy hour features $3 Sapporo drafts, as well as $5 chicken wings and other snacks to offset some of your evening’s sins. Not a late-night partier? The restaurant offers the same specials at a more normal happy-hour interval during the week. (Friday-Saturday, 10:00 pm – 1:00 am; Sunday-Thursday, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, at Nombe, 2491 Mission St., Mission.)

By Allie Pape

This is our weekly guest post from our friends at 7×7, a site that keeps you up on the best of SF. We’ve teamed up for an exciting partnership to bring you a fantastic Date Night idea each week. Be sure to check out their blog for hourly doses of the best of SF.