Travel Mamas Guest Blogger Jeanine Barone said, "I have a love affair with islands. No matter where I go in the world, from Shelter Island that’s almost in my backyard, to more far-flung locales - islands conjure up a dreamy melding of adventure, romance and relaxing satisfaction."

I am honored to feature Jeanine's 5 Favorite Islands on Travel Mamas. Her picks just may surprise you!

A travel and food writer, Jeanine Barone is a native New Yorker who travels the world looking for little visited venues. Her articles appear in National Geographic Traveler, Travel + Leisure, the Boston Globe, and a variety of other magazines and newspapers.

Did your favorite isle make the list? Find out now!

I asked some of the best family travel bloggers to tell us about their all-time favorite beach hotels for kids. From where to take a dip with babies and toddlers to the best beach hotel for active families, there’s sure to be something on this list that will appeal to you.

Grab your sunscreen and sand toys - we're headed to the sea in 10 Best Beach Hotels for Kids.

The Crystal Cove Beach Cottages from are pictured above. Photo from their website.

Our stop in Naples, Italy was the most frustrating day of our Disney Mediterranean Cruise. Rather than explore the port town famed for its glorious pizza, we opted to hire a private driver/tour guide to take us to Sorrento and Pompeii. It’s not that these locations were bothersome or not worthy of a visit – quite the opposite, in fact!

From great frustrations, one can learn great lessons. Find out what I learned about how to make the most of your precious vacation days, even when things don’t go exactly as you hoped in Vacation Savoring Lessons Learned in Sorrento & Pompeii.

I left it up to you to decide where my family should go for a Southern California road trip getaway.

With 55% of the votes…we are headed to Santa Monica for a weekend of Old School Amusements & Beachy Fun! Coming in second place was Knott’s Berry Farm with 45% of the votes, for a trip filled with Rides & Waterslides. That means the third choice, Wooly Mammoths & Hollywood in Los Angeles, got exactly zero votes. Was it the bones of creatures stuck in gooey ponds of muck that turned you off?!

For helping me with my bout of indecision, everyone who voted was automatically entered to win two travel games from ThinkFun – Zingo! To Go and Rush Hour or Rush Hour Jr. One lucky winner was selected at random using Random.org. Congratulations to Mia J., who said, “I think Santa Monica sounds the best. You will be able to enjoy each other and the fun and beauty of the beach.” I hope you’re right, Mia!

Please share your Santa Monica site, restaurant, or activity tips!

Looking back on our summertime Puerto Rico trip, all of the delicious food we ate plays a starring role in many of our favorite vacation memories! From traditional Puerto Rican cuisine, to unique candies and refreshing treats- there's something for everyone in the family to enjoy. Check out Family-Friendly Food in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

To be an “authentic” traveler, I guess I’m only supposed to like nature-y, educational, culturally enriching, good-for-you sites. But here’s the thing about water parks…they’re FUN! They induce pure joy for my children, and let’s face it, for me! Read my review of a new Southern California attraction in LEGOLAND Water Park: Joy Is Good, Right?