Hawaii Mom Blog

July 9, 2026

Cino

by Hawaii Mom Blog

I met some friends for dinner at Cino at Ward Village, and we ended up ordering to eat everything family-style.

Salt Roasted Baby Beet

The beets were refreshing, and I enjoyed the accompanying goat cheese, aged balsamic, mac nuts, and charred oranges, all of which added flavor and textural dimensions to the dish.

Fritto Misto

I enjoyed the Fritto Misto, which included calamari, shrimp, and various veggies.

Herb Pappardelle

The Pappardelle was my favorite dish of the night. The braised short rib was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The pasta (all pastas are housemade), was perfectly cooked.

Pork Chop

The Pork Chop was another hit of the table.

King Crab Pasta

The King Crab Pasta, with uni, turned out to be the least favorite of the night.

Cino Pinwheel

At $77, we were curious as to what made this award-winning dish, so we decided to give it a try. Made with European butter, ricotta, and truffles, this dish was indeed rich in more ways than one. It was so decadent, and full of umami.

Service was great, and we had a nice time at Cino.

Cino

987 Queen St Ste 100

Honolulu, HI 96814

Visit Anchorage: Moose's Tooth Pub & Pizzeria

by Hawaii Mom Blog

A very popular spot for pizza in Anchorage is Moose's Tooth Pub & Pizzeria.

Caesar

Avalanche

The Avalanche Pizza was topped with pepperoni, blackened chicken, bacon, red onions, parsley, cheddar, mozzarella, provolone, and barbecue sauce.

Classic

The Classic was topped with pepperoni, Italian sausage, mushrooms, mozzarella, provolone, and marinara.

Of the two, I loved the Avalanche more. It was a nice combo of savory, tangy, and sweet (from the barbecue sauce). The crust was charred nicely on both.

It was a very busy spot for pizza!

Moose's Tooth Pub & Pizzeria

3300 Old Seward Hwy

Anchorage, AK 99503

Visit Orlando: Caribe Royale Resort

by Nat

I recently spent five nights at the Royale Caribe in Orlando while attending a conference. Although this wasn't a family vacation, I couldn't help but think how perfect this resort would be for a future trip to Disney World with my family.

One thing that immediately stood out was how spacious the suites are. As you enter the room, you're greeted by a living room with a sofa and seating area, giving everyone a little extra space to spread out instead of heading straight into the bedroom. The suite also includes a mini refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker—amenities that are convenient for travelers (especially families) looking to store snacks, reheat leftovers, or enjoy a quick breakfast before heading out for the day.

The property has a relaxed resort atmosphere with plenty of amenities to keep everyone entertained. One of my favorite conveniences was having a Starbucks right on-site for my morning coffee before conference sessions.

Starbucks at the entrance

I also found myself making several stops at The Market, which offers a great selection of grab-and-go meals, hot sandwiches, snacks, drinks, and desserts.

Their Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookie was AMAZING!

Italian Panini

The pool area is definitely one of the highlights. There's a fun waterslide, hot tubs, and a separate kiddie pool, making it a great place for families with children of all ages.

The two-story fitness center is spacious and well-equipped, and I really enjoyed the 1.5-mile walking and jogging trail around the property (in fact, I started my days with a 3 mile jog every morning). There are also basketball and paddle tennis courts, so there's no shortage of ways to stay active during your stay.

Another major advantage is the location. The resort is conveniently located just minutes from Walt Disney World and offers complimentary shuttle service to and from the Disney parks, making it easy to enjoy the parks without the hassle of driving or paying for parking.

Although I was in Orlando for business, I left thinking this is a resort I'd gladly return to with my family. The spacious suites, in-room amenities, family-friendly recreation, convenient dining options, and close proximity to Disney make Royale Caribe a great choice for both business travelers and vacationing families.