1,000 Free Vacations to Military Families

In honor of Veteran’s Day, Westgate Resorts is honoring U.S. military personnel who have and continue to serve our country by giving away 1,000 free vacations to those military members and their families at the company’s most recently renovated property, Westgate River Ranch Resort, a Florida-cowboy themed destination resort and the largest dude ranch east of the Mississippi.  This is the fourth year in a row that Westgate has honored our nation’s heroes with free vacations, and this current offer will bring the total to over 3,500 military families served by this program.

Eligible service members may call in to receive a complimentary three day, two night vacation during the week (Sunday through Thursday) at the Westgate River Ranch Resort located just one hour south of Orlando and one hour west of Tampa. 

To be eligible, military must have served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and/or The War on Terror. (Service dates of 9/11/2001 through today).

• Other past U.S. military members are eligible for the ranch’s military rate, which offers a savings of 25 percent on room rates.  

• The first 1,000 eligible military members who call will receive the complimentary stay.  The offer is only available by phone by calling 1-800-887-9312.

About Westgate River Ranch

Rooted in the history of the nation’s first cowboys, Westgate River Ranch lies on 1,700 lush acres in the heart of Florida’s cattle lands and is surrounded by approximately 400,000 acres of state and federally protected wetlands. The ranch offers Florida cowboy-themed accommodations, ranging from campgrounds to Glamping (glamorous camping); tents to two-bedroom cabins.  Westgate River Ranch boasts a multitude of recreational activities, including horseback riding, swimming, golf, a petting farm, nature hikes, trap and skeet shooting, mechanical bull, hayrides, cookouts and a full-service marina complete with boating, and fishing, and airboat and swamp buggy rides. Westgate River Ranch also features a 5,000-foot paved and lighted runway, award-winning Smokehouse Grill, River Ranch Saloon and the longest-running Saturday night championship rodeo in the United States, featuring trick riding, bull riding, calf roping and barrel racing at a 1,200-seat rodeo arena. A herd of grazing buffalo and Watusi cattle (known for their long, distinctive horns) makes its home at Westgate River Ranch. 

*Terms & Conditions: Offer valid as of November 8, 2013, at 9am EST. Offer available by phone ONLY. Valid Sundays – Thursdays ONLY. Based on availability. A credit card is required to book the reservation. Credit card will not be charged. Only ONE reservation per family. Offer valid for the first 1,000 reservations. Must travel before October 31, 2014. Free Room Type for Westgate River Ranch: Lodge Suite, Lodge Guest Room, Deluxe Lodge Suite and Glamping Tent Only. No Resort Preview Required. Not valid for Westgate employees. Upgrades are available for a minimal fee. Additional night(s) will receive 10% off of “Best Available Rate”. Blackout dates: Nov 18, 2013, Dec 5, 2013, Dec 25-26, 2013, Dec 31, 2013 – Jan 1, 2014, Feb 11-12, 2014, Mar 9-11, 2014, May 25-26, 2014, Oct 6-19, 2014. Other blackout dates may apply.

2013 Veteran's Day Freebies and Discounts

Veteran’s Day is a great time to get a free meal because lots of restaurants offer freebies to active duty and retirees. 

We usually go over to McCormick and Schmick’s because they have a free meal for vets and a special menu that the rest of the family can order off of. This reduces the cost of eating there, making it affordable for a military family. Unfortunately this year we won’t be going to McCormick and Schmick’s because my husband is on alert that day. Oh well. I must say though, now that Abuelo's is participating we would probably go there instead. It's my most favorite restaurant.

For all of you that can go out grab the freebies here’s a list. Keep in mind that restaurant chains advise calling ahead to specific locations, because not all franchises honor the specials offered by their parent organizations.

FREE FOOD

Abuelo's Mexican Food -- Offers vary by region. (I highly recommend checking into this, because their food is awesome.)

Applebees -- All veterans and active-duty military eat free from a limited menu on Veterans Day.

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurants -- Special offers for vets on Veterans Day.

Chili's -- Veterans and service members can dine for free from a special six-item menu on Veterans Day.

Golden Corral -- Military Appreciation Monday includes a free dinner, Nov. 11, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for military retirees, veterans, and current service members.

Famous Dave's -- Offers for free or discounted meals on Veterans Day vary by location.

Hooters -- All veterans and service members get 10 free wings with the purchase of a drink.

Krispy Kreme -- A free donut is available for all service members, retirees and veterans.

McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants -- participating McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants are offering a complimentary entree to vets from a special menu on a space-available basis. Online reservations are highly recommended.

Outback Steakhouse -- Outback will offer veterans and military a free Bloomin' Onion and beverage

Olive Garden – A free entrée for active duty members and veterans.

Subway Restaurants -- Free six-inch sub or flatbread available to military vets on Veterans Day.

Texas Roadhouse -- Free meals available to veterans from opening until 4 p.m. on Veterans Day.

T.G.I. Friday's -- Veterans and service members can buy one meal and get another free.

UNO Chicago Grill -- UNO is offering a 19.43 percent discount on food and non-alcoholic beverage beverages to vets and military. The chain explains that 1943 was the year UNO invented the deep dish pizza.

VETERANS DAY RETAIL DEALS

Amazon.com -- A free downloadable MP3 album includes 12 songs performed by Military bands and ensembles from now through Veterans Day.

Build-a-Bear Workshop -- Members of the armed services, including the Coast Guard and ROTC, receive a 20 percent discount on any one transaction at the workshop.

Cabela's Outdoor Store -- Employee discounts are being offered to all veterans, active-duty military and reserve-component troops, along with law-enforcement, fire and emergency-management personnel. Discounts vary from 5 percent to 50 percent, depending on item.

The Dollar General -- Veterans, service members and their immediate families can receive a 10-percent discount with a Veterans Day coupon.

Fashion Bug -- Offering 20 percent off all plus-size and misses clothing purchases with a copy of military ID or spouse's military ID.

Home Depot -- Offers a 10 percent discount to all veterans on Veterans Day.

Home Depot offers a 10 percent discount year-round to active duty military and retirees.

Lowe's -- All veterans receive the 10 percent discount for purchases of up to $5,000. A 10 percent discount is available year-round to active-duty military and retirees.

Seven-Eleven -- On Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., veterans can get a free small Slurpee.

Sports Clips Haircuts -- Offering free haircuts to active-military and veterans.

Free Admission

Oregon Zoo in Portland, OR is offering free admission on Veteran's day to active military.

Cinnamon's Restaurant - Best Breakfast in Oahu

Are you ready to have a breakfast that will blow your flip flops off?

Cinnamon's Restaurant on the island of Oahu is one of the best breakfast restaurants I've ever been to. It's located in Kailua and I think it's worth the drive up there! They offer 15% off to military personal Monday - Friday with the coupon on their website.
We started our meal with a cup of coffee. Cinnamon's has their own special coffee blend made from Hawaiian coffee farms; 25% Kona and 25% Kaua'i. They also have coconut syrup! I'll admit I poured some of that coconut syrup in my coffee and it was delicious.
Their Crab Cake eggs Benedict with spinach and tomato were beyond good.

If you don't think you can eat that much food you do have the option of only getting one egg benedict instead of two.
Their red velvet pancakes are so good, you have to order them. Even if your eating something else, get them on the side.
The Guava pancakes are just as good as the red velvet. I would not be able to make a choice between the two. Next time we go I think we will be eating nothing but pancakes.
This is the frittata with artichokes, olives, and onions. It was good, but compared to the pancakes......
The same could be said for their omelettes, they're good, but not compared to the pancakes!

315 Uluniu Street
Kailua, Hawaii 96734
Phone: (808) 261-8724
Fax: (808) 262-9910

Cinnamon's is located in Kailua Square, in the Northeast corner of the city’s municipal parking lot, off Kuulei Rd and Aulike St.

Breakfast: 7:00AM – 2:00PM
Lunch: 11:00AM – 2:00PM

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I was standing inside our cabin when I took this photo.

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Our accommodations were not glamorous, but they were good enough. The family rooms are on the 4th floor of the hotel, which makes it tough because there is no elevator. We stayed in a family room that had six beds and an ac window unit. The bathrooms and showers were shared.

Rates were based on beds used and rank. I was traveling with out my husband and they kids and I were able to stay there without him.

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We didn't not use their recommended parking garage. Instead I used Icon parking and used a groupon. I highly recommend checking out NYC Daily Deals for parking specials.


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 The top balcony on the corner in this picture was ours.

 The adult only pool.  We never got to actually enjoy this pool, but it looked very nice.

 View from our room.

 Part of one of the big pools.

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