80 Years Young: A Mother-Daughter Celebration at Ocean Maya Royale | May 2026

Some places become more than a vacation destination. They become part of your story.

For me, Ocean Maya Royale is one of those places.

This spring marked my 27th visit to the resort, but this trip was especially meaningful. My sister Tracy and I traveled to Mexico with our mom to celebrate a milestone birthday—mom's 80th. As an added bonus, our trip also fell over Mother's Day weekend, giving the three of us another reason to celebrate together.

From the moment we arrived, it felt like exactly what we needed: sunshine, relaxation, laughter and uninterrupted time together.

One of the things I love most about traveling with my mom and sister is that we've figured out our rhythm. Every morning started a little differently as each of us followed our own routine.

Tracy was usually up early, heading out for a walk or spending time in the gym before enjoying breakfast on her own. 

I had my own morning tradition. I'd make my way to the bar to visit my friend Tiger, who makes the best Bloody Marias in Mexico, while catching up with Steve on FaceTime back home. Mom was perfectly content easing into the day in the room, watching television and enjoying a quiet morning.

Eventually Mom and I would meet up for breakfast together before making our way to the pool.

Day after day, the three of us settled into our floats at the pool, soaking up the warm Mexican sun and spending hours talking about everything and nothing at all. There was no agenda, no schedule and nowhere else we needed to be. Just three women enjoying each other's company and appreciating how fortunate we were to share this time together.

Of course, no girls trip would be complete without a few memorable moments.

We laughed our way through a foam party, which somehow became even more entertaining when Mom jumped right in and embraced the fun. At 80 years old, she continues to remind us that age is just a number.

After spending our days soaking up the sun, one of my favorite parts of the trip was gathering together for dinner each evening. No matter what we had done during the day, we always came back together to share a meal, catch up on the latest stories and enjoy each other's company. It wasn't the food, but the conversations and laughter around the table that made those dinners so memorable.

One evening was especially meaningful as the resort helped us celebrate Mom's 80th birthday. When we arrived for dinner, our table had been beautifully decorated for the occasion, making her feel like the guest of honor she deserved to be. As the staff gathered around to sing "Feliz Cumpleaños" Mom's smile said it all. It was such a simple but heartfelt gesture, and one of those moments that reminded us why we had come—to celebrate an incredible woman and create memories we'll treasure for years to come.

And then there was the dancing.

Several evenings after dinner, the music would start in the courtyard and before long we'd find ourselves on the dance floor. Those post-dinner dance parties quickly became one of the highlights of the trip. 

We clearly took relaxation seriously on this trip because each of us enjoyed not one, but two massages during the week. Between the spa appointments, sunshine and poolside conversations, we left Mexico feeling completely refreshed.

Not everything was completely relaxing, though.

The Cleveland Cavaliers decided to make things interesting by playing three playoff games while we were away. We watched every one of them. There were definitely a few tense moments, plenty of cheering and maybe a little stress, but we did our best not to let basketball interfere with vacation mode.

 When the Cavs won, we celebrated the only way we knew how—with an impromptu dance party.

As wonderful as the week was, the celebration didn't end when we returned home.

Back in Ohio, we gathered again with my brothers, Sean and Travis, along with a handful of Mom's grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

Looking back, what I'll remember most isn't the resort, the sunshine or even the birthday celebrations.

I'll remember the conversations by the pool.

The laughter.

The dancing.

The simple joy of watching my mom enjoy every moment of a week that was created entirely for her.

Eighty years is a remarkable milestone, and I can't think of a better way to celebrate than surrounded by family, sunshine and love.

Here's to Mom, to Mother's Day, and to making memories that will last long after the tan lines fade.