6 Perfect Easter Brunch Restaurants

 

There’s no more fabulous brunch than Easter Sunday when you think of brunch! Finally, you have the perfect excuse to dress up, see the whole family together, keep the little ones constantly entertained, and let your tastebuds rejoice in an explosion of delicious flavors! For each of ParqEx’s markets, we have selected our favorite Easter brunch spots ideal for you and your loved ones. So put on your Easter pastels, get the kiddos loaded into the car, and head to one of these 6 perfect Easter brunch restaurants! 

 

1) Redbird

 

Let’s start on the West coast! If you and your family live near downtown Los Angeles, Redbird is perfect for you. LA has several restaurant options for this holiday brunch, but we scanned many of them and settled on Redbird as the top option. This spot offers a delicious prix fixe menu for Easter brunch and an old historical flair to its design. So come and dine in this old cathedral, enjoy the outdoor seating, get creative with your cocktails, and celebrate Easter surrounded by your family and friends. If you are looking for parking, look no further, ParqEx is here to help! Make a reservation at Redbird and book your parking with ParqEx!

 

2) Jill’s Restaurant and Bistro

 

Let’s hop on over to a mountain view in Boulder, Colorado. Yes, Boulder does have many restaurant options serving an Easter Sunday brunch. Still, due to Jill’s Restaurant and Bistro’s organic ingredients and the serene private setting, this is our top pick in Boulder! Oh, did we forget to mention its location is within the St. Julien Hotel & Spa? This added perk certainly benefits the Moms and Dads of the world also looking to book a spa day during their Easter holiday! So, make your Easter brunch reservations at Jill’s Restaurant and Bistro and book your parking with ParqEx!

 

3) The Peninsula Chicago

 

We have made it to the windy city of Chicago! Of course, Chicago has hundreds of fantastic dining options serving Easter Brunch this holiday! But our top selection for this ParqEx market is the Easter Brunch at The Peninsula Chicago, as they are known for their delicious holiday brunches! Enjoy a four-course meal or the à la carte options and be surrounded by live entertainment! Are you looking for the perfect Easter Egg Hunt for the kids? What about a cute picture with the Easter Bunny to send to the grandparents? The Peninsula Chicago offers all of this and more! So make your reservations and book your Easter parking with ParqEx!

 

4) The Edgewater

 

ParqEx has two markets in Wisconsin, but let’s start with Wisconsin’s capitol, Madison! It should go without saying that Madison, known to be home to some of the best restaurants in the state, has a wide variety of Easter brunch options. To be completely transparent, this was a difficult selection for us. But in the end, The Edgewater was the winner! Not only will you enjoy a four-course prix fixe meal, but you will also be rewarded with different breakfast pastries from Madison Sourdough! So sink your teeth into this fine dining experience, let the kids enjoy some Easter crafts, and take a great family photo at The Edgewater! Make your brunch reservations and book your parking with ParqEx!

 

5) Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro

 

Let’s jump over to Milwaukee, ParqEx’s second market in Wisconsin. Of course, there are many different restaurants to pick for an Easter Brunch in MKE, but our top pick was a no-brainer. If you celebrate a holiday downtown Milwaukee with the family, there is no better place than Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro! This fine-dining restaurant serves upscale French cuisines while dishing out some of the best views of Lake Michigan. So put on your Sunday’s best and let your tastebuds transport you out of this country for Easter this year! Book a reservation with Lake Park and book your parking with ParqEx!

 

6) The Habitat

 

Last but certainly not least, let’s make our way to the East coast! If you and your family live near South Beach, Miami, The Habitat at 1 Hotel South Beach is a great place to celebrate Easter! Of course, if you have been to Miami, you know they have their fair share of dining options. And they certainly have a wide variety of restaurants serving Easter brunch! The Habitat is our top pick for its wide range of dishes, live entertainment featuring a DJ and a violinist duo, and location! So dress the kids up, enjoy a nice meal, immerse yourself in the live entertainment, and perhaps even go to the beach after your Easter brunch! Don’t forget to make your restaurant reservations and book your parking with ParqEx!

 

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If you’re looking for more options outside of our 6 perfect Easter brunch restaurants, there are hundreds of choices all across the country! But, if you live in a different city outside of these six markets, don’t worry; ParqEx has parking options all over the country. Perhaps, even better news, ParqEx offers $5 off parking during the holiday season with promo code EASTER. So book your Easter parking today!

7-Holiday Road Trip Tips

 

Another holiday season has officially arrived! Kids are sending their wishlists to Santa, parents tell themselves they won’t last-minute shop like they did last year, and people are planning their holiday menus and guestlists (Check out GuestParq by ParqEx for all things guest parking). With that in mind, people are most certainly doing a lot of travel during their holiday season. Besides air travel, the following favorite holiday travel style is the good old-fashioned holiday road trip. Anyone signing up for a road trip this holiday season? Parents, are you stuffing your SUV filled with all the kiddos and even bringing Spot the dalmatian? If so, here are a quick 7-holiday road trip tips for you and your family:

 

 

1. Keep all passengers entertained.

No matter the age of the passenger, it’s essential to keep everyone entertained. Road trips tend to get a little longer when the car is loaded up with as many people and as much baggage as possible. So, nothing is better than a good distraction. Whether that be books on tape, podcasts, classic holiday movies, or even some old-school games, these are all options to keep everyone’s mind off the length of the road trip. In my experience, nothing passes the time better than the U.S. license plate game. Try and see how many U.S. state license plates you can cross off your list by the end of the trip! Plus, at ParqEx, we’re big fans of all things license plate — especially our License Plate Recognition technology. Take a look if you are curious!

 

2. Map out your trip before even leaving.

It’s always wise to be proactive when it comes to traveling. For instance, take air travel; you wouldn’t show up at the airport 20 minutes before take-off during a holiday travel day, would you? But, of course, planning is essential for road trips as well. Sure, you may be avoiding the crowds of travelers at the airport by road tripping instead, but don’t forget about the thousands of drivers you’ll encounter on the road that are doing the same thing as you. In addition, with the holidays, you are bound to find yourself in traffic in any major city you pass through. So with that in mind, plan for delays, choose a different route or even leave earlier.

 

3. Pack snacks.

Sure, grabbing junk food at the gas station or going through the McDonald’s drive-thru is tempting on road trips, but by packing snacks, you can eat healthily and save money! But, if you find yourself having forgotten to pack the snack essentials, stop at a grocery store instead of a gas station to find better options. In my experience, healthy snacks will make the drive a little bit easier. Your energy will last longer, and you will be more alert on the road.

 

4. Play holiday music – duh!

No holiday road trip is complete without some good holiday jams! No matter what music streaming platform you subscribe to, I guarantee you you’ll find a plethora of varying playlists with all genres of Christmas music. And yes, it would be blasphemous if you skipped Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” even if you’ve heard it too often already this holiday season.

 

5. Stay safe on the road.

This tip in our 7-holiday road trip tips is something you need to take care of before leaving and while on the road! Before leaving, check your tire pressures, make sure you have a spare tire, booster cables, and bring extra phone chargers just in case. While on the road, make sure that everyone is wearing their seatbelt. And an excellent last-minute piece of advice for the driver: drive for others; assume they don’t know how to drive and anticipate their next move. It’ll save you from a lot of possible accidents!

 

6. Get your car road-trip-ready.

First things first, are there any check engine lights on in your car? Second, when was the last time you got an oil change? Third, are you still riding around on that spare? Set yourself up for success this holiday road trip and get your car checked out before you and your family pile in for the drive! Next, pack for the “worst-case scenario.” Put blankets, winter jackets, gloves, hats, window scrapers, hand warmers & foot warmers, and boots in your trunk. You’ll most likely never need anything from this pile of stuff, but it’s always better to plan for the worst-case.

 

7. Book parking before even getting to the destination.

If your road trip is anything like what mine usually are, you’re in for a 2-day trek! So our last tip on our 7-holiday road trip tips is to book your parking before even getting to your destination. With ParqEx, you can plan and book your parking way before even getting to the finish line. By doing this, you’re not only ensuring you’ll have parking at your destination, but you are also eliminating added stress. For example, on my 2-day road trips from Chicago to Naples, Florida, I often stop in Atlanta for the night. When I stop, I book my parking ahead of time with ParqEx, and all I have to worry about is safely getting to the hotel for the night. So book your holiday road trip parking with ParqEx today and focus on enjoying your road trip!

12 Best Places To Take Family Christmas Photos

 

Featured locations: Chicago, IL   |   Milwaukee, WI   |   Madison, WI   |   Miami, FL

 

Are you also one of those families that waits until the last minute to take family Christmas pictures? I get that taking Christmas photos mid-summer is efficient and probably makes for better photos, but I cannot be bothered to think of cold months during the glorious summer heat. And on top of that, nothing beats the authentic “I’m freezing! I can’t wait until this photoshoot is done” face that annually makes it onto my Christmas card.

 

Anyways, back to our jolly point! We’ve compiled a list of the 12 best places to take family Christmas photos in our ParqEx community. So to all last-minute families, put on your matching Christmas sweaters and get on your merry way to your photoshoot!

 

 

Best Places to take family Christmas Photos in Chicago

 

1) Art Institute of Chicago

 

Talk about an iconic family Christmas photo! If you live in Chicago, there are hundreds of gorgeous corners to take family photos in front of. Yet, in my opinion, nothing tops the Art Institute of Chicago. You can’t go wrong; take a picture inside or take one outside in front of the lions. Either way, you will create a picture-perfect backdrop to your family photo. Plus, any last-minute Christmas shoppers reading this? Take your pictures and then immediately go shopping! The Art Institute of Chicago is in the heart of the city, with shopping all around. So book your art institute parking ahead of time and don’t have to worry about it the day of!

 

2) Lincoln Park Zoo

 

Taking family photos at the zoo never gets old! I promise you, even as an adult, my favorite photo outings are to the zoo! If you live in Chicago, you are very spoiled with the Lincoln Park Zoo. So gather the family, take them on a fun zoo excursion and squeeze in a few family photos while you are there. Not a fan of having penguins in your photos? Visit Lincoln Parks Nature Boardwalk and take a picture in front of Chicago’s skyline. So book your Lincoln Park Zoo parking today with ParqEx!

 

3) Skydeck Chicago

 

Before committing to this Christmas photo backdrop, make sure that nobody in your family has a fear of heights. If they all give the thumbs up, an enjoyable location for a family photo would be Willis Tower’s Skydeck Chicago. So take a trip up to the 103rd floor and enjoy perhaps one of the best views of Chicago! And don’t forget to commemorate the trip by snapping a quick family photo! Book your Skydeck parking before even leaving your house!

 

Best Places to take family Christmas Photos in  Milwaukee

 

4) View MKE 

 

Are you still putting off taking those Christmas photos? If you need further encouragement, even if the rapidly approaching deadline is just around the corner, how about you check out View MKE with the family this season? Go there for the food & beverages but stay for the atmosphere and stunning views of downtown Milwaukee. And while you are there, why not snag a quick fam-photo! Book your View MKE parking today!

 

5) Black Cat Alley

 

Do you want this year’s family photo to be trendy and perfect for a witty or whimsical Instagram caption? Then there’s no better spot than Black Cat Alley! Quickly snag a coffee from Colectivo and then stroll up and down the outdoor art gallery. Check out the 21 murals that beautifully decorate this alley in Milwaukee. Found a favorite mural? Take your family Christmas picture there. I’m sure Black Cat Alley would love to be featured in your Christmas photos. So book your Black Cat Alley parking ahead of time.

 

6) The Pfister Hotel

 

Now, if you live in Milwaukee and are scrambling to find a more classic Christmas photo, don’t worry! The Pfister Hotel is the ideal photo spot for you. This historic hotel screams elegance and knows how to dress up around the holiday season. So visit the Pfister Hotel to get into that Christmas spirit and take some beautiful family photos. Book your Pfister Hotel parking downtown Milwaukee today!

 

Best Places to take family Christmas Photos in  Madison

 

7) AC Hotel & Eno Vino

 

If you are lucky enough to live in Madison, Wisconsin, then you know just how gorgeous your State Capitol Building is. Every corner of the square has lovely views of this magnificent building. However, one of the most fun and unique views of the capitol building is at the AC Hotel inside the Eno Vino restaurant. Take in the rooftop view of the capitol building with the family, and ask the waiter for a quick family photo with this classic backdrop. Book your Madison square parking today!

 

8) Capitol Building

 

As previously mentioned, this building doesn’t have an unappealing angle. Are you and the family looking for a quick in & out for this year’s family photo but still want a good picture? The State Capitol Building never disappoints. So put on that Badger red and take a cute family pic. Book your Capitol parking now with ParqEx, so you don’t have to worry about finding parking on the square.

 

9) State Street

 

Any UW Badger Alumni in your family? Any of your kids enrolled at UW currently? A great homage to the university you are so proud of is a Christmas photo on State Street. So go and quickly take a nice family photo and then enjoy a lovely Saturday afternoon stroll up and down State Street. Don’t forget to book your State Street parking with ParqEx.

 

Best Places to take family Christmas Photos in  Miami

 

10) Freedom Tower

 

Do you love the history of your tropical paradise of a city in Miami, Florida? Then, take the family on a visit to Miami’s Freedom Tower, learn a little about the history of the building, and learn a bit about the cultural history of Miami and the part the Freedom Tower played. On top of it all, the Freedom Tower is a beautiful backdrop to any photo, indeed a family photo. So book your Freedom Tower parking today!

 

11) Miami Beach

 

Miami Beach is an absolute no-brainer. There’s no stretch of Miami Beach that isn’t perfect for a family photo! Want to have the sand between your toes and have the ocean as a picturesque background? Want to take a goofy family photo in front of one of the many lifeguard towers? How about a picture in front of Ocean Drive? Awesome! This one spot has it all. So avoid the headache of looking for Miami Beach parking and book your Miami Beach parking with ParqEx. 

 

12) Bayside Marketplace

 

Want a fun day filled with shopping, dining options, and family photos? Visit Bayside Marketplace. Want a little different picture but still want Bayside Marketplace vibes? Take a boat tour and get this angle of Bayside in your photo. So, book your Bayside Marketplace parking with ParqEx.

 

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New to ParqEx? Download our ParqEx apps today and get started parking with us. First-time users use promo code MYFIRSTTIME for $5 off your first transaction. All other ParqEx users, remember to be on the lookout for our holiday promo codes! If you missed it, check out our socials!