People who live in North and South Carolina know that Carowinds is an awesome theme park! It’s got loads of coasters, Planet Snoopy for the kids, and even Carolina Harbor — an amazing waterpark — included with the price of admission. We just moved at the end of May. Our daughter, Ellie, has a mid-June […]
See Cozumel the fun way: Omar’s VW Buggy Tour
On our cruise this spring, we had a scheduled stop in Cozumel. Rob and I had been there once before (1993), but we had just graduated from grad school, so it was a low budget cruise. All we did was wander the shops near port. So, this time, we knew we wanted to take […]
What’s the best cruise line for teens? Ellie’s teen review of Celebrity Cruises
We just got back from vacation on Celebrity Equinox, one of the most popular Celebrity cruise ships for North American cruisers. When planning our trip, Ellie and I looked online to find out the activities for teens on the ship. But, the Celebrity Cruises website only mentions the teen club and spa treatments for teens. […]
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises: Which cruise is best?
Spring break 2019 is in the books, and it’s going to be tough to beat! We took a 7 night Western Caribbean cruise on the Celebrity Equinox, cruising from Miami to visit the ports of Key West, Costa Maya, Cozumel and Grand Cayman. This was my tenth cruise, but my first on Celebrity. I have […]
Cheap family vacations insider tip: Visit public parks!
When planning a vacation to major cities like New York or San Francisco, famous public parks fall naturally into the vacation plan. Can you imagine visiting Manhattan without seeing Central Park? Or my favorite, Bryant Park! In San Francisco, The Presidio and the Yoda Statue rank up there with Golden Gate Park and its famous […]
Beach Bag Essentials: Everything you need to pack the perfect beach bag!
A day at the beach always brings big smiles, unless you forget something really important! Nobody wants that, so we made a checklist to help you remember all the beach bag essentials to make packing for the beach easy! This post contains affiliate links for your convenience (at no additional cost to you). Click here […]
Vacation with teens: Nine ways to connect wherever you go
A trip to the beach is easy with little kids. Pack sunscreen, a bucket and shovel and let kids play till they can’t play anymore. Teens, not so much. A day or two on the beach, maybe, but they aren’t likely to find building sand castles for a week as entertaining as little ones do. […]
Get to know OWA Foley, one of the best things to do around Gulf Shores
My first couple visits to Alabama’s gulf beaches, I rarely ventured far from the fun near those long, wide, white sandy beaches. Then, I found out about the adorable town of Foley, Alabama, only a 20 minute drive from the beach! There are so many amazing things to do in Foley, AL that I keep […]
Turquoise Place: Best of Orange Beach Alabama Resorts (a review)
When I was invited to Orange Beach, Alabama to learn about the Leave Only Footprints eco-tourism initiative, I got the chance to stay at the Turquoise Place by Spectrum Resorts, one of the most luxurious Orange Beach, Alabama resorts. You know this kind of place — it’s a stunner that turns heads. And, if you’re […]
Complete Outer Banks Vacation Planner: Sun, sand, and sea (and more to explore!)
The Outer Banks of North Carolina is a popular vacation destination for families who want to enjoy sun, sand and sea. A successful vacation takes just a bit planning, though. This guide walks you through everything you need to plan a wonderful Outer Banks vacation. We’ll cover: Outer Banks accommodations, OBX attractions in each region […]