Over the past several years, national parks have grown quite popular for vacationers. Of course, the Grand Canyon, the Smoky Mountains and Yosemite have long been popular — and for good reason. But, the growing popularity of national parks across the country has created some challenging issues. On our honeymoon (29 years ago), we visited […]
Visiting Carowinds? Everything you need to know!
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
14 kid friendly hikes in the US for active families to explore
When looking for active family vacations, kid friendly hikes are a great option. Whether planning full-on hiking vacations or adding day hikes on kid friendly hiking trails, family hiking trips are a great way to get outdoors and be active. Even better, most family hiking trails are free or low cost, making hiking with kids […]
Complete guide to the best restaurants in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
If you’re a regular reader (and I hope you are!!!), you know I’m a big fan of Alabama’s Beaches. As a regular visitor, I get to try new restaurants in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach every time I go. I have collected a few favorites along the way, the very best restaurants in Orange Beach, […]
19 top bloggers share the best romantic getaways in the United States
Kids, pets, work, home repairs, bills, taxes… the stresses of everyday life push in from every direction. We need a weekend away to relax and reconnect with the one person who means the most to us. For our 20th anniversary, Rob and I went to Disney without the kids, perfectly fun and carefree! And for […]
Ultimate Girls’ Getaway: Why weekend cruises are perfect for BFFs
Here I am, in the thick of it with kids, husband, dog and life. Last year proved to be the most challenging of my life — seriously, more drama in one year than in the previous ten years combined. But, enough about that… because the year ended far better than it began. My husband knew […]