Between the popular vacation towns of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in Alabama, sits the region’s shining jewel, Gulf State Park. Covering more than 6,200 acres, Gulf Shores State Park is home to three fresh water lakes, a golf course, the Gulf State Park Campground, cabins, the Gulf State Park Pier and 2 1/2 miles […]
Ice hiking the Ricketts Glen Falls Trail
Last summer, I saw the Ricketts Glen State Park waterfalls for the first time and absolutely fell in love! This 7.2 mile loop trail is the most beautiful waterfall trail I have ever seen. So, when the tourism board and Valley to Summit Guided Wilderness Adventures invited me to ice hike the Ricketts Glen Falls […]
Prince William Forest Park: Spies, FDR and so much more!
Prince William Park in Northern Virginia might be one of the best kept secrets in the Washington, DC area. I drive through that area often and had no idea the park is right there, just a stone’s throw from I-95 at Exit 152B. This happens to be the same exit you take for the National […]
Golfing: File under “Cool Skills to Learn”
Here I am at 53 years old, realizing that I’ve still got lots of cool skills to learn in life! Sure…. I’ve done some awesome things like indoor skydiving, snow tubing and overcoming a fear of heights by parasailing in Illinois! But, I wasn’t always adventurous. For a very long time, I kept my feet […]
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 […]
Looking for adventure: Vacation ideas for families
With adventure vacations continuing to grow in popularity, it’s no surprise that families are looking for adventure travel ideas, too. And, the tourism industry has taken notice. Wherever you travel, adventure vacation ideas for families are sure to be available. You don’t have to look too hard to add excitement, maybe some hiking, biking or […]
Ricketts Glen State Park: PA’s answer to overcrowded national parks
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 led to overcrowded national parks and the related problems. I think we […]
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 […]
Conquering fears: Take two!
A couple months ago, we went to a high ropes course close to home. Rob and Ellie attacked it with gusto. I looked at the first obstacle and froze. Totally. Chickened. Out! That kind of thing used to stop me in my tracks. Fear would keep me from trying new things. But, I’m a new […]
High flying fun on the Xtreme Park ropes course
Every time I try a new adventure course, whether it’s a zip line or a ropes course, it seems that each one gets more challenging. That’s certainly the case with the ropes course at Xtreme Park Adventures, an adventure park near Durham, North Carolina. Xtreme Park Adventures has been around for several years, expanding over […]