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Family Travels on a Budget

Travel with kids: theme park family deals, cruise ships for kids and best cruise lines for teens and other cool places to visit, including adult getaways

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Home » Interests » Kid Fun

Grand Canyon vacations for families

July 1, 2021 by Karen Dawkins 3 Comments

Skywalk glass bottomed bridge at Grand Canyon West

Now that we can travel again, families are flocking to US national parks in record numbers, lured by the promise of wide open spaces. That sure sounds like a great idea, but the crowds are another story. With just a little creativity — and the help of an informative blog (wink, wink) — family vacations […]

Filed Under: Adventure, Arizona, Arts/Culture, History, Kid Fun

Fun things to do with kids in Tampa

April 20, 2021 by Karen Dawkins 21 Comments

Tampa Riverwalk at sunset

There are so many fun things to do with kids in Tampa, Florida. Whether planning a weekend escape or a whole week, Tampa has something for everyone in the family to enjoy. From Busch Gardens Tampa for thrills to leisurely strolls on the Tampa Riverwalk, there’s loads of family fun in Tampa. Family things to […]

Filed Under: Destinations, Florida, Interests, Kid Fun, Teens and Tweens, Travel guides, Uncategorized, USA

New traditions: Holiday lights in Raleigh, NC

December 11, 2020 by Karen Dawkins 6 Comments

While 2020 has not shaped up to be a great one for traveling, it’s given us a chance to discover the fun and excitement of local travel. Maybe the Christkindl Markets in Germany are out of reach this year, but there’s great joy to discover closer to home. Here in the Triangle — an area […]

Filed Under: Kid Fun, North Carolina, Uncategorized

Enjoy the great outdoors at the best family campgrounds in the US

June 6, 2020 by Karen Dawkins 10 Comments

This summer, family vacation might look a little different than we might have expected. People are looking for ways to enjoy fresh air and wide open spaces. Of course, camping fits the bill. So, I asked bloggers from around the country to share the best family campgrounds in the US. Take a look at these […]

Filed Under: budget, Kid Fun, Roadtrips

20 fun things to do when stuck at a hotel

March 16, 2020 by Karen Dawkins 43 Comments

Post includes ways to do these things at home, too! For months, I looked forward to a December trip to Dallas, Texas and the warm, sunny temperatures sure to greet me. As luck (bad luck is luck too) would have it, the Dallas area got walloped by a fierce ice storm that shut down the […]

Filed Under: Interests, Kid Fun, Planning, travel tips

Cheap family vacations insider tip: Visit public parks!

April 15, 2019 by Karen Dawkins Leave a Comment

public parks add great value to budget travel

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 […]

Filed Under: Kid Fun, Planning Tagged With: budget travel

Complete Outer Banks Vacation Planner: Sun, sand, and sea (and more to explore!)

March 5, 2019 by Karen Dawkins 3 Comments

Sun, sand and sea at the Outer Banks

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 […]

Filed Under: Adventure, Beaches, History, Kid Fun, North Carolina, Travel guides

5 reasons to visit Niagara Falls, NY

October 29, 2018 by Karen Dawkins 7 Comments

  Ellie and I were hosted by the Niagara Falls CVB to learn about the area for purposes of writing these articles. All opinions are our own.  Read my full disclosure policy here.  To prepare Ellie for our trip to Niagara Falls, I showed her pictures of the falls. She thought they looked neat, but […]

Filed Under: Kid Fun, New York, Uncategorized

Visiting the whimsical gardens of Phipps Conservatory

October 2, 2018 by Karen Dawkins Leave a Comment

This post contains links to products for which I might receive a small commission. Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens at Schenley Park in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood (near the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon), has been entertaining visitors with world-class gardens since 1893. It has expanded through the years, most recently adding the LEED certified […]

Filed Under: Arts/Culture, Kid Fun, Pennsylvania

Celebrating Culture: NC’s Chinese Lantern Festival

November 29, 2017 by Karen Dawkins 27 Comments

Our daughter is Chinese by birth. Until recently she has not wanted to explore the heritage of her homeland. While we incorporate some Chinese culture into our lives, we never pushed her to go further than she wants. This year, she has been asking more about China and Chinese culture. When I was provided the […]

Filed Under: Arts/Culture, Kid Fun, North Carolina

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Meet Karen Dawkins

An avid traveler, I enjoy discovering new places: history, culture, and adventure. I love it all! Well, not bugs. I don’t like bugs very much, so I probably won’t visit a bug museum.

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