Family Adventures

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San Diego Family Camping: Campland on the Bay Review

Camping isn't really their thing. Really, it wasn't our thing either. We had gone on family camping trips with friends in the past and loved all the time we spent outdoors but camping at Campland on the Bay in Mission Beach, California

How to Hit 42 Roller Coasters in One Weekend!

"I have an idea for a long weekend trip," said my husband. "Let's get our "coaster count" up." My husband and I are proud members of the Great Ohio Coaster Club, you see, and he takes his "coaster count" very seriously. If you're a ...

4 Best Things To Do In (& around) Cabo San Lucas for Families

Stuck with a reputation for being easy, Cabo San Lucas attracts party-goers worldwide to enjoy its raucous atmosphere. But Cabo San Lucas is also easy for families who want an adventurous, affordable vacation. With a backdrop of jagged

Best Museums in Nashville For Kids

Want to know where in Nashville you can create music, make stop-motion movies, or learn how to weave? The city's family-friendly museums offer all these options and are one of the best things to do in Nashville for kids. With art, ...

Best Secluded Beaches on the East Coast

There's nothing like a beach vacation. Warm sand, cool waves, ocean sounds, it's exactly what we all need after a year of crazy. But if you'd still like to avoid crowds (and really, who doesn't?) There are a few beaches that are close ...

7 Best US Road Trip Attractions & Why You Should Stop

On our family vacations, we've found a key to making family road trips more fun. Traveling with kids on a road trip means stopping for food, snacks, and bathroom breaks frequently. Instead of stressing about getting to your ...

Universal Studios Uncovers the Secret Life of Pets: Ride Review

Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash! is the ride Universal Studios Hollywood was missing. It's no secret that Universal Studios Hollywood has a serious real estate challenge. Between being built into a hillside in L.A.'s Cahuenga ...

Fun With Kids Camping At El Capitan State Beach

El Capitan State Beach isn't just another pretty beach. It's also an inexpensive coastal vacation where a family can enjoy the sound of crashing waves as they drift off to sleep inside their tent or recreational vehicle, RV. There, ...

7 Tips for Traveling with Kids When You're Scared of Flying

I have a confession and it's a strange one for a travel writer to admit. I am terrified of flying on airplanes. As a parent, I don't want to pass my aviophobia on to my kids, and I certainly don't want to stay at home for the ...

The Top Kid-Friendly Places to Eat in Nashville

Sure, there's the music, but don't overlook an essential part of the Nashville experience -- the food! For families traveling with kids, finding family-friendly, fun places to eat in Nashville can sometimes be a challenge, but we've ...

Best Things To Do In Kennywood for Families!

"I'm writing about Kennywood" I told my husband, "what do you think I should title the article?" "You shouldn't write about it" he said, "tell your editor you can't write about it. The lines are pretty short right now, I don't want ...

Can't Miss Things to Do in Atlanta With Kids

Historic, bustling, full of life, the city of Atlanta has a flavor all its own. Known to adults for its hip music scene and powerhouse film industry, there are also pint-sized versions of both plus plenty of things to do in Atlanta ...

Borrego Springs Brings Off the Beaten Path Family Fun

Upon re-confirming the actual address of our destination, which turns out was not Palm Springs, our family learned we were 100 miles farther than where we expected to be at that point. We were, in fact, far from "there". After

Best Family Fun in The Outer Banks

"There's a lot of pirates in that area like historically" was my husband's reaction to my announcement that we were taking a trip to the Outer Banks. "We should visit a pirate ship while we are there." While we didn't ...

5 Perfect Places for Last Minute Family Spring Break Trips

2021 is the year of last-minute travel! I've had lots of my clients at my travel agency tell me they weren't going to travel for spring break this year, then changed their mind at the last minute. And who can blame them after the ...

Why Chattanooga, TN, Is the Best City to Visit with Kids

When we need a weekend of fun or want to escape busy Nashville and play tourist in another city, there's one place that always comes to mind: Chattanooga. Chattanooga embodies the quirkiness of Austin with the peaceful atmosphere of a ...

Most Fun at Conrad Punta de Mita in Mexico with Kids

"They locked up my fruit," Knox held the clear, acrylic container close to his pout, trying to figure out how to spring the pieces of cantaloupe from under the locked latch. He pulled at the clamp trying to release the lid but grunted ...

Fun Things To Do for Parents, Kids and Dogs in CA Wine Country

While we're not lushes, my husband and I are big wine enthusiasts. What's not to love? Every glass is crafted into complex flavors using a combination of science and art. We love visiting California Wine Country, not just because ...

A Weekend at Ohio's Kalahari Indoor Waterpark

When you think of "Ohio" and "winter," you think "relaxing by the pool," right? Nice, warm, sunny days? No? Well I didn't either until last year. My dad runs an extremely busy outdoor-centered ...

The Best Things to Do in St. Louis with Kids

On one memorable family vacation, our kids loved a certain destination so much that they asked if we could move there. Was it Disneyland? England? The beach? Nope. It was St. Louis, Missouri (They were joking...I think.). There are ...

Paradise Road: A Family Mountain Escape

There is no reception in Paradise or on most of Paradise road rather. Because of that, Paradise Road is a great place for a tech-free Los Angeles family weekend getaway or day trip. Or, ditch the kids and take a romantic retreat away ...

Best Places to Eat in Ohio With Kids

Ohio, in the foodie world, is best known for its Chocolate Peanut Butter candies called Buckeyes. These are named after the state nut - which is poisonous, by the way. We do, however, have a lot more food to offer! If you're ...

Amsterdam With Kids? 7 Fun Things You Must Do

Amsterdam has a bit of a reputation. When many people in the U.S. think Amsterdam, they think Red Light District, illicit substances, and X-rated shops. Not exactly what you'd look for in a family-friendly vacation ...

A Guide to Family Friendly Columbus

Columbus, Ohio is home to so much more than Jack Hanna's Award-Winning Zoo and Ohio State Football. Fun things to do in Columbus, OH include food, festivals and even a boozy river! Columbus lies in the center of Ohio. ...

The Top 7 Space Destinations for Families

Most kids act like space cadets at some point, but some have caught the space craze. After all, kids love stories about space. Over the last few months, my boys have eagerly watched coverage of rocket launches and spaceship tests. For ...

7 Can't Miss Tips For Your Family African Safari

For our honeymoon, years back, we had decided to knock Safari in the Serengeti off our bucket lists. It was a whirlwind two weeks, a day in Kilimanjaro, four days in the Serengeti, a week in Zanzibar, the best places to see animals (lions!) on ...

5 Best Things To Do On A Family Vacation To The Smoky Mountains

Between Tennessee and North Carolina, lies a vacation paradise tucked between foggy mountains and old-growth forests. From honeymoon retreats to kid-friendly cabin rentals, generations of our family have enjoyed the gorgeous scenery and ...

Best Things to Do In Pittsburgh With Kids

It's not just steel that steals the show in Pittsburgh. Large sandwiches, roller coasters, riverboats, and museums share the spotlight in the city that built America! Pittsburgh is full of fun activities for kids and teens, even those that are ...

8 Best NYC Activities With Kids

There were few places on Earth my parents loved to visit, with their kids, more than New York City. From a young age, my siblings and I became well-acquainted with the vibrant city, and for me, it formed a lifelong love with the Big ...

5 Best Things To Do With Kids For New Years Eve 2020 in L.A.

Nope, it's not happening. The crowded living room full of friends, hugging and kissing each other over goopy, sugar-filled desserts and salty, crunchy snacks. Drinks that may or may not leave you feeling a bit queasy the next morning. Well, the ...

6 Tips to Plan a Safer Holiday Family Reunion

Planning a family reunion this year isn't easy, as we all struggle to find safe ways to see loved ones. Our family has had to get creative with hosting outdoor grandparent visits. There's even talk of a back porch Christmas tree. When making

Holiday Family Shopping in Ohio's Amish Country

A shopping trip to Amish country is the perfect holiday and long weekend getaway! The pace of life is slower in Amish country. It offers a chance to finally enjoy the scenery and the time to do it. There aren't many highways, so you have no ...

7 Best Holiday Activities in Chicago for Families

The holidays are always my favorite time of year. The mundane becomes the magical. And nowhere is that transformation more evident than in the city of Chicago. The steel and concrete landscape suddenly becomes awash in greenery, twinkling ...

The Best Things To Do At Dollywood

I love a good amusement park. I consider myself something of a guru. But, until recently, I had never been to Dollywood theme park. So, when my husband found himself with vacation time to blow, we packed up our car and headed for ...

Perfect Holiday Gifts for Family Travelers

For many, the holidays are the most wonderful time of the year. For those of us who struggle with finding the perfect gifts, it can also be the most stressful, full of frantic catalog flipping, manic Amazon scrolling, and hectic trips to Target

The Best Things to See in 48 Hours in Salzburg

If you're planning a trip to Austria - Salzburg likely falls low on your list of places to visit. You'll likely put it well below bustling Vienna, charming Innsbruck, and Insta-worthy Hallstatt. In fact, if you're not a raving Sound of Music ...

Four Spots on the Gulf Coast for A Low-Key Family Vacation

My family has a special way we recharge. When the gray clouds of the winter months get us down, we pack up the kids and flee south for a low-key, family beach vacation on the U.S. Gulf Coast. Growing up, I loved the trips my parents planned to ...

How to Have a Family Vacation in London Without Going Nuts

Since I'm an introvert who doesn't like crowds, I have a love/hate relationship with London. Full of fascinating history, diverse cultures, and world-class museums, London requires careful navigation. But despite my ...

6 Tips to Survive your First Hotel Stay with a Baby

There are babies that can sleep anywhere, and my kid was not one of them. If you're the kind of person who finds your baby napping on the floor, I'm jealous. My child needs perfect conditions to sleep. I can't tell you how much money I have ...

5 Tips to Traveling with Grandparents Without Losing Your Mind

It can be really fun to bring your child's grandparents along on a family vacation, but I don't have to tell you that it can be frazzling too. With all the extra people running around, it's no wonder the mom in Home Alone forgot one of

5 SpOOky Things to Do with Kids for Halloween Around Los Angeles

The alarm has sounded. A shriek has wrapped its tendrils around our hearts. A pandemic has descended upon the Earth and this Halloween in Los Angeles the most frightening thing isn't the monsters, the ghouls or the tricks. It's the idea of not ...

Dover: A Day Trip from London

We had one extra day in England. I had always wanted to see more of the United Kingdom than just the London area. And can I tell you a secret? I'd always wanted to see an old castle. When I say castle, I don't mean the sophisticated splendor of ...

How to Plan the Ultimate Washington D.C. Trip with Kids

With free attractions and some of the world's top museums, visiting Washington, D.C. with kids is one of the best vacations for a family. But somehow, on our last trip, despite all the benefits of this kid-friendly vacation spot, our ...

The Seven Things You Must Do On Your Family Trip To Zurich

As a kid, my dad traveled a lot for work, catching flights to far flung destinations like Japan, Germany, and Italy. I thought it sounded so glamorous. I remember asking him once what his favorite city in the world was. Zurich, he said. And ...

Salem, MA: The Spookiest Family-Friendly Destination for Fall

When you think perfect small town for a spooky fall trip, you might think Sleepy Hollow or Amityville, but we think Salem, Massachusetts. Home of the infamous Salem Witch Trials that plagued the tiny town in the late 1600s, today it's quite ...

A Walk In The Redwoods: Family Activities at the Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort

When I heard the news, a wave of relief so great washed over me, I felt the unexpected strain of tears, bits of moisture managing to squeeze through. Until that moment, I hadn't realized our family camping trip to Santa Cruz Redwoods ...

A Local's Guide to Family Friendly Cleveland

I know my hometown doesn't have the best reputation. After all, we sometimes get called the "Mistake on the Lake." The idea of Cleveland being a center of tourism was such a joke, a local comedian made a fake tourism video when Cleveland hosted ...

How to Save Your Family Vacation When Everything Goes Wrong

When I first heard rumors about the French transit strikes, I didn't think much about them. After all, our vacation was weeks away. Surely I could keep those reservations for our dream trip to ...

How to Plan a Safe Labor Day Weekend with a Toddler

Labor Day weekend is that amazing time of the year when you can comfortably enjoy outdoor activities but totally decorate for Fall! And I am so here for both! As I resisted the urge to start baking the first of many batches of pumpkin cookies, I

A Local's Guide to the Best of Kid-Friendly Nashville

As a native to Nashville, Tennessee, I love to tell everyone about my home city. There's just something special about the Nashville way. We smile and say hello to strangers. We help each other recover after floods or tornadoes. And we never, ...

Our First RV Trip: A Beachy Way of Life – Review: Pismo Coast Village RV Resort

It's the dividing line between youth and age. It was about 63 degrees at the beach where we camped at a nearby Pismo Beach RV park. A sharp wind made me wish I could retract my head into my body like a turtle. At the same time, my boys, 10 and ...

RVs for Families 101: Tips to Prepare You for Your First RV Trip!

We bought a travel trailer and went camping this summer like everyone else. And, like most people who hadn't gone camping regularly pre-COVID, we were forced to become experts as we were flying out the door. We collected as much information as ...

6 Things That Should Always Be in Your Carry-On

Don't leave home without them, here's what should always be in your carry on!

A Cowboy Weekend: Family Fun at the Circle Bar B Guest Ranch

Just because you live in a modern city doesn't mean you can't be a cowboy. At least for a little while, anyway. About 100 miles from the skyscrapers of Downtown Los Angeles are men and women who wrangle horses and ride them, spurs ...

Our 9 Favorite Family Friendly Things To Do in Charleston

Ahhhh Charleston. The land of sweet tea, true southern charm, and humidity so thick it took my hair weeks to recover from our family trip. No joke. Walking around in Charleston feels almost akin to walking through a pool. The humidity is ...

A Local's Guide To The Best Family Activities In Florence

Between the Medicis and a lot of Caravaggio, for many, Florence doesn't exactly scream 'family fun'. While it may not sound like Florence has a lot to offer kids, it actually does have many wonderful activities for adventurous ...

The Only Things You Need to Pack in a Theme Park Bag

In my family, summer is theme park season. I've been riding roller coasters since I was 42" tall. Finally tall enough to take on the Jack Rabbit at Kennywood in Pittsburgh PA. Those family trips had a huge impact on my life. Even now, to me a ...

Lesser Known Chicago Restaurants for Foodies

Be honest - when you think of food in Chicago, you think deep-dish pizza, Chicago style hot dogs and maybe some Garrett's popcorn - if you really know your stuff. But I'm here to tell you that the Windy City food scene is so much ...

7 Fun Things to Do on Nantucket Island for the Whole Family

A tiny island twenty miles off the coast of Cape Cod, Nantucket, Massachusetts is an old school throwback to a simpler way of life. There are no chain restaurants. No Starbucks. No stoplights. The speed limit never breaks 45 miles ...

The Reluctant Hiker: When Your Kids Won't Cooperate (Video)

Being stuck at home doesn't mean you can't leave your house. As long as you can find a way to socially distance, you can appreciate the gifts G-d, mother nature or the universe has freely just plopped right into your backyard. Our backyard is ...

A Local's Guide to Lake Erie Beaches

I know, I know. When you first hear the word "Ohio," you immediately think the word "beaches," right? No? Well, you should and I'll tell you why. In my hometown of Cleveland, there are at least 5 beaches within an hour's drive of my house. And ...

5 Can't Miss Tips for Traveling With Your Kids During COVID

I'm not sure when exactly that my family reached their personal breaking point in quarantine. It was likely around the time Chicago was getting doused in apocalyptic rain. So, not only were we not allowed to go anywhere, but we also couldn't ...

How Multi-Generational Travel Makes Family Trips Easy!

For the last four years my wife and I, along with our children, have made our home on the Asian side of sprawling Istanbul, Turkey. There are plenty of benefits to living in what is, for all intents and purposes, the center of the ...

The Best Things To Do With Kids in Bermuda

They're not afraid of color. Their buildings resemble an assortment of Easter eggs, waiting to be plucked from dark green hills. If you're visiting the vibrant main island of Bermuda with your kids, there are many fun ways to explore ...

7 Essential Stops on a Family Summer Texas Road Trip

As a young couple, my husband and I would power through long drives to see family in Texas. During our road trips, we made a game out of stopping as little as possible, pushing ourselves to the limits of our gas tank. And then something ...

A Local's Guide To The 11 Best Family Friendly Things to Do in Chicago

After months of steeling ourselves against sub-zero temperatures, battling unforgiving winds and the chills they bring, trudging through snowdrifts that come up to our butts, we use summer in Chicago to its full advantage. Because, let's be ...

Surfing Indonesia – The Best Family Surf Trip

"I think you're a little bit of a witch," Luana said with a slight crinkle of her green-grey eyes, her hair pulled back in a ponytail to combat the Mentawai Island's humidity. We all sat around long tables eating dinner. She said this ...

What to Expect if You Visit Universal Orlando During COVID

The world is starting to open back up. As a travel agent, that's a relief. As a mom, I need to know how that's happening and the best ways to travel safely. And here's what my kids love: Central Florida's theme parks are preparing to welcome

The Trick That Saved Our Family Trip Through Austria

There's only one time I've come close to cutting a trip short, calling it a failure, and buying the first available ticket home. I was in Vienna. Yes, beautiful, enchanting Vienna, on a family trip with our kids. Don't get me wrong, my

Why Universal Orlando is Better for Families than Disney World

I'm a travel agent, and a not insignificant portion of my business comes from Disney. I specialized in Disney. I keep up with all the Disney blogs. I know an embarrassing amount about Disney parks and everything they have to offer. So, it feels ...

7 Ways to Survive Traveling With Babies and Kids

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJWWNw1ufOI&t=32s If you've been keeping up with our crazy shenanigans that are our version of family travel, then you know how wild and unruly ...

5 Fun Staycation Ideas to Get Your Kids Excited About Being Home

You know the scene in Castaway where an increasingly insane and unkempt Tom Hanks marks off the days he's been stranded at sea, watching the number slowly tick up? Today, we can oddly relate. After a full two months in quarantine, our ...

7 Tips for Surviving a Road Trip With Kids

We've all been on those family road trips. You know the ones. They start off pleasant enough. The windows are down, a nice breeze circulating. The Black Keys are churning those good vibes and (miraculously) no one is complaining about the music.

Girl's Weekend In Temecula Wine Country

To be that wonderful mother and wife that everyone has come to expect, mommy sometimes needs a time out too. The whining, the dishes, the piles - it can get to be too much. Mommy needs to ditch the kids and the hubby and spend a ...

Woodward Park City: Extreme Family Travel

It's a side-effect of parenting. Once your kids get close to 10 years old, you are suddenly the least cool person they know. No matter what you were before becoming their mother or father, you are now the voice of Charlie Brown's ...

9 Tips to Plan Your Family Trip After Quarantine Now!

I've lost count of how many weeks we've been social distancing. Though I'm thankful to be healthy and safe, it's tough. With the weather fluctuations, and staying home as much as possible, it's easy to start feeling claustrophobic. I'm now at ...

Three Fun Days In Vail With Adventurous Kids

It was only because we used snowboarding as the hook. But it was the promise of a family trip to a ski resort in the Colorado Rocky Mountains that enticed the college boy to travel with us to Vail, Colorado

Travel In Time: Tips to Help the Elderly Cope with Coronavirus

Aline Morris, 80, used to be a world traveler, starting to seriously travel when she was 60 but she stopped traveling by herself a couple of years ago. She has fond memories of seeing the world whether on tours, cruises or ...

Yosemite With Kids: Nature & Pamper at Tenaya Lodge

The wind leads the leaves in a Rumba as their hips sway through a daring gust. The clouds form shapes any contortionist would admire, with a backdrop of blue so deep, your heart can get lost in its ...

(Family) Travel In the Time of Corona

When news of a new virus in China first began making minor headlines, I was blissfully enjoying my time in Kenya, helping to build a school dormitory for girls and enjoying the people and wildlife that call Maasai Mara home. Today, schools ...

What You Need to Do in Pismo Beach For Family Fun!

We'd seen pictures of all-terrain vehicles blasting through dunes in Pismo Beach, like Mad Max searching for an adventure in a post-apocalyptic future. It doesn't seem too far of a stretch based on what's happening in the world today ...

How to Survive a Quarantine with Four Kids (and a Grandma!)

As everyone now knows we are officially dealing with a pandemic of epic proportions. I have four kids, one is medically complex, and my eighty-seven year old grandmother lives with us. I, like others, am limiting our risks. Normally, I am the ...

Exploring Celtic Gardens in Galway

Most Irish school children learn about Brigit, an early Christian saint who was almost as important as Saint Patrick – she even has her own holiday on February 1st (without the green beer). But Brigit is also a significant part of ...

How To Stay Healthy Traveling With Kids

Even before the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) reared its ugly head to disrupt all our lovely travel plans, traveling was a dirty business. Yes, you know there are those of us who don't wash their hands after going to the bathroom, kids ...

5 Best Places to See Wildlife in Florida

When my husband told me at the beginning of November that he had vacation days to use or lose come January, that's all I needed to start planning a fun couples trip. Since we live in New England, Florida seemed like the best place to ...

Disney For Adults: How to Re-Light That Spark

Whenever my fiancé and I start to feel like we're out of sync or we haven't had a real conversation in a while, we set a coffee date. And by "coffee date", I mean that we make coffee in our kitchen or run to the closest drive-thru and ...

How to Survive a Vacation in Europe with a Baby

After years of traveling to Europe with my mom, and becoming a bit of an addict, I made the conscious decision to continue my adventures once my daughter was born. It would be amazing. I would show naysayers that your whole life doesn't have

Cancun for Families: Two Ways

You don't have to choose. Cancun is big enough for both of them. You can visit one and the other won't get jealous. The other will know that soon you won't be able to resist and you'll visit her too. Plus, you'll bring your family ...

Grand Velas Riviera Maya: An Luxury All-Inclusive for Families

No, he wasn't a real genie but the way our personal concierge tried to anticipate our needs as he welcomed us into the Grand Velas Riviera Maya Resort in Playa del Carmen, made us feel like he was. The five diamond, all-inclusive ...

Escape to Kauai With Family

Only, upon arrival at our Airbnb, our family discovered there was no key left inside the mailbox as promised by the landlord. Learn how our crazy solutions created the adventures that bind us.

Best Food in the North Carolina Mountains

The picturesque towns of Highlands & Cashiers, N.C. are at the top of our weekend getaway list! Check out this guide for the best food in the North Carolina mountains.

No Spoilers! What to Expect from Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

The time has come, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is finally open at Disneyland. See what the experience was like, what to expect, and whether our expectations were met in this no spoilers guide.

7 Tips for Summer Fun in Mammoth with Crazy Kids

Although I wanted him to be brave, part of me pictured his hands losing grip on the rope suspended to the branch above his head and his little body landing with a dull thud onto the sharp rocks. We took our kids to Mammoth Lake in the ...

How To Survive Flying with Baby Your First Time

When I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, everyone was quick to tell me that my traveling days were over. Determined to prove them wrong and continue to explore the world, I made the decision to take her with me. Was it challenging? Ummm, yes. Imagine changing the diaper of a rambunctious […]