Grown Up Getaway: Portland Alberta Arts District and Tiny House Hotel

Whether you’re intrigued with the idea of building or buying your own tiny house one day, or simply want to sample the tiny house lifestyle for a few nights, a stay at the nation’s only tiny house hotel should definitely be on your radar. Caravan, a tiny house hotel, is located in Portland’s up-and-coming Alberta Arts District, making it an ideal overnight during a grown-up getaway. Caravan Tiny … [Read more...]

A Visit To St. Louis’ City Museum

When you hear the words “City Museum,” you might picture a building devoted to recording and educating the public about the history of a city—in this case, St. Louis, Missouri. You would be wrong. The building does contain bas-reliefs and barrels, retired safe deposit boxes and a vault—pieces of the city’s history. But you won’t find a single interpretive sign, because the City Museum is a … [Read more...]

Nebraska with kids: Where to play and eat in Omaha

Situated at the intersection of Interstate 80 and the Missouri River, the city of Omaha offers a surprisingly broad array of great attractions for families--and for Midwestern families, a vacation destination within driving distance of home. We've already covered Omaha's world-class zoo, two of its museums, and the Holiday Inn Downtown. For more of a taste of where to eat in Omaha, read … [Read more...]

Holiday Inn Downtown Omaha review: A family-friendly place to hang your hat

Time to rack up those IHG points! If your family is enjoying the multitude of things to do in Omaha, consider hanging your hat at the Holiday Inn-Downtown Omaha. This hotel, a few blocks away from the concentration of downtown attractions, has just the right balance of quality and family-friendly touches to make it a home away from home. Holiday Inn Downtown Omaha review: This Holiday … [Read more...]

Nebraska travel: Omaha museums to visit with kids

Omaha, Nebraska is a thriving metropolis offering lots of attractions to families for a vacation close to home, including arts, sports, outdoors activities, and a number of quality museums. Our family recommends two Omaha museums to visit with kids: the Durham and the Omaha Children’s Museum. Visiting the Durham Museum with kids The Durham Museum, housed in Union Station, honors Omaha’s … [Read more...]

Nebraska with kids: A stop at Arbor Day Farm

When J. Sterling Morton, founder of Arbor Day, moved to the Nebraska Territory in the 1850s, he wanted to build a home overlooking the Missouri River, but there weren’t enough trees on the grasslands to do it. Morton decided to change that. Today, the fruit of his efforts is the 260-acre Arbor Day Farm, devoted to fostering a love of trees and nature in children and adults alike. The Arbor … [Read more...]

Nebraska with kids: Henry Doorly Zoo

In 2014, the Travelers’ Choice Awards named the Henry Doorly Zoo, in Omaha, Nebraska, its #1 zoo. This park, with its wide walkways lined with evergreen and deciduous trees, is well worth an extended visit by families of all ages. Here's how to plan your day at Henry Doorly Zoo with kids: What to see at Henry Doorly Zoo with kids: Henry Doorly Zoo is a sprawling complex, and for the most … [Read more...]

Visiting Atlanta with kids: Children’s Museum of Atlanta

Downtown Atlanta is a quintessential “pit stop,” boasting an array of attractions to break up a long road trip, from the Coca Cola museum to Centennial Olympic Park to CNN’s headquarters. In the center of this thriving metro sits the Children's Museum of Atlanta. Newly renovated with a focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math education) programming, the CMA offers families, … [Read more...]

Grown up getaway: Society Hotel Portland

Love unique properties, boutique hotels, and repurposed buildings? Portland has the motherload. It seems that every time I turn around, a new boutique property has opened in my favorite Northwest city. The latest: The Society Hotel, which we checked out on a rainy January weekend. No doubt about it, the Society Hotel is ideal for a grown up getaway, parent-child mini-vacation, or girls' … [Read more...]

Chicago Field Museum tips

We love natural history museums and have visited versions of them all over the country. The Chicago Field Museum is in our top five! We loved this cavernous, elegant museum situated on the Museum Campus by Lake Michigan and Shedd Aquarium. Here’s what we recommend seeing and doing, plus tips to plan your visit: What not to miss: If you have older kids or teens, the top two or three exhibits may … [Read more...]