Camping in Death Valley National Park: Furnace Creek Campground review

We love Death Valley National Park’s Furnace Creek Ranch, but as room rates for this family-friendly Death Valley lodging option rise (justifiably…it’s a great place to stay), we’ve been exploring camping in Death Valley. Here's what we discovered about fantastic Furnace Creek Campground! Families have their pick of several Death Valley campgrounds, including Stovepipe Wells campground, and all … [Read more...]

Death Valley National Park with kids: top hikes for active kids

We love exploring Death Valley National Park with kids! And no, you won't swelter in the heat if you follow our tips! After our fourth visit with kids (stay at either Furnace Creek Ranch or Furnace Creek Campground), we’ve narrowed down our list of favorite Death Valley hikes to our top three. These hikes--detailed below--are best for active, school-aged kids who love exploring, climbing, … [Read more...]

How to spend two days in Banff National Park, Alberta

Hopefully, you have more than two days to explore Banff National Park with kids, but if you are limited on time, here's what you should do first. Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies: Whyte Museum is a great place to start. It may be small, but does an excellent job with both an art gallery and exhibits detailing the history of the park, starting with the First Nations' presence and … [Read more...]

Dinosaur National Monument with Kids

Spanning both Utah and Colorado, Dinosaur National Monument is a national park destination too massive to tackle in a day, or even a few days. During our visit, we opted to check out only one section of the park, on the Utah side, but we tasted just enough of this park to know we’ll be back. Here’s how to plan a trip to Dinosaur National Monument with kids: Know the lay of the land: There are two … [Read more...]

Guide to Iceland national parks

Nearly ALL of Iceland looks like a national park, so families can’t go wrong finding beautiful outdoor experiences on an Iceland vacation with kids. But Iceland national parks do pack in a lot of interesting natural features you won’t want to miss. Here’s what to see in each. Þingvellir National Park: Þingvellir is easily accessed from Reykjavik, and is located on the Golden Circle, so … [Read more...]

Where to ski in Utah: Brian Head Resort with kids

Deciding where to ski in Utah is a little like deciding which tropical island to buy...you really can't go wrong, wherever you choose.  That said, there are distinct differences between Utah resorts, and perhaps an even bigger difference between Salt Lake City and Provo area resort and Southern Utah resorts. For the first time, I explored the skiing options in Southern Utah, where I loved the … [Read more...]

Exploring Shasta Cascade: Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Northern California hosts wonderful outdoor recreational opportunities for families, from Lassen National Park to Mount Shasta hiking trails and ski areas. If you only have a day, and want a taste of the area's lakes, trails, and mining history, head to Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, just outside Redding, CA. Whiskeytown is located just 20 minutes from I-5, and I'm ashamed to say I … [Read more...]

Mount Rainier National Park two-day itinerary

On the right day, Mount Rainier National Park can rival the scenery beheld at National Park greats such as Glacier and Canada’s Banff or Jasper. Often hidden in cloud, the mountain framed by blue skies is nothing short of breathtaking, and on clear days, the views from the Paradise end of the park reach from Mt. St. Helens to Mt. Hood to Mt. Baker. The day we arrived, looking from volcano … [Read more...]

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield

Southwest Missouri hosts a great deal of rich history, including more Civil War history than we realized. While visiting in the Springfield or Branson area, plan to spend at least half a day, if not more, at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. In case you need to brush up on your Civil War history (as I always do), Wilson's Creek was the site of the second major battle of the war fought … [Read more...]

Best of 2014: Best destinations for families you can book now!

Every December, we take time to reflect upon the past year of travel, and select five experiences---yes, just five!---that we crown the best of the year. Last year, our top travel experiences of 2013 took us from Alaska to the Caribbean. This year, we're focusing on the American West and MidAtlantic, showcasing everything from five-star city hotels to cabins. We stand behind these picks as … [Read more...]