It's very hard to plan a trip to the Canadian Rockies. Why? No matter how ambitious your itinerary, there's always one more place to visit just a few kilometers down the road. But if you do have to scale your trip to under one week, here's how to spend four days in and around Lake Louise and the Icefields Parkway, during a Jasper and Banff National Park road trip. Start in Jasper: The small … [Read more...]
One week in San Diego with kids: San Diego itinerary
March 24, 2021 By
San Diego is one of our favorite spring destinations: it's warm, offers up both beaches and culture, and can be affordable for a week-long visit. Here's what not to miss with kids during a one week San Diego itinerary: As travel today remains uncertain, please keep your safety and the safety of others in mind at all times. If you are comfortable with traveling, please travel responsibly and … [Read more...]
Budget-friendly Spring Break destinations you haven’t thought of
March 15, 2021 By
Planning a Spring Break vacation? With only a week or so off school, it can be hard to find a vacation that's both easy to plan and easy on the wallet. Below, we have over a dozen ideas throughout the US, Caribbean, and Mexico for budget-friendly Spring Break destinations. Desert destinations: An easy way to enjoy a warm-weather vacation while saving money is to head to the desert instead of to … [Read more...]
Zion National Park in winter
February 25, 2021 By
Before I visited Zion National Park in winter, I pictured the famed slot canyons and rock formations of the park buried in snow, with park amenities shuttered for the season and the adjacent town of Springdale hard to access on wintery roads. I could not have been more wrong. Thanks to it's low elevation and Southern Utah location near St. George, Zion National Park in winter is completely … [Read more...]
Yosemite National Park travel tips: best tours, hikes, and advice
February 20, 2021 By
During a time when many vacations are not possible, outdoor activities in road trip-accessible locations offer the ability to safely social distance. Hotels.com asked me to share my favorite activities and tips for exploring the Yosemite area, so start here as you plan a safe and responsible vacation. Yosemite National Park is one of the crown jewels of the national park system, and for good … [Read more...]
Guide to visiting Iceland in the winter with kids
February 16, 2021 By
Unless you've been living under a rock, you've been hearing the word 'Iceland' related to 'family travel' for a few years now. Families can have a great adventure in Iceland during the warm months (in fact, stay tuned for a guide to camping in Iceland with kids), but many people are still reluctant to try visiting Iceland in the winter with kids. It's a great time to visit, and if you read on, I'm … [Read more...]
Seven destinations for family biking vacations
February 15, 2021 By
Introducing your children to an active lifestyle has become more challenging with skyrocketing technological innovations. During family biking vacations, kids can quickly develop poor fitness and eating habits that lead to chronic diseases later in life without consistent physical activity. Limiting your child’s screen time to roughly two hours per day and encouraging spending time outdoors can … [Read more...]
Backcountry skiing basics: How to get into the sport
December 2, 2020 By
It's never been a better time to get into the backcountry and leave the crowds behind! Here's how to get into the sport during the COVID season! An avid downhill skier and snowshoer, I've been noting the small but growing trend toward backcountry skiing for some time now. This sport, which combines a love of nordic exploration and downhill excitement, attracts men and women (and yes, some kids) … [Read more...]
Six kid-friendly tourist attractions to visit in Pigeon Forge
November 9, 2020 By
Travel can be challenging right now. If you decide traveling is right for your family, be sure to social distance, wear masks, and quarantine upon your return. If you're ready to hit the road and take your family on an adventurer's journey, here are six incredible kid-friendly tourist attractions to visit in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Ziplining through the Great Smoky Mountains One of … [Read more...]
Planning a trip to Door County with kids
October 20, 2020 By
The moment I heard Door County, Wisconsin described as ‘the Cape Cod of the Midwest’, this family-friendly destination made perfect sense to me. Despite the fact that Lake Michigan served as the ‘ocean’ in this comparison, the description was spot-on. Door County, the narrow ‘thumb’-shaped peninsula of Wisconsin, is comprised of scenic shoreline, quaint villages, and rolling farmland. It’s Cape … [Read more...]
