Guide to Iceland’s southern coast

It's easy to find advice and guides to Iceland's famed Golden Circle, and yes, this well-trafficked and easy route from Reykjavik is definitely worth doing. However, beyond the Golden Circle, there's so much to see in Southern Iceland. Here's where to go and what to see on Iceland's southern coast along the Ring Road. Touring Iceland's Southern Coast From Reykjavik, take the Ring Road (Route … [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...]

Beyond the Blue Lagoon: Iceland hot springs off the beaten path

Yep, we went to Iceland for eight days and never went to the Blue Lagoon. Why pay a crazy entry fee to go to an overcrowded geothermal pool, when so many remote, beautiful, and FREE pools exist all over Iceland? During our camper van road trip in Iceland, we dipped our toes in steaming water every single day, and never paid an entry fee of more than $25 (and usually paid nothing at all). Where … [Read more...]

Deschutes river rafting with Sun Country Tours

During our recent visit to Pronghorn Club, we were fortunate enough to enjoy the Big Eddy rafting trip with Bend, Oregon's Sun Country Tours. 'Short but sweet', the Big Eddy trip is only 1.5 hours long (2.5 door-to-door from Sun Country) but promises more whitewater than most families see on the average float or raft trip (at least it was more than we had seen!). Deschutes river rafting: Our … [Read more...]

Three northwest backpacking routes for families

Parents with young children: you absolutely can backpack with kids! Our family has found success by choosing backpacking routes that are short on distance but big on rewards, whether that be in the form of a fun lake or river to swim in, dramatic scenery, or both. The following three northwest backpacking routes for families deliver. Before you read on, check out our tips for backpacking with … [Read more...]

Family friendly urban bike routes in the U.S.

If you're heading to one of the popular cities in the U.S. for vacation, you might want to consider doing some exploring on two wheels. There are plenty of cities around the country that offer family-friendly urban bike routes where you can learn more about the area and see some great scenery. Make a plan to check out the following urban bike paths with your family. Cherry Creek Trail, … [Read more...]

Summer in the Berkshires: Bousquet Mountain Adventure Park review

Bousquet Ski Area’s Adventure Park is a vertical playground of high rope courses, zip lines, nets, and ladders, all set against the backdrop of the beautiful Berkshires. With three levels of course ‘elements’ to master, everyone will be challenged here, and everyone can get a taste of what ropes courses are all about.   Bousquet Mountain Adventure Park review: We met first with our … [Read more...]

Top family-friendly resort towns in the U.S.

The United States is a hugely diverse country with hundreds of thousands of unique locations spread out across a wide space. Choosing an American vacation destination is difficult in any situation, but especially so with a family in tow. With every additional trip taker comes another person’s enjoyment and happiness to consider. Selecting where to travel will require, to some extent, successfully … [Read more...]

St. Louis with kids: Missouri Botanical Garden

The Missouri Botanical Garden, established in 1859, is regarded as one of the top public gardens in the world. This 79-acre paradise, located only five miles from downtown St. Louis, exists thanks to local 19th-century businessman Henry Shaw, who admired the great public gardens of Europe and wanted to offer his hometown a similar resource. The gardens are exquisite, with pools, ponds, and … [Read more...]

Earth Day-friendly bucket list experiences and destinations

In celebration of Earth Day, we've rounded up our favorite experiences, tours, and travel operations that promote a spirit of 'Earth Day every day'. These travel experiences, through their passion for their destinations, help create the next generation of environmentalists. Earth Day-friendly bucket list experiences: Uncruise in Panama and Costa Rica: We just returned from Uncruise's newest … [Read more...]