My Favorite Art Museum For The Whole Family In Washington, DC

October 1, 2022 Amanda Luhn

Entrance to America's Presidents Gallery in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC — This is the nation’s only complete collection of portraits of our presidents outside of the White House and the biggest (but not the only reason) to visit this museum.

Looking for a non intimidatingly large art museum that the kids will actually find interesting? The National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museums are a 2 for 1 special that our family has always enjoyed. Sharing one building and one theme (the story of America through its art and people), we make it a scavenger hunt for the kids to find portraits of certain presidents or influential people that impacted America. Because the museum isn’t on the Mall, it doesn’t get quite as busy as some of the other attractions in DC, an always appreciated bonus!

Hiking Black Elk Peak With Kids

September 21, 2022 Amanda Luhn

Are you into hiking the tallest peaks in every state? Or big hikes with big rewards but still doable for most families? Either way, Black Elk Peak should be on your to-do list when visiting the Black Hills. Our whole family enjoyed this hike even though it was fairly strenuous. Not only does the top have fantastic 360 views of the Black Hills (the big reward), but the trails up and down were full of impressive rock formations, showy fall colours, and even some mountain goats who took time out of their busy mountain goating to pose for me.

Wind Cave National Park- An Absolute Must Do Addition To Your Black Hills Vacation Itinerary

August 1, 2022 Amanda Luhn

Sign showing the cave below at Wind Cave National Park — I loved the scenery above and below the ground at Wind Cave National Park. It was amazing to think of the miles of cave under us that we just got to explore.

Wind Cave is a fantastic national park that often gets overlooked in comparison to its more famous neighbors in the Black Hills of South Dakota. We are here to tell you—you should definitely add Wind Cave to your Black Hills vacation itinerary as it is not to be missed! Touring one of the most unique cave systems in the world was a lot of fun for our entire family. Afterwards, take a lovely hike through the prairie where the kids can now say they have walked over and under the same part of the Earth. Not something you can say too often! And to make it all even better, the wildlife watching was some of the best in the Black Hills.

Family Skiing at Bozeman’s Bridger Bowl

July 15, 2021 Amanda Luhn

Having skied at the destination resort of Big Sky for the last decade, our family decided to try something different. Don’t get me wrong- we still love Big Sky Resort with its endless choice of terrain and trails. We ultimately decided to go just one hour north of Big Sky Resort to check out Bozeman’s local ski area at Bridger Bowl.

Ski Discovery In Montana Is A Discovery Worth Finding

April 18, 2021 Amanda Luhn

I can’t get over the view from the top of Ski Discovery, it was gorgeous. Between the mountains in the distance and Georgetown Lake below, I ended up skiing a lot of cruisers so I could enjoy the scenery. And as you can see, this isn’t a mountain where lift lines are an issue.

Discovery Ski Area in western Montana is a discovery worth finding. Fabulous runs, uncrowded, nice variety of terrain, uncrowded, inexpensive, family-friendly, did I mention uncrowded? We had a wonderful day skiing here with the family and everyone agreed more people should know about this place. Or wait, maybe they shouldn’t???

Sequoyah Birthplace Museum And Fort Loudoun State Park- Family Fun In East Tennessee

February 18, 2020 Amanda Luhn

Looking for a day of fun outside with maybe a little education thrown in? Then spend the day reliving the French and Indian War at Fort Loudoun and learning about Sequoyah’s remarkable alphabet at these two fantastic sites on beautiful Tellico Lake. Afterwards, enjoy a lakeside picnic or rent a kayak or standup paddleboard from the park’s Visitor Center. All in all, a perfect day!

The Definitive Guide To Cloudland Canyon State Park

November 15, 2019 Amanda Luhn

Clouds + canyon = you can see how Cloudland Canyon got its name

Hiking, biking, waterfalls, cabins, tents, and yurts- what’s not to love about Cloudland Canyon State Park. Oh yeah.. it also has some pretty spectacular views too. Find out everything you need to know about this wonderful state park.

Experience Southern Charm In The Upstate- A Weekend Getaway In Greenville With The Family

April 23, 2019 Amanda Luhn

Looking for someplace new to discover but only have a weekend to spend? Look no further than Greenville, South Carolina. Repeatedly making “best of” lists because of its amazing restaurant scene and the fantastic Swamp Rabbit Trail, your family will have a fabulous weekend of fun in this charming small city.

9/11 Museum With Children: To Go Or Not To Go?

September 26, 2018 Amanda Luhn

The 9/11 Memorial next to the Museum. The two waterfalls encapsulate the original footprints of the Twin Towers and each victim’s name is inscribed on the surrounding walls.

The 9/11 Museum is absolutely a place I would visit at least once in your life, to learn more about this devastating event and its place in American history, as well as to remember those who died. But it is an emotionally taxing place and obviously brings up some very hard questions from your kids. Ones that I am not sure I will ever know how to answer. But just because an event is hard or unpleasant doesn’t mean it should be ignored. Here is everything I learned from my visit and my thoughts on what you should think about before deciding to take your own family.

Yes, You Can Hike The Narrows In Zion With Kids: Everything You Need to Know

July 8, 2018 Amanda Luhn

The Narrows is one of my favorite hikes. Ever.

The Narrows is one of the most iconic hiking trails in the world because of its spectacular scenery, easy access, and the uniqueness of hiking in a river. It has been on my bucket list for years and even though I crossed it off with the day trip section, I have now added the two-day hike to my to-do list. It was a fantastic hike that the kids thoroughly enjoyed and still talk about. It totally lived up to our expectations.

Science And Fun? Yes Please. Both Can Be Found At The Tellus Science Museum In North Georgia

April 22, 2018 Amanda Luhn

This is a great museum- with a wonderful planetarium, interesting exhibits, and a fun kids section. If you are looking for a enjoyable and easy day trip for you and your kids from Atlanta or Chattanooga, you should definitely check out the Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville, Georgia.

Greenville, SC- A Weekend Of Food And Outdoors

March 8, 2018 Amanda Luhn

Overlooking the Reedy River from Main St in downtown Greenville.

I have been reading about Greenville for awhile, its food scene and the 20 mile Swamp Rabbit Trail, a rails to trails project that goes right through town. After 3 days there, I can say all its recent buzz is well deserved. We hiked, we biked, and we ate our way through town, having a great time the whole way. If you are looking for a weekend getaway spot, Greenville should be at the top of your list.

Looking For Educational And Fun Things To Do In Atlanta With Kids? Visit The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park

March 7, 2018 Amanda Luhn

Outside the Visitor Center of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park

The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park was an excellent adventure, full of interesting immersive experiences, thought-provoking displays, and beautiful grounds for the kids to run a little bit. I would highly recommend it to anyone traveling to Atlanta with kids of any age, as there was something for everyone to enjoy.

Zion National Park Without the Crowds (and the Heat!)

December 18, 2017 Amanda Luhn

Heading to Zion National Park in the summer is a family vacation to remember for sure but unfortunately, part of the memory will be waiting in line for shuttle buses and wilting in afternoon highs of 100℉. Because the canyon is so fantastic, the other memories easily outweigh these irritations but you can also skip them by detouring to Kolob Canyons, the unheralded northwest corner of the park. Here you can take scenic hikes, and drive through a beautiful canyon and actually stand a chance of finding some solitude on the trail. The higher elevation (700ft versus 4000ft) means that Kolob Canyons is great alternative when the heat is too much for hiking in the main canyon.

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