This amazing high elevation hike on the Appalachian Trail to Buzzard Rock in southwest Virginia offers meadows, forests, and an open mountain bald. Add some amazing views and a bit of rock scrambling, and it’s a surefire winner for the family.
Read moreA Weekend Getaway In Abingdon, Virginia - Where To Eat, Where To Stay, And Things To Do
Trestle on the Virginia Creeper Trail near Abingdon, Virginia
For my family, we repeatedly visit Abingdon for two main reasons: biking the Virginia Creeper Trail (a 34 mile rails to trails pathway) and hiking the trails at nearby Grayson Highlands State Park, famous for its soaring mountain views and wild ponies. Here’s everything you need to know to enjoy these two wonderful things to do on your next visit to Abingdon, Virginia - when to go, where to stay, and our favorite restaurants in Abingdon.
Read moreStay In A Yurt At Grayson Highlands State Park—It’s Simply Awesome!
Yurt 1 at Grayson Highlands State Park
Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia is one of my favorite places in the world. I love the mountain balds with wild ponies grazing, the easy access to great trails with amazing views, and the high elevation of the park. The tent camping at Grayson Highlands, however, isn’t great. The sites are too small and close to each other. The work around? Stay in a yurt! Yurt 2, also known as “Split Rock” was our home for 2 nights during the first week of June. Read my full review.
Read moreThe Insider’s Guide To Kiawah Island
My family has been visiting Kiawah Island in South Carolina for the last 20 years. It’s our favorite beach destination in the South, because you can bike to everywhere on the island, the beach is wide and 10 miles long, and there’s not a hi-rise to be found here. This Insider’s Guide to Kiawah Island provides everything you need to know to plan your next family vacation- best places to stay, where to eat, things to do, and all the tips and knowledge we’ve gained on our vacations here.
Read moreFamily Vacation To Yellowstone
Living in Bozeman, MT, we get plenty of friends and family visiting us on their way from Bozeman to Yellowstone National Park. We are fortunate to live within 2 hours of both the West Entrance and North Entrance to Yellowstone. This is the information we share with them and it’s proven to be a great itinerary for all!
Read moreA Simply Awesome Day in Yellowstone National Park
There is so much to see in Yellowstone National Park, but the Lamar Valley is a must see for wildlife viewing. Find out where to stay, where to eat, best places for wildlife viewing, and easy hikes for all to enjoy in the Lamar Valley.
Read moreA Simply Awesome Day in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Cades Cove at sunrise. One of my favorite places to be in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Living just 30 minutes from the entrance to the Smokies, we are often asked about a one day itinerary for friends and family visiting the park. Although you could easily spend a week here, we think this one day plan captures the spirit and beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Read moreEverything You Wanted To Know About Elkmont Campground In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Want to take a trip to the Smokies and camp in the woods but not sure what to expect? We’ll tell you everything you need to know about Elkmont Campground in exhaustive detail- what campsites are the best, how to reserve, and all the little things that will help you plan your trip. This family friendly campground is one of our favorites in the Smokies and we return to it again and again.
Read moreA Simply Awesome Day in Bozeman, Montana
Stopping in Bozeman on your way to Yellowstone National Park? You’ll find plenty to do in this fun western town. Here’s how to spend a perfect day. What to do, where to eat, and where to stay in Bozeman, MT.
Read morePhelps Lake in Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park is simply awesome with its jagged mountain peaks, alpine lakes, wildlife, sagebrush meadows, and forests filled with aspens and fir trees. You’ll find it all on this wonderful hike to Phelps Lake on the Lake Creek-Woodland Trail Loop.
Read moreThe Best Place To Swim In Grand Teton National Park
The Teton’s String Lake is shallow, so although it is still very cold, it’s not quite as freezing as some of the other lakes found in Grand Teton National Park. Its sandy bottom is easy on the feet making it a very kid-friendly lake to swim and float. My girls brought their snorkel masks and had a blast.
Read moreHighlights And Tips For Visiting Glacier National Park
Mountain goats on the Hidden Lake Trail
Montana’s Glacier National Park is definitely a bucket-list worthy destination for any family. You will love the alpine lakes surrounded by stunning mountain peaks, the availability of hiking trails that are fairly easy for the kids yet incredibly scenic, and the high probability of actually seeing wildlife every day of your visit.
Read moreGrand Teton National Park With Kids-What To See and Do
Favorite family-friendly hikes, awe-inspiring views, swimming holes, float trips, horseback riding, wildlife viewing tips, rainy day activities, and more “can’t miss” jewels of Grand Teton National Park are described in detail in this 5 day itinerary for Grand Teton National Park.
Read moreCapitol Reef National Park- It’s So Worth It!
Capitol Reef is a great national park in Utah for a family who doesn’t want the logistics of coordinating the park shuttles of Zion, waiting in the entrance lines of Arches, or negotiating the crowded parking areas at popular trailheads.
For us, Capitol Reef provided scenic beauty, plenty of easy hikes, and while we were there, minimal people. We came away refreshed, not frazzled, and certainly awe inspired!
Read moreCool Off In The Clear Water of Lake Jocassee in South Carolina
The beautiful, clear water of Lake Jocassee
Devil’s Fork State Park offers excellent camping sites next to the clear, cold water of Lake Jocassee which is located about one hour from Greenville, SC. The buzzword descriptions like “Lake Tahoe of the East” or “South Carolina’s Little Switzerland” are spot on for this wonderful spot in South Carolina.
Read moreHow To Get Cheap Tickets For Broadway Shows- What You Need To Do Pre-Trip And Why Visiting Box Offices Is Worth It
Times Square in NYC on a cloudy March day. This is basically your starting place for Broadway shows as almost all of the theaters are a short walk from here. We took the subway here each morning as we headed out on our hunt for cheap tickets for one of the many, many musicals to choose from on Broadway. A little work and some luck led us to some great seats and some great shows.
Find out how we scored cheap tickets for 5 Broadway musicals in 5 days. (And also how I am an obsessive researcher and planner.) With a combination of a lot of pre-trip internet surfing, some walking around, and a little luck, we saw 5 fantastic shows on Broadway for less than $300 per person. I will give you all the details of how we did it- from how the ticket lotteries work, to what rush tickets are, and why walking around to box offices can really pay off.
Read moreBadlands National Park And The Black Hills With Kids- An Awesome 6 Day South Dakota Itinerary
Waving at my brother from the top of Saddle Pass trail in Badlands National Park. He climbed up to this overlook but I was pretty content with the view where we were, which was fantastic. Of course, the views were pretty fantastic everywhere in Badlands.
This 6 day itinerary includes a complete itinerary for 6 days in South Dakota visiting Wind Cave National Park, hiking Black Elk Peak in Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore, biking the Mickelson Trail, Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, and of course Badlands National Park.
Read moreYou Go Sister! My Family's Favorite Historic Site Hike in the Smokies
The Walker Sister Cabin is my family's favorite historic site in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. It makes for a perfect afternoon outing for the family, and the kids (and you) will love walking through the cabin and imagining the lives lived here by the Walker sisters during the early 1900's.
Read moreWhich Campground To Choose In Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Should you choose Elkmont Campground or Cades Cove Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Having camped at both as children and as adults, we give you the breakdown of the pros and cons of each.
Read moreA Frozen Wonderland in the Smokies
The Middle Prong Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of our favorite hikes in the winter. If you’re lucky, you may even witness a frozen wonderland of icicles and cascades frozen in their tracks along the tributaries of the Little River in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. No matter the season, the Middle Prong Trail is an easy and pleasant hike in the Smokies.
Read more