Saddle Pass - Medicine Root - Castle Trail Loop Hike in Badlands National Park

February 6, 2023 Amanda Luhn

Overlook of Saddle Pass Trail — View down from a rock outcropping overlooking Saddle Pass Trail. One member of our group ran up but the rest of us elected to stay on the trail and wave up at him. You can see the trail ascending up the rock formations on the right of the picture.

Saddle Pass to Medicine Root Trail to Castle Trail is a nice day hike of about 4.8 miles that combines rock scrambling, strolling through the prairie, plus fantastic views out over the classic rock formations of the Badlands all in this one hike. Our family really enjoyed this hike - interesting and varied enough for the kids (but not too long) while the adults got to take lots of pretty photosand feel like they stretched their legs.

Our Review Of Cedar Pass Lodge And Campground In Badlands National Park

February 2, 2023 Amanda Luhn

Not too hard to get a pretty picture of Cedar Pass Lodge with this backdrop. You can see the small group of rental cabins in the foreground and the main building in the distance on the left of this picture. The campground is about a 1/4 mile away to the left. This picture is taken just after the sunset so the rocks are reflecting the beautiful reds and pinks and all you had to do to see it was just walk outside your door.

I loved Badlands National Park and part of the reason why I liked it so much is because we stayed one night at Cedar Pass Lodge. Being able to enjoy the breathtaking sunset and sunrise, not to mention the awesome starry nights, made this trip special in a way I don’t think visiting the park just for the day would have. If you can swing it, definitely try to make an overnight in the cozy cabins at Cedar Pass a priority. You won’t regret it.

A Simply Awesome Day Biking The Mickelson Trail in The Black Hills Of South Dakota With Kids

December 5, 2022 Amanda Luhn

Mickelson Bike trail in the Black Hills of South Dakota — I mean, who wouldn’t want to spend the day looking at scenery like this?

Whether you cycle the entire 109 miles or just rent a bike for an afternoon, the Mickelson Trail is an awesome adventure for the whole family. It is an absolutely gorgeous ride through some of the most beautiful parts of the Black Hills. With 4 train tunnels and over a hundred bridges, not to mention rolling hills, open pastures, and old gold mines dotting the trail, there is plenty to look at and enjoy on the Mickelson Trail!

Think You Shouldn't Travel to Alaska in January? Think Again.

November 1, 2022 Amanda Luhn

View from the bucket in a dog sled in Alaska — Mushing was never on my bucket list and it should have been. So much fun.

Traveling to Fairbanks in January turned out to be a much better idea than I thought it was going to be. When my friends invited me on the Alaskan vacation they were planning, my first thought was "Alaska? In January? Have you met me???" But a chance to check off an elusive bucket list item, the Northern Lights, got me on a cross-country plane flight to Fairbanks, Alaska hauling a suitcase stuffed with warm clothing.

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.

The Mammoth Site: A Hidden Gem In The Black Hills of South Dakota

September 19, 2022 Amanda Luhn

The excavations so far at the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, South Dakota — There are at least 60 mammoths buried here as well as many other kinds of animals, including an extinct Ice Age bear that was huge!

If you are looking for fun and unique family activities in the Black Hills that are not hiking, biking, or Mt.Rushmore, than check out The Mammoth Site, the largest collection of mammoth bones from one place in the world. It is a great little museum that doesn’t take long to see but packs a lot into that visit. Walk around (and over !) an active dig site containing at least 61 mammoth skeletons and brush up on your Ice Age knowledge. Two thumbs up from our family.

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.

Sedona and the Grand Canyon National Park Can Be Combined For A Terrific Road Trip- Easy Hikes, Great Lodging, and Terrific Restaurants!

January 26, 2022 Amy Ragsdale

Here is everything you need to know about where to sleep, eat, and hike in Sedona, Arizona and nearby Grand Canyon National Park. All of the hikes described here are rated easy and provide an enjoyable short walk to experience the best vistas in Sedona.

Bonus! Just a short drive from Sedona, you’ll also be able to check the Grand Canyon off your bucket list. We let you know the best road stops along the way as well as in-park lodging recommendations and activities during your stay at Grand Canyon National Park.

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???

The Best Family Ski Trip Packing List For Cold Weather

January 27, 2019 Amy Ragsdale

If you live in a locale that doesn’t experience true winter weather, meaning bitterly cold temps, wind, and big powder like you see at ski resorts in the western United States, this packing list is for you. Having planned our annual ski trip to Big Sky Resort, Montana for eight years now, we’ve managed to create a packing list that ensures everyone will be warm and comfortable while enjoying the snowy winter wonderland.

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.

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.

“Too busy to plan a vacation? No worries, it’s already been done for you. Detailed family trip itineraries ready to go!”

— Simply Awesome Trips