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!
Read moreAre 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.
Read moreIf 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.
Read moreWind 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.
Read moreHere 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.
Read moreHaving 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.
Read moreDiscovery 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???
Read moreLooking 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!
Read moreNorris Dam State Park makes for a perfect place to spend a day (or a few days!) with the family. Go explore Norris Lake on a rented pontoon boat or a paddleboard or hike on one of the park’s many trails. Or maybe go fishing, camping, mountain biking, or learn some TVA and Appalachian history at the Dam Visitor Center or the Lenoir Museum. Norris Dam State Park is a fantastic family destination with something for everyone.
Read moreLooking for a great museum to explore while you are in downtown Knoxville? Then look no further than the East Tennessee History Museum. From settlers to Civil Rights, plus a whole lot about the Civil War and country music, you will find lots of interactive and interesting things for kids and adults. Plus, it is free on Sunday so get your learning on!
Read moreThe Maryville/Alcoa Greenway is a wonderful place to take the family out for a day’s ride. At 9 miles long, you can ride long enough to work up an appetite for some delicious food at one of the many places in either Maryville or Alcoa. Or bring a picnic and hang out in one of the parks along the greenway while the kids explore the fun playgrounds. There is something for everyone and it’s one of our family’s favorite activities!
Read moreBoston has an abundance of tourist attractions but none combine history, fun, and family friendliness as well as the Freedom Trail. Covering 2.5 miles and 16 historic sites, the trail takes you through the heart of downtown Boston and some its most charming streets while also covering a lot of of America’s early history. The kids love the scavenger hunt feel and adults will love the ease and inexpensive nature. Take 2-3 days to really explore the whole trail or take one day and pick your favorite part. It is something you can come back to again and again over the years.
Read moreBoston is a fantastic tourist destination for the whole family any time of year but visiting in winter has some impressive advantages (and a few disadvantages) over other times of year. The biggest advantage- having the biggest tourist attractions almost to yourself. And the weather isn’t that bad, just pull out your winter coats and scarves and go ahead and plan a fun family weekend in this wicked cool town!
Read moreHiking, 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.
Read moreCamping with kids has been easier in some ways than I thought it would be but it has also had its moments of calamity, mostly hilarious in retrospect and nothing that makes me regret one minute of time spent in a tent.
Read moreWho doesn’t want to spend a day of vacation letting the kids play in the sand or climb on an awesome playground while you enjoy the breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour? Throw in two gorgeous and accessible coastal walks, a delicious fish n’ chips picnic, cap it off with a night time ferry ride to admire the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House lit up at night, and you have a pretty perfect day right?
Read moreLooking 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.
Read moreWant to take a family vacation to Europe but can’t find affordable flights? Try flying into London, spending the night, and then taking the Eurostar out in the morning. You can sometimes score cheap flights, and even better, you can sometimes skip an overnight on a plane. From St. Pancras Station in London, take the Eurostar direclyt to France, Belgium, or the Netherlands. It’s a great alternative to flying direct to Europe and pretty easy to do.
Read moreIt has to be a picture that looks stunning (obviously), but also one that you can see your family in. It should be one that makes you think- “That looks awesome, we could do that!” These are some of our favorites from our travels over the years.
Read moreYou won’t have any trouble filling your weekend with fun in Louisville, whether you are here in winter or summer, rain or shine, or you have teenagers or toddlers. There is a plethora of activities, from hands-on museums to underground zip lines, and lots of tasty restaurants to try. But maybe the best thing about Louisville is its fairly compact size-- most attractions are within several blocks of each other, making your sight- seeing a breeze. Park the car for the weekend and enjoy yourself in this awesome city!
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