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Utah Mighty Five National Parks Road Trip

Utah Mighty Five National Parks Road Trip

Embark on an adventurous road trip through Utah’s Mighty. This family vacation explores Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce, and Zion national parks.  What are you waiting for?  Add this slice of heaven to your bucket list today!

The actual cost of our California road trip

The actual cost of our California road trip

A follow-up post to budgeting and planning for a California road trip.  Did we stick to our budget?  Our family spent over two weeks in five national parks and cities on the west coast.  Keeping my promise to share how much this trip really cost, this post is nitty-gritty and transparent about our summer vacation spending.   

How summer reading pays off

How summer reading pays off

How does this at-home summer reading program pay off for kids on vacation? Encourage your kids to read more over the summer and help them earn vacation cash with this simple plan.

11 expert tips for cruising with kids

11 expert tips for cruising with kids

11 expert tips for choosing and booking a family cruise. Hints for lodging, dining, and excursion choices to help you get the most out of your family vacation!

Cruise the South Caribbean with Kids - One Family's Story

Cruise the South Caribbean with Kids - One Family's Story

Dreaming of a family cruise vacation? Check out this Royal 10 day cruise with kids in the South Caribbean: Antigua, St. Kitts, St. Martin, Dominica, & Tortola! Involve your kids in the planning and pick out amazing island excursions that will blow you away!

Sedona, Arizona weekend getaway

Sedona, Arizona weekend getaway

Think Sedona, Arizona for a perfect weekend getaway or destination wedding. Shopping, galleries, and restaurants, plus jeep rides, hiking, and biking adventures in the red rocks. Or relax at the luxurious L'Auberge, take a gorgeous scenic drive to Flagstaff, and take the kids to Slide Rock.

3 East Coast city adventures

3 East Coast city adventures

Don't miss these cities: Washington D.C., Ocean City, MD, and Philadelphia, PA.  See the U.S. capitol, Smithsonian, wild ponies, Liberty Bell, a Phillies baseball game and more.  This East Coast adventure is sure to be a family travel hit!  [Rad Family Collective series]

Tips for successfully taking off on the road with kids

Tips for successfully taking off on the road with kids

You know those final hours leading up to a family road trip, or the hours before you and your hubs depart for that special romantic getaway you've been counting down for months (or perhaps years)?  All of a sudden everything else is demanding your time...  And you still need to pack!  I've been there.  But guess what?  I've picked up some tips and strategies along the way that make the final countdown to lift-off a little less crazy.  Here's how to get ready the 72 hours leading up to a getaway with tweens and teens.

San Antonio River Walk

San Antonio River Walk

Choose San Antonio for a fun multi-generational trip! See the Alamo, visit Sea World, and stroll the River Walk.  Restaurants, shops, art galleries, and nature flank the River Walk as it twists and turns under bridges - a tourist attraction all of its own one story beneath the city's streets.

Hobo Hammocks: a review

Hobo Hammocks: a review

Hobo Hammocks makes a perfect double hammock for home, family vacation, and camping. Here's 11 reasons this complete hanging system rocks, and we believe it’s better than an Eno.  Here’s an affordable hammock from a compassionate company that serves the homeless a meal for every hammock bought and more.

Kayaking and camping along the Niangua River

Kayaking and camping along the Niangua River

The Niangua River in the beautiful Ozarks of south central Missouri runs through Bennett Spring State Park, making it perfect for family camping, kayaking, and trout fishing.  The Niangua River is a 125-mile-long branch of the Osage River, and in the summer, the water is refreshingly cool and clear and perfect.  

StowAway Max Cargo Carrier: the ultimate packing hack

StowAway Max Cargo Carrier: the ultimate packing hack

10 reasons the StowAway Max Cargo Carrier rocks for family road trips. The ultimate packing hack for adventurous vacation destinations is here. 

Skiing Breckenridge - a first day with kids lesson-free

Skiing Breckenridge - a first day with kids lesson-free

See why we skipped the lessons and how our family had great day skiing and snowboarding on the slopes of Breckenridge in Colorado! My husband and I had skied / snowboarded plenty of times.  Our four kids had not.  Signing the kids up for lessons seemed smart… until we added up the cost!

Camping near Grand Canyon's South Rim

Camping near Grand Canyon's South Rim

Tips for visiting the Grand Canyon’s South Rim on summer vacation. Explore this national park with your family by hopping on and off the Hermit Road shuttle and consider camping at Mather Campground.

Capitol Reef - Canyon Country Blitz

Capitol Reef - Canyon Country Blitz

Camping near the Fremont River near a century old fruit orchard in the middle of Capitol Reef National Park sounded idyllic... Our time was unforgettable to say the least.  This gorgeous park is layered in loads of history and endless exploration. 

5 fun family hikes in Colorado Springs

5 fun family hikes in Colorado Springs

So many things to do in Colorado Springs during a family vacation.  Planning travel here?  Here I'm sharing five great family hikes we've discovered so far.  The great thing about hiking?  It's always an adventure and its an inexpensive (often free) way to spend time exploring as a family.