Recent posts
RV Camping Journal & Logbook
Paperback & Printable Versions Just Released! RVers – this one is for you! I’m excited to announce the release of my fifth travel journal, this one for all the RVers out there. After spending four years as a full-time family, traveling the United States in […]
Bamboo Grove, New Jersey and Wadsworth Falls, Connecticut
Traveling from Boston, Massachusetts to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, allowed us to drive through several states that we had never visited. We found two interesting places along our driving route. One attraction was Wadsworth Falls State Park, in Connecticut, and the other was Bamboo Grove at Rutgers […]
Slater Mill Historic Site in Pawtucket, Rhode Island
During our epic 3 week East Coast Road Trip, we ran into a lot of rain during weeks 1 and 2. A hurricane left the Northeast wetter and colder than normal for late September. After meticulous planning for months, rain put a literal damper on […]
8 Stops for History Lovers Near Boston, MA
It is truly amazing how much history is packed into Boston, Massachusetts, with its Freedom Trail, Tea Party Museum, and Boston Common, sights of some of Colonial America’s most notable events. But the surrounding area is just as incredible! You can spend a lot of […]
Lowell National Historical Park in Lowell, MA
As I was preparing for our east coast trip in and around Boston, I came across the city of Lowell, Massachusetts. As I am a Lowell descendent, I was aware of many famous writers in our family lineage. I did not happen to know, however, […]
6 Things to do in Boston with Teens
Boston is a city packed full of charm and history, and one I couldn’t wait to take my teens to visit. We based ourselves in Lexington for the duration of our stay and visited Boston as a day trip. Here are my 6 things to […]
Awe-Inspiring Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park has been on my bucket list for many, many years! After living in the midwest for most of my life, and then traveling mostly the west coast for four years, we just had to get to Maine! Waiting until we lived in […]
Travel 50 States Journal for Kids Revised 2023
Revised 2023 Book & Printable Versions Now Available! After publishing my TRAVEL 50 STATES JOURNAL for Kids in August of 2021, this year I’ve released two updates to this product: An updated and revised 2023 version is now available on Amazon and Lulu.com. This version […]
Hiking Towards Health & Travel in 2023
One of the greatest surprises and passions that emerged from our full-time travel experience was a discovery and love for hiking. There is something deeply moving that happens in your soul when viewing the world from atop a majestic mountain or among a field of […]
Traveled All 50 States Certificate of Achievement
Recently in my Facebook Travel Group, there have been lively discussions of the accomplishment of reaching their 50th state. It is always interesting to find out which state was someone’s last to visit, and how they celebrated their achievement. For some, it was simply a […]
New Hampshire’s Flume Gorge & Kancamagus Scenic Byway
Our recent trip to the east coast left me with a long list of attractions to visit in each state. The difficult part was narrowing down all of the amazing choices. My final picks for New Hampshire came down to two experiences – Flume Gorge, […]
The Hills Are Alive in Vermont
Visiting Vermont has been on my to do list for many years, and it did NOT disappoint! It looked just the way I imagined it would in Autumn. There were quaint small towns, rolling hills with picturesque farms, and beautiful orange, yellow, and red treetops […]
Travel WYOMING
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to Wyoming. This guide includes official tourism sites, attractions, national and state parks, tours, and restaurants. PLAN YOUR WYOMING TRIP Visit Wyoming National Park Service Wyoming State Parks Roadside America Factory Tours WYOMING ATTRACTIONS Bridger Valley […]
Travel WASHINGTON
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to Washington. Your guide to official tourism sites, attractions, tours, museums, National and State parks in the state of Washington. PLAN YOUR WASHINGTON TRIP Washington Official Tourism Site National Park Service State Parks Roadside America Factory […]
Travel WISCONSIN
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to Ohio. This guide includes resources such as official tourism sites, national and state parks, tours, attractions, museums, and restaurants. PLAN YOUR WISCONSIN TRIP Wisconsin Official Tourism Site National Park Service State Parks Roadside America Factory […]
Travel TEXAS
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to the state of Texas. This guide includes official tourism sites, National and State parks, tours, restaurants, and attractions. PLAN YOUR TEXAS TRIP Texas Official Tourism Site National Park Service State Parks Roadside America Factory Tours […]
Travel TENNESSEE
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to Tennessee. This guide includes resources such as official tourism sites, national and state parks, tours, attractions, museums, and restaurants. PLAN YOUR TENNESSEE TRIP Tennessee Official Tourism Site National Park Service State Parks Roadside America Factory […]
10 Ways to Engage Kids in Travel
Many of us have set our sights on traveling to all of the 50 states. But, how many of us are traveling with our family? Sometimes kids moan and groan in boredom, or their bad attitudes put a damper on our experiences. Is sightseeing or […]
Travel SOUTH CAROLINA
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to South Carolina. This guide includes resources such as official tourism sites, national and state parks, tours, attractions, museums, and restaurants. PLAN YOUR SOUTH CAROLINA TRIP South Carolina Official Tourism Site National Park Service State Parks […]
Travel RHODE ISLAND
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to Rhode Island. This guide includes resources such as official tourism sites, national and state parks, tours, attractions, museums, and restaurants. PLAN YOUR RHODE ISLAND TRIP Rhode Island Official Tourism Site National Park Service State Parks […]
Travel OREGON
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to Oregon. This guide includes official tourism sites, attractions, tours, national and state parks, and film locations. PLAN YOUR OREGON TRIP Oregon Official Tourism Site National Park Service State Parks Roadside America Factory Tours OREGON ATTRACTIONS […]
Travel MONTANA
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to Montana. Your guide for attractions, tours, restaurants, national and state parks, and more. PLAN YOUR MONTANA TRIP Montana Official Tourism National Park Service State Parks Roadside America Factory Tours MONTANA ATTRACTIONS Bannock State ParkBeartooth HighwayBig […]
Travel MISSOURI
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to the state of Missouri. Website links, attractions, National and State Parks, and restaurants are all included below. PLAN YOUR MISSOURI TRIP Missouri Official Tourism National Park Service State Parks Roadside America Factory Tours MISSOURI ATTRACTIONS […]
Travel MISSISSIPPI
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to the state of Mississippi: Attractions, restaurants, National and State Parks, and more. PLAN YOUR MISSISSIPPI TRIP Mississippi Official Tourism National Park Service State Parks Roadside America Factory Tours MISSISSIPPI ATTRACTIONS Agricultural and Forestry MuseumBiedenharn Coca-Cola […]
Travel MINNESOTA
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to the state of Minnesota. Attractions, restaurants, National and State Parks, and more. PLAN YOUR MINNESOTA TRIP Minnesota Official Tourism National Park Service State Parks Roadside America Factory Tours MINNESOTA ATTRACTIONS BemidjiBlack Bear Viewing – Vince […]
Travel MASSACHUSETTS
Start here with trip planning resources to plan your travel to the state of Massachusetts. Links below include National and State Parks, popular and lesser known tourist attractions, and restaurant recommendations. PLAN YOUR MASSACHUSETTS TRIP Massachusetts Travel Official Website National Parks State Parks Roadside America […]
Travel MICHIGAN
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to the state of Michigan: Attractions, restaurants, National and State Parks, and more. PLAN YOUR MICHIGAN TRIP Michigan Official Tourism National Park Service State Parks Roadside America Factory Tours MICHIGAN ATTRACTIONS Adventure Mining Company Mine ToursAnn […]
Travel NEBRASKA
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to Nebraska. Below you will find attractions, restaurants, National and State parks, and more. PLAN YOUR NEBRASKA TRIP Nebraska Official Tourism National Park Service State Parks Roadside America Factory Tours NEBRASKA ATTRACTIONS Agate Fossil Beds National […]
Travel NEVADA
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to Nevada. This is your guide to attractions, tours, roadside attractions, restaurants, National, and State Parks in the state of Nevada. PLAN YOUR NEVADA TRIP Visit Nevada Official Site National Park Service Nevada State Parks Roadside […]
Travel NEW HAMPSHIRE
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to New Hampshire. This is your guide to attractions, tours, roadside attractions, restaurants, National, and State Parks in the state of New Hampshire. PLAN YOUR NEW HAMPSHIRE TRIP Visit New Hampshire Official Site National Park Service […]
Travel NEW MEXICO
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to New Mexico. Your guide to attractions, tours, national parks, state parks, museums for the state of New Mexico. PLAN YOUR NEW MEXICO TRIP New Mexico Official Tourism Site National Park Service State Parks Roadside America […]
Travel NORTH CAROLINA
Trip planning guide to plan your travel to NORTH CAROLINA. Resources below include links to national and state parks, roadside attractions, tours, museums, and historic sites. PLAN YOUR NORTH CAROLINA TRIP North Carolina Official Site National Park Service State Parks Roadside America Factory Tours NORTH […]
Travel NORTH DAKOTA
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to North Dakota. This is your guide to attractions, tours, national and state parks, restaurants, and roadside stops in the state of North Dakota. PLAN YOUR NORTH DAKOTA TRIP North Dakota Official Tourism National Park Service […]
Travel KANSAS
Trip planning resources to plan your travel to Kansas, including attractions, national and state parks, factory tours, and roadside attractions. PLAN YOUR KANSAS TRIP Kansas Official Tourism Site National Park Service State Parks Roadside America Factory Tours KANSAS ATTRACTIONS Amelia Earhart BirthplaceBaxter SpringsCastle RockClinton LakeCosmosphereDorothy’s […]
Travel OHIO
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to Ohio. This guide includes resources such as official tourism sites, national and state parks, tours, attractions, museums, and restaurants. PLAN YOUR OHIO TRIP Ohio Official Tourism Site National Park Service State Parks Roadside America Factory […]
Travel KENTUCKY
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to Kentucky. Here is my list of Kentucky attractions and trip planning resources: PLAN YOUR KENTUCKY TRIP Kentucky Official Tourism Site National Parks State Parks Roadside America Factory Tours KENTUCKY ATTRACTIONS Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic […]
Travel OKLAHOMA
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to Oklahoma. This guide includes official tourism sites, tours, museums, national and state parks, restaurants, and attractions. PLAN YOUR OKLAHOMA TRIP Oklahoma Official Tourism Site National Park Service State Parks Roadside America Factory Tours OKLAHOMA ATTRACTIONS […]
Travel LOUISIANA
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to Louisiana. PLAN YOUR LOUISIANA TRIP Louisiana Travel Official Website National Parks State Parks Roadside America Factory Tours LOUISIANA ATTRACTIONS Acadian VillageAmerican Rose CenterAngola MuseumBayou Segnette State ParkBourbon StreetBuckner MansionCajun Food ToursCajun Pride Swamp ToursChalmette BattlefieldChicot […]
Travel SOUTH DAKOTA
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to the state of South Dakota. This guide contains official tourism sites, tours, attractions, National Parks, State Parks, and restaurants. PLAN YOUR SOUTH DAKOTA TRIP South Dakota Official Tourism Site National Park Service State Parks Roadside […]
Travel INDIANA
Plan your travel to the state of Indiana. Here is my list of Indiana attractions and trip planning resources: PLAN YOUR INDIANA TRIP Indiana Official Tourism Site National Park Service State Parks Roadside America Factory Tours INDIANA ATTRACTIONS Chapel of the ResurrectionChesterton Wizard of Oz […]
Travel Quotes That Inspire
Fifty travel quotes that will inspire you to explore the world around you and travel the 50 United States and beyond.
Travel HAWAII
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to the beautiful state of Hawaii. Here is my list of Hawaii attractions and trip planning resources: PLAN YOUR HAWAII TRIP Official Hawaiian Tourism Site National Parks State Parks Roadside Attractions Factory Tours HAWAII ATTRACTIONS Big […]
Travel FLORIDA
This is your resource for trip planning to the state of Florida. You will find links to attractions, National and State Parks, the state tourism site, factory tours and roadside attractions. PLAN YOUR FLORIDA TRIP Official State Tourism Site National Park Service Florida Florida State […]
Travel CONNECTICUT
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to the state of CONNECTICUT. PLAN YOUR CONNECTICUT TRIP Connecticut Official Office of Tourism National Park Service State Parks Roadside America Factory Tours CONNECTICUT ATTRACTIONS Bear Mountain ReservationChesterDinosaur State ParkEli Whitney MuseumEssex Steam TrainGillette Castle State […]
Travel GEORGIA
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to GEORGIA. PLAN YOUR GEORGIA TRIP Georgia Official Tourism Site National Park Service State Parks Roadside America Factory Tours GEORGIA ATTRACTIONS Allman Brothers Band MuseumAmerican Prohibition MuseumAmicalola Falls State ParkAnna Ruby FallsAntebellum TrailAugusta Canal National Heritage […]
Travel ILLINOIS
Trip planning links and resources to plan your travel to Illinois. Here is my list of Illinois attractions and trip planning resources: PLAN YOUR ILLINOIS TRIP Illinois Official Tourism Site National Park Service State Parks Roadside America Factory Tours ILLINOIS ATTRACTIONS Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library […]
15 Free & Fabulous Things to Do in Boise, ID
Boise very quick stole my heart, with its small, friendly setting amid a mountainous backdrop, filled with a plethora of activities to fill the hearts of any traveler. Although there are plenty of great things to experience in Boise, it’s truly the people that make […]
Hiking Logbook & Journal Release
I’m excited to announce the launch of my Hiking Logbook & Journal. The Hiking Logbook & Journal is the perfect tracking keepsake for documenting and reflecting on your hiking experiences. Several pages of log space allows you to list each hike, the date, location and […]
World Explorer Travel Journal RELEASE
I’m excited to announce the launch of the my World Explorer Travel Journal for kids! The World Explorer Travel Journal is the perfect tracking keepsake for documenting and reflecting on your world travels. This journal providing opportunities for coloring, drawing, and writing about travel experiences […]
Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico
Bandelier National Monument is located in north central New Mexico, just a short drive from Albuquerque. As we drove cross country from Idaho to Missouri via Mesa Verde National Park, we chose to take a detour to visit Bandelier. Unfortunately, Mesa Verde did not have […]
Travel 50 States Journal Release
I’m excited to announce the launch of the my TRAVEL 50 STATES JOURNAL. This journal is perfect for travelers of all ages: those who want to document each state they visit, those who are working to complete a goal of traveling to every state, and […]
7 Must-See Places In & Around Moab, Utah
Utah is known for its gorgeous red rocks, and some of the top National and State Parks in the U.S. There is so much to see and do, that you can spend months exploring this state. If you’ve only got a short time to spend […]
Travel 50 States Journal for Kids NOW AVAILABLE
The Travel 50 States Journal for Kids is now available for purchase on Amazon.com and Lulu.com. This cute, interactive journal was inspired by my own family’s travels across the United States. As a passionate educator and home school mom, I am always seeking out resources […]
Travel 50 States Journal for Kids
RELEASE DATE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 2021 I’m excited to announce the launch of the TRAVEL 50 STATES JOURNAL for Kids on Thursday, August 5th, 2021!! This cute, interactive journal for ages 5+ was inspired by my own family’s travels across the United States. As a […]
Travel 50 States Journals
I am very pleased to announce that I am currently creating a set of Travel Journals and Planners, designed to support this traveling community! The first two products to launch will be the TRAVEL 50 STATES JOURNAL and the TRAVEL 50 STATES JOURNAL for Kids! […]
Travel UTAH
This is your resource for trip planning to the state of Utah. This guide includes links to official tourism websites, National and State Parks, historic sites, attractions, and restaurants. PLAN YOUR UTAH TRIP Official Tourism Utah National Park Service Utah Utah State Parks Roadside America […]
Travel CALIFORNIA
Here is a list of visitor attractions, resources, and links to plan your trip to California. PLAN YOUR CALIFORNIA TRIP Visit California National Park Service State Parks Roadside America Factory Tours CALIFORNIA ATTRACTIONS Alcatraz IslandAndreas CanyonAntelope Valley Poppy ReserveAnza-Borrego Desert State ParkBarstow StationBear Valley Visitor […]
Travel PENNSYLVANIA
This is my personal list of interesting places to check out in Pennsylvania. PLAN YOUR PENNSYLVANIA TRIP: Pennsylvania Official Tourism Site National Park Service State Parks Roadside America Factory Tours PENNYSYLVANIA ATTRACTIONS: Ben Franklin’s Grave Betsy Ross House Bucks County Children’s Museum Bushkill Falls Clyde […]
Travel WEST VIRGINIA
This is your trip planning guide for travels to the state of West Virginia. Resources include links to attractions, official tourism sites, tours, national and state parks, and museums. PLAN YOUR WEST VIRGINIA TRIP Official Tourism West Virginia National Park Service State Parks Roadside America […]
Travel VIRGINIA
This is your trip planning guide for the state of Virginia. Resources include links to official tourism sites, national and state parks, museums, tours, hikes, and restaurants. PLAN YOUR VIRGINIA TRIP Official Tourism Page Virginia National Park Service State Parks Roadside America Factory Tours VIRGINIA […]
Travel Book Series for Kids
With the Holidays around the corner, it’s a great time to consider gifting books that kids will love! Here are some fun gift ideas and travel book series for kids who love travel: Travel Books for Young Children GOOD NIGHT OUR WORLD SERIES: Toddler and […]
Olympic National Park 5 Day Itinerary
The Olympic Peninsula, located in Northwestern Washington, is an unforgettable adventure. In one relatively small area, you can visit mountains, ocean, and rain forest in Olympic National Park. Although we designated four full days, we had to carefully pick and choose our stops, in order […]
The Resort Town of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho
Coeur D’Alene is a very popular summer resort area. The homes styles are a combination of unique beautiful old homes and properties that need major renovation. The area seems to be going through a revitalization. We visited Coeur D’Alene twice over the past 4 years, and […]
Biking the Route of the Hiawatha
Located on the border of Northern Idaho and Montana, lies the spectacular Route of the Hiawatha. This popular bike trail covers 15 miles at a gentle downhill grade between 1.6% – 2%. From start to finish, the trail drops approximately 1,000 feet in elevation. HISTORY […]
7 FREE Kid-Friendly Las Vegas Attractions, Nevada
Las Vegas has always been known as a playground for adults. But, what about vacationing in Vegas with your kids? Check out these FREE seven kid-friendly Las Vegas attractions that will keep the whole family happy: 1. Circus, Circus The famous Circus Circus Hotel and […]
Six Amazing Hikes in Sedona, Arizona
Sedona was one of those places on my bucket list for quite some time, and it definitely delivered the “wow” factor. I was still unprepared for the sight of the massive red mountains as we approached Sedona. Here are 6 amazing hikes to explore in Sedona, Arizona: […]
Are You Living the Life You Imagined?
When you were a child, do you remember adults constantly asking you, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Those who asked the question expected you to respond with what job or career you wanted when you grew up. I didn’t really […]
The Road to the Oz Museum, Wamego, KS
Kansas can be quite a challenging state to visit if your goal is to hit all 50 states. Being from Chicago, there were several road trips driving out West. However, taking the Kansas route was never the convenient choice. Nevertheless, determined to check off another […]
Living Coast Discovery Center, San Diego Bay
Having spent so much time RV-ing in Southern California, I discovered that I could buy a non-resident library card for a mere $20 a year. This gives us access to checking out books, free wifi, and even selected Museum Passes, that grant free entrance for a […]
Craters of the Moon National Monument
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is located in Arco, Idaho. The unique terrain, formed by earthquake activity, appears similar to the moon’s surface. The now-protected basaltic lava field was formed from volcanic lava eruptions over the past 15,000 years. In fact, NASA […]
Stay-cation: Play Tourist in Your Own State
In these uncertain times, many of us are opting to stay closer to home. Many people are considering local road trips and stay-cations. What is a stay-cation you ask? The search engine Bing describes it as “a vacation spent in one’s home country rather than […]
Gift Ideas for the Traveler in Your Life
Looking for the perfect gift for the Traveler in your life? Here’s a list of ideas that are sure to be a hit: America the Beautiful Pass This is a treasure for any one who loves to visit the National Parks, with most one-day […]
South Dakota ROAD TRIP
From waterfalls to national monuments, bison, mountains, quirky attractions, and the Wild West. South Dakota has something for everyone. Here are some places to stop along I-90 through South Dakota.
9 Ways to Entertain the Family in Branson, Missouri
Never in a million years did I picture Branson, Missouri, as the type of place that would have anything to offer children. Boy, was I wrong! You can certainly drop a load of money here, but there are also some free things that the whole family […]
7 KID-FRIENDLY SPOTS IN NEW ORLEANS
When the opportunity arose for a 5 day trip to New Orleans, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn just how kid-friendly this Mardi Gras town turned out to be! Here are seven kid-friendly activities that we enjoyed while traveling to New Orleans with two energetic little boys.
Leeds Castle
For the audio version, click below. The boys and I left Eastbourne for a day trip out to Kent, to visit the “Loveliest Castle in the World,” Leeds Castle. It was quite a bit out of the way in the countryside, but being a weekday […]
Eastbourne England
About one hour east of Brighton, England, is another seaside resort community called Eastbourne, where we spent our final few days of our two month European trip. We rode the bus through the hilly countryside, passing the Three Sister’s Chalk Cliffs along the sea. We […]
Seaside in Brighton
After a month and a half of busy touring throughout Iceland, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Eastern England, it was time to head to the seaside. We left London, and took the train to Brighton, a seaside resort community located on the South Central coast of […]
VIRTUAL TRAVEL ALASKA
Virtual resources for travel to Alaska, including virtual reality, 360 videos and other experiences.
Halloween in London
Have you ever celebrated a holiday in another country? One holiday that we have spent away from home several times is Halloween. While RVing full time, we celebrated Halloween in two U.S. cities aside from our home in Chicago – San Diego and Albuquerque. Each […]
The Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour
One treat we had planned for the kids while in London was to take them to see Warner Bros, Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour, where all of the Harry Potter movies were filmed. Not only was our oldest son a huge fan of Harry […]
Paris In A Day: Eurostar From London
While we were based in London, we considered a day trip on the Eurorail, the high speed train that travels under the English Channel, which would allow us to visit Paris for the day. Since neither the kids, nor my mother had ever been to […]
Markets, Museums, & Amazing London Highlights
Our friends treated us to a tour around London with a cruise on the Thames River, beginning at the Tower of London, and ending at Greenwich. We loved seeing some of London’s iconic sights from the River, including Big Ben, the London Eye, and Tower […]
A Journey Through Historic London
As our time in Bath came to an end, we looked forward to the next leg of our trip to one of the greatest cities in the world, London, where we would spend two fabulous weeks. We rented an apartment for the time we stayed […]
Cotswold Villages of Lacock & Castle Combe, England
As we left Avebury and wound our way toward the Cotswolds, we traveled skinny two lane roads surrounded by trees, barely enough room for one car to pass at a time. Sometimes the tour bus had to stop completely to allow a driver from the […]
Stonehenge & Avebury Stone Circles, England
Using Bath as our base, we selected a Mad Max Tour for a long day trip to Stonehenge, the Cotswolds, and the Avebury Stone Circles. We were extremely happy with both the tour company and the stops on the route. It was a smaller bus […]
The Romans, Jane Austen, & Lovely, Lovely Bath
I was extremely excited to arrive in Bath, because this would be a particularly epic part of our trip – my mom would be joining us for two weeks, her first international trip ever, and we’d be touring both the Roman Baths and Stonehenge during […]
Shakespeare’s Stratford-Upon-Avon, England
“All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts.”— As You Like It The long trip from Llandudno, Wales into England was quite a change […]
Four Year Nomadiversary
Our 4 year Nomadiversary is significant because it marks the end of full time travel for us, but certainly not the end of travel. Click below to watch 4 years of our travel highlights: Our boys were 8 and 6 years old when we left […]
The Medieval Castle Conwy, Wales
While staying in Wales, I was determined to visit one of the area’s Medieval Castles. Because Conwy was touted as the best preserved, with the added bonus of being able to walk along the remaining town walls, we thought it would be a great choice. […]
Discovering a Seaside Gem in Llandudno, Wales
After a week in Ireland, it was time to head to Northern Wales. We opted to ride the Ferry from Dublin to Holyhead Wales, a two hour journey, because, well, I like variety! Our destination was the seaside town of Llandudno. I chose this spot […]
Day Trip From Dublin: Blarney, Cork, & Cashel
Irish Day Tours from Dublin We chose to take a bus tour from the Dublin city center to three sites: Rock of Cashel, Cork City, & Blarney Castle. We had just missed the date cut off to do the tour to Skellig Island, which was featured […]
Shenanigans in Dublin, Ireland
We awoke at 4:45 am to catch our flight from Edinburgh to Dublin. Security was quick and easy. My 9 year old, who was starting to get used to airport security, made me laugh as he went through the security checkpoint with his hands straight […]
The Highlands, Glencoe, and the Hunt for Nessie
While we were based in Edinburgh, one of the side trips that we wanted to take was to see the famous Loch Ness in Inverness. So instead of renting a car and attempting to drive on the opposite side of the road, we booked the […]
From Royal Palace to Castle: Edinburgh, Scotland
From Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace is approximately a one mile stroll through the heart of the Old Town of Edinburgh, referred to as The Royal Mile. These succession of streets were packed with stores, restaurants, and entertainment of all kinds. Holyrood Palace As I […]
First Impressions of Edinburgh, Scotland
Getting to Edinburgh We touched down into Edinburgh, Scotland at 10 am, after a 6:30 am flight from Iceland. Arriving in Scotland was seamless, and once we passed through customs, we followed the exit signs to the tram. At a kiosk we bought tickets, and […]
Video Tour of Our RV: Heartland Oakmont 395QB
About a year and a half ago, we were “done” with the RV life. Ready to move on, we sold our 40 foot Fleetwood Bounder Motorhome. However, after 6 months traveling and living without, we realized how much we missed the RV lifestyle. We decided […]
Iceland: 2 Day Travel Itinerary With Kids
TIME FRAME We had approximately 2 days to explore Iceland for the first time. We arrived on an overnight flight from Los Angeles, which landed at approximately 6 a.m. LA time, which is about 1 p.m. Iceland time. In essence, between jet lag and the time […]
Iceland’s Golden Circle: Horses, Rainbows, & Waterfalls
So, as I mentioned in my first post about Iceland, our second and only FULL day in Iceland got off to a late start, as jet lag knocked us down a bit. We set off to explore the Golden Circle, an area of Iceland that […]
Off to the Land of Fire & Ice: Iceland
We had been talking about visiting the U.K. for about 10 years, but Iceland wasn’t really on my radar. As I browsed airfare, I kept noticing that the cheapest way to get to Edinburgh was by having a layover in Reykjavik, Iceland. While this idea […]
5 Reasons We Chose RV Living…Again
You’ve heard it, the old regretful saying “If I had to do it over again, I would have done it differently.” One year ago this week, we almost bought a house and settled down in a brand new place. But we couldn’t pull the trigger. […]
Thematic Travel Through the 50 States
Well before we launched into RV travel, the very first book I read on the subject was about a family who took one year off of work to RV with their children. They set a specific goal to visit every State Capital within the continental […]
Counting Down to Our Next Adventure
We spent 3 glorious weeks in Europe way back in 2005, which seems like a lifetime ago. That was my first trip overseas, and one of the best times of my life. At that time, we flew into Paris, spent 3 days touring the Eiffel […]
Fun Ways to Track Your Travels
*Some of these products may contain Amazon or Zazzle Affiliate Links, at no extra cost to you, but help to support this website. Thanks! When we travel, I love to have a visual of the places we have visited. It’s always great to have […]
5 Ways to Overcome Your Travel Fears
We have been thinking about traveling to a certain destination for many, many years, and have been waiting for the “right” time to execute our plan. After many hours of discussion and research, we agreed that the timing was right. But, as I went to […]
21 Places to Soak Up the San Diego Sun
There are endless things to do in San Diego. Here is a list of 21 great ways to spend time in the San Diego sunshine! 1. Cabrillo National Monument Cabrillo National Monument and Statue celebrate the first European to set foot on the West Coast […]
12 Essential To-Do’s Before Traveling Internationally
*Some of these products may contain Amazon or Zazzle Affiliate Links, at no extra cost to you, but help to support this website. It has been over 10 years since our first International trip to Europe, back when I only had to pack and plan […]
Quick Guide: Set Up Traveling Mailbox in 10 Steps
One of the most common questions that we are asked is “What do you do about mail while you’re traveling?” It is actually a whole lot easier to manage mail than you may think. There are a few options out there, but we have recently […]
11 Travel Movies That Inspire
Sometimes there is nothing I love more than watching good, inspirational travel movie. Here are some classic travel movies and a few of my favorites: 1. Given The true story of two legendary surfers who take their young family from their home on Kauai to […]
The End of Our Mexico Adventure: Cancun
We left Merida, and took the ADO Bus to the city center of Cancun, about a 4 and a half hour journey. It was pouring rain when we arrived, and my husband, now well practiced at negotiation, bargained a taxi ride to our hotel. Although […]
Connecting with Family & Friends in Merida
Spending time in the capital city of the Yucatan, Merida, was not even on our radar, until our traveling friends brought our attention to a Worldschooling Gathering taking place there in April. We were very excited about the opportunity to spend time with our friends […]
The Mayan Ruins of Ek’Balam, Mexico
We used the charming city of Valladolid as a base when visiting the ruins of Ek’Balam. The ruins site was only about a half hour drive away from the city center. There didn’t seem to be an easy way to catch a Collectivo, so we […]
Stepping Back in Time: Valladolid, Mexico
After spending a week and a half on the gorgeous Riviera Maya, it was time for us to head inland. We set out for the charming city of Valladolid, located in the central Yucatan peninsula. As we stepped out to Valladolid’s ADO bus station, the […]
Coba Ruins and Cenote Tour, Mexico
After a busy, but fun-filled weekend in Playa Del Carmen, I decided that I wasn’t in the mood to figure out all the details of how to get to the Coba Ruins. Instead, we booked a tour that would take us to Coba and area […]
Tulum Boat Ride and Snorkeling
After we left the beautiful Tulum Ruins and cooled off a bit, we walked toward Playa Pescadores. Our next stop was our Tulum snorkeling boat ride. The kids entertained themselves and many passers-by on our walk, as they belted out more songs from Moana. The beach was […]
Tulum Ruins, Mexico
When we woke up the morning after our day at the beach in Xpu-Ha, we were unsure about attempting another full day outing to see Tulum in the hot sun. We decided we’d just do a quick trip there and back, skipping the beach due to […]
Reunion in Playa Del Carmen and Xpu-Ha, Mexico
A few days after arriving in Playa Del Carmen, we had a reunion with friends that we had met in San Diego at an RV Rally. Their family joined us for a long weekend in Playa Del Carmen, before we would reunite again in Merida the following […]
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Yucatan, Mexico
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles were all necessary to get us to Mexico. Once we arrived it became more like Rickshaws, Colectivos, and Motocars. But I’ll get into that a little later… After spending our life savings on airport food, we stocked up for our almost 5 hour flight from LAX to […]
We Are Now on YouTube
I decided it was time for me to learn how to make videos and start a Travel 50 States YouTube Channel. I have begun with a slideshow of photos and short video clips that give a summary of our travels over the last few years. […]
Hike 2/52: Star River Walk
Hike 2/52 of my 52 Hike Challenge begins on the Star River Walk. Today I’m not looking forward to hiking. However, I am looking forward to meeting up with a friend that I haven’t seen in awhile. It should be a flat trail, one that […]
Hike 1/52: The 52 Hike Challenge Begins
Yesterday was hike 1/52 for me, the start of my 52 hike challenge. This isn’t the first year I’ve actually completed this challenge, but it has been several years. Back when I completed it the first time, I was brand new to hiking. Boise was […]