Destinations Archives - Page 4 of 10

Where we were: Sunday in Fremont

Fremont is one of my favorite places on earth, and it was so great too get back there now that spring has officially sprung. We love walking along the Burke-Gilman trail and watching the boats go by, seeing the draw bridge go up and down, and picking wildflowers to add to any bouquets we buy … Read more

Hey Seattle, it’s officially cruising season!

This weekend was an exciting one for Seattle as the first Holland America Line cruise ship of the season arrived, kicking off the cruising season. This year is especially exciting because Holland America is celebrating 70 years of Alaska explorations this year and the ms Eurodam is the first of five HAL ships that will be cruising into Seattle throughout the season, with 58 Seattle calls in total. And, the weekend was specifically exciting for me because I got to do something I have day dreamed about my whole life. I was so excited when I was invited to the media day to welcome the ms Eurodam, tour the ship and learn about the company, and I was even more excited when I walked aboard a cruise ship for the very first time.

Where we were: Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

Hey, Washington State, it's TULIP TIME! The tulips were at full bloom last week, so there isn't much time left to plan your excursion to Skagit Valley to see the tulips before they get harvested. Family at tulips 2017 2

Matching Girls Monday: Cherry Blossoms at University of Washington in Seattle

I'm sharing my favorite matching girls outfit of the week, taken at one of my favorite places. We visited the cherry blossoms at the University of Washington last week to take our annual pictures. It was pretty crowded {it always is}, but we were able to find a break in the crowds to snap some shots. Matching Girls Cherry Blossoms As a special bonus, my son and I are both joining in on the fun this week. My girls are wearing the Peek Feather Top with yellow sweaters from Hanna Andersson. My dress is from Target, my leggings/tights are from Yummie Tummie, and my boots are Born Shoes. My son is wearing an OshKosh flannel.

Why you should visit Great Wolf Lodge during the off-season

It’s officially been raining *forever* in the Pacific Northwest. Honestly, this is only a slight exaggeration. This year, we had the rainiest winter in decades, and it’s unfortunately leading right into one of the rainiest springs I can remember. I think at this point we’re all very over the grey and drizzle, and I, for one, cannot wait for summer weather to emerge. But sadly, we’re still waiting and the drizzle shows no signs of stopping.So, while we were waiting, we escaped the rain for a bit for a little warm water fun. We didn’t need to fly south or utilize our passports, we just needed to drive a few towns over to visit the Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, WA {in between Portland and Seattle}. These kids didn't know where we were headed until we pulled into the lot at Great Wolf Lodge, and there was a whole lot of screaming once they put together where we were staying.

30+ fun things to do in Boston with kids

During our recent trip to Boston, we covered a whole lot of ground each day. We’re not lazy travelers, and we’re encouraging our kids to travel at the same pace we do. For the most part, they are amazing travelers, but we do take into account their interests when planning our trip to include attractions they most want to see. This makes it so they are as invested as we are in seeing all that we can so they can cross off their must-do list. If you’re working on a Boston list with your child, here are some great Boston destinations, activities, and ideas for exploring that kids will love. We’ve added links wherever possible to make it even easier for you to plan your trip.

30+ fun things to do in Boston with kids:

10 winter activities for families in Mt Hood, Oregon

The south slope of Mt. Hood is home to Government Camp, a gorgeous alpine village at an elevation of 4,000 feet. The average snowfall is close to 300 inches which gives you a great chance to enjoy some fun, snowy weather activities for a day or two, or you can plan a longer stay and enjoy all that Mt. Hood, Oregon has to offer.

Here are 10 of our favorite things to do in Government Camp that are kid-approved and fun for families:

The Mitsubishi Outlander 2017 makes all of our dreams come true

A big thank you to Drive Shop USA for this test driving experience. All opinions are 100% ours.
Do you remember when I made the announcement that the Mitsubishi Outlander was the car for me? Back in 2016 I told you that if I were buying a new automobile, I would buy a Mitsubishi Outlander. It’s now a whole year later and it still rings true. In fact, I’m even more certain about it now than I was back then.

It started with the love of the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport and then that love was eclipsed by the Mitsubishi Outlander. I admit I got sold on all the luxuries of the bigger CUV size, but also on the adaptability of the third row seating that is perfect for our on-the-go lifestyle.

Where we were: Government Camp, Oregon

Last week, my family was in a whirl of activity. We had the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander all loaded with snow gear, swimming suits, and all the clothes, luggage, and gear a family of 5 requires. We were all heading out for a media trip in Hood River, Oregon when we got the bad news: our press trip was cancelled because the highways to Hood River were all closed. We debated for a bit on what we should do and whether we should just scrap the whole trip and head to work and school, but the kids were devastated that their "snow trip" was cancelled. Plus, it's a whole lot of work to pack for so many people and plan an adventure.

Where we were: Boston, Massachusetts

This winter, I got invited on a luxurious-sounding press trip to a winery in California, alone with my husband where we could relax and unwind from our hectic life. And, I almost went.

But, instead we packed up the kiddos and their million pounds of gear and hopped on a cross country flight to Boston. Once in Boston, we did without a fancy hotel and we crashed in the living room of a cousin who clearly didn’t know what he was getting into offering 5 people a place to stay and disrupt his life. Once we fully shook up their house and their lives, we then went all day long with four kids on very few hours of sleep trying to cram in all the sights, sounds, and history of the city together. And, honestly, it was the perfect choice for us.

You see, we’re kind of warrior travelers. We do overnight flights with infants, long international jaunts with layovers, and we do packed days and short nights. It’s just the way we travel, and it’s now how our kids are used to seeing the world.