Our itinerary brought us from Central Florida up north, but can easily be written around from the opposite direction, or any other.

​We try not to drive more than 8 hours, as we know that it can be too much on us and takes the enjoyment out of a drive.  So we highly recommend that if its going to take you any longer than this, to make a stop somewhere in between to make your trip worthwhile!

Day 1 - Orlando, Florida to Dahlonega, Georgia (8 hours) 
Day 2 - Dahlonega/Helen area to Asheville, North Carolina (8 hours)
Day 3 - Asheville up the Blue Ridge Parkway to the north entrance in Afton, VA (13 hours) 
Day 4 - Charlottesville, Virginia (30 minutes from Afton) 
Day 5 - Charlottesville to Savannah, GA (7 hours)
Day 6 - Savannah to Orlando  

Our first top took us to Dahlonega, Georgia where they have the most perfect wine region with mountains mixed in to feel like we escaped.  The drive from Central Florida (our starting point) is roughly 8 hours, but be warned - you'll hit Atlanta traffic if you like it or not, so plan accordingly! We made an early morning start of it and arrived right in early afternoon - enough time to get a few wineries in.  ​

Hofer's is a charming German Bakery right in the middle of Helen!  If you plan to eat here, come early as you will have to wait.  Otherwise you can stop in for a treat to go as you take in the sights  of Helen!

Feeling like a German feast? It doesn't get closer than at Bodensee ​in Helen!

Other Things to Do
Babyland General Hospital (for the Cabbage Patch fans)
Georgia Mountain Coaster
Tubing down the Chattahoochee
Anna Ruby Falls 

Where do we start with Asheville?  There's so much to say that we have recapped all you can do on Asheville in a post all its on. 

But for us, we had two goals in mind by coming here this time -
1. We wanted to jump on the Blue Ridge Parkway to attempt our full drive from here
2. Mainly, we wanted to spend Christmas at the Biltmore!

Wineries to Visit
With you daytime admission to the Biltmore, you'll also be able to access the Biltmore Winery for a free tasting.  

But if you're looking for more to do here, head over to Hendersonville and taste at Burntshirt Vineyards for some great wines!

​... or if beer is your thing, make a point to visit the staple breweries this city is known for as something to sample! We got a taste of Ginger's Revenge Fall Harvest and can't wait to come back to get some more!

Stay
Grand Bohemian Asheville is right in Biltmore Village - a short drive to the entrance to then take the long drive to through the estate! 

If you plan to exclusively visit the Biltmore during your stay, consider staying on site at either the Village Hotel or the Inn right in the hear of Antler Hill. 

I felt like this deserves a side note all its on, just to truly appreciate the visit, whether coming for Christmas like we did or any time of the year.

We hadn’t quite made it to see the Biltmore last year, so we were in for a surprise either way.  We’re so glad we chose to see it at Christmas and opted to see it at night by candlelight, which was an experience all its own!

With the nighttime visit, you still have full day access to the grounds - to enjoy all the same inclusions a day ticket will grant you!  But you also get to see America's largest home in a different light, all decked out for the holidays - and we all know decor looks better at night.  

So if opting to do this, I highly recommend a full day visit - to catch glimpses of the exterior of the mansion during the day, enjoy hikes around the property, visit Antler Hill Village - to shop and eat, and then partake in the wine tasting before heading to your own unique tour of the home. 

We drove up a good portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway taking in the last bit of leaves before they fall for the season. The whole parkway start to finish would take about 13 hours, without stops, but with shorter days we knew we didn’t have enough daylight. So we took it as far north before getting off at Blowing Rock as we could before reaching our next destination!

If you are opting to do the drive though, there are recommended stops along the course, with places to stay to break up the drive.  It would be best to start early, with the sunrise (though be careful with the fog) and take it slow so you can stop for some hikes or take in the peaceful scenic views.  

Also, beware of the time of year that you opt to go - though best enjoy from spring to early fall, you can still drive parts of the road during winter.  But chances are greater that you'll have closers along the way thanks to snowfall!  

Stay
Omni Charlottesville is right on the downtown mall, where you'll find plenty of places to eat and drink down a quaint street dated back in time!

Eat
Public Fish & Oyster
The Fitzroy
The Nook ​

Stay 
Hyatt Savannah is right on the river and accessible from Bay Street as well, so in prime real estate! It's surrounded by equally wonderful hotels, but being that we have stayed here a few times, we enjoy the ambiance of the hotel and appreciate the brand overall!

Things to Do
Savannah is a must walk city, as you'll truly get to experience all the hidden corners that give this city a charm. But if you'd like to view in other ways consider a tour of the city!

• View the city by Segway Tour or even on a Trolley Tour to take at your leisure!  
• Want to taste your way through Savannah?  Try a Culinary Tour!
• Into the supernatural?  See Savannah at night with a Ghost Tour
• Or even see it from the river, unlike anything else on the ​Savannah Riverboat​

It was a whirlwind trip - and yes, we got a lot accomplished in a short amount of time.

​So who's ready to go next? 

We took too much time to recap our trip to New Orleans, but no time like the present right?  Espeically since fond memories of our adult getaway were rehashed when we brought the kids back in this summer.  

They were two completely different experiences, even more watered down because of the circumstances that surrounded our latest trip.  But nonetheless, we were reminded why we fell in love with this city of old meets new!  And how it uniquely adapted its story to make it a vibrant city worth visiting - for any and all! 

You can't come to New Orleans without trying some of their world famous beignets! There are so many places you can find a variation of this sugar laden pastry on their menu  but you can't visit without trying one of the top stops. ​

​Cafe du Monde is synonymous with New Orleans so it goes without being said you have to pay a visit to see what its all about.  The French Market location right by Jackson Square usually has a line down the block, to order and be seated, so come prepared! But if you don't mind a to-go option, swing around with cash to their outdoor window and you can significantly reduce your wait time.  ​

Still undecided? We recommend stopping at both and trying them out for yourself - and don't forget to order the Café Au Lait alongside!

This city is truly a foodies dream!  From traditional Cajun vibes to top rated restaurants with vibrant menus, there's so many great staples to try here, it's difficult to say where to start.  Here were a few of our top favorite eats, all which came recommended to us, and now we pass on the recommendation.   

•Arnaud's - The Jazz Brunch!​  This was our one must do before we left - have a long brunch with lively music and truly feel that New Orleans' vibe.  We opted to try Arnaud's, though there are plenty of options in the city that all rank with the same kind of enthusiasm.  Offered on Sunday, the brunch is also dress code strict with a business casual recommendation - collared shirts for gentlemen, no t-shirts, shorts or athletic wear. 

The menu is a prix-fixed 3 course meal with plenty of options to choose from. The price of the brunch varies based off your entree option, but you can pair it with your liking of appetizer and dessert. We went for the Crepes Suzette to get the table side flambé experience again! 

If you've made room for more, we recommend a drinking tour of NOLA.  Whether self-guided or on a formal tour with wealth of information, make sure that you get to try the following.  We had a great time experiencing the best of what NOLA's bars had to offer - 

•Visit the neighborhoods of NoLA - Garden District, Magazine Street, Jackson Square, French Quarter
•Lafeyette Cemetery No. 1 - one of the oldest in the city 
•Legendary ghost and voodoo tour of city haunts
•Sail down the Mississippi on the Natchez
•Ride a Street Car
•Harrah's Casino - Feeling lucky?
•Swamp Boat Tour
•Mardi Gras Tour
 ... and so much more! 

This time last year, we made our way to Asheville to celebrate my growing family, but we also used it as a reason to explore a part of NC state we had yet to know!  So we loaded up the car and got ready for a quick long weekend - one that we've discussed many a time to recreate. And as a part of any roadtrip, we geared up with all the essentials we need to travel the long road ahead!  
 
For starters, this is a great trip from any part of country as the terrain is beautiful to see. But we were coming from the state of Florida, full on in summer mode and flat lands galore, so to be welcomed to crisp mountain air only a short (8 hour) drive away was amazing!   

But what all did this place have in store for us? ​Honestly, something for everyone!  

Love the great outdoors?  That's what it's known for - I mean, the changing colors made us fall in love (pun totally intended). 

Do you travel for food & drink?  They've got a great culinary scene - with plenty of wineries &  breweries for the picking!

Looking for arts & culture?  The city of Asheville is an eclectic city, packed with original art & music and unique design! 

Want to get wrapped up in experiences?  We found a little bit of everything to make this trip perfectly ours. 

Ready for more - read on to find our suggestions for what there is to do and see in this charming city nestled in the hills of western North Carolina!

Explore the Blue Ridge Parkway - Right in North Carolina, you will find some of the most stunning drives in the country wrapped through peaks and valleys.  The Blue Ridge Parkway is  a slice of the Appalachian Mountains but it feels like you're so much further away from the south. The Parkway itself starts a little ways down in Cherokee, NC, wrapped by the Great Smoky Mountains and winds all the way up to Afton, Virginia - right outside of Shenandoah National Park! And from there you don't have to stop - you can continue on to Skyline Drive to go even further north!

​We opted to wake up early and hit the road so we could catch the sun rising over the peaks. Sunrise somehow always ends up being a trip activity of ours, whether we intend it to or not, and thankfully because we have caught some spectacular showcase of colors!  We drove about 20 minutes from our the entrance to Craggy Gardens to watch the sky light up as we greeted a new day.  It is about 12 miles from the Folk Art Center, and the Blue Ridgeway Parkway Visitor Center, which welcomes you from Asheville onto the parkway. The visitor center provides you with a ranger to meet, more information to gather, and for our kids, an opportunity to get one more Junior Ranger badge to add to their travels.  

After sunrise, we drove the Blue Ridge Parkway for another hour, just taking in the scenery, and stopping off where we could to take a hike or two.  Though the conditions of our morning didn't make it all that possible, as we had lots of clouds, dew and adverse conditions that made us worry about getting too far into hikes with little ones.   But it is on our short list to come back to finish our trails and continue onward to Virginia - and so on!  

Eat and Drink through Asheville - ​Food, breweries and wine galore!

Who doesn't love going somewhere and finding something great to eat!  It's even better when there are more choices than you can handle! 

Burntshirt Vineyard is in Hendersonville, a short drive south of Asheville but with some great mountain vibes.  Situated on a quiet country road, the tasting room faces the vineyards and the grounds are as charming as you'd expect.  You can dive into a wine tasting experience, order by the bottle or glass, and enjoy food right on site!  

We were told about two well-known establishments to eat at while there - and we made sure we tried both!  We hopped over to Biscuit Head for breakfast one morning at their West Asheville location (there are also locations by the Biltmore and Hendersonville, and a location in Greenville as well).  It's known for what its name says - biscuits!  From biscuit sandwiches to biscuit donuts - but if you prefer the regular variety, the jam is also where it's at!  This breakfast was phenomenal - only complimented by the Maple Bacon Latte (it IS as delicious as it sounds)!

Our other eat was to Tupelo Honey where we chose a brunch time stop as well.  They're in quite a few states, but none near us in FL, so we knew we needed to stop.  Plus, this was able to take us into downtown Asheville where we had yet to explore and enjoy the experience surrounding it.  The cafe was eclectic and definitely reflected the vibe of the city, adding to the charm of this whole area.  We opted to try the Southern Shakshuka with a fully loaded Bloody Mary on the side. And if this sounds great to you, you're in luck - they serve brunch all day!

Last but not least, BREWERIES!  This is what they're all about and much of the appeal of visiting.  Everything from local favorites to brands you make recognize at home, you can find it here.   We went out our first night to experience the South Slope district and visit a few breweries true to the Asheville scene - Green Man Brewery and Catawba Brewing. But they are only two of the many that call this city home!  A little further out is New Belgium Brewing, best known for its Fat Tire brand. Visiting was a great change of pace as it was outside city limits and had grounds to run around (especially with little ones along). But if you're looking to relax with an opportunity to let the kids frolick, we hear that Sierra Nevada in Mills River (just outside of Asheville) is one of the best at providing a family friendly experience and atmosphere with amazing views. 

Apple picking is in season - It wouldn't be fall without pumpkins, apples, cider and doing all the great things that come with it!  We made sure that our plans included apple picking, a rarity for these Floridians, and the weather couldn't have made it more perfect. It was brisk and overcast, creating the perfect mix of that fall feel.  

We enjoyed our time at Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard, where they offered U-Pick apples by the basket -only fill up what you plan to take!  We ended up picking a whole basketful and taking home more apples than we could eat.  Needless to say, there were a lot of apple delicacies made back home - in combination with the goodies we purchased. on site their Farm Market. 

See Asheville  -  ​We had a jam packed weekend so didn't get to do EVERYTHING we wanted to - more breweries, more arts, more mountain hikes ... visit the Biltmore!  And that's all on  in addition to time relaxing and just taking in the wilderness! 

But we did find time to squeeze in time in Downtown Asheville and get a feel for the city that so many call home.  We explored during a quiet weekday morning where we got a good sense of what all it has in store - a mix of old world charm meets modern expression - and we can only imagine the energy this city exudes with street musicians, culinary tours, the arts and so much more!  

• Did you know that this is home of the Hunger Games?
• Spend a day at the Biltmore - the luxurious home of the Vanderbilts and the largest in the US!
• Not too far is Chimney Rock, a perfect place for a family hike!
• Asheville holds its on as one of the greatest music cities!
• There's so many great tours in and around Asheville to truly allow you to discover this area!

There's so much more here than we were given the time to see, so we leave you with this - plan wisely and make sure you spend enough time there to truly explore Asheville! 

The appeal of this destination is staying in a cabin, lighting a fire, and enjoying the surrounding wilderness.  What a dream!  If it's yours, BOOK AHEAD!  There is no time like the present to plan a few months (to a year) out as it does book up FAST!  

We opted to stay at a hotel - only because we were limited in how much time we'd be here, and more time would be spent out rather than in.  So we needed to stay in a place central to the Asheville and surrounding area, since we had a lot of commuting to do.  We chose the Holiday Inn East Asheville, right off Tunnel Road. And if you have an itinerary packed with things to do, this hotel is a great stay!  The Holiday Inn has really updated their brand  and we are pleased with all they have to offer, especially when traveling with kids and looking for conveniences.  This hotel is near the highway to take you into the city or the roads to lead you to the Blue Ridge - so even if Asheville is just a stop for you on a bigger journey, this place is the perfect gateway for a comfortable stay.

If you're looking for a destination that can provide you a true appreciation for the beauty of nature, as well as get you a chance to dine and drink new flavors, and allow you to appreciate art of all kind  - well, then Asheville is calling! 

So when are you going to go?

Anyone watch National Lampoon's Vacation and then want to do a big American road trip like the Griswolds - antics and all? 

I always did! And when COVID-19 came along and interrupted our original summer plans, we scrambled to find a Plan B. We devised a last minute option, pulled out of the hat in an attempt to salvage the spring break we didn't have and the summer vacation we were still uncertain of. 

Our itinerary eventually took us 6,000 plus miles, across 17 states, and visiting many new sites we hadn't seen together as a family. Our goal was to hit a handful of National Parks, but also to take our time to get there, and getting to see states we didn't always have a reason to go to.  We knew the time spent in each place would be limited, but our visits were meant to be an appetizer, not the main course. And we decided if we fell in love with any place, we could always come back at a later time for more. 

So here are some of the questions I've received about what we did, why and how. Just know that these decisions are very much based on us and our travel style, and could & should be customized to you.

Car or RV?
We opted for a car - our personal car for that matter - to do this trip. A RV would give us lodging and transportation in one, but we faced a few obstacles with that.

1. This trip was so last minute, we didn't know if we'd be able to find a RV to rent, a spot in RV parks to camp in, and where even start looking.
2. As you can see, we're not RV versed; we've never even driven one, so we decided taking one cross country for the first time may not be the smartest idea.

So we opted to take our car, which has always been in healthy condition and with low mileage. We took it in for a routine oil change and check-up before traveling and now that we're back, we'll take it in again to see if any maintenance is needed (we know that at the very least it will need an oil change). Best of all, we have a trusted auto shop doing it all - if you need a recommendation.

My dad manages a shop here in Orlando (Universal Service Center), and I highly recommend him for anyone looking in the area - whether you're a local needing a place or a visitor wanting to get a quick tune-up before heading home. Best of all, he's right in the tourist corridor (behind Universal Orlando), so he's fairly accessible to anyone.

In either case, you will be spending on gas - but what a better time! Many states were under $2/gallon, so filling up was cheap. We also tried to save on gas prices in other ways:

1. We used credit cards that offered extra cashback bonuses for gas stations.
2. We stocked up over time on a few gas gift cards from Publix's occasional sale (Spend $50 in groceries and get $10 off on a $50 gas gift card purchase).
3. And we used the app GetUpside to earn cashback at participating gas stations. You just check in on arrival, upload your receipt (or tie a credit card to use for purchase) and you'll later receive a certain amount per gallon back in your account. You can then use the money earned to order gift cards or receive cash back!

Hotel or Rental?
Now that the RV is out, we'd need a place to stay. We prefer hotels over rentals to begin with because there's an element of surprise that's eliminated when booking a hotel.

You have a preferred brand? You know what to expect.
You're a loyal guest? You can and likely will get upgraded.
You have an issue with your room? You can ask to be moved, which you can't do in a rental - you're stuck with what you've booked.

We also had two asks during this time that we knew we could depend on hotels for - cleanliness standards being upheld and flexibility with our booking. Corporations have a lot on the line right now with making sure they're meeting regulations and ensuring guests feel safe, so we knew that brand standards would be even more dependable than an independent operator. And let me tell you, they were! Every place we stayed at did a great job of making sure that we, and all other guests, were comfortable while still operating a service-based business. I applaud them all for their efforts to adapt and improve standards during this time.

​Below is a listing of the chains that we booked with and information from their own websites on how they are reassuring guests about their new protocols.

• Hilton - Hilton CleanStay with Lysol Protection
• Hyatt - Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment
• Intercontinental Group - IHG Way of Clean
• Marriott - Commitment to Clean

We also wanted the most flexibility in changing plans - in case we ran into an issue of wanting/needing to change our route. And many of the top chains are offering generous cancellation policies right now. See again the chains we stayed at and their current booking policies (but always check rates and policies at booking as they're subject to change).

• Hilton - Any individual reservations booked on and between March 12 and August 31, 2020 for any future arrival date can be changed or cancelled at no charge, up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival day.
• Hyatt - With some very limited exceptions, reservations booked on July 1, 2020 or beyond – for arrival dates through July 31, 2021 – can be cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival.
• Intercontinental Hotel Group - Book Now, Pay Later: This new rate offers flexibility and savings. With no deposit required and cancellations possible up to 24 hours before your stay for direct bookings, travel planning is commitment free. Guests benefit from 5% or more off our Best Flexible Rate for bookings made up to September 3, 2020 for stays until December 30, 2020 (excluding Greater China).
• Marriott - For guests making new reservations on or after July 6 for arrival dates through September 30, we will allow the reservation to be changed or cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before the scheduled arrival date.* Reservations with pre-paid rates will be subject to the rate offer rules communicated at the time of reservation. Please note that changes to the reservation will be subject to availability and any rate differences.

When booking a hotel, though location was always key, our second factor was if breakfast was included. We try to book places where breakfast is included in the rate, because its soooo much easier in the morning with always hungry kids. And though each chain is handling their meal service in a different manner right now, all that offer breakfast in their rate still had it available with modifications (how it was offered varied between brand and location).

We also made sure that a few hotels we booked had self-service laundry available for our use. We packed light - one week but were on the road for two, and knew we'd have to cycle through cloths possibly a few times (especially with hikes and kids).  Let me tell you, this made all the difference traveling and was a huge convenience! If you're considering this, I recommend bringing your own laundry detergent and maybe a few dryer sheets - it will save you on purchasing it from the hotel. Just make sure you buy powder vs liquid as all the machines we used utilized that.

Meals?
We packed lots of snacks! Everyone got a box of their snack of choice and had little snack packs rationed for the day.

If breakfast wasn't available at our hotel, it was the easiest go to meal at a grocery store, with breakfast bars, Pop Tarts, cereal and LOTS of fruit stocked up on.

The number one thing have on hand is water. We grabbed (at least) a gallon at each stop to have with us on the road, in case of emergency or for prepping for our hikes. We also brought reusable water bottles for all and refilled as we went - you'll encounter higher altitudes and drier conditions where being hydrated is essential. Since we were caring for our own things, we also brought a small bottle of dish soap and a sponge, so we were able to clean our bottles daily to ensure we were staying clean.

While eating on the go, we also had fun with it, especially if the plan was to eat out of the car. So where we weren't eating from grocery store stops, we utilized this list of the best fast food in every state (or neighboring state, in some cases) and tried to eat like the locals did! And we found some really great spots we'll recommend as we go along!

Other Must Haves

• Purchase National Park Service's annual America the Beautiful Pass if your goal is visit many National Parks on this trip. For $80 you will get a year's worth of admissions at many participating parks. We purchased a few weeks before departing and had it in hand for our trip - but here's a list of parks you can purchase upon arrival (check ahead for closures and availability to purchase). With most parks at a $30 entry free, visiting 3 parks on trip paid it off. We visited 6 so it paid off a few times over and we still have a full year on it to be used (they round it up to the next month after purchase)! If you're military, senior, a volunteer or a 4th grader, check further down the website for passes just for you!
• Bring along a cooler for all that food - one that's easy to move from the car to the hotel room is even better so you can bring things in nightly! We had a collapsible cooler and brought in perishables nightly. 
• Some great audio books - we use Libby and Hoopla via the Orange County Library System for free downloads. If you have a library card through this system (or one at home), look at downloading an app to listen for free! 
• A great soundtrack - because listening to audio books will bore you inevitably. Or at least it did me.  Music makes for memories! 
• Movies & activities for the kids - our kids had portable players and actually planned a playlist for each stretch. Charlotte's Web in Nebraska; Toy Story 2 through the desert; Cars while we drove through Arizona; Princess and the Frog as we made our approach to New Orleans. My kids love a good theme as much as I do.
• A first aid kit with the basic and that also includes sunblock, bug spray, and anti-histamine both in cream and oral form, just in case.
• Vitamins and basic medicines - One we used every day, and the other we had just in case (and thankfully stayed healthy & didn't have to use).
• Paper towels & plastic bags - because there will be more clean ups and trash collections than expected.
• Anti-bacterial anything - we went through two bottles of my beloved Bath & Body Works hand sanitizer on the road, because we cleaned everyone's hands anytime we touched anything. We also kept a tube of Lysol wipes on us, to clean high touch places - often using when pumping gas, so you're welcome to the person after me. We also had it with us in the hotels, just in case - though it was often unneeded as they left it extremely clean.
• I don't know if you've heard, but masks are the latest and greatest accessory. And if you have an extra set, bring it (and keep in the car).  You will at one point forget it, and having it accessible is great - also in case your initial one gets dirty or you lose it. There were many places that we weren't allowed in without one.
• A jacket and pants because it did get cold in some of these places in July (it was 40 degrees in Jackson, WY). And really good hiking shoes. Along with a bathing suit and flip flops to relax (because we soaked up the sun to relax whenever we could).
• Pack a lot of patience - there's a lot of driving going on! And plans can change, especially in the current state of the union. Luckily for us, we kept most of our drives short and didn't have to alter too many major plans. We kept up with local government websites, activity websites, and checked policies before our hotel cancellation window to ensure we wouldn't have to detour!

So here's the fun part, our full itinerary!  We'll tell you where we went, what we did, and any additional notes below to help plan!  

Play
Note, all our suggestions are based off what we did and what we intended to do.  We didn't get to do it all, because our eyes were bigger than our stomachs, but we also loved every bit of our trip! Flexibility is key so customize your schedule as you see fit for you and yours!  Just make sure that you do the non-negotiables so you're not disappointed.  I'll also mention alternate plans we had in mind so you can make a schedule for yourself. 

Stay
Like we mentioned before, we prefer hotels over rentals. We also don't have a preferred brand, and booked based off reviews/recommendations. But things could change, so always call ahead and double check - and make alternate plans as needed. 

Eat
We ate off recommendations and limited how many sit down meals we had. Though we did eat out every so often because it is good for your sanity to be around others and help the service industry serve (they were so appreciative of us being there every single time).  We also found that many places offered an order ahead option online, so as we were approaching our destination or getting hungry, we'd create an order for pick up. 

Rain Plan
We had a rain plan for every stop, just in case - some of them were not necessary because we were willing to get dirty.  Most of our rain plans involved what we could do for free. We're Orlando Science Center members, and so we made a list of the reciprocal locations available via the ASTC Travel Passport Program (labeled here as ASTC) so we could utilize our perks. If you have the same available, look into it - usually available with a zoo, children' museum, or other annual pass program.  Once again, call ahead to see how they are handling their particular program and honoring reciprocal visitors - we didn't use ours, but many places were requiring timed reservations so we would need to speak to the facility itself to arrange.

Day 1 Orlando, FL to Atlanta, GA (6 hours and 15 minutes)
​
We made this stop to visit some close friends, so our plans aren't your typical greater Atlanta plans -  but they were a perfect kick-off for us! We went peach picking at Gregg Farms, because while in Georgia - and their peach ice cream was also the best thing I've ever tasted (for someone who only likes chocolate).

We had initially discussed going (and staying) out at Stone Mountain, so we could social distance hike. That would be our top recommendation for the area if wanting to stay outdoors. 

Stay
If you're going to set your eyes on Stone Mountain, the Atlanta Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort is right on property and super convenient. 

Eat
What's more Georgia than Chick-Fil-A?  We were told about Truett's Luau of the Tik-Tok fame -  what's greater than Hawaii meets CFA? If you prefer another option, check out Dwarf House instead - the original Chick-Fil-A!  We did a few years back and loved that we got to see where it all started - and with a few new menu options too!
 
Rain Plan
Fernbank Science Center (ASTC Passport), Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola

And finally on to Nashville, TN, where we spent the night! We made sure to walk the city, to check out Broadway and drive by the Grand Ole Opry, but were mainly here as a place to sleep near the highway. There wasn't a lot in terms of kid-friendly things to do, but we also arrived by dinner time, having done all the fun stuff we wanted to do (with with friends was perfect), so we grabbed food and settled in to our hotel.

Eat
If you're hungry for something local, make sure to stop by Hattie B's for Nashville Hot Chicken - and use the order online to pick-up instead of waiting in line! The lines are going to be long - there are several locations and both that we drove past had lines out the door. 

Stay
Hyatt Place Downtown with breakfast included (operating close to normal)! The hotel is central in Nashville, only a few blocks from Broadway and just off the river. We loved that we were somewhere we could walk downtown without being caught in the middle of it all.

Rain Plan
Adventure Science Center (ASTC), Grand Ole Opry

Day 3 Nashville, TN to St. Louis, MO (4 hours and 30 minutes)

The drive between the two cities will actually take you through two other states - Kentucky and Illinois. So just for the fun of it, we ate on the road and did as the locals did with KFC (which admittedly the kids & I had never had)!

Our first National Park visit was also on the list for arrival - The Gateway Arch! It's fairly easy to get to when coming into St. Louis, as you'll pass right next to it, but it wasn't open to visit while we were there. We still got the iconic picture under the arch as we entered the gateway to the west - and if you're looking to do the National Park Junior Ranger program, you can still complete the program online by downloading and mailing in so your kids can get their badge for seeing this location.

Play
We had also listed the options of visiting the St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Union Station, Forest Park, Citygarden, or grab a drink in one of many breweries, and if we were spending more time in the city, we would! For us though, this was a chance to catch up with friends we hadn't seen in years, so our time there was time well spent. But had we been on our own, all of the above was recommended and was well-intended on our list.

Be sure to stick around to see fireflys at night - we had them in Atlanta, Nashville and here - but the kids actually got to catch some with friends while in STL. It was the best thing ever for Florida kids who don't get that back home!

Stay
Hyatt Regency The Arch which is located right under the arch! And it was fairly accessible to many of the sites we planned to do. 

Rain Plan
St. Louis Science Center (ASTC)

Day 4 St. Louis, MO to Omaha, NE (6 hours)

As we left St. Louis, the drive took us through Kansas City - so we made sure to see a few of the Walt Disney Landmarks on the Missouri side, being the Disney fans that we are! We were also there in time for lunch, so were told to check out Joe's BBQ in Kansas City. 

The restaurant itself is in Kansas City, KS, so you can add another state to the list when you cross the state line that runs through the city.  Joe's was another order ahead and drive up to pick up place - we split The Hogamaniac so we could try a little bit of everything and it was as good as it was said to be!

We then drove on to Omaha, a stop we intended to break up the long drive across South Dakota to Badlands and Mount Rushmore. We chose Omaha because we had friends in the city we hoped we could visit with, but we also considered staying in Sioux Falls, SD - if you want a different stop.

Play
The Omaha Zoo is one of the best in the country and we were told to visit when we came -  but they were requiring timed entries and we didn't have all the time we wanted to see it, so had to skip it. So instead we walked the city to get to know it and crossed the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, that allows you to walk into Iowa from Nebraska. The very casual experience - getting to walk a suspension bridge over the Missouri River & into another state- was all the rage to the kids!

There's also another National Park available at the site, Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, so we intended to get a Junior Ranger badge here.  Unfortunately it also remains closed, but luckily the with the NPS offering the option to complete the workbooks online and mail in to receive a badge, we saved ourselves from tears.
​
Eat
We were told to visit Old Market and in particular eat at Spaghetti Works with kids. We also happened to be there on Monday, when kids eat free, so it was an added parenting win for us.

Stay
Holiday Inn Express Downtown – Old Market had breakfast included and a place to do laundry. The hotel is a little way off of Old Market, but we didn’t mind the walk which put us near museums and a quieter part of town. This hotel also tried to operate normally, providing us gloves and requiring masks for our full breakfast buffet, and allowing the gym to stay open but with wipes to clean down machines.

Day 5 Omaha, NE to Badlands, SD (6 hours and 30 minutes)
The drive over was a lot of green and farm and all you'd expect from being in the Midwest- until you actually get to Badlands. But in a small ray of hope, you'll gain a whole hour heading west here as you cross over into Mountain Time Zone.

Badlands National Park is an easy drive through with a few pull offs to hike - we spent about two hours between driving through and exploring on foot. But if you want to just enjoy the drive, it is enough to appreciate this location and its ever changing beauty. You'll come in from the Northeast Entry and drive the Badland Loops Road through the park.

The Ben Refiel Visitor Center is a short drive from the entry, and though it's doors are shut, Rangers are posted outside under tents to answer questions and provide Junior Ranger Activity Books and Badges. They'll give parents the book & the badge and "deputize" us, so we can later swear in the kids to being rangers, once completing their activities. The experience is a little lost for those who haven't done this before, but for us a huge time savings - we didn't have to worry about driving back to the Ranger to earn the badge, so it was much appreciated to not have to on this trip!

We got out at Big Badlands Overlook, Fossil Exhibit Trail, Panorama Point, and Burns Basin Overlook to enjoy a few walks and wildlife up close (listen for the rattlesnakes). The animals are abundant and you want to take them all in. If you want to see more, near the end, take Sagecreek Rim Drive. You'll take a dirt road that will lead you to prairies, where you'll find prairie dogs, big horn sheep and bison all near the side of the road. This was a huge hit for all to be so close to everything!

From there, you're only a hour and half drive to Mount Rushmore. The Mount Rushmore Memorial is currently open until 10p during summer, with the Evening Lighting Ceremony at 9p. After we checked out into our hotel, we headed over to be able to see it before it got dark and for the ceremony itself. The Memorial does cost $10 to park and it is not included in the NPS pass. So if you do want to make the most of your visit here, come earlier in the day to spend more time here - though a ton of time is not needed. And make sure to get your kids a Junior Ranger Badge here too - so far this was the 4th of the trip!

​You'll also want to make sure to see Crazy Horse Memorial while you're in the Keystone area - we stopped by the morning we were leaving and got to see the artifacts and hear the story about this monument. It's a separate entry cost but your contribution goes a long way to keep the foundation alive. We didn't know much about it before going, but we are so glad we got to stop and visit. The story behind it is moving and the mission is inspirational; you'll have to see it for yourself to truly appreciate the full scope. The memorial itself is an ongoing project that will continue to finish for generations to come - so you will always see a different view of this massive rock sculpture between visits as it works towards completion.

If you have a full day to spend in the area, you can easily spend it between both Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse and be truly inspired by the legacy of these monuments.

Stay
Holiday Inn Express Mount Rushmore in Key Stone, South Dakota was only 10 minutes from Mount Rushmore with breakfast included. The hotel is located in beautiful Keystone which is only a short drive from Mount Rushmore. It can be a bit of a tourist trap, but as far as cute mountain towns go, it’s worth seeing. The hotel also offered a full breakfast buffet and opened seating outside to limit the number of people in their dining space.

Eat
Burger Time is a North Dakota staple, but we found one in South Dakota along our pathetic  and decided to try it out!​

Rain Plan
Play in the rain!

Day 6 & 7 Keystone, SD to Jackson, Wyoming (8 hours and 30 minutes)

You have a long drive through Wyoming to get to your next park, and this is how we started planning our double days. Anywhere that we would take a 7+ hour to get to, we ultimately decided to do two overnights in. We could've done longer, but it would also have changed the number of parks we saw and the route we took back home. And since we were set on seeing certain parks, this is the plan we all agreed on. 

Grand Teton National Park is right outside Jackson, and you can drive through part of the park to get to Jackson itself. The park is open 24/7 and is only a few minutes from Jackson, a charming little city every bit worth seeing.

We looked up a list of family hikes in Grand Teton, knowing we wanted to do something, but not get too adventurous (we didn’t have bear spray on us, of course). And with little ones, hikes can't get to go too far or we'd end up leaving one of them behind.  So we enjoyed being outdoors here, taking in mountain views we don't get back home, and seeing this incredible place formed from an earthquake. We walked over to Jenny Lake and hiked the String Lake Trail at sunset, which couldn't have been more perfect to round out the day.

The Junior Ranger program was also available here, so they were given a book and a badge to complete as they explored!

Once you're in Grand Teton, you can drive straight through an hour & 15 minutes north to reach Yellowstone National Park. We reserved this for the next day, so we could spend as much of the day as possible exploring. We packed lunch, got on the road early, and made it to the park a little after 9am. We had mapped out the drive round-trip through the park, which would take about 4 hours with no stops to complete. But once we arrived we were given current maps indicating that some roads were closed including the one that would make the round trip drive possible - Tower-Roosevelt to Chittenden Road (the closest parts of the park to Montana).

We instead decided to take shorter route with stops along the way - the first one was to see Old Faithful. The NPS website will make geyser eruption predictions and you can also check at the entrance to the park on arrival. Once you're in the park, cell service is EXTREMELY limited, so if you're trying to find updates, you'll need a hot spot to connect.

Old Faithful has seating set up around it to watch the eruption - it becomes a people magnet and for those of us that don't enjoy crowds, unappealing. We watched the eruption from behind in a grassy area under the shade, acting us unFloridian as they come. But there was no one gathered near us and made for better views. We then decided on a hike around Upper Geyser Basin to see the other geysers and pools.  It does get a little crowded in spots, but its easy to avoid people as long as you keep on moving.  We also got to see a second eruption of Old Faith from our hike, from a distance on our way back down Upper Geyser Basin Trail, and it was actually more impressive than being up close. 

We continued north towards Madison then back easy to Norris Canyon Road to see Lower and Upper Falls. Lamar Valley, a great area to see wildlife is tucked away in the far northeast corner near the road closures, so we knew we'd be giving up that since we didn't want to drive back the way we came. But the path we took, east to Norris Canyon Road and then south to Grand Loop Road, took us right by Hayden Valley, another great area to see wildlife. And wildlife did we see! Wildlife jams are a thing here, so don't be surprised to get caught in traffic to find a bear, moose, coyote or bison (of many other animals) on the side of the road. Our kids didn't know better missing out on Lamar Valley, and since we didn't want to add extra time to our drive, we were happy with all we got to see with this modified route. We finished with exploring the West Thumb region, near Yellowstone Lake, before calling it a (long) day in the park.

If you're looking to spend more time in the park though, we recommend checking out this site for a few family hikes. The park is open 24/7 and over the summer, sunset is after 9p. Do come prepared though, since there aren't many market places or gas stations in the park, so top off when you get a chance and make sure to have enough water and snacks. Also come in layers - the nights in late June/early July easily got in the 40s, but then warmed up as we neared the sun. So we definitely needed to be able to peel off and layer up depending on where we were! The park itself also warns hikers to carry bear spray with them and has it available for purchase in various spots - with the amount of wildlife near common grounds we saw, I'd definitely get some if venturing off the beaten path, especially alone or with little ones, since the wildlife seemed a little fearless of the visitors.

This is one stop where you can't get your ranger book or badge as the visitor centers are closed and the rangers are manning the park!

Stay
Hampton Inn Jackson Hole was a little way out of town square, but near a grocery store and gas station. It also came with breakfast included. The gym was open and they were doing to-go bags of breakfast with lots of food. If you don’t enjoy the selection, there’s a grocery store right next door with a Starbucks inside.

​We enjoyed staying outside of the park, especially trying to divide ourselves between both. But if you’re intent on exploring Yellowstone, there is lodging available in the park and worth checking staying north, east or west of the park! Jackson is as close as you can get to Grand Teton, so you’re in a good spot to visit this park solely - or if you’re like me, and getting lost in the woods is not really your thing!

Eat
Taco John's is Wyoming's top fast food chain - a local Taco Bell with a really great potato olés!

We decided to eat out one night in Jackson, so we could see this little town too. Masks were required in Jackson, so it made us feel better about being out and about. We decided on Jackson Drug, an original soda fountain right across from a city square that the kids burned some energy running around in. I can't vouch for it, but the Elk Burger was recommended; and save room to split a dessert too - you can't come to a soda fountain without getting one!

Rain Plan
Play in the rain! ​

Day 8 & 9 Jackson, WY to Moab, UT (8 hrs)
This was another long drive south, so it would once again be a 2-night stay. Personally, these were the parks I was most looking forward to seeing. The rock formation and desert climates call to me, so I was thrilled with the time we'd get time to explore here.

Moab, Utah is situated right in the middle of two National Parks - Arches and Canyonlands, so can believe that the views from the city are extraordinary. We arrived after an extremely long drive, and since the temperature went from winter to dead of summer, we knew we owed the kids some pool time. With a pool, splash pad, and hot tub at the hotel, the kids were quickly able to adapt and wear out any bit of energy they had left in the desert sun.

​The city of Moab is requiring masks be worn by all, outside of exercising or outdoor activities, and our hotel did a great job of minimizing exposure of guests to each other.

The next morning we got up early and decided that we would drive out further (30 minutes to the entrance) to see Canyonlands National Park. Since Arches was easily accessible, right next to our hotel, we felt another drive out made the most sense first thing in the day. We contemplated getting up early to see the sunrise at Mesa Arch in Canyonlands, since the park is open 24/7, but sleep at this point became more important than a 5am wake up. No regrets though because we all but made up for with the sunset we got at the end of the day.

We found another listing of family hikes to take, and also consulted with rangers at the Island in the Sky Visitor Center which was open. It's also a great restroom stop and last chance to pick up a gallon of water if you forget before you go exploring this park. And don't forget your ranger book and badge - at this point you're at 7 parks if you follow the trip we did!

We also opted to just stick to Islands in the Sky. The drive to The Needles was further out, and though we would have loved to have see it all, a taste was all we needed. We first drove over and hiked to Mesa Arch, which has as an extraordinary view as you'd imagine it to be. We then head over to hike Whale Rock, which was said to be an easy hike for kids, where they had a little bit more room to roam. Finally, we took the drive to Grand View Point Overlook, which was a nice mini preview of what they'd see at the Grand Canyon in the days to come. And the hike was such a wonderful walk, making you feel so small compared to everything else.

​To see Arches National you have to either go early or come back late. Not just to dodge the mid-day heat, but because the park will get at capacity by lunch. We didn't find any issues with that, because after a full morning of exploring, we took a break at the hotel pool, with plans to go for an evening hike and picnic dinner.

Coming back into the park after 5 also means there's not an entry fee and the crowds are all but gone. The only thing is visitor centers and stores are closed, so come prepared - and ready to download the ranger book for mailing in. We found a few family hikes to take that would allow us to see the park but also allow us all a pace that meant fun! 

We started at Balanced Rock which was a quick loop with some extraordinary views. We also had time to hike the Delicate Arch Viewpoint Trail, Pine Tree Arch and Tunnel Arch (where we stumbled upon a deer a few yards away), Broken Arch Trail, and all our favorite, Sand Dune Arch Trail. Sand Dune gave us a chance to take off our shoes, walk on powder red sand, and let the kids build castles,  while we soaked in the energy from these rocks.

​We also took the whole driving tour of the park and set a pace that got us to sunset before we left. My one ask was to see the sunset here, while my husband wanted to star gaze - so we found Panorama Point where we got the best view of the park and the setting sky. Before we left to take our star gazing drive, we were surprised to see the full moon illuminating the La Sal Mountains as it rose behind it. It was such a surprise to catch this special view - we knew that we now wouldn't be able to see stars, but ended up with the best show we could ask for!

Stay:
Hyatt Place Moab with breakfast included and a place to do laundry. The rooms were a very generous size and the hotel was immaculately kept. It is the closest hotel to the road leading to the parks, so if you don’t mind staying on the outskirts of Moab (which is easy to get into anyways), this is the perfect spot! They still offered breakfast to-go - where you asked the kitchen staff for items they’d load up in a bag. The gym was also still open and asked to limit the number of guests in at a time.

Eat:
In-N-Out Burger is one of our absolute favorite places in the west, so you can bet finding a location on our drive meant a stop! It seemed to be the same for the city of Provo, as there was a quite a wait in the drive-thru to get a late lunch. But we got our Protein-Style Burgers and Animal-Style fries and lived happily ever after.

Rain Plan
Does it rain here?

Day 10 & 11 Moab, UT to Sedona, AZ (7 hours and 45 minutes)

One thing to note is that entering the state of Arizona, they're on Mountain Standard Time, which right now mimics Pacific Time. So we (by surprise) gained another hour which we weren’t expecting - now at a 3 hour difference from back home.

We wanted to drive south to Grand Canyon via Monument Valley but all Native American lands are closed currently, so we couldn't access it. Also expect when driving a vast majority of this drive to not have many to any places to stop. This area was literally shutdown - not even a person in sight.

We had intended to come in through Highway 64 at Desert View (eastern side) of the Grand Canyon, drive the rim to the west and exit via the South Rim outside the city of Tusayan. But times being as they are, they didn't have the highway or Eastern entrance open, which gave us a longer drive to and through Flagstaff to get into Southern Rim to enter (and exit) the park.

But not to be taken for granted, we got to see on this drive, the range that made the exterior part of the Grand Canyon. We had once before visited the south rim of Grand Canyon coming in from Las Vegas - and entering is a surreal experience.  You drive through a forest - Kaibab Forest -  and green is not much of what we expected from a canyon!

The Grand Canyon had one Visitor Center Store near Mather Point open where you could get your ranger book and badge. They required masks when visiting in and outside the area to reduce exposure and limit contact that the employees had with guests. We knew that this region of the canyon was not one we would do a lot of exploring in, because the hikes are more treacherous, so we opted to walk the trail at Mather Point and then head over to Grandview Point for a little hike (before deciding we rather not).

We have full intentions of coming back to Grand Canyon when they're a little older, so the short visit here was worth it just for their reactions alone. We have our sights set on taking them to the Western Rim later, which would give us all an opportunity to view the Canyon in a different light.  Plus with a lot more stuff to do there, a trip for older kids is definitely on the docket!

We planned to stay in Sedona, two hours south of Grand Canyon, as we heard so much about what a wonderful desert retreat this is. We also knew there were family hikes we could do with kids in the area, while also relaxing before we started the long days of driving back east. We visited the Chapel of the Holy Cross, enjoyed the pool at our resort, and then spent the evening with a picnic dinner and enjoying the Bell Rock Trailhead. Your America the Beautiful Pass is also available for use last state parks, where you would otherwise need a day pass to park and access.

Stay
Hilton Bell Rock was the perfect retreat! The resort was very through in explaining Hilton’s CleanStay initiative and ensuring we understood all measures they’re taking to stay safe. The have a restaurant on-site still operating with mainly outdoor seating being used. They also keep their pool open in shifts, so they have an opportunity to clean and sterilize throughout the day. The pool never got busy and didn’t change any of the enjoyment or experience for us with the limited times.
​
Eat
Eegee's and try the frozen drinks!

Rain Plan
Does it rain here?

Day 12 Sedona, AZ to El Paso, TX (8 hours)

White Sands is only an hour outside of El Paso, so we chose to stay here with hopes of visiting our next National Park. Before we even left on our trip, the park was still shutdown, but we still opted for this route - a sacrifice we knew could come. When started our road trip, White Sands had opened back up, so were excited about our plans coming back to life!  When we arrived to the New Mexico border though, clear highways signs mandated a quarantine of all visitors for 14 days, so we drove straight through the state to Texas.

This was one of the longest drives of the trip with the shortest turn around when getting back on the road - and driving back east we lost a whole hour thanks to those time zones that at once point worked in our favor. So we arrived in enough time to grab dinner and settle in. We had found information on visit El Paso with kids, but decided that we were all spent -and  another day of long driving called for a nice relaxing evening at the rooftop pool.

Plus, just taking in that you’re a few miles from Mexico, was an experience all its own. The culture here embraces their proximity to Mexico, and we saw several Mexican license plates mixed in with local ones as we played the license plate game on our trip (42 of 50 states, 3 provinces in Canada, 1 Mexico). It was definitely a city we appreciated getting to pass through and really makes you question all those borders we want to make exist. Being here, you see people just live all one and the same, only an imaginary line distinguishing the two nations. The people are so infused in both cultures, you already feel like you’re in a different place, but also one that feels so familiar.

Stay
Hotel Indigo

Eat
We ordered from the restaurant attached to the hotel, Mamacita's, which was also highly regarded in the city! With a twist on every Mexican dish, we enjoyed the Bacon Wrapped Shrimp with Jalapeno Jam dip.

Rain Plan
​Relax for the next long drive back home

Day 13 El Paso, TX to San Antonio, TX (7 hours and 45 minutes)

Texas is big, y'all. Like really big.

And this stretch of the drive on I-10 is nothing but long and boring. Actually, the most interesting part was driving through a Border Patrol Checkpoint as we glided parallel to the Rio Grande (you know, the dividing line to Mexico). We didn't know this would be a requirement for the drive until we put it on our GPS. But because of the proximity to Mexico - in some spots you're only a few miles off - there is a checkpoint in either direction of the highway near El Paso that you quickly (but timidly) pass through.

We knew we would need to break from staring at nothing but desert, so we opted to stop in San Antonio for the night. We did lose another hour here too, so it made sense to take a break. 

We arrived knowing we wouldn't be able to see The Alamo because it was closed thanks to Corona, but we were able to walk by it and tell the kids the history and significance of it still standing. We also decided to take a boat tour after walking the River Walk. Much of the River Walk is open and Texas is requiring that masks be worn out in public, so we felt very safe being outdoors in limited crowds and showing our kids this charming spot.

Go Rio Cruises is operating their narrated boat tours on limited capacities - 10 people per boat and spaced out per group. Boats are running every 30 minutes and being sanitized thoroughly between each shuttle. We had done the same tour years ago when we came, and were accustomed to overcrowded tourist attractions and playing footsies with strangers. So to now be able to sail in comfort and also do so feeling safe, was a very welcome change.

Stay
Hilton Palacio Del Rio with laundry available. The hotel is right on the River Walk and once again emphasized the Hilton CleanStay standards.  The customer service in this spot was also superb - probably some of the best of all trip!

Eat
Iron Cactus was right on the River Walk where we got to eat outside with the birds and ducks. The Crab Stuffed Jalapeños were THE best (and so was the jalapeño margarita)!

Rain Plan
DoSeum & Witte Museum (ASTC)

Day 14 San Antonio to Galveston (3 and 45 minutes)

My husband spent part of his younger years in Texas and one place he remembers going to is Galveston to play on the beach with his family. It was his one ask in the trip, so we worked it out to see a blast from his past. This gave us a chance to see a part of who he was, while also enjoying a short stop on our way back.

The Strand Historic District has shopping and food that you can walk only a few blocks from the cruise piers (when they are operational). Pleasure Pier was further down from our hotel, an amusement park over the Gulf. But for us, this was a stop to enjoy the beach of the Gulf! And we did so until the sunset.

Stay
Double Tree by Hilton was right across from the beach and was a perfect location to social distance! There was a pool with a bar on-site and limited dining ( to-go food to purchase), but plenty of restaurants within walking distance.

Eat
Miller's Seawall Grill had the best seafood platter made for sharing - gumbo, fish, shrimp, crab, and oysters!

Rain Plan
Houston Space Center is only a short drive from Galveston and an ASTC location or pay a visit to the pyramids of Moody Gardens.

Day 15 Galveston, TX to New Orleans, Louisiana (5 hours and 45 minutes)

We came to New Orleans just this past fall and fell in love with the city. We enjoyed that our first time was adults only, and remarked how much the kids would love the new meets the old charm of this city. And even saved some things to do with them - like take a ride down the Mississippi on a steam boat.

Little did we know we'd be back so soon and with the chance to come here to see the city tamed down to a pint-sized version. Since our route was going to take us in through the panhandle we decided to stop and see NOLA in rare form - kid-friendly.

Unlike back in November, the street cars were running on Canal Street and we took one down to French Market to start showing them the city on foot. We took them riverside and showed them around the French Quarter. We decided to ride the Steamboat Natchez at its evening sailing, so grabbed a quick bite of traditional food to eat before boarding.

The crew on the Natchez enforced masks and had temperature checks before guests boarded. They spaced out seating, and made sure rules were being followed. A band played as we sailed the river, and the members that did not have instruments requiring mouthpieces wore masks. And the boat was not crowded, a welcome change from what I'm sure the typical summer months would bring.

Stay
Intercontinental was where we had stayed on our visit in November. We decided to come back because we liked its location - far enough from the action, but close enough to points of interest. And to be completely honest, I do an extensive search of Tripadvisor before any of my stays to ensure that "haunted" does not show up at hotel of choice (yes, I'm that person - but I can guarantee you are getting a through search from me). This one was one of the very, very few that came back all good!

Eat
Cafe du Monde for the beignets
The Original French Market for the shrimp boil
Acme for the oysters
... and we have even more recommendations from our couples' trip out here!

Rain Plan
Louisiana Children’s Museum (ASTC)

Day 16 New Orleans, Louisiana to Orlando (9 hours)

This drive could have been worse, but we took a quick pit-stop in Panama City Beach to see their cousin. It's been a long 4 months since they had, as I'm sure its been for many, so it was nice to just  give him a big hug.

They took us to Sharky's to enjoy beach views, time in the sand, and lunch before hitting the road again back to Orlando. The smoked tuna was shared by all as the best thing on the menu!

Once you're back in your home state, the time just seems to fly by, and this was the easiest of all the long drives we did - though the longest day of driving. We got home late at night and exhausted enough that the time change settled in pretty quickly.

It was a lot of driving, but it was so completely worth it!

We didn't have to alter many of our plans, only make a few concessions when we couldn't get into National Parks or down certain roads because of closures. Yet we went in expecting that and weren't (too) disappointed with some slight deviations.

It helped very much having a plan of what you wanted to do, so we always had a goal in mind. But it helped even more to have flexible plans that we could adjust if needed!

If you're planning on doing a similar trip, we recommend giving yourself the same type of grace we did - always not just now. It is work to make it work out.

​Overall, go in with a good attitude and a solid plan B, and we promise it'll be smoother than expected. And most of all, enjoy the ride!

The city that never sleeps. It is hands down one of our favorite places in the world - the bright lights, the hustle & bustle, the energy from the city and its people. You get caught up in it from the moment you set foot in the concrete jungle.

Yet our kids had a chance to experience it outside a layover visit and when our eldest was just an infant. We were all teeming to go, and with dear family friends getting married, we had the perfect reason to. So we decided we were going to send off summer break with a few days in the city!

But how do you design a kid-friendly trip to the Big Apple and what all is there you can really do with kids?

​Lots, actually!

Here’s a glimpse of must-sees while in NYC along with a rough design of your trip!

This is a day long activity if you want to enjoy it right!  And for us, it was how we started day one of our city tour. 

We pre-purchased tickets via the official vendor, Statue Cruises, prior to arrival to guarantee an entry time and save time from waiting in line.  Checking out tickets before hand can also allow you to get the coveted Pedestal or Crown tickets, as both are limited in quantities.  Pedestal tickets are the same price as the regular tickets (which get you ferry access to the islands), so it is worth trying to get your hands on these.  Pedestal tickets are the the only way you'll be able to get into the Statue of Liberty, with a whole museum to check out at her base.  Crown tickets are even harder to come by; they do cost a little more and allow only those 48" & taller up to climb the statue all the way up to her crown.  But if you do manage to get these tickets, it is so worth it - even just to say you made it to the top! 

While you're on Liberty Island, make it a point to get your kids their Junior Ranger badges. Not familiar with the program? Certain National Parks around the US offer booklets and activities for kids to complete while visiting the parks. Once complete, find a ranger, review your activities and receive an official badge after a swearing in ceremony. It has definitely been a hit for the kids during our trips and a fun FREE activity to find while we're visiting national parks around the US!

If possible, before you even visit, read some books about the Statue of Liberty.  "Her Right Foot" by David Eggers was our favorite and taught the kids so much about what they were looking at. They were eager to find her right foot and talk about what it symbolized once looking at her in person. 

Hop the ferry over to Ellis Island next, to learn about an icon in immigration to America.  This was the thoroughfare for immigrants arriving by boat and the first place that they set foot on before making their way to their new home.  Kids have another opportunity to earn a Junior Ranger badge here, which makes touring the facility that much more intriguing, even for adults!  We learned so much more through the activities they were doing as we were looking at this relic with different lens.  We also made it a point to visit The American Immigrant Wall of Honor on the island before we left, where years ago we had families' names engraved to celebrate their immigration to the states.  It was the best moment of the day, having my kids find their grandfather and great grandfather's names and explaining to them the sacrifices that were made to move here. 

Once you finish both islands, it's time to make it back to Battery Park.  A good portion of your day may be spent waiting in lines, boarding ferries, and getting to the next spot.  That's where a day for this activity allows you to explore without feeling rushed.  Once back at Castle Clinton, the ticket booth location for the Statue of Liberty, locate a ranger for one last badge.  The fort does not appear to house much, but once learning about the history you come to appreciate it even more.  It sits on its own manmade island, was once an aquarium, and for pop culture fans, it was the location of the Swedish Nightingale, Jenny Lind's first US performance (yes, of The Greatest Showman kind)! 

Your visit has to end with a ride on the Seaglass Carousel - truly a work of art and as beautiful to ride as it is to look at.  So reward yourself after a day of exploring by kicking back your feet, relaxing on and enjoying the show on this marvelous attraction!

We’re partial to the Mets but you can’t go wrong either way!  If you're spending summer in the city, a baseball game is a MUST! 

It was a big moment for us, since it was our first time at Citifield; last time I saw a home ballgame was when it was still Shea Stadium (while the new stadium was under construction). For the kids, it was the first time watching the Mets play outside of Spring Training.  And my youngest even got to wear a family heirloom; a toddler size 1986 World Series Champions shirt that's 8 times as old as she is.  

Central Park also needs to be reserved for a day all its own.  You can do as little or as much as you want to, but for us, we wanted to let the kids immersive themselves so made Day 2 all about this urban forest. 

We started at the Central Park Zoo, which in its own right, deserves a visit just so your kids can say they went to the one Alex and his friends in Madagascar called home.  The zoo, though small, is adorable and can fill just enough time without taking away from your day.  Undecided?  Do what we did and buy tickets on your phone right on the spot - it will also get you a discount code to save AND reduce paper use.  

Once you're done visiting the wild animals of New York, its time to explore the park itself.  We read "A Green Place to be: The Creation of Central Park" by Ashley Benham Yazdani before our visit to learn about how the park came to life.  It introduced the different architecture of the park and allowed even the most seasoned visitor (me) to look at the park in new appreciation.

We explored the statues and landmarks with a different set of lens now that we knew their unique stories.  We stopped at Strawberry Fields and ironically had "Hey Jude" playing in the background as our kids learned about this famous memorial.   We visited the preserved Belvedere Castle and climbed with the kids to the top. 

If you come early enough and have time, within Shakespeare Garden is an wonderful playhouse for kids.  The Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre puts on puppet shows for young and old alike in the mornings, and though we didn't get to see it, we were told it was absolutely fantastic! 

The weather decided to turn on us, but we had plans to rent a boat and spend some time on the water.  And we were all anxiously looking forward to the activity - but said we'd add it to our list for next time!  You can rent a boat from the Loeb Boathouse for $15/hr + $4 per every additional 15 minutes for up to 4 people.  

Over the summer, Wollman Rink turns into Victorian Gardens, an amusement park in the city.  It was a nice change of pace for the kids to get to play in the city, with that skyscraper backdrop behind them.  But now our new goal is to come back and allow them to properly ice skate on this iconic rink with the same beautiful view behind them!
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You can picnic in the park, ride a horse & carriage, enjoy a summer concert or movie or simply just be.  Central Park is definitely worth the immersed day if you're willing to see it like a little first timer. 

If you're lucky enough, you may even get a summer concert here!  We were able to get tickets to Good Morning America's taping of their summer concert series right in Central Park - so we woke up to Keith Urban playing for all of America!  What a moment, even for the kids to experience their first televised concert! 

We couldn't take a trip to New York and not stop for the famous Frozen Hot Chocolate.  Serendipity 3, an iconic restaurant made famous by the movie of the same name, is truly what its name lives up to - a fortunate accident.  You're only so lucky if you get to drop by to experience this restaurant's eclectic vibe only complemented by its massive food choices.  

And yes, you have to have the Frozen Hot Chocolate before dinner.  It is just that good - and big enough to share, if you want to! 

What better to complement Frozen Hot Chocolate than going to see Frozen itself!  If you have a chance to dabble in local theater back home with your kids, a trip to NYC is time to upgrade to the big time.  There are plenty of family friendly options on and off Broadway, including long running The Lion King, Aladdin, Wicked and whatever else is introduced into rotation in the theater district.  

Frozen was the latest release and the only our kids hadn't seen, so we made big plans to see it. And we all absolutely fell in love with Broadway's take on this beautiful story about self and love! 

Those morning shows you catch glimpse of after your local news are taped right here, so why not try to get your 15 seconds of fame?  The Today Show is our personal favorite, staged right under 30 Rock, and its outdoor atmosphere inviting.  Tapings are free and early, so make sure you're ready to rise and shine.  If you need coffee or sweets to help with that, stop by Bouchon Bakery next door for morning wake up treats (we especially enjoyed the macarons)!

If you're more of a GMA fan, head over to Times Square to catch a glimpse of them at work. 

Visit this beauty and not just to pass through - we started one of our mornings by heading over to take it all in!  

Prior to our visit, we read all about this landmark in "When Jackie Saved Grand Central: Jacqueline Kennedy's Fight for and American Icon" by Natasha Wing.  The station is beautiful, from its intricate architecture to the details in its paintings.  The book gave us a preview to the story of its legacy and how it was almost lost and the fight to save and preserve it. We enjoyed our visit a little more by reading all about it, and even made sure to look for the dedication wall placed in the foyer for Jackie O.

Beyond its history, the station sees so much foot traffic and is home to some great eateries and places to shop.  If you're here, make sure to make a stop to the restaurant level and visit Magnolia Bakery for a treat - its definitely one of those New York places that is NOT to be missed! Grab the blondie - it was arguably the best! 

Want the ultimate moment for a kid? FAO Schwartz is back in Rockefeller Center and its just as magical as its flagship store once was.  Come for opening and be welcomed in by toys and toymakers alike.  Head up to the top floor to play on the iconic "Big" floor piano. Or simply just take in the magic of this magical toy store. 

The High Line is a walkway above the city built on old railways and a different way to take in New York.  The kids will enjoy finding the eclectic uses of art and the relaxed vibe up here - along with the views!

We suggest starting at the The Standard, specifically at the Biergarten.  This open air venue sells tickets at the ticket booth for beer and food; purchase what you'll like in exchange for item of choice once inside.  There are fusbol and ping pong tables set around the venue, along with the community tables.  It makes for a great time for the whole family, without getting too rowdy.  And for us, it was a nice place to duck into as we avoided the rain! 

Once you make your way up to walk down The High Line, feel free to get off and on to check out neighborhoods as you'd like.  You'll run into Chelsea Market which is marketplace of shops, eats, and events! Finish at Hudson Yards, where you can climb The Vessel - a centerpiece made for exploring!  

There are plenty to choose from, including the iconic Empire State Building, grand view of Central Park from Rockefeller Center, and a national treasure for all it represents, One World Trade.

We've visited all and really there is not a right or wrong, but suggest doing one a trip! It'll make every visit back extra special if you get a skyline view from a different landmark each time!

New York is full of museums, which make for the best any time activity! 

• American Museum of Natural History
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art 
• Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
• Whitney Museum of American Art 
• Guggenheim Museum
• Tenement Museum 

... and that doesn't even finish that list nor start the selection of children's museum to see! 

• The Children's Museum of Manhattan
• The Color Factory
• Pip's Island 
• Brooklyn Children's Museum 
• DiMenna Children's Museum 
• Children's Museum of the Arts 
• Gulliver's Gate

Finally, don't forget your reciprocal benefits from any museum memberships from back home.  For us, the ASTC Travel Passport Program allowed us free entry to the Intrepid, which was an amazing and unique experience.  Not only did we get to wander an aircraft carrier, looking at all types of vessels but we also had the opportunity to tour a submarine.  The Growler was a Cold War era sub and even had one of the original crew volunteering on board.  To meet someone that served and that could give us firsthand account was indispensable. 

Want some really good Italian food?  Visit Little Italy!  It makes you feel like you are in Italia with the hosts enticing you to enter and the language floating through the air.  This is just one of those iconic neighborhoods you have to pop over and visit! 

​While you're there, go to Caffe Palmero - home of the best cannolis this side of the Atlantic! 

Visit another zoo! This ended up being serendipitous for our eldest - who was wanting to see the zoo but we couldn't squeeze it in during our three short days!  When our flight got cancelled and only rescheduled for two days later, we had the time to fulfill his wishes.  

The ZOO (of TV legacy) is truly an experience - and got us to another borough to visit.  An upgrade from the Central Park Zoo in sheer size and attractions, it was a delight to see our kids immerse themselves in this beautiful zoo.  They even had education stations to participate in activities and earn stickers all while learning about animals and what they can do to better help this world. 

We were immediately sold on a Wildlife Conservation Society membership during our visit, which covered the difference in the price of our Central Park tickets and this visit.  It also gave us a year's worth of visits to WCS affiliated zoos and aquariums in the greater NYC area.  So if we just happen to be back, we're covered; if not, we've donated to a great cause!  And saved while doing it. 

Walk across this architectural mastepiece for some stunning views of Manhattan Island! Do it at sunset for a glimpse of the heavens showing off!

Looking for the shoreline near Manhattan? Head further into Brooklyn to iconic Coney Island! Spend a perfect summer day on the boardwalk and riding the famous rides, like the Cyclone. Nothing else feels more like summertime!

Well, except a hot dog eating contest - which happens here every 4th of July!

Also, make use of that WCS membership and visit the New York Aquarium included in your purchase! Easily another two in one day here!

There’s never a wrong time for New York!  But how long you go is completely up to you! 

• Visit in Spring and you get the city coming back to life and the start of baseball season!
• Come during the Summer and get festivals galore.
• Fall brings the beauty of the changing season and just the right temperature in the air. 
• And nothing is as wonderful as spending Christmastime in the city! 

You can make a long weekend of it and focus on only one thing - like we did a few years back and hit up Broadway shows. You can come for a few days and take in all the highlights!  Or if you decide to stay longer, fill up your schedule with so many things to do.

Flying into NYC is relatively inexpensive from around the US, but it is always worth playing around with your dates and arrival airports to see what's available!  

We prefer flying into LaGuardia (LGA) because flights tend to run a little more frequently and cheaper.  But this last trip we flew out of JFK and had a wonderful experience - right down to getting there!  We were able to take the subway and then connect over to the AirTrain to get to JFK smoothly.  A cab ride can run over $75 - whereas taking public transit cost us about $20 (and our 4 year old was free the whole way) and in about the same amount of time. 

You can take public transit from LaGuardia too, but it takes a little more maneuvering and connecting to buses.  Knowing the ease of connection at JFK, we may consider flying in there more often than not!   

Subway, foot, or taxi are really the only way to go.  There is no point in having a car in the city, as you'll just be frustrated at the lack of parking or the sky high prices when you do find it.  So unless you plan to head out of NYC for the trip, save renting a car until it is needed.  

The subway is cheap and easy to use - $2.75 each one way trip or you can purchase multi-day cards for a discounted price.  If you have the opportunity, spend as much time above ground as possible too. Take in the city and sights, it's how you truly appreciate New York.  And if you're in a hurry, you can always hail a taxi - they're everywhere and in my opinion still more convenient than any Uber or Lyft in the city!

We prefer Midtown because of the accessibility to public transportation and the central location. Our last stay brought us to Hyatt Place Midtown-South off West 36th Street.  We were two blocks from Hearld Square (home of Macy's), a handful of blocks from Times Square, and had a subway on every corner.  

We stayed in a generous size King Room with sofa bed, which was more than enough space for sleeping & changing aka the only times we were in our room.  And as a World of Hyatt member, we got free breakfast every morning.  They were in the middle of renovations in their main breakfast room, so we got to enjoy our first meal of the day right under the Empire State Building.  Pretty incredible for the price we paid to stay here!

When our trip got extended, we stayed at the Hotel Beacon in the Upper West Side.  We were a few block away from Central Park and near a subway line that had a Trader Joe's, Duane Reade and some other shopping near by.  We had a two-bedroom suite with a full kitchen, lodging that reminded me of my first dated apartment.  Had we spent more time using the amenities this spot would've been great with the accessibility to the marketplaces we had!  Instead we enjoyed dining at nearby Levain Bakery & Zucker's Bagels for breakfast and delighting in Gray's Papaya for hot dog & fruit juice for lunch. 

If you haven't done NYC with kids, its definitely worth the consideration.  This melting pot of people, culture, and history is such a wonderful experience for them and exposing them to so much in one little trip!

We had the amazing opportunity of getting to stay at these two gems in Hawaiian family fun! Both resorts are highly revered by families with little and big ones alike because of its diversity in venues, array of amenities for all ages, and the convenience that each of these mega resorts provide to cater to all.

So how did they stack up against each other and which one is better for you and yours?

Disney's Oahu based property, is everything you expect from a Disney hotel - and not just one in Hawaii.  Aulani is located in Ko Olina, just west of the airport and heading into a drier, more industrial part of the island.  But the resort area of Ko Olina is also home to a variety of high end properties for vacation goers looking to escape the traffic of Waikiki. And driving up to it, Aulani is everything you'd expect from Disney magic.   

On arrival, you're greeted with infused waters and fresh flower leis for women, kukui nut for men and kids receive Menehune necklaces, which are the famed characters of Hawaiian folklore that "lurk" around property.  While you're on property, you're welcomed "home" as Aulani does sit as part of the Disney Vacation Club portfolio - and they even have designated showrooms to showcase with anyone interested in learning more about becoming a member. For us regular guests, being welcomed home was definitely just a nice touch to make us feel even more welcome here!  

The resort is very accessible with two towers connected by the main entry building, where you can find shops and the flagship restaurant offering character dining.  Walking through the lobby, you can head outside to the lanai and get a full glorious view  of the resort.  And you'll see that once you're here, you're here - restaurants line both sides of of the property, the pools are centrally situated with the beach in the horizon, and the parking garage and main roads out of sight, so you really have no reason to head back to your car! 

We booked an entry level room - garden pool view and were granted a low floor request we made.  This was perfect because we ended up being situated right by the lazy river.  And with a separate patio entrance that led out to the pool area, we enjoyed our easy accessibility to the fun at this resort, especially since we were going to be spending ALL of our time here!

When we booked our trip to Hawaii, we knew we'd want to stay a few days at Aulani on our pursuit of visiting as many Disney properties worldwide!  The per night cost became a matter of how much time we spent here, because we didn't want to lose any time away, but rather enjoy what we paid for.  Disney's price is steep in comparison to other properties in Hawaii, especially if you plan to spend most of your time exploring the island.  But when you compare the cost of Aulani to other Disney resorts, you'll see that their Hawaiian sister hotel is priced no higher than staying at some of the premier Disney properties all over the world. 

So what does the price include, outside of room?

• Access to all pool, beach & recreation, including use of lounge chairs on the beach.
• A daily wristband at the towel stand that will give you fresh towels at the pool & access to the amenities.
• The age 3-12 kids club at Aunty's Beach House - open daily from 8a-6p (hours can vary).  Each child registered for Aunty's receives a MagicBand on arrival to identify them, and parents are loaded up with a ton of security measures to ensure they know their child's safety there. You will be charged for MagicBand, but its fully refundable on return (just like the Disney Cruise Line). 
• Activities around property including character meet and greets, the Menehune Adventure Trail game, live entertainment, Mo'Olelo Fire Pit Storytelling, 'Ohana Disney Move nights, and in room DVD rentals from the Pau Hana Community Room.

The price does not include: 

• Parking (there are self and valet options, both at $37)
• Meals or drinks (not an all-inclusive resort)
• Some activities including those limited in attendance - fitness classes, luau, workshops, snorkeling and other excursions. 
• After hours childcare, including special activities and full meals at Aunty's House 

Other things to note:

• Disney does have pay-per-use laundry rooms on site.  We stayed on the first floor with a laundry room down the hall from our location, equipped with about 5 washers and dryers.   The room was quiet and you could not hear it from anywhere in the hall, but  made all the difference to know we had it there.  You could even purchase single use detergent and dryer sheets in the laundry room in case you wanted to reuse some of your wardrobe. 
• Disney does have a luau on-site, but it does not run every night (only Tuesday - Saturday).  It is a nominal cost per person cost and space is limited. If you prefer a different luau option, Paradise Cove is a luau next door (about a 10 minute walk away) and a highly regarded option in Oahu! 
• Once you check in, everything can be billed back to your room key - a wonderful convenience for staying put on property. 
• There is a shopping plaza across the street with some other dining/shopping options AND all the other Ko Olina resorts are within walking distance.  Though we did not check out other options during our time there, we liked that we had the opportunity to explore without having to leave property by car.  

Location, location, location!

I think the one thing that could sell this place alone is location. Not only is it centrally located in Honolulu but it also is quite honestly the only resort on Waikiki with prime beach access.  This is where you want to stay if you want to be in the hustle and bustle of the city of Honolulu, but not on busy Waikiki itself.  The resort is closer to the marina, but from the beach you have postcard views of Diamond Head in the distance. 

On arrival, you drive through the Rainbow Bazaar, a small through street with a marketplace of shops and restaurants on either side.  You pull up to the open air lobby building where you can leave the car on idle while you get yourself checked in.  They aren't greeting you with the leis like Disney did on arrival, but the guest service was just as superb.  Once checked in, you're given a full map of the property, which is lined by 8 towers, 5 pools, and various shops and restaurants (even beyond the Bazaar).  Like Aluani, parking is not include - you have the option of valet for $52/daily or self park at $45/daily. If you opt to self park, the garage is back at the entrance to the Bazaar and once you're situated, you do have in/out privileges. 

The resort feels and is massive! And is only matched with the number of people you see everywhere.  It's definitely a different vibe than the "quieter" Aulani as there is a lot of movement here - but it only makes you want to get in on the action.  The lobby really is the central point to the resort, but there isn't a spot that grants you an overall view of the resort.  Each tower is like a world in itself, each with its own pool, bar, restaurant - but best of all, you have full access to the whole village while you're here!  Beyond the Rainbow Tower, you will find the strip of beach that is designed for Hilton guests - though the chairs do come at an extra cost to rent for the day.  Also good to note, all beaches are public and aren't just limited to hotel guests (same goes for Aulani).  Next to the beach is the manmade lagoon for someone wanting the feel of the ocean but with the calmness of a pool - this is also home to water activities like paddle boarding and paddle boat rentals.  

We booked a room without a particular request here, but they upgraded us to a high floor and view of the water.  This was a nice change of pace since there really isn't a ground floor room option, and with the sheer magnitude of this resort, I'm not sure I'd want to be so close to the noise.  Our room was generous in size, larger than Disney's with room to spare - but the bathroom could have used more square footage to make it easier for a family to utilize! 

For this leg of the trip in Hawaii, we wanted to book a place that we could come back to and enjoy but also not feel burdened leaving for the price, as we wanted to see the rest of the island! The price point here made that comfortable to do.  We considered other options but all lacked the proximity to the beach we wanted - so we fell for the idea that this was a great resort for the family to relax at after a busy day out.  And it really is - there's so much to do & was a great place to wind down at after full days! And on top of that, its in Honolulu - so if your list of things to do include checking off spots on Waikiki, you're right here!  Leave the car behind and go for a walk to discover what the city has to offer - that's what we did! 

So what does the price include, outside of room?

• Access to all pool, beach & recreation (but it does come as an additional resort charge) 
• Daily fresh towels at the pool (though no wristband needed); the towels are also handed out in exchange for a towel key.  Towel key must be returned at your end of stay to not be charged $10 per towel on departure. 
• Activities around property including movies by the pool, DVD rentals (boxes conveniently located  at base of each tower), torch lighting ceremonies, and fireworks on Friday night. 

The price does not include: 

• Parking (as noted, valet and self available)
• Meals or drinks (not an all-inclusive)
• Some activities including those limited in attendance - fitness classes, luau (there is on-site as well as several other in Waikiki), workshops and water activities. 
• Camp Penguin Kids Program for age 5 to 12 - though we didn't get to check it out here.  We knew our days would be filled with time together so we didn't even explore.  But to know the option exists is great - only down side is that it is additional. 

Other things to note:

• Hilton did not have a laundry room for guest use - they did have laundry bags but prices were pretty high.  Pack extra if you're staying here and don't want to pay the price of dry cleaning!  
• Hilton does have a luau on-site, located via the parking garage.  It is an additional cost and if you prefer a different more authentic options, there are other luaus in and around Honolulu to enjoy!  
• Once you check in, almost everything can be billed back to your room key - we ran into a few instances where they needed to reverify we were part of the resort.  So beyond the extra security measure of calling up the front desk to ensure we were guests, it would have been easier to just pay by credit card then have to go through a process. 
• There are plenty of other things to do in the area that is waking distance, including a Waikiki historical trail or chartering one of many activities sold right on the beach.  This is a great place to be if you want to do more with your vacation!   

We wanted to start our vacation on a lighter more relaxing note to catch up with the time change, so we enjoyed all we could out of Aulani.  But we definitely would not have stayed here if we were leaving to go sightseeing - unless we were DVC members or got an unbelievable price per night.  We enjoyed two nights to settle in and get some R&R before our adventure started. It is also not conveniently located to much on the island beyond the North Shore. You may avoid the traffic of Honolulu (which was not that bad), but you would be driving a little farther because of where it is situated. Stay here if you plan to stay PUT here. And if you're even toying with the idea of staying here, do it for at least a few days of your trip.  It's definitely a place to visit and you won't regret it - we loved our times to unwind with Disney magic before we visited the beauty of Hawaii!

Hilton Hawaiian Village felt like great place to leave and come back go to. It was a great resort, but I could not imagine spending all my days here just because of the sheer magnitude of the resort. It was a nice place to retreat to after days of fun because we were still able to take in all the amenities without feeling like we missed out, because it did lack some of the magic Disney has. And the price made it even easier to leave - since it was at half the cost of what we paid at Disney. If you want a prime place on Waikiki beach, with ground level pools and a village all its own, this is the place for you! It was a nice way to get wrapped into what Honolulu had to offer and not feel like we were missing out on any magic - because we made what we wanted out of our days when we returned!

Either way you can’t go wrong! But it’s all a matter of what you want from your time in paradise!

Still undecided? Check out our Highlights on Instagram for more information about our time at either resort!

We just got back from Hawaii, and what a trip it was!

​But getting there from the east coast is a journey in itself - AND not always cheap or easy!

So we decided to make the most of the long haul and planned a trip out there that wouldn't feel like just travel - but an adventure all its own!

When we were booking our flights to Hawaii, we used the Google Flights matrix to find a price and time combination we were comfortable with. The one stipulation we had was that we wanted to book with Delta for the SkyMiles perks, like free luggage & upgrades, priority access, and the miles we'd inevitably earn. There wasn't much of a price difference between Delta and the carriers, so opted to choose loyalty over anything else. The only thing was, the only flight/price combo we liked was telling us to "Book with a Travel Agent". And knowing that an agent wasn't just going to find that deal for me (some work with air consolidators and this wasn't the case here), I decided to do little research myself.

Anything over a 6-hour layover is technically considered a stopover, which is the time that an airline won't transfer your luggage to the next flight in your segment. This worked just fine for us as we needed our bags to get ready for the next day.

But if you don't have the option of having a place to stay, most airlines offer to hold your baggage for a small fee until you return. That way you can leave the airport to explore and make it back in time to take your next flight. Utilize that long layover to leave and explore and burn off any energy so you will actually sleep on an overnight! Since that wasn't the case for us, as we'd be gaining 6 hours after arriving at our final destination, we booked a hotel for a good night of sleep and made plans for a full day of exploring!

And if you had to hang out at the Sea-Tac Airport for a few hours, it couldn't be a better place to stay! It was fairly easy to get through (though busy, so make sure you have plenty of time for security) and had great dining and shopping options. Added bonus for the littlest ones - a play area all their own!

We chose to stay by the airport only because proximity to catch our 8am flight the next morning mattered more than prime location in the city. We booked at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Seattle Sea-Tac Airport which offered free shuttle service to & from the airport AND free breakfast - both essentials on our list since we'd have an early wake-up call! We landed in the Sea-Tac Airport, grabbed our luggage, phoned the hotel and within 15 minutes were picked up by the shuttle and dropped off at the hotel.

The hotel was undergoing some work while we were there, but the front desk agent was extremely apologetic about it and even friendlier on top of that. Our room was (obviously) not ready at our 9am arrival, so they offered to hold our luggage until we returned. We had arrived before breakfast so  they invited us to enjoy after check-in and before we went out exploring for the day.  We used this time to plan our time there while the kids stocked up on snacks for the road!

When we arrived back later that night, the front desk agent quickly got us checked in and upgraded to a suite.  Our keys were ready, our bags set aside for taking (no bell service, but carts available) and an extremely friendly agent to ensure we were set for the night.  We appreciated all the extra attention and the generous upgrade offer even though we wouldn't get to use the space as it should have been - but it was a nice perk of booking through a travel planner! 

The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Seattle Sea-Tac Airport is also only about a 10 minute walk from the Link Light Rail station that will take you straight into the heart of Seattle for less than $3/adult & $1.50/child (6-12) and after only 30 minutes.  You board near the airport hotels at the Angle Lake Station which overlooks a beautiful Angle Lake surrounded by woods.  The ride is very smooth and uneventful, and we hopped off at the Downtown Tunnels  Station which put us right near the Monorail that would get us to Seattle Center. 

The Seattle Center Monorail was originally constructed for the World's Fair and now still serves as a connector between the city and its more known region of Seattle Center (home to the Space Needle).  And it makes for a fun ride for kids to get through the city itself in its open-air window filled cars!  Worth the $2.50/adult & $1.50/child (5-12) ticket to ride this icon in the city. 

Our first stop off the monorail was to the Space Needle, since that was top on the list of things to do in our less than 24 hours in Seattle. Little did we know that the Seattle Center is also home to a host of other great attractions too, including a massive playground that greets visitors on arrival. 

The Seattle Center is a gathering place of entertainment, food and events in the heart of the city. This hub is not only home to the Space Needle, but also the Chihuly Garden & Glass, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center, Seattle Center Armory, Museum of Pop Culture, Pacific Science Center, and Seattle Children's Museum to name a few. Had we had more time to spare, we would have definitely used our reciprocal benefit with the Orlando Science Center at the Pacific Science Center since it allowed all of us in for free! ​

We returned to take a trip up the Space Needle to get a full view of the city from above. We booked mobile tickets while the kids played, and since they were stamped with a return time, we were able to make other plans in-between. When our time came up, we simply approached the line for a quick security check and then took the spiral up to the elevators. The wait included a visual history of the Space Needle's construction and stories from its inception. Once you've loaded up the elevator, you're taken straight to the top for some breathtaking views! We unfortunately didn't have the clearest day so couldn't fully make out Mount Rainer from up high, but did get to appreciate this city in its full glory! ​

Once we finished our hours of playing in and around the Seattle Center, we hopped back on the monorail to its original stop and took a small walk to see Pike Place. It was on our list of things to do, but be warned, its overrun by people and traffic so made our time less than enjoyable. But we're happy enough to say we've been there, done that - and even attempted to get a drink in the original Starbucks! But no Starbucks is worth a line of that length - so we just opted for a Starbucks in Seattle instead (it counts, right?!).

We instead walked over in the direction of Pier 53, home of the Seattle Great Wheel to have a full seafood dinner at Ivar's Acres of Calms on Pier 54. The service at this beautiful restaurant on the water was fantastic, only to be topped by how great the food was! We enjoyed our last few hours in Seattle with with a dinner of chowder, scallops and freshly caught King Salmon before preparing to head back for a full night of sleep!

We would’ve loved to explore Seattle a little more but appreciate that we even got a little taste of it! Now we’re itching to go back - to see more of the actual PNW region that Seattle calls home! We’ve started imaging plans to include  to hiking to Mt. Rainer, visiting waterfalls and wineries and whale watching off the shore!

Now it's only a matter of when - and what else can we pack into to visiting this incredible place!

Is a Pacific Coast Highway Trip on your bucket list?

It was on ours and so we decided to pack our bags, book a plane ticket, and make our way from SoCal to the Bay Area and explore in between. We didn't nearly cover the vastness of this beautiful stretch of coastal road, but we chose stops that worked for us with certain goals in mind. And we loved every bit of what we saw, and what we wish we had more time to see.

What did our week+ in California look like winding the up the open highway? Read on!

Some prefer to start further south in San Diego but started our trip in LA for reasons all our own!

1. Flight - we flew Delta and wanted a direct flight. Plus, with our Companion Certificate and Skymiles, we only ended up paying about $400 total for the 4 of us to go to west.
2. Location - we wanted to start south and watch the hills turn into cliffs and dramatically change course. Some may argue a trip from north to south would be better since you ride along the coast (rather than the inner most lane), but for us that didn't make a difference on the drive.
3. Disneyland - we wanted to start the trip with a treat for the kids! Capitalize on all the energy they had and use it for something they would truly marvel over.

What to do in LA? What is there not to do?!

After you pick up your rental, head towards Hollywood. You want a picture with the iconic sign and there are some many good spots to get it from, including the Griffith Observatory, which also includes panoramic views all around. If you're heading down to Hollywood Blvd to check out the sights there, head to shopping complex Hollywood and Highland for great views! While you're there, the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame and Mann's Chinese Theater (where these days you can watch new movie releases at) are within sight.

​Hungry? Visit Pink's Hot Dogs for this staple in Hollywood since the 1930s. The giant loaded hot dogs of all varieties were delicious and worth the wait at this counter service restaurant with outdoor seating. Just be warned, parking may be hard to find!

Then make it a point to cruise around greater LA County - from driving down Sunset Strip to admiring all the luxury of Beverly Hills to hitting up the pier in Santa Monica for some fun or even just checking out another city along the shoreline. There's so much to do in LA, you can easily spend a few days here!

This was *the* destination for us on arrival - to spend a few days at Disneyland California! The parks are nestled in the middle of Anaheim and really a world all their own. We highly recommend spending at least two days here, as there's enough to do without feeling rushed.

The resort itself has 3 Disney hotels (Disneyland Hotel, Grand Californian, and Pacific Pier), 2 theme parks (Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure) and the entertainment complex of Downtown Disney. Each park deserves a day all their own to fully immerse and explore AND because there's just that much to do! Promise. They have more attractions per park than the sister parks in Orlando!

There’s so much to cover here we have an article all their own for the parks! Read all about our time at Disneyland and why it quickly became our favorite Disney parks - this alone may be the reason you want to come out here!

Make your way past Malibu and the stunning beach communities of So Cal as you head north up PCH. You'll venture into the beautiful city of Santa Barbara nestled along the coasts and the hills, and upon our arrival, covered in smog. It was such a beautiful piece of real estate as we traveled the highway as, we slowly witnessed the change from relatively flat southern Cali.

We also stumbled up on the mission trail here, where we made a bit of an adventure within one. El Camino Real is a collection of 21 missions from San Diego to Sonoma, each spread out about 30 miles from each other. The Spanish missions, from a time when Spain held strong in California, are the oldest piece of history in the state and a captivating game to play while you're on your road trip. Look for the bell markers to signify the trail of missions as you travel el camino.

We only had time to explore the mission in Santa Barbara durinfbour short stop here, but wish we had spent even more time in this stunning city on the sea.

Does the name sound familiar, 90s babies? Well it should if you're a Clueless fan. It the namesake for the "Pismo Beach Relief" that the movie was fundraising for. And for us it was such a welcome surprise! Just when we thought we left everything So Cal had to offer, here's this little beach town that just exudes everything you want from California.

We spent just enough time here to park and play in the sand, bit could easily have spent hours more. From the beautiful shoreline to the relaxed surfer vibes, this is definitely the place you want to go to when trying to escape the hustle of the big cities and the bustle of Hollywood. It was the quintessential beach town on the California coast and a welcome stop for us to stretch as we made our way to our next stop!

Here's another name sake for you!  Finding Dory, anyone? 

With the name dropped so often in the movie, once we saw signs that we were approaching, we made sure to make a stop to just say we've been! Morro Bay was a seaside village lined with shiplap buildings and the sea painted with an iconic rock.  We stopped to check it out just because our curiosity got the best of us, and we're glad we did!  

​We drove to the inlet that approached the famous rock and were greeted by a sea of otters sunbathing in the bay!  What a fun surprise to encounter and certainly a place that made us want to stick around long enough to see what this town had to offer. 

San Simeon is best known for Hearst Castle, and though we would've loved to spend a day there, with two little ones our plans led us elsewhere. Seashore - to be exact - to watch the elephant seals. This detour on our trip was a treat, because what a neat experience it was to encounter these giants literally feet from us. Sparring and barking in their own environment, doing just what nature taught them to do. The kids delighted in getting to see animals in the wild and we loved the chance to get to teach something up close and personal.

For this roadtrip in 2017 though, this was as far north as we were able to go on PCH. The road was shut down in Big Sur due to mudslides, so we were forced to diverge inland ... which ended up being a fortunate accident.

Paso Robles was our serendipity on this trip!

We would never have planned a stop here on our way up, as its not on the PCH. But since we had to diverge because of Mother Nature, we got to explore such a beautiful part of the state! This central California wine country is filled with beautiful rolling hills and fields of wineries in between hills. We even spotted a black bear as we drove these rural areas, making his way around home.

We made a stop on arrival at Four Lanterns, a family-friendly winery offering outdoor seating, live music and space to roam. Once we finished our visit and by the time dinner rolled around, we head to downtown Paso. A quaint town made up of a main city block and with some chic restaurants and an adorable Central Park. We had a wonderful dinner at Artisan, a contemporary concept with fresh meals and delightful drinks. A welcome reward after a day of driving!

Our drive was a shorter one, but to a very anticipated destination! MONTEREY!

Yes, home of Big Little Lies, where we had just dived into in 2017, so we anticipate seeing what this stunning location had to offer. It was a beautiful coastal city, with a downtown to match its charm, and lined with mountain and boats.

The attraction here, beyond the show that mapped it, is Monterey Bay Aquarium - where we spent an afternoon discovering with the kids. Just the fact that at times you're staring at the sea while looking at exhibits is a fascinating concept all its own! The experience was only topped by the visitors we had at the dinner that evening - seals and otters splashing under our prime view table at Domenicos on the Wharf!

The only thing we missed doing in our short stop here is going whale-watching - we would have loved the chance to see these beasts in their natural home!

We NEEDED to see Big Sur, so before we continued north, we quickly headed back south to see how far we could go before being turned away. And we did not once regret this decision. This drive is absolutely beautiful - more than words can even paint to life. We made it as far as Pfeffier State Park as we drove the winding coast to see the beauty of it all. Only to be turned around and do it all again! We certainly didn't mind.

On arrival back, we made sure to take the 17 Mile Drive which would inevitably take us to world famous Pebble Beach. We completed this trip with a visit to the chilly shore, but feeling every bit much accomplished that we were able to see this gorgeous piece of California real estate on our trip!

We heard so much about Santa Cruz from others that we wanted to check out this beach town and see what it was about!

For starters, the homes lining the cliffs with prime view of the ocean were stunning. All were quintessential California homes as we would imagine them. But we also used this stop to let the kids have some of their kind of fun again. We spent the evening playing on the Boardwalk as a way to wind down the trip.

Carnival food, rides, games and even local beer is exactly what we needed after so much exploring. And as an added bonus, we had the perfect sunset to top off our stay. We would definitely recommend this as a stop for kids of any age!

This wouldn’t have been a stop we picked out on our own, but we’re so glad we were introduced to Filoli. The beautiful garden situated in city limits, this places is absolutely worth a detour to see.

The drive there is tree lined upon rolling hills. On arrival, you’re greeted at a majestic house beckoned by acres of beautiful topiaries. Breathtaking is the least of word I could use to describe it! An afternoon spent exploring these wonders is enough but you could easily get lost here for a whole day!

Our final official stop on this trip didn’t come without a little mishap - reminder to always check your safe before leaving your room! We made it all the way to San Fran to get an early morning cable car ride (without the lines) when we realized our mistake.

So we came back later (on a family reunion) and finished this stop. We hopped on cable car at Hyde & ___ and rode it into central San Fran! Goal accomplished. We visited the Painted Ladies, Drive down Lombardi Street, watched the sea lions bark at Pier 39, walked Fisherman’s Wharf and ate at Boudin Bakery - all the iconic SF things to do!

If you want a quick overview of the city, hop on a double decker! It’s the easiest way to get a lay of the land and figure out the areas you want to explore more! We recommend a stop in the Japanese Tea Garden for some serenity in the city! If you want something a little different to explore (and you’re a fan like us), the Walt Disney Museum at the Presidio is the perfect place to learn about his legacy and see his dreams come to life. Bonus, you get some scenic views of the Golden Gate Bridge!

But make sure your finish your trip with a visit to Baker’s Beach for the most spectacular view of the Golden Gate! If you come at sunset, you can watch the day fade to night while your backdrop is painted all sorts of lovely colors.

Need dinner plans? Cliff House is at land’s end, where San Francisco begins as they proclaim! The spot is perfect for a seafood feast and great views. Sweet tooth? You can’t forget Ghiradelli’s - because what’s a visit without a stop!

If you’re headed across the Golden Gate to Sausalito, you can’t skip one of the best things on this side of the bay. Take time to explore Muir Woods and the glory of these fantastic creations of God. The forest will leave you speechless, and if you time out coming at the right time of day, you’ll have a special experience.

We arrived after the park office closed but before the park did, which granted us free entry and plenty of spots to park on site. The best part of this though was the stillness that overtakes the park when it’s not run over by crowds. It truly makes you feel at one with nature and in deep respect for it. On your way down, take in the views of the ocean meets the mountains, it’s another moment that can stop you in your tracks.

And if you’ve worked up an appetite from all that exploring, make sure to make a final stop at In-N-Out if you haven’t yet! There’s something special about this place with the simplicity in its food, burgers and fries with a sauce all their own that you’ll be dreaming of for years to come! Take it up a notch and get your order Animal Style for a truly unforgettable experience. Best off all, there’s always an In-N-Out en route to satisfy your craving!

Summer is here, and that means this season brings on all the road trips!

Whether you already have one planned or you're counting on making plans on the whim, the dog days of summer are the perfect time to do it. 

Road trips can be as short and easy or as long and thought out as you want them to be. But most of all, they need to fun! 

So what makes it work?  We just had a few of our friends come back from their own adventures so we teamed up with them for extra advice on what made for smooth sailing, as close to perfect as possible!

1. Have a plan. Or at the very least know what you intend of this trip.  It doesn't mean you have to have every minute scheduled, but knowing things like when you want to arrive, help to decide when you want to hit the road. And with that, plan accordingly to help make the drive as smooth as possible. The map may say you'll get there at one time ... but traffic, pit stops, and a barrage of other diversions say another.  

Knowing when you're planning to leave can also help as you prepare for the trip. Getting the car ready is half the battle when leaving - the other is getting the little ones well-rested for an ungodly hours wake-up call.  If you know you're going to hit the road for an early morning drive, have the car loaded the night before. It'll save you the trouble of waking up the lightest sleeper (and forgetting something while you meander half asleep). If you're planning to leave during the day, run out your little ones so they nap on the road.  And if your plans involve a meal time departure, make sure you have food thought out - either pack a meal to-go OR make a special stop to start the trip.  Nothing can ruin a road trip like hangry people - of all ages and sizes!

When talking about her drive up the east coast, Kristin H. also made the great suggestion of planning drives around traffic patterns. Ideally avoid rush hours in major cities so you're not wasting any precious time, energy or gas! Make it a point to stop during those hours so that everyone can stretch rather than sit in extra long traffic lanes. 

2. Bring ALL the snacks! An essential part of road trip success is food - it can make even  the hangriest person human again. Just like we mentioned when planning for a trip with little ones, you will be saved with having this one crucial item.  Kids especially are never going have an appetitie when its convenient and a pit stop for food may not always be in the optimal location.  While packing, make a few intentional grocery store trips and pick up a mix of snacks that can get you through a car trip.  

And make it a point to find stuff on sale to stock up on  We love Publix and their weekly Buy One, Get One sales and always grab extra to stash when we find unbeatable prices.  Wholesale stores can also make all the difference when it comes to this - especially if you're going to be gone for an extended time. Head over to Costco, BJ, Sam's Club or the like and see what you can grab in bulk with savings at your fingertips.  Best of all, make a special trip out of it with the kids once you grabbed all the essentials and let them pick out one special treat for the road!

What do you pack? For us, our non-negotiables are: 

• Cereals, breakfast or energy bars for a quick and easy morning meal (when you're not intending to stop).
• YooHoo as "chocolate milk".  We know it's not for the conventional but our kids love chocolate milk before bed.  This variety is our special road trip treat, as it doesn't need to be refrigerated and is easily accessible when you always need it.
• Coffee creamer for coffee on the go. Because even though we love to stop at coffee shops to satisfy our caffeine kick, sometimes we need a jolt without the iconic green siren in sight. And depending on where you stop for coffee you may not have something you like (or something at all) if you don't take it black - powdered creamer can make all the difference. 
• A mix of fruits and veggies that everyone enjoys. We do this especially so we're not carb loading (and then crashing).  We'll also take the time to make some easy veggie salads, especially if we know we don't want to eat on the road.  It saves us from calorie counting and lets us fill up without scarfing down junk. 
• Deli meats & cheeses to munch on for a quick lunch on the go. Or for the littlest ones, pack a Lunchable - they never fail!
• Some sort of variety of chips/crackers to fight away the munchies - our kids prefer pretzels, Goldfish and/or Pirate's Booty. We also make sure to bring reusable bags so we can split up portions and not let the whole stash disappear at once. 
• Water galore!  Especially if you're going to visit the dry arid climates like Christina M. did with her family - they bought a 24 pack to keep in the car for water on-the-go.  Not big on disposable water bottles?  We prefer to bring our own reusable water bottles and pick up jugs of water to refill. This is not only eco-friendly but can be budget friendly!  And many grocery stores have the option of refilling jugs for cheap so you can reduce your footprint and also save some money! 
• You know what else doesn't fail? Wine. Because there's nothing more you're going to want to do then unwind with a glass once you arrive.  Bring one from home so you don't have to find a bottle later. And don't forget a bottle opener in case your lodging doesn't have it available. ​​

3. Essentials to pack? ​ Just like planning for a trip, we have our list of items that make the trip a little easier. We keep a running spreadsheet that we clean up and edit every time we learn something new and try to allow ourselves an easier system when packing.  

​Beyond the usual stuff that you'll bring, here are some of our tried and true suggestions that help make trips a little easier. 

• Each kid gets their own bag.  Just like we've mentioned before, take the burden off of you and allow them to have one a backpack all their own for extra clothes (usually pjs), activities, and any small comforts from home. 
• ​Towels that can double as blankets. Especially if you're staying somewhere with the option to wash, you don't have to double pack. Bring towels if you know you're going to be hitting the beach and then allow yourself to wash them for use as blankets in the car or for picnics later. 
• If you're making several stops, try to pack in cubes sorted by days and limit what you bring in. That way you're never having to bring the whole suitcase & anything you don't need in, only what you know you're going to use. 
• We always keeps a small bag with bathing suits and extra towels in our car - because we never know when we'll have the opportunity to take a dip!  This goes for sand toys and sunscreen too - its easier to have when you need it then fuss about it because you forgot it!
• Extra plastic bags - use any plastics that you get while shopping for trash on the go!  It'll make it easier when you make quick pit stops to just toss what you've accumulated and not have to worry about living (or driving, in this case) in your mess!

Books are always a hit with us, so we make a trip to the library to get a few to have.  It will continue to spark their love of reading when the book has a theme to match your special trip, so try to look for some specific to what you're doing! Want to try something else fun?  Check for a Little Free Library in your neighborhood before you go - "the leave a book, get a book" concept fuels a global community of readers to share what they love.  So if you "check" one out from a local box, if you find another while you're on the road and you're done with said book, return it for a new book, from a new city/state! Want to make it personal? Leave a little handmade bookmark for the next reader in the book your return - write down where the book has been on to encourage the next to do the same. I'm sure any bookworm would delight in knowing that they're spreading their love of reading all over (and finding it too)! 

Games, whether the store bought kind or self-generated, are the greatest ways to keep everyone in the car happy too!  Kristin H. says she loves playing eye spy or how many "cows, flags, trucks, etc" counting games.  License plate and find the sign games are also fun, and engage their curiosity to ask more as you talk. Open the dialogue to teach them about where you are and learn something new together! For when you stop, pack a good age appropriate, family-friendly game for nights in. Make sure they are tried & true so you know it was worth taking! Monopoly is our family favorite - easy to play at any age because just the newness of pulling stacks of cards and wads of money keeps our youngest entertained.  Trivia games or Uno are also fun to pair off for some fun parent/child team competition. I promise whatever you decide to do will make for an unforgettable evening!
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It's also not beneath us to let the kids watch some movies or play some games on the iPad. It's a nice treat during road trips and definitely a welcoming resource, particularly near nap times. Just let the rocking of the car, a good show (or movie) and a tired kid combination allow for a little shut eye.  All of you will need some quiet time so if you're willing to allow even a little screen time, it's a break - for all of you!

Lastly, we always like to make sure to have a notebook/pen on hand for journaling/doodling about our trip, and stamps ready to send out postcards from our destinations.  Sending postcards to friends has easily beomce our greatest delight on our trips - from picking out something special for that person, getting to practice writing to them, and then hearing about when they received. And knowing we'll get our own in return - it's the sweetest gift that keeps on giving!  

5. The drive itself. Try to break the drive into smaller segments to make sure that no one is going to go stir crazy.  This particularly helps with any road trip longer than 4 hours.  Make it a point to find something at the 5-6 hour mark to stop at, whether it means stopping for a meal, to do some quick sightseeing, or a break for an overnight.  This is the whole point of the road trip!  Its not only cheaper to drive but it so much more fun to have a journey full of  exploring!

Need some guided suggestions? Download the app Roadtrippers to find random things along your route to make the drive even more fun! Others plus in local attractions that can easily make a detour worth it. Social media forums are also a great place to ask questions and pull fun ideas from what to see, things to do or places to eat while you're on the go!  And if all else fails, rely on your friends!  Nothing beats a suggestion from a friend you trust - they will have your best intentions in mind! 

What else should you count on?  Not making any plans too close to your tentative arrival. Don't hard schedule something time sensitive as anything can come up. Don't make the trip a race against the clock - this means anything that can't be flexed should not be done on arrival. You could run into too many factors you can't control so allow yourself time to relax, unwind, and then if you have must-do plans, save them for the next day!    

6. Pack Patience. Patience is a virtue and it really can be tested on the road. Don't get frustrated in the midst of planning, because something will always pop up.  Just control what you can and roll with the punches.  Don't let yourself get unhinged if something doesn't go to "plan" - make the best of what came up and turn to plan B. Sometimes its better than A!

Our trip up the Pacific Coast Highway had a unfortunate encounter as we were planning it the weeks leading up. Mudslides shut the most gorgeous part of the highway off forcing us to move our trip inland to head north. As much of a fork in our plans this was, we did our best to research and came up with an alternative. And you know what, it ended up being better than we imagined! We were able to see a part of California that is beautiful in its own right (and does not receive enough credit) AND we still get to visit the monumental parts of the highway that were unaffected.  And we know we can pick up from where we left off AND have a few other places to see in a little more detail! 

Remember, its the journey not (always) the destination when you're planning to hit the open road. Make the best and enjoy every moment - the smallest ones will sometimes turn into the brightest memories without knowing you're actually making them!

​Feel a little more ready for your trip?  We sure hope you do!  We know we didn't possibly cover everything that could to make these trips work.  So if you have any suggestions you want to pass on, we'd love to hear - comment below!

Otherwise, happy and safe travels!  
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We chose to stay at a Disney hotel to capitalize on the on-site perks - proximity and Extra Magic Time. Disney has a plethora of properties, including 6 Disney hotels within walking distance of the parks and 2 Disney Nature hotels which are set further out and require a car to access. Disney also has a variety of Partner Hotels in the area that provide shuttle buses to the parks and may offer a little lower price per night of your stay.

We wanted some place that we could maximize our time at the resort and at the same time feel like we were getting an experience worth the price. We chose to stay at Disney's Newport Bay Club, a hotel right onsite and walking distance to Disney Village. Anyone familiar with the Walt Disney World set of hotels, Newport Bay is the equivalent of Yacht & Beach or Boardwalk, taking you back to a time of living on the water and enjoying the luxuries of full scale seaside resorts. The hotel is beautiful, just as her sister properties here in Orlando; and massive - we stayed on a wing that was quite a hike to get to, but that was located directly next to the indoor pool.

Deciding what you want out of a hotel is what works for your family. All Disneyland Paris hotels offer all-you-can-eat buffets and adult lounges on property, but not all have a quick service option for dining. We would have loved to have some of those conveniences, like an on-site restaurant for snacks on-the-go and a fridge in the room to store leftovers (or in our case, milk). Closest proximity to the park is the Disneyland Hotel, which would allow easiest access to the two parks and Disney Village. If you rather skip on big meals and have a fast option for food, then Disney's Hotel Cheyenne and Disney's Hotel Santa Fe both offer Starbucks on property, but are a little further out from the parks. Hotels with moderate pricing but with proximity to entertainment, Disney Sequoia Lodge & Disney's Hotel New York (currently rebranding to the Art of Marvel) should be considered. And if neither of those are in your price range, there are a host of offsite options, but you lose the perks that Disney gives you, like Extra Magic Time to enjoy attractions before the general public.

Disneyland Paris has also already started to implement extra security measures like scanning all bags (and people) before entering the hotel, which I applaud. It was our first touch of reality with the world we live in today; but it was welcome to see a proactive approach to make sure the magic isn't compromised.

This is all up to how much you want to do. We wanted the experience so we chose to end our trip here and wind down with some fun Disney days. We booked two nights because we wanted to enjoy two full days in the park. We arrived early enough to enjoy one park, leaving our bags with the porter and able to get settled in to our room after we finished our day.

The parks are located a walk away from the hotel, passing through Disney Village complex and then with a fork in the road to decide which way to go. The set up is very similar to Disneyland California and very convenient for anyone wanting to experience everything in one day. They have some of the big name restaurants they do stateside, like Rainforest Cafe, Planet Hollywood and McDonald's, but also have unique concepts like Annette's Diner (ode to the original Mouseketeer) and a character filled Wild West stage show at Buffalo's Bills. ​

If you want to spend any time checking out the night-time entertainment, there warrants an extra night just to enjoy a dinner show - and use that extra day to book an excursion to the surrounding area. Disney offers tours to chateaus and small countryside villages to get a taste of the beautiful region outside Paris that hosts their parks.

Disneyland Paris also offers great package deals that may also be worth skipping a stay in Paris and opting to make the commute to the city instead. We had considered this option when we found a package that would allow us to stay on property for 5 nights for the price of 3. The package also included tickets and granted children free admission - so ultimately we'd be getting a 5-day ticket & 5-night hotel stay for the whole family for the price of two adults on a 3-day package. One rate also included club level room, which would give you exclusive check-in and access to the club lounge, with refreshments and light appetizers served all day. In hindsight, the offer was too incredible to pass up - but we did, because we also knew we wanted to indulge in our first time in Paris. But someone wanting to shop savvy, it is every bit worth searching for a package like this!

Walt Disney Studios is the newer park, and reminiscent of Hollywood Studios in Orlando.  It houses two of the newer attractions, Crush's Coaster and Ratatouille, which were our main objectives to see.  Just like Disneyland, Paris still has the old FastPass distribution system - you don't have a limit to how many you get in a day and you can get your next one after the distribution window on your ticket opens up (which is usually at the ride time).  So if you're lucky and get a FastPass for the exact hour you're in (which is possible), you can also get another pass within a few minutes and ride back to back line-free rides.

​We made our way in and went directly for Ratatouille since we wanted to all get on a ride together and this one was it.  We got our FP and proceeded to ride other attractions in Pixar Place, an ode to Disney-Pixar films like Cars and Toy Story. There we spun on Luigi, had a Slinky Dog Dash and then made it back over to experience  Ratatouille. The ride took us on a 3-D adventure in a mouse's point-of-view through the restaurant featured in the movie and the streets of Paris - it was adorable and left the kids squealing! ​

The park is very reminiscent of Disneyland California, in its simplicity, attention to detail and accessiblity of attractions.  It goes back to a simpler time when things weren't as rushed and the experience was greater than the exposure.  It had all the classic rides you expect at any of the flagship parks, with enhancements like HyperSpace Mountain (which was unfortunately closed for maintenance during our visit). The park had also just celebrated its 25th anniversary, so it had a sense of grandeur still in the air to celebrate such an event.  

The details are so clean and crisp, but it did lack a little of the magic you find back home.  We tried to pinpoint what, and couldn't place our fingers on it until after we left  - atmosphere music.  We're so used to having music ushering us along and making the pace for our walk, that we failed to notice that the parks didn't have much.  You heard the faint music from the attractions as you passed by, but as you walk between lands, taking in the park and existing in the moment, there's no soundtrack to live by.  Us spoiled Disney kids really fail to see how wonderful something so simple as this is.   ​

The parks also operate on the classic FastPass distribution system, much like Disneyland California.  They do have limited attractions offering passes so waiting in lines may be inevitable. But the parks do not nearly have the waits that the stateside parks do, outside the more popular attractions which beckon visitors.  It's absolutely worth waiting in line for those, and even more so for waiting for the shows.  The performances here are all live and it is incredible to see the magic of that experience come to life.  It is also worth noting that all shows are done in a mix of English and French  dialogue, so it makes for a truly memorable experience to get a bit of each culture combined. 

Any Disney fan will agree, it is definitely worth the experience to see how cultures influence each of their parks worldwide. The parks are very similar but yet so unique in their own way.  It brought us so much perspective to ride the Small World an ocean away and listen to the words with true relativity to our time here. ​