We have visited many different campgrounds over the years, and overall, most have been just fine. A few campgrounds, though, really do stand out for us. The thought of them always brings a smile to our face and a gushing endorsement to our lips whenever someone asks us “Is there a good campground around there?”
Read MoreFamily Camping- It Is Easier (And Also Harder Occasionally) Than You Think But Always Worth It
Camping at Big South Fork National River and Recreationl Area.
Camping with kids has been easier in some ways than I thought it would be but it has also had its moments of calamity, mostly hilarious in retrospect and nothing that makes me regret one minute of time spent in a tent.
Read MoreThe Sleeping Pad That Will Make You Want To Tent Camp Again
I still love tent camping. It's just that as the decades have rolled by, my body no longer appreciates a night's sleep on the ground without a proper mattress. In a quest to get a comfortable night's sleep while tent camping, my choice of sleep pads has evolved over the years. I am happy to report that I have finally found “THE ONE” and it has recharged my camping life yet again.
Read MoreFlying To London As A Cheaper Way To Get To France, Belgium, or Amsterdam
Want to take a family vacation to Europe but can’t find affordable flights? Try flying into London, spending the night, and then taking the Eurostar out in the morning. You can sometimes score cheap flights, and even better, you can sometimes skip an overnight on a plane. From St. Pancras Station in London, take the Eurostar direclyt to France, Belgium, or the Netherlands. It’s a great alternative to flying direct to Europe and pretty easy to do.
Read MoreThe Best Family Ski Trip Packing List For Cold Weather
Big Sky Resort, Montana
If you live in a locale that doesn’t experience true winter weather, meaning bitterly cold temps, wind, and big powder like you see at ski resorts in the western United States, this packing list is for you. Having planned our annual ski trip to Big Sky Resort, Montana for eight years now, we’ve managed to create a packing list that ensures everyone will be warm and comfortable while enjoying the snowy winter wonderland.
Read More7 Gift Ideas That Will Make Your Kids Want To Go Outside
If you are like many of us, you spend more time than you would like nagging your kids to go outside more and text their friends less. I am not sure exactly when I became my parents but it definitely happened. Sometimes a cool new toy can be just the thing to get them excited about the great outdoors, whether on a camping trip or just fun in your backyard. Here are some of our best ideas, just in time for the holidays.
Read More8 Gift Ideas for the Traveling Kid in 2019
Phelps Lake in Grand Tetons National Park
I am forever on the lookout for gifts that are practical and needed but also fun. That's a hard combo to find. We travel a great deal and the kids always look forward to their next trip so I often focus my gifts on something they can use on their next adventure. These are a few things that have been winners for us.
Read MoreKids Fire Tablet or I-Pad? It's an easy answer.
In this day and age, it’s almost inevitable that you will buy an electronic device for your child. It’s also been our experience that a portable media device can make long hours of travel much easier for the entire family. But what is the best option?
Read MoreCamping Pack List For Camping With Kids (Campground, Not Backcountry)
Indian Boundary Campground
Packing lists are some of my most useful travel hacks and have been honed after years of forgetting things big and small. After you pack up everybody, drive to the mountains, pass the last gas station. get all set- up at the campsite, and then realize you have no propane for your camp stove, you will see the appeal as well. My camp packing list includes everything we might need- sleeping, cooking, food, other so we don’t have anymore of those mishaps and just an awesome time instead!
Read MoreThe Best Kids Backpack We Have Ever Owned
This Osprey Jet backpack has earned its stripes hiking all over the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. But it has been a valuable addition to our trips all over the US and the world. It might be a little dingy but this grey and red backpack has been a familiar site everywhere my nephew has visited over the past 3 years.
Have you ever had a piece of travel gear that turned out to be the best investment ever? We bought an Osprey Jet 3 years ago for a 6 year old that is such a thing. It has been to over 12 states, 13 countries, hiked in 6 national parks, and flown over 100,000 miles.
Read MoreBest Portable Booster Seat For The Traveling Kid
Image from Amazon.com
Traveling with kids always involves carrying more stuff than you think. I was ecstatic when the kids moved out of car seats and diapers as it cut the amount of luggage I was hauling around significantly. But they still needed a booster seat. Enter the Bubblebum booster seat. Invented by a Mom in Ireland who also disliked lugging large, plastic booster seats on trips, the magic of these seats are that they are inflatable.
Never Used Airbnb? It Will Change The Way You Travel. Use Our 6 Steps To Find An Amazing Airbnb Rental.
View from the huge deck of our Sydney Airbnb. One of my best finds ever.
If you are new to the world of Airbnb, let me just say it will open your mind to what can happen with travel accommodations. No more tiny hotel rooms, tip- toeing around as soon as the kids go to bed. Cook full breakfasts in your own kitchen and do laundry mid-trip. So grab a glass of wine, a comfy spot on the couch, and follow these steps below to find your amazing Airbnb.
Read MoreUnused Vacation Days? Today Is National Plan For Vacation Day
Americans leave over 659 million paid vacation days on the table each year. Does this sound like you? January 30 marks the big day when Americans are reminded and encouraged to schedule their vacations for the year and take advantage of their accrued vacation days. Simply Awesome Trips takes the guesswork and logistical planning off your plate and most importantly saves you hours of time planning a vacation.
Read MoreHow To Find the Perfect VRBO Property
Cowboy Ridge Cabin in Big Sky, MT
Staying in a hotel can be great, especially for short stays. But for longer trips, I look for an apartment or house to rent. Finding the right property takes quite a bit of time, but it’s worth the effort. Here are some tips when searching VRBO.com for that perfect vacation rental.
Read More2018- What's on Our Travel List (Real and Wish!)
A dream trip to Sydney, Australia in 2017 was everything I wanted it to be. Here's hoping next year's trips are as good as this one.
Where will you go in 2018? No clue? We've got lots of ideas from weekend getaways to overseas adventures. Too exhausted from the holidays to think about spring break or summer vacation? We've already planned your trip for you. Where to stay, where to eat, and where to play. Convinced your kids might never get off their electronic devices? Our itineraries provide tried and true activities that we tested on our own kids and they said were better than Minecraft.
Read MoreWhat Makes Our Itineraries Unique?
Where to stay, eat, and play. Find out with one click. You will have all the info you need to plan the perfect vacation. Destinations range from mountain getaways to national park explorations to international journeys, all delivered to your email as a PDF file for easy printing or viewing on any mobile device.
A pre-planned trip itinerary will save you hours of groundwork and provides great tips for your family, allowing you more time to enjoy the fun. Many itineraries are free, others are priced from $5- $15. Money-back guarantee. Get inspired for your next vacation!
Read MoreTake the Road Less Traveled with an Off-Road Camper Trailer
It may be our mid-life crisis. My husband and I are obsessed with adventure camper trailers. We want one. We don’t want your typical “RV type” trailer that you pull behind your truck. We want a super light-weight, go anywhere, down any forest road, cool looking, tough, off-road camping trailer. We want tent camping combined with “glamping” amenities. We imagine super easy “pack up and go” family camping trips to quiet forests isolated from humans and surrounded by the sounds of nature and our happy children. Cue rainbows and unicorns here.
Read MoreOde to the Kavu Bag
I love gear. Let me just state that first. I am a gear collector who can browse an outdoor store looking at gadgets I will probably never need but just look cool. If I am looking for something I need, I will research for hours until I find exactly what I want. I love a well- designed object that does what I need it to do without extraneous and usually useless gimmicks.
Read MoreWhy Do I Travel With Kids?
My twin nephews on the train at Houston airport. They were so excited when we had to switch terminals because they got to ride a TRAIN. I had to laugh despite my annoyance at the gate change.
I do love to travel. I don’t always love traveling with kids. Sure watching them enjoy the view over Paris or the New York skyline is cool. The first time they try a new food and like it or join in a Greek folk dance at a taverna are good moments. But along with the happy moments come a whole lot of aggravations too.
Read MoreLounge Passes and Credit Cards-Not Just for Business Travelers Anymore
First off, why do I need a lounge pass? I get this question. I had never understood why anyone would pay $500 a year for a lounge pass. Yes, airports are overcrowded and overpriced places full of mostly useless hoops to jump through, but it is just a fact of life and you get on with it. Then one of my siblings began using a credit card with lounge access and I have begun to see the light. Especially when traveling with children, a lounge can be a blessed reprieve. It’s a quiet oasis in the middle of civilized airport chaos.
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