What a magical place the Grand Tetons are! I am so thankful we added this National Park to our summer itinerary. After being extremely disappointed that we were unable to visit Yellowstone when we were there this past summer, GTNP totally redeemed our whole vacation!
We were lucky enough to spend two full days in the Park and our family trekked over 15 miles of breathtaking hiking trails! We also encountered so much wildlife, it truly was an unforgettable experience.
Our family favorite was seeing a bear in the wild! We also loved that there weren’t long lines to get inside the Park and we did not need timed-entry reservations.
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We started with a stop at the Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center. This place was amazing! The boys wanted to participate in the Jr. Park Ranger program, so we got the information and booklet they needed and explored the building. It was like a mini museum with different artifacts and visuals that we all enjoyed. The Ranger booklet was really fun for the boys to work on. And believe me, my kids never like doing workbooks and that sort of thing, but they had so much fun completing the pages in this book for their Jr. Ranger badges. Plus, it was something for them to do at night while we were back at the hotel! Once they finished, which took about a day, we went back to the Visitor Center and a Park Ranger swore them in as Jr. Rangers and they received a Grand Teton’s NP badge! It was a fun experience for us all and something we look forward to doing at each National Park we visit in the future!
Moose Ponds Trail
We decided that our first hike would be on the Moose Ponds trail based on different reviews I read on the AllTrails app and the time we had left in the day. This hike is a great introductory hike to the Park. The views were amazing every step of the way and it wasn’t too hard for anyone in our family. We didn’t see any moose at the ponds, but were told by fellow hikers that some were there sleeping in the thickets and to monitor the boys. We did see a marmot and several pronghorns while hiking!
Moose Ponds Trail Information:
Distance: 3.2 mile loop
Time: 2 hours
Location: Jenny Lake area
Rating: Easy
Phelps Lake & Overlook Trail
This was the MOST exciting hike of our whole trip because we saw a small bear on the trail! I have always wanted to see a bear in the wild and it finally happened on this hike! Our original plan was to hike to Phelps Lake, but the parking lot was full and there was a long line of cars waiting for spots to open up. So, we decided to hike to the overlook first and then head back to see if parking was open (which it was not). This was a fairly easy hike, even though it was mostly uphill and the overlook of the lake was beautiful! On the way back down there were hikers walking back towards us that said there was a bear up ahead. Luckily we had bear spray, so those hikers stayed with us and we walked a short distance until we spotted the bear. From here, we stayed and watched while the bear lumbered along the trail looking for food in the bushes. It was so neat to see in person! It finally walked down off the trail and we hurried along back to the car. While I was disappointed that the Phelps Lake parking lot was full, I am so excited that it worked out the way it did! For a video of the bear, check out my Instagram page (Instagram.com/road_trip_queen/). The road leading to the trailhead parking lot is a dirt road and very bumpy! But we saw cars of all kinds, from sedans to vans to large SUVs. We drove all the way to the end, even though you will notice parking all along the dirt road. We parked when we saw the restrooms and were at the closest lot to the start of the trail!
Phelps Lake Overlook Trail Information:
Distance: 2 mile out & back
Time: 1.5 hours
Location: Moose-Wilson Road
Rating: Easy
Hidden Falls Trail
We hiked to Hidden Falls after our adventure at the Phelps Lake Overlook trail. This hike starts at the Jenny Lake area, so we decided to head that way and grab lunch at the store right at the trailhead. From here, we followed the trail around Jenny Lake. If you don’t want to hike, you can purchase tickets for a boat ride across the lake that drops you off about a mile from Hidden Falls. We decided to take the hike since we had been riding in the car so much on this trip! The views are fantastic around the lake and we even saw a deer along the trail. Before getting all the way to Hidden Falls you will eventually see a bridge with a raging river running under it. This is a great place to stop for photos! We stopped in this area and had a picnic snack on the rocks and just watched the river roar by underneath us. From this spot, it’s about a mile or less to the Hidden Falls. This waterfall is majestic and another great location for photos!
Hidden Falls Trail Information:
Distance: 4.9 mile out & back
Time: 2.5 hours
Location: Jenny Lake area
Rating: Easy/Moderate
Jenny Lake
You can’t visit Grand Teton National Park without stopping by Jenny Lake! It’s such a beautiful area and the start to many different trailheads. Plus, there’s also a Ranger Station, small Visitor Center, and store, and restrooms. The views around the lake are fantastic! It is a bit more crowded here than on the trails, but still a place you must stop to see!
As you can see, the Grand Tetons are not to be missed! If you are planning a trip to Yellowstone, be sure to add this as a stop since you’re only about two hours away. Again, we loved the easiness of this park and the short lines to get in. The views are stunning and the park offered some of the best hiking trails we’ve come across.
We live fairly close to Dallas, Texas but haven’t been to the “city” in quite some time. With gas prices on the rise, I decided that a Dallas Staycation might be a fun option for a little getaway and we had the best time! I cannot recommend the Dallas CityPASS enough! This was a quick, 2 night/3 day trip and we packed in as much as we could.
The CityPASS includes admission to The Perot Museum and the Reunion Tower GeO-Deck. You then get to choose two more activities between the Dallas Zoo, The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, and The Dallas Holocaust & Human Rights Museum. We chose the two museums because of the summer heat in Texas! We did not have to make reservations in advance and had immediate entry as soon as we arrived and presented our tickets from our phones! This was such an easy process and saved us a lot of money!
We started our staycation with a 45 minute drive to Grapevine, Texas to check out the Stranger Things Pop-Up in the Grapevine Mills Mall. You do need advanced tickets, but they are FREE! I’ve been a fan of the show for years, but finally got my boys into it this summer. We enjoyed all of the photo ops and found a few things in the store that we couldn’t live without!
The Grapevine Mills Mall also has several stores and attractions like the Sea Life Aquarium, The Rainforest Café, and LEGOLAND that you can also enjoy on your stop!
After leaving the mall & grabbing lunch, we headed to The Perot Museum where the kids spent hours checking out artifacts and enjoying several hands-on experiences. My favorite is always the dinosaur exhibit! You really can’t visit Dallas without stopping at this incredible museum!
Hours: Daily 10am – 5pm (opens at 11am on Sundays)
I am always over stimulated when leaving a museum, so from here we decided to head to our hotel and spend the evening with dinner at the hotel restaurant and then time on the roof top pool! It was the perfect way to end our day. We stayed at the Sheraton Dallas and the room was large and very clean! We had a nice city view and the food options here were great!
The next day was busy with a trip to The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum on the agenda first! I really forgot how much I liked President Bush until I was in the museum and watched videos of him with his family, he is so funny! His artwork is incredible and the different exhibits were very interesting. My boys love that he loves baseball so much! And even though it was emotional, we enjoyed the 9/11 exhibit. They did a really good job with the artifacts and information. If you’re in Dallas, be sure to check this place out!
After we left the George W. Bush Presidential Library, we headed to grab a quick lunch at Cisco Grill, which was absolutely delicious! Then we moved onto the Dallas Holocaust & Human Rights Museum. This was a sad visit, but I feel like it’s something that we must never forget so that it never happens again. The exhibits are very informative, but probably not the most fun activity for the kids. Mine had a ton of questions and we had some great conversations, but they honestly weren’t old enough to really appreciate this museum. If you have young kids with you, I would suggest choosing the Dallas Zoo (if you use the CityPASS).
Dallas Holocaust & Human Rights Museum Information
Once we left the two museums for the day, we headed back to the hotel for an afternoon swim before grabbing a quick dinner at the hotel café. We then visited the Reunion Tower GeO-Deck to check out the Dallas City lights at night! We got here at about 8:30 pm and had just enough time to see the city and then have ice cream before leaving! My boys have always called the Reunion Tower the “microphone building” and they were so excited to get to go inside! This might have been the highlight of the day!
On our last day of our staycation, we woke up and headed to the Dallas World Aquarium. This was not included in the City Pass, but has always been a favorite of mine! However, it was SO crowded. I’m sure it had to do with visiting on a Saturday and it being an indoor activity on a hot summer day, but it was unlike anything I had ever seen there before. If you’re visiting on a weekend, be sure to pack your patience. I recommend trying to go during the week. This was our only stop on Saturday and if we do this again in the future, I will plan a little better and try to make the visit during the week.
Once we got back home we discovered an amazing place in Grapevine and decided to extend the staycation a little longer! So we added a day and visited the WhoaZone at Grapevine! I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time. We spent 2 hours on the water, making total fools of ourselves, and I loved every minute! If you’re in the area, you HAVE to add this to your staycation itinerary. There are a couple of different options for your visit and what I liked best was the 20% teacher discount! This was the perfect way to spend the day in the Texas heat and fun for all of us!
As you can see, a visit to the Dallas area can be so much fun! I am so quick to plan a road trip to other states, but local attractions can be just as fun and a little cheaper than traveling hours away! If you can, plan your visit during the week to avoid those weekend crowds, but keep in mind that a lot of museums are closed on Monday and Tuesdays!
As always, I am so happy that you’re here adventuring with us. For more photos & videos, be sure to follow us on IG (link above on the home page)!
Hey there! I am finally catching up on the blog and didn’t really know how I wanted to organize & share all of our Yellowstone information. If you follow along on our travels on Facebook or Instagram, then you may know that we arrived at West Yellowstone, MT 3 hours after the National Park Service closed Yellowstone for the first time in 34 years. We were so confused because the weather in the area was absolutely beautiful and there was no indication that Yellowstone had received flooding rains. But then we saw the footage and realized the severity of the situation way north of us. We were sad to say the least, I had spent over a year planning this trip. So, we got to work making new plans while praying that the Park would open while we were still there (which it did not). We definitely made the best of the situation and had tons of fun doing and seeing things that we would not have if Yellowstone had been open. At the end of the day, Jereme and I both agreed that our boys probably had more fun on these excursions than they would have driving around in Yellowstone for 5 days. So, if you find yourself in the area and want a variety of things to do, read on for a list of family friendly ideas and our top 7 things to do outside of Yellowstone National Park!
West Yellowstone, MT
Lodging – First things first, we absolutely LOVED The Kelly Inn in West Yellowstone. The staff was so amazing and accommodating with the situation of Yellowstone being closed. They offered us some ideas on things to do in the area, which we appreciated so much! And the location was ideal, we were actually able to walk to dinner and shopping right from the hotel. It was nice to be out of the car and walking after our 20+ hour drive from Texas. Our room was so large and roomy, the free breakfast buffet was one of the best that we’ve had at a hotel, and we enjoyed the pool and hot tub during our down time. I highly recommend this lodging, which also happens to be right outside of the West entrance into Yellowstone National Park!
Address: 104 South Canyon West Yellowstone, MT 59758
Phone: (800) 259-4672
We got lucky, our room had a bear peeking in the window!
Dining – Our favorite restaurant in West Yellowstone was the Buffalo Bar. Our boys asked to go there every single night! We all tried buffalo for the first time and really, really loved it. The boys had buffalo nachos, I had the country fried buffalo steak and some buffalo balls (lol), and Jereme had the buffalo burger. We ended up eating there two times on the trip because we all loved the food so much! We also enjoyed Three Bears Restaurant and The Slippery Otter Pub.
Country Fried Buffalo Steak from the Buffalo Bar
Downtown – West Yellowstone is a quintessential tourist town lined with souvenir shops, restaurants, candy stores, etc. We were able to walk to all the shops from our lodging, which was really nice. The kids enjoyed getting out and exploring all of the little stores that lined the downtown area and main street. We found some great souvenirs and enjoyed chatting with the employees in the shops. Everyone was truly shocked about the Park being closed and it was always the topic of conversation!
Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center – This was such a fun activity for our first full day in West Yellowstone! My youngest son’s favorite animal is a wolf and we wanted to see wolves in Yellowstone, which we knew wasn’t a guarantee in the wild. So, we really enjoyed our experience here. What I loved most about this place is that it is a non-profit organization and the animals in the center were actually rescued and have a wonderful place to live out the rest of their days. Most of the bears were orphaned as cubs and never taught how to be wild by their mothers and were getting too close to humans/trash. It was nice to hear their stories and see them doing so well. We also enjoyed the small museum inside – it was snowing on our visit… in mid-June! So, if you don’t get your bear or wolf sighting in Yellowstone, be sure to check out this place! Our tickets were good for two days, too.
Address: 201 S. Canyon St. West Yellowstone, MT 59758
Phone: (406) 646-7001
Hours: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Daily
Rates: Adults (13+) $15, Children (5-12) $10, Seniors (62+) $14, Free under 4
Sam was our favorite bear!
Island Park, ID
UTV Riding – Island Park, ID is only about 25 minutes from West Yellowstone. When we were searching for things to do, this area kept popping up and there are several different things to do here. We chose to rent a UTV for the day with High Mountain Adventures from 8:30 am to 4:45 pm. These UTVs are street legal, so we were able to go pretty much anywhere, including the convenience store for snacks and a restaurant. Did I mention that there are also over 500 miles of trails to explore? The UTV we rented came with a GPS and the employees gave us a map and highlighted their favorite trails for us to explore! We ended up going to Big Springs and to the top of Sawtell Peak, more information about these two places below.
Big Springs – One of the first places we decided to explore on the UTV was Big Springs. It’s a natural spring that provides water to the Snake River. The whole area is beautiful and the water is crystal clear. Bring some quarters and you can buy fish food right off the bridge to feed the trout – and there are a ton! It was so fascinating to watch. No fishing is allowed here, but you can hike and walk around the springs/river. And there are several UTV trails to explore as well.
The water is so clear & there are so many trout!
Sawtell Peak – We also wanted to drive up to the top of Sawtell Peak. We may have changed our mind if we knew how cold it was going to be, remember it had snowed the day before! It was a pretty mild day in Island Park and at Big Springs, but man it was freezing when we rode up the mountain. We did bring jackets and had blankets and gloves, but despite the view, it was pretty miserable at the top. We didn’t spend a lot of time here because we were too cold, but it was a very pretty ride. I think it would be more enjoyable later in the summer!
Upper Mesa Falls – Our final adventure in Idaho was to Upper Mesa Falls. We didn’t ride the UTV here, it was too far away for that. So we headed to the falls after we returned the UTV for the day and we had about a 30 minute drive from High Mountain Adventures to Ashton, ID. This waterfall is very impressive, 114 feet tall and 200 feet wide, and I am so glad that we decided to visit! I used the AllTrails app for directions, but there are also several signs on the drive for you to follow, too. The trail is pretty short and most of it is on a boardwalk that leads you to different viewpoints. There is a $5 cash only parking fee. There’s also a small store and visitor center on site.
We could not believe the size of this waterfall!
Virginia City, MT
Ghost Town – Virginia City was such a neat place to visit and only 1.5 hours from West Yellowstone. It originally became a town from pioneers and adventurers settling there during the Gold Rush period, which also brought vigilantes and bandits to the area. It is now a very well-preserved National Historic Site that is so fun to explore. And it’s completely FREE to walk around and enter the buildings on the boardwalk. There are also several different activities that you can do as well, including a train ride to Nevada City, stagecoach rides, historic fire truck tours, and museums! Clickhere to learn more about visiting Virginia City!
Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park, MT
Caverns – Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park is Montana’s first state park! These caverns are a little less than 2 hours away from West Yellowstone and the scenic drive through Montana was so enjoyable! You can only visit the caves with a guided tour and they offer two options, The Paradise Tour (1.5 hours) or The Classic Tour (2 hours). Tours cost $15 per adult, $10 per child (5-14) or $5 per child under four. We did the Paradise Tour, it was recommended for kids but I wish we would’ve done the Classic Tour since it’s about 30 minutes longer inside the cave. We learned a lot about caves and had a great time, then we ate a delicious late lunch at the café on site. They served burgers, sandwiches, nuggets and it was perfect after our guided tour! Click here to learn more about visiting Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park.
As you can see, we made the best of our unfortunate circumstances at Yellowstone. I wish we could’ve visited the Park, but we still had a great time and will eventually get to YNP. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions that you have! And be sure to follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/road_trip_queen/ – I have more videos and helpful information there.
Our faces sum up how we all felt being so close to Yellowstone, yet unable to go in the Park!
Next up, our trip to Grand Teton National Park! Be sure to check back for details and more information about our time in Wyoming.
What a fun surprise Twin Falls was! Idaho as a whole is a beautiful and underrated state that I hope we can venture back to explore soon. We didn’t spend a lot of time in Twin Falls, it was more of a resting point for us on our drive from Texas to Yellowstone, but it was a fantastic stop that really made me appreciate the area!
We knew we needed a few places to stop and rest on our road trip and Idaho was a state that we had never visited. So, while looking at our route, I decided to make a stop in Twin Falls for a few nights and then we’d only have about 4 hours or less to finish our drive to Montana. I became interested in Twin Falls when seeing a photo of Shoshone Falls. Little did I know that there are so many more waterfalls and outdoorsy things to do there. The first thing you notice when driving into Twin Falls along Highway 93, is the large Perrine Memorial Bridge that crosses over the Snake River. From the bridge you begin seeing several waterfalls cascading off the canyon. We were impressed and so excited to explore more!
Perrine Coulee Falls
Our first stop of the evening was to see the Perrine Coulee Falls, within Centennial Waterfront Park. It is the coolest waterfall that has a trail that allows you to walk right behind it! This was one of our favorite adventures on our entire road trip! We used AllTrails for directions to the waterfall trailhead. It said that it’s a 2 mile out & back trail, but if you park along the road next to the falls it’s less than 0.5 miles of walking. There are several spots right along the road that offer parking and there is a bigger parking lot farther away that you can use if there aren’t spots available next to the trail, but we had no problem finding a spot. We did go later in the day, around 6:30 pm as soon as we arrived and it wasn’t very crowded at all. The hike also isn’t very long and took less than 5 minutes from our parked car. You can hear the waterfall as soon as you exit your car, before you see the falls. It was so impressive and really flowing! The falls drop almost 200 feet and flow year-round, but summer flows are stronger. We spent at least an hour just taking it all in from different angles. The boys even asked to grab dinner and come back! I have more photos and videos on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/road_trip_queen/
I highly recommend going to Elevation 486 for dinner after exploring the waterfall! It was delicious and the views of the Snake River and canyon were stunning. We also had the most amazing crab & shrimp artichoke dip. The sunset was pretty nice, too! Be sure to sit outside. I would call for reservations.
Did you know that Shoshone Falls is actually bigger than Niagara Falls coming in at 212 feet tall and 900 feet wide? I had no clue until we visited Shoshone Falls Park. The park is about 3 miles from Twin Falls and a must see spot if you’re in the area. There is a $5 entrance fee per car. The area is very peaceful with a nice trail around the falls that offer different viewpoints. You can even kayak to the falls, but its several miles on the water and we didn’t think the boys were old enough just yet for that much paddling. But this is one of my new life goals now, kayak to these falls and see them up close!
Address: 4155 Shoshone Falls Grade, Twin Falls, ID 83301
Phone: (208) 736-2265
Hours: 8am-10pm
Auger Falls
Another one of my favorite waterfalls in the area is Auger Falls, also found within Centennial Waterfront Park. There is a 4 mile loop that you can hike and see several other falls in the distance, but I wanted to hike closer to this waterfall. There is a trail that leads straight up to the falls. I would rate it as moderate/hard because you have to scramble over several large rocks along the trail. But we did it and the boys had fun climbing over the rocks. We also used AllTrails for directions to the trailhead. This hike offers great views of the Snake River and the canyon floor!
As you can tell, we packed in a lot during our 1.5 days in Twin Falls, that mostly revolved around waterfall hikes! We also visited the mall during a brief rain shower. I haven’t been inside a mall in forever! For more information on visiting Twin Falls, check out this website that includes a travel guide and other fun things to do in Southern Idaho!
Sunset over Snake River
I have several videos on Instagram, I’d love for you to check them out! You can find the link to my IG account above (under Perrine Coulee Falls) or at the top of my blog!
We road-tripped from Texas to Sedona, Arizona over Mother’s Day this past May. If you’ve never been, Sedona is awesome! This was a quick trip, but we packed a lot in and really enjoyed all the things we were able to do over the long weekend!
We started the trip from Texas and drove straight to Albuquerque, NM for the night. The drive to NM takes about 9 hours. We didn’t leave until around noon, so we didn’t stop to do much on the drive. Our main goal was to get to Sedona in time to have 2.5 full days to explore the area. So we pretty much stopped to sleep in NM and then drove about 6 hours to get to Sedona the following day. We left early in the morning and got there in the early afternoon. We all LOVED the hotel we booked in Sedona, Hotel Arabella. They had many activities on site, including two pools/hot tubs, poolside drinks & snacks, outdoor games, and plenty of spectacular views. We were upgraded upon arrival to a room with a patio leading right out to the pool. It felt like we had the place to ourselves, nobody else ever used the pool near our room! There was also a good Mexican restaurant at the hotel that offered breakfast, lunch, and dinner, both in-person dining and room service.
Below you will find a great two-day itinerary suitable for kids!
Views along the Munds Wagon Trail
Day 1: Munds Wagon Trail Hike
7:00 – Wake up, get ready for a day of hiking
7:30 – Free breakfast buffet at hotel
8:00 – Quick stop at grocery store/gas station for lunch/snacks on hike
8:30 – Arrive at trailhead
8:30-2:30 – Hike to Merry Go Round Rock via Munds Wagon Trail
2:30 – Leave trailhead
2:45 – Arrive back at hotel
3:00 – Relax in the hot tub – great for those aches and pains from hiking
4:00 – Shower, get ready for dinner
5:30 – Dinner at Javelina Catina (walking distance from hotel)
7:00 – Shopping after dinner (shops around the restaurant)
8:00 – Back at hotel/night swimming and hot tubbing
9:00 – Early bedtime for hiking the next day
Munds Wagon Trail At a Glance:
Open Season – Year-round
Length- 6.4 miles
Route Type- Out & Back
Rated- Moderate
The Munds Wagon Trail is about 8 miles out and back. AllTrails had the hike at 6.4 miles, but I clocked us at 8.1 miles. I would rate this trail as moderate if you’re hiking with kids. We needed to stop for food quite a bit. Luckily the majority of the hike is uphill on the way to Merry Go Round Rock, which makes the hike to the car mostly downhill. The views are stunning and the trail was very well marked.
Views along the Baldwin Trail to Cathedral Rock
Day 2: Cathedral Rock via Baldwin Trail
7:00 – Wake up, get ready for a day of hiking
7:30 – Free breakfast buffet at hotel
8:00 – Quick stop at grocery store/gas station for snacks on hike
8:30 – Arrive at trailhead
8:30-12:30 – Hike to Cathedral Rock
12:30-1:30 – Swimming in the river along the trail
4:00 – Explore downtown Sedona (lots of cool shops)
6:00 – Arrive back at hotel
6:00-8:00 – Night swimming/hot tubbing
8:00 – Order room service from Mole (on site restaurant)
10:00 – Bedtime for drive back home the next day
Baldwin Trail to Cathedral Rock at a Glance:
Open Season- Year-round
Length- 3.7 miles
Route Type- Out & Back
Rated- Hard (the trail isn’t hard, but the climb up Cathedral Rock is!)
Cathedral Rock is a popular area for hikers. It’s more like a rock climb, the hike is the trail that leads to the impressive rock formation! We chose not to go all the way up, we made it pretty far. But with kids I was a little nervous and wanted us to be safe.
One of the main reasons we decided to visit Sedona was because of the amazing landscape and hiking options. I had several hikes that I wanted to do, all those famous hikes like Cathedral Rock, Devil’s Bridge, etc. On Thursdays-Sundays, shuttles run to those more popular trailheads and you cannot simply just drive there on your own. I had read some mixed reviews on the shuttles, like how hard it was to find where they pick you up. So I decided to find a less popular option for our first day hike, which was on a Sunday. This plan worked out perfectly and we had an amazing hike! Then, I thought that we wouldn’t have any issues on the more popular hikes on Monday, but boy was I wrong! What nobody told me about Sedona is that there are tons of hikers and many of the popular trailheads have parking spaces for about 10 cars or less! We had a very difficult time on Monday morning finding any trails with parking spaces available. And frustratingly enough, the shuttles don’t run on Monday-Wednesday, at least not in May. So take my advice now, get up early! On Monday we were at the first trail by 8:30 and had no luck with parking and we had to drive around to five other trailheads before finally finding a place to hike! Even though we enjoyed our visit and there’s not a lot that compares to the views that Sedona offers, I was not expecting the crowds in town or in regards to hiking/parking. But don’t let that deter you from visiting! If you can’t find parking at Cathedral Rock, head to the Baldwin Trailhead. There’s a lot more parking available and the hike was one of my favorites! My boys loved the river, too!
Overall, Sedona is a beautiful destination and we enjoyed our visit. I wish that we would’ve had more time to explore the area, so I recommend going longer than for just the weekend, unless you live closer!
I have several videos (reels) on my Instagram of both hikes and our hotel if you want a better idea of exactly what the trails are like or if you want to see a peak of our room at https://www.instagram.com/road_trip_queen/
And as always, thank you for following along on our adventures!
Alright you guys, I am SO excited to share our latest adventure with you! Not only did we get to add two new states to our list, but we had the most amazing time road tripping over 700 miles along the Pacific Coast Highway!
The boys’ first time to visit CA! Our whole family’s first time to visit OR!
Below is our itinerary. It might look intimidating, with a lot of driving, but we really enjoyed the journey! Jereme was concerned about not having enough time in any given location, but it honestly felt like a great amount of time in most places. We all agreed we would’ve liked more time in Oregon and that’s probably the only part I would change!
I am also linking some of our outfits, I had so many messages about how well we matched!
Travel Itinerary
Day 1 – Flight to San Francisco
Day 2 – Full Day in San Francisco
Day 3 – Drive to Redwoods with a stop at Glass Beach, CA
Day 4 – Full Day in the Redwood National & State Parks
Day 5 – Drive to Cannon Beach, OR with a stop to hike in Brookings, OR
Day 6 – Full Day in Cannon Beach, OR
Day 7 – Drive to Portland for flight back to Texas
San Francisco
Golden Gate Bridge from Baker Beach
Our journey started with a smooth flight to San Francisco, where we stayed for 2 nights. Both Jereme and I had already visited San Fran several times, so we left it up to our boys on what we did. They really only cared about seeing the Golden Gate Bridge and fell in love with the Pier and kept asking to go back. So that’s what we did! I enjoyed all of the wonderful food, I think just about all we did was eat and I loved every minute of it!
We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Fisherman’s Wharf and really enjoyed the hotel and the location. They served a delicious free breakfast each morning and we had a partial view of the bay. It was only a 2 block walk to Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 and that’s where we spent most of our time. We took full advantage of eating seafood at all of the outdoor locations in the wharf. We had the most delicious lobster rolls, shrimp tacos, and fish! I mean, you can’t really go wrong at any of those locations. Our favorite dinner was at Cioppino’s. I had a seafood pasta dish that was to die for, Jett had the spaghetti and meatballs, Jake had the best pizza ever (according to him), and Jereme had the clam chowder in a bread bowel. This was hands down our favorite dinner on the entire trip!
First photo of the trip!
Like I mentioned, we mainly stayed in Fisherman’s Wharf and at Pier 39. We visited the Aquarium of the Bay, strolled along the boardwalk shops, and watched the seals sunbathe. We also drove across the Golden Gate Bridge a few times and hiked the Battery Spencer Overlook trail to see an up close view of the bridge. The hike was fun, the boys picked me beautiful wildflowers along the walk, but it was so windy above the bridge! Our pictures turned out horrible here with the harsh sunlight and my crazy hair. So, we decided to hit up Baker Beach and had the best time. The views of the bridge and the photos we got were everything I wanted! The boys loved running in the sand and we even got to explore a sea cave! We spent a few hours here and then headed back to Fisherman’s Wharf for more food and then walked up to Ghirardelli Square for chocolate and ice cream! Even though we didn’t do a lot in San Francisco, the boys loved the city and how neat the houses looked on our drive.
Our next say of the trip was in Klamath, CA. The drive to Klamath, CA is about 6 hours. We decided to break up the drive and stop along the way. Glass Beach in Fort Bragg is the place we settled on and it was so beautiful and a wonderful stop! We all enjoyed walking along the beach and the boys loved exploring the rock formations and collecting different colors of sea glass. We only spent about 1 hour here because we wanted to get back on the road and make it to Klamath before dark. We also had plans to stop in the Redwoods along the way, but I was SO carsick on this drive. There are a lot of windy roads through the mountains and it was horrible for a while before the Dramamine kicked in. I highly recommend taking something for motion sickness before you start this drive. I am usually fine if I am driving and Jake never gets carsick, but we both felt pretty terrible.
The beach is gorgeous, but you have to be close to the shore to really see the extent of the colors of the sea glass.
The boys loved exploring the cliffs!
Klamath, CA (Redwood National Park)
From here, we continued the drive to Klamath and didn’t make any more stops on the drive. We were planning on eating dinner once we arrived, but to our surprise the town had zero places open to eat! And it was only 6:00 pm when we arrived, on a Tuesday evening. There are only about 2 restaurants in the town and they are very seasonal. But our hotel had a little grocery store inside and a wonderful staff that told us all the details of eating in town. So, we loaded up on microwavable meals and called it an early night! While we really liked out hotel, the Holiday Inn Express Klamath – Redwood National Park, but I would recommend driving another half hour to Crescent City to stay there!
Crescent City, CA (Redwood National Park)
Redwood National & State Parks
The following morning we decided to get up early and head to Crescent City for the day and explore the Redwoods. There are several different parks that make up the Redwood National and State Parks, so I had a hard time deciding which area to visit. We settled on Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park and the Stout Memorial Grove Trail to hike. I am so happy with this decision, we had the most amazing day in the Redwoods and ended our hike with a beach walk that was absolutely stunning! We encountered maybe 4 people on this day, at both the Redwoods and the beach! So, I highly recommend a visit if you want to experience a National Park with no crowds. The road to this trail does turn into a packed dirt road, but our 2 wheel drive rental car had no issues making the trip!
Such a fun trail! Stout Memorial Grove Trail
The Stout Memorial Grove Trail is about a 0.7 mile loop, with other trails leading off from the loop. Our boys loved climbing all the fallen trees, especially after being in the car for so long the day before. The pictures don’t really do it any justice, I have NEVER seen trees so big and tall in my life.
In awe the whole time! Stout Memorial Grove Trail
We hiked down to the river and stopped along the rocks for a picnic lunch. Then we hiked back out and decided to head to Enderts Beach in Crescent City. I have never seen so many sand dollars! My boys loved collecting the ones that were on the beach and the cliffs in the distance were so picturesque. We ventured down to an area with tide pools and saw some sea anemones. We walked along the beach for at least two hours collecting sand dollars and viewing the tide pools. Once we left here, we headed to a Mexican restaurant in town for an early dinner before going back to our hotel in Klamath.
Brookings, OR (Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor)
After getting a good night’s rest, we left in the morning to begin the seven hour drive to Cannon Beach, OR. I have never been so in love with the views along a drive in my life! Oregon is the most beautiful state and I cannot wait to get back to the Pacific Northwest and explore more. There are SO many amazing locations that you can stop along the drive, but I chose the Natural Bridges in Brookings, OR off the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor. This hike is not very long (less than a mile), but I would consider it to be moderate/hard on the way back up. We had to climb up a pretty steep hill to get back to the parking lot and over some tree roots in one area. There is a boardwalk for viewing the Natural Bridges just a few feet from the parking lot if you don’t want to make the hike down and then back up! Even though the hike is a little tough, I am so glad that we did it! The views of the coast are absolutely stunning and we even got to watch a seal in its natural habitat swim and play along the jagged rocks in the ocean!
View from the overlook by the parking lot. We were standing on the Natural Bridge! The hardest part of the trail, climbing down and back up this steep slope over exposed tree roots!
Cannon Beach, OR
View from right outside our beach cottage
Finally, we made it to our final stay of the trip at Sea Sprite Inn at Haystack Rock in the wonderful city of Cannon Beach, OR! We pulled into our beach front cottage right at sunset and man, the views were amazing! I wish I would’ve booked this place for one more night because we loved it that much. We had so much space here, we loved the little grass yard and patio chairs, and the beach bunnies were adorable! Haystack Rock was basically in our back yard and the sunsets here are to die for! Two nights was definitely not enough, but we lucked out with amazing weather while we were here. A week-long weather system of rain moved in on the day that we left to fly home!
Sea Sprite Inn at Haystack Rock Haystack RockTide pools! Another beautiful sunset
On our two nights/3 days here, we explored the beach, the tide pools at Haystack Rock, and ventured into the downtown area for some shopping, and had wonderful food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! The people here are SO nice and added to our enjoyment of the area. It was a very low-key and relaxing last two nights of the trip. We ended our evenings with bonfires on the beach and loved watching our boys run around and play together in the sand! Our favorite restaurants were the Pig ‘N Pancake for breakfast, our boys have never eaten so many pancakes in their life! Toms Fish & Chips was a great stop for lunch and the guys working there made it even more fun! The boys got little hats to wear and they stopped by to chat with us and were just so nice and pleasant! And our favorite dinner spot was Driftwood Restaurant and Lounge. We did have to wait for about 45 minutes for a table, but it was well worth the wait!
Beach bonfire
And like all good things, our trip quickly came to an end. The drive to the airport in Portland was less than 2 hours away. Fun was had by all and this is a great spring break destination! I am happy to answer any questions, so please don’t hesitate to reach out! Follow me on Instagram (linked on the homepage) to see videos of our trip!
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Traveling to National Parks has become a new family favorite of ours, man we had no clue just what we were missing out on! Once we visited our first Park, we immediately began making plans to visit another one. I recently shared a submission that Reaction.gov posted on their Share Your Story page about the park that changed it all for us. Click here to read that story.
There are sixty three National Parks in the United States. National Parks have been designated as such for their natural beauty, unique geological features, and diverse ecosystems. Twenty-eight of our states have a National Park (some have more than one).
While we haven’t even come close to visiting all 63 parks, we do have our favorites so far! We picked these National Parks as our top six for many reasons, but mostly based on how much fun our boys had at each one! At the end I will include information on the America the Beautiful Pass and the Every Kid Outdoors Pass – you will want to learn about this pass if you have a fourth grader, trust me!
Hiking Gear Favorites
Before I dive into our favorite parks, I want to share our favorite hiking gear finds! It’s so important to pack the correct gear, because weather conditions can change at a moment’s notice. We are a pretty frugal family, so none of our gear will break the bank.
Coming in at number six is Grand Canyon National Park in beautiful northwestern Arizona. This park is home to the infamous and immense Grand Canyon. This canyon is layered with bands of red rock that reveal millions of years of geological history. This is one place that you truly need to see in person to understand the beauty and “grandness” of the canyon. We visited the park in November and had the most pleasant weather for hiking and stops at the viewpoints.
Our Grand Canyon National Park Highlights:
Hiking to Ooh Aah Point from the South Kaibab Trail – 1.8 miles out and back
Mather Point (viewpoint)
Yavapai Geology Museum
We spent two days at the Grand Canyon and think that this is the perfect amount of time to enjoy most of the sights, especially if you’re there with kids. While we would have loved to have been able to hike rim to rim, that just wasn’t feasible at this time with our kids in tow. And while we thoroughly enjoyed our visit, there are some pros and cons that I will include below.
Outside of the Yavapai Geology Museum
Pros:
The sheer beauty of the canyon is something that I strongly feel everyone should see in their lifetime.
Shuttle bus services – The shuttle system is very organized and runs smoothly between the different popular viewpoints and parking lots.
Viewpoints – The locations are stunning and you do not have to walk far to see some of the best sights in the park.
Parking lots – This park had a lot more parking lots and spaces available than some of the other National Parks we have visited.
Food Options – This is one of the few National Parks that we have visited that offer different dining options! It was nice to explore for a few hours, stop in at a restaurant for lunch and beverages, and then explore a little more!
No reservations needed!
Cons:
Heights – If you have a fear of heights, this may be too much for you! Also, if you have children with you, you MUST watch them like hawks at all times. Those edges are no joke and sadly this park averages about 12 deaths per year.
Heat – In the summer the heat in this desert climate can be excruciating. In June, July, and August, the temperatures can be above 100 degrees Fahrenheit and even hotter below the rim on the hiking trails.
Crowds – Since this is a natural wonder of the world, people from all places come to visit. The hiking trails were less crowded, but the viewpoints were packed.
Hiking – The roads, viewpoints, and hiking trailheads all start at the top of the canyon. To get the best views, it is recommended to hike down into the canyon. If you hike down, you must come back up. We are a family that is in pretty good shape and it was a really tough hike back up!
After a day or so, the views start to look the same so it might become redundant for some.
Click here to read more about our adventures in the Grand Canyon, which includes more information on lodging, dining, and our 2-day itinerary.
Entrance Fee: $35 per vehicle (pass good for 7 days)
Annual Visitors: 5 million
Best Time to Visit: March – May, September – November
5. Badlands National Park
Badlands Loop Road
The next National Park that made the list is Badlands National Park in South Dakota. My boys LOVED all of the unique formations (made from gravel, sand, and mud) and hills to climb. This park is hugely underrated and so very unique. There are a lot of short hiking options and this is a great park for a day trip!
We only spent one day here and took advantage of this National Park while we were staying in Rapid City, SD. This is the perfect day trip if you are in the area to see Mount Rushmore! As with all places, there are some pros and cons, but this park has a lot more pros than cons.
Notch Trail Hike
Pros:
Crowds – This park was not crowded at all when we visited in the summer.
Unique formations and landscapes that the kids loved to explore!
Hikes – Range of skill levels, several are easy/moderate
View – You can see a lot from your car
Great day trip if you are already in South Dakota to see the popular tourist attraction, Mount Rushmore
No reservations needed
Cons:
Heat – It was extremely hot when we visited in the summer
We did not see food/dining options in the park
Click here to read more about our adventures in the South Dakota, which includes more information on lodging, dining, and our full itinerary.
Entrance Fee: $30 per vehicle (pass good for 7 days)
Annual Visitors: 1 million
Best Time to Visit: April – June, September – November
4. Arches National Park
Delicate Arch
These next two National Parks on my list all basically tied because of their close proximity to each other! Arches NP lies just North of Moab in Utah. It is known for having more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, the most famous being Delicate Arch, along with pinnacles and balanced rocks. The geological formations are so magnificent to see in person. This is a hiker and climber’s paradise!
Our Arches National Park Favorites
Delicate Arch Hike (3 miles roundtrip)
The Arches Scenic Drive (22 miles)
Double Arch (0.3 miles)
Windows Loop Trail (1 mile)
We only spent one full day in Arches National Park, but I would’ve loved to have had more time here. We were in Moab for the week, but had other adventures on the schedule! This is one of my most favorite destinations in the US. Another National Park (Canyonlands) is also in the area, as well as, an amazing state park. We truly loved the town of Moab and had a blast exploring the 2 National Parks in the area and taking a UTV tour in the canyons! If you are looking for awesome views, breathtaking hikes, adventure and more, then Moab, and the Arches National Park area, are a must!
Double Arch area
Pros:
Scenic Drive – you can see a lot from your car if you’re not a hiker!
Views – the whole area is stunning
Hikes – wide range of hikes for all skill levels and abilities
Kids loved it here – there were so many cool places for them to explore and climb
Town – really cool town with lots of dining options!
Adventure – there are UTV, Jeep, and rafting tours in the area
Cons:
Transportation – NO shuttle service inside the park (must use your own vehicle)
Reservation System/Timed Entry Tickets implemented for April 3-October 3, 2022
Temperatures – can be extremely hot in the summer months
Click here to read more about our adventures in the Arches National Park, which includes more information on lodging, dining, and our full itinerary.
Entrance Fee: $30 per vehicle (pass good for 7 days)
Annual Visitors: 1.5 million
Best Time to Visit: April – May, September – October
3. Canyonlands National Park
Mesa Arch
Canyonlands National Park is in southeastern Utah, near the town of Moab. This park offers a few different areas with varying features, such as, countless canyons, mesas, ancient rock paintings, colorful landscapes, and towering rock pinnacles. It’s actually the largest National Park in Utah, but is often overshadowed by the more popular parks in the area.
Our Canyonlands National Park Favorites
Island in the Sky District
Mesa Arch Hike (0.5 miles)
Needles District
Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument
The nearby Dead Horse Point State Park
We visited this Park when we were in Moab, Utah for spring break this past March. We only had a day here and made the mistake of driving between two districts of the Park, The Island in the Sky District and the Needles District. We had no idea that these two areas were several hours apart before we started the drive. It made for a long day, but we still had fun nonetheless! I would suggest to do your research to decide which district you want to visit if you only have a day. If you have multiple days, then plan on seeing one area per day to cut down on your driving time!
Canyonlands Area (near Dead Horse Point)
Pros:
Crowds – there were ZERO crowds when we visited in the spring!
No reservation or timed entry tickets required at this time
Stunning views and hiking trails
Cons:
There are three districts in Canyonlands NP and they are pretty far apart from each other. (2-3 hour drive)
No dining options in the park
Cliff edges can be very intimidating – make sure to keep an extra eye on your kiddos!
Very spotty cell service
Click here to read more about our adventures in the Canyonlands National Park, which includes more information on lodging, dining, and our full itinerary.
Entrance Fee: $30 per vehicle (pass good for 7 days)
Annual Visitors: 400,000
Best Time to Visit: March – April, September – October
2. Redwood National & State Parks
Stout Memorial Grove area
Redwood National Park is in northern California and is home to the world’s tallest trees on Earth! Here you’ll also find prairies, woodlands, rivers, wildlife, and miles and miles of rugged coastline. The National Park Service and California State Parks manage and preserve the lands for us to enjoy.
Our Redwood Favorites
Humboldt State Park – Avenue of the Giants
Humboldt State Park – Tall Tree Grove
Jedidiah Smith State Park – Stout Memorial Grove
Nearby Crescent City Beach
We just recently visited this National Park over our spring break, and man were we amazed! I have never seen trees so large in my life! My pictures absolutely do not show the perspective of the size, but believe me, they were massive! My boys had the best time hiking, climbing, and exploring.
Stout Memorial Grove
Pros:
Crowds – we saw a total of maybe five other people in the Parks over two days. I am not sure if this is because we visited in the spring, but it felt like we were the only people there.
The sheer beauty of the forests and the size of the trees are something I think anyone can appreciate!
This park was free to get into!
Proximity to the beach!
Cons:
Distance from a major city – these parks are not very close to a large city with an airport. Be prepared for several hours of scenic driving from the nearest airports.
Carsick – I got extremely carsick on the drive. There are so many winding roads over mountains. Be sure to bring Dramamine if you suffer from motion sickness.
Check back soon to read more about our visit to Redwood National Park!
1. Rocky Mountain National Park
Emerald Lake
Coming in at number 1 is Rocky Mountain National Park! RMNP is in northern Colorado and here you will find stunning mountain peaks, forests, the alpine tundra, aspen trees, rivers, waterfalls, lakes, and an assortment of wildlife for your viewing pleasure! There’s also 355 miles of hiking trails for all skill levels.
Our Rocky Mountain National Park favorites
Emerald Lake Hike – 3.6 miles roundtrip
Alberta Falls Hike – 1.6 miles roundtrip
Sprague Lake – 0.5 mile loop
Trail Ridge Road
We visited RMNP over the summer last year and had the most amazing trip! This park has inspired us to specifically plan destinations and road trips to other National Parks across the country. I feel like there is something for everyone here, whether you’re an avid hiker ready to conquer a mountain or just want to drive through the Park and witness the views and wildlife from the comfort of your car. If you get the chance visit, take it! I promise you won’t be disappointed!
Along the hike to Emerald Lake
Pros:
Wildlife – Abundance of wildlife that you can view, even from your car!
Convenient location – We enjoyed the town of Estes Park
Sheer beauty of the mountains and entire landscape
Cons:
Timed entry tickets required for summer visits (between May-October)
Crowds – it can be extremely crowded in the summer
Bathrooms – some of the worst Park bathrooms we have ever seen… or smelled!
Entrance Fee: $35 per vehicle (pass good for 7 days)
Annual Visitors: 4.5 million
Best Time to Visit: November – April
Click here to read more about our visit to Rocky Mountain National Park!
Every Kid Outdoors Pass:
Did you know that all 4th grade students are eligible to get an Every Kid Outdoors pass that allows free entry to America’s National Parks? Not only does your 4th grader get in free, but so does your entire vehicle! Be sure to click here if you have a 4th grader to get more information and to register for your student’s free pass! We took advantage of this pass last year and were able to visit 3 National Parks for free!
America the Beautiful Pass:
Now that our child is older, he’s not eligible for the Every Kid Outdoors pass, so we decided to go ahead and purchase the American the Beautiful pass for $80. We have plans to visit several Parks this year, so it will actually save us some money and time in line! Click here to learn more about this pass!
Thank you for taking the time to read this information! Be sure to follow the blog our travels on Instagram!
As I sit here on George Washington’s birthday, I can’t help but long to visit another historical site. I never considered myself a “history buff” until our first visit to Washington DC several years ago. Now, half of the adventures I plan have some sort of historical theme involved, which I’ve dubbed as our annual history trips! I know my kids are wishing I wasn’t such a nerd!
Washington Monument behind us in DC!
But I am an elementary teacher and when I plan lessons and activities for my students, I can’t help but think about how much I loved social studies when I was younger. I remember my parents having encyclopedias and how much I loved researching different things I had learned about when I got home from school. Lucky for me, my boys have always been interested in social studies, too. So, when my oldest became obsessed with all things presidents and early American history, I rolled with it and we’ve had the chance to visit several historical sites across the country! I thought it would be fun to create a list of our favorites, in case you are raising kids that want to learn more about our country or maybe you’re a self-proclaimed history buff yourself!
So keep reading to learn more about our favorite historical sites across the US!
Washington D.C.
The Capital building in the spring
Obviously this destination ranks high on our list. We’ve actually visited DC with our boys more than once and seem to learn something new each time. We’ve stayed in the spring and fall and both seasons were very enjoyable. It’s also such a clean city, which is why it ranks as my favorite city in the US so far (I haven’t been everywhere…yet)!
Just imagine getting to see the original Declaration of Independence in person, or the first United States flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner! The monuments, memorials, and museums were more interesting than I imagined! This is one place that we all felt so patriotic and so proud to be Americans!
Click here to read more about our adventures in Washington DC!
Click here for tips and instructions on how to get a White House Tour!
Philadelphia, PA
At the Liberty Bell with my boys!
I cannot believe that it took so long for me to get my boys and myself to Philadelphia, but we finally visited this past summer. And let me tell you, it was everything I had hoped it would be and more! I was literally moved to tears during our visit to Independence Hall. I mean, I got to see George Washington’s actual chair AND we got to be in the very room that the Declaration of Independence was adopted. This city is full of history and I would give anything to step back in time to see what it was like to live in those days, some 250 years ago.
Unfortunately, several things were closed while we were there due to Covid, so I hope one day I get to go back to visit some of the museums and Ben Franklin’s library.
Click here to read more about our trip to Philadelphia!
Inside Independence Hall
Williamsburg, VA
I absolutely adore this special, little destination! I’ve been fortunate enough to visit twice and I often dream of going back. And with my goal of getting to all 50 states, it’s not common for me to want to plan a trip to somewhere we’ve already been several times. But that’s just how special I think Williamsburg is! We visited in the spring and over Christmas last year, and it was magical.
Click here to read more about our visit to the Historic Triangle.
Click here to read about our visit to The Ruins of Presidents Park
The Ruins of Presidents Park
Presidential Home Tours
Mount Vernon
I have a thing for visiting former President’s homes and gravesites. It’s probably a strange obsession, but I love it! We’ve had the chance to see several historical homes across the country, and here are our favorites!
Can you imagine if the walls in these homes could talk? I am so thankful that these historical sites were preserved for us to enjoy and the National Park Service does a great job giving tours and telling stories that I have never read about in textbooks!
South Dakota
Hiking on the trails around Mount Rushmore!
Our trip to South Dakota was an adventure for several reasons! It also ranks as one of our all-time favorite family vacations to date. I had no idea how much we would love the entire area near Mount Rushmore, but we did! The landscape is a dream for nature lovers like myself and the hiking options were endless. There were activities for all ages. And who can forget the main tourist attraction, which blew us away!
Click here to read all about our adventures in South Dakota!
I hope this list of ideas finds you well and helps encourage you to get out there, explore, and keep learning! I cannot wait to add more destinations to this list, we have some fun plans ahead that I’m so excited about!
Have you been considering a trip to a winter destination this year? Look no further, Winter Park is the place to go! If you follow along on our adventures, you might already know that Colorado is one of our favorite places to visit, regardless of the season. What you might not know is that we’ve been to Colorado more times in the winter than we have in any other season! We are a family that loves to snowboard, but there are so many other things that you can do if skiing or snowboarding isn’t something that you want to try.
Exploring the base of Winter Park (there’s even a playground for kiddos right in front of this place)! These boys from Texas LOVE snow!
What to Pack
First things first, what should you pack for a winter trip to Colorado? I get asked this question all the time and my first response is everything waterproof, especially if you have kiddos. There is nothing worse than kids that have wet feet and hands that are also cold. So, be sure to pack waterproof gloves, thick socks, and waterproof or snow boots. My second reply is always layers and more layers. I usually wear 2 layers under my ski gear and I even layer my gloves with a thin glove worn under my waterproof gloves. Here is a short list of things that I always bring on our trips:
Waterproof pants and jacket (search ski gear)
Waterproof gloves
Snow boots or waterproof hiking boots
Thick socks
Long johns or long underwear
Sweatpants and sweatshirts
Hats, scarves, neck warmers
I have been successful in ordering all of these items on Amazon. This year, all of my kiddos boarding gear, from head to toe, was ordered off of Amazon!
All the boys gear in this photo came from Amazon.
In regards to skiing or snowboarding, you can rent boots, helmets, and skis or snowboards from the mountain base area and usually there are several rental places in town. I would recommend checking online and reserving your gear early, especially if you will be visiting during a holiday, like Christmas or Spring break.
Getting There
We love to drive… mostly so I can pack more!
Obviously, we are a road tripping family, so we like to drive to Colorado. I have also flown, but I prefer to drive so that I can bring all the things. We have our own snowboards and usually pack several suitcases because winter gear and sweaters take up so much room. I also like to bring a cooler with food so that we can cook in the condo or cabin we are staying in. For us in Texas, the drive is about 12-13 hours. No matter what mountain we are visiting, we always make the drive to Trinidad, CO and stop for the night. There are several hotels to choose from right off highway 25 and that puts us about 9 hours from home. So the drive the following day is only about 4 hours. Plus, we love to eat at the Mexican restaurant, Tequilas, and this has become a little tradition for our family.
We also like this routine because it allows us a little time to do something fun in Colorado Springs before we can check in to our lodging. This is one of our favorite places to stop along the route. We’ve stopped at Garden of the Gods several times and this year we visited the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. CO Springs is about 2 hours or so from Trinidad, so it’s the perfect place to stop for an activity and grab lunch before the next 2 hours of driving.
Jereme and me in front of the cliff dwellings! Such a cool experience!
Where to Stay
This year we decided to stay in Winter Park. We were so excited to get back to the mountain again. Jereme and I haven’t missed a ski trip since our first year of marriage 17 years ago, until covid hit. It’s been two long years since we’ve snowboarded, so we were all anxious to head back to the mountain and do what we love! Every time we’ve visited Winter Park, we’ve stayed at Frasier Crossing Founders Pointe. From this condo, we can walk right to base of the mountain and onto the lifts. We love this location because it’s quiet, great for families, doesn’t break the budget, has heated indoor parking, and its location to the base is amazing.
View from our condo looking at Zephyr Mountain Lodge, which is another great option!
Snowboarding
Our first time on a lift together as a family!
The whole reason we visit Colorado in the winter is to snowboard! This year we even got our youngest to the top of the mountain with us. Jereme and I taught ourselves how to board when we were in our early 20s. I would recommend taking lessons if you’ve never been before. We did put our boys in ski school when they were four and five, but then we taught them how to snowboard ourselves. For me, snowboarding is easier than skiing because ski boots seriously hurt my legs and knees. I consider us to be in decent shape, but a day on the mountain feels like a full body workout! We like to board for 2-3 days, but definitely need to take a break in between to rest and regroup. If you’ve never been, you can rent gear and sign up for skiing or snowboarding lessons right at the base of the mountain. In Winter Park, they have people stationed all around to offer assistance and point you in the right direction for all of your needs!
Jett at the top! These brothers loved boarding together! Finally boarding with my baby!!
The Town of Winter Park
The base of the mountain has several places to eat, shop, get groceries, and rent gear. So, once you arrive, there really is no reason to leave. But don’t let that stop you from visiting the town of Winter Park, because it’s really neat, too! We love to eat at Hernando’s Pizza Pub and we found a fun hiking trail this year and enjoyed exploring out in the snow away from the crowds on the mountain. Make dining reservations if you can or opt for take-out like we did this year. Please note that some of the restaurants in town do not offer take-out dining during the peak seasons (winter break over Christmas/New Year’s weekend).
I also found this website for a list of fun activities and dining options in town!
Frasier River trail (found on the AllTrails app) Our view on the trail!
We were even able to squeeze in family photos this year. Be sure to check out Lisa M. Hall Photography if you’re in the area.
We really had a wonderful time in the mountains this year. It’s so fun to ring in the New Year doing something that you love with your family. If you are not into skiing or snowboarding, don’t let that deter you from visiting the mountains in the winter! There are other activities that anyone can enjoy. My Dad often joins us on our trip and he doesn’t ski or snowboard, but he still loves to spend time with us in a cozy cabin or condo and watch the snow fall! Most places have hot tubs and there is nothing more relaxing than looking at the snowy mountains from the warmth of one. Winter Park offers snowmobiling, snowshoeing, dog sledding, sleigh rides, and tubing. Just be sure to pick your activity and book early. This website includes all of the winter activities that are offered in Winter Park! We wanted to tube on our visit, but when I went online to make reservations, there were none left for the entire month. If you are not visiting during a holiday, you will likely have an easier time with reservations.
We went dog sledding two years ago and loved every second of it!
Helpful Driving Tips
This was our drive once we got to the mountain pass, it’s not for the faint of heart…
My husband said that I should include this information in our blog, probably because he is the one that does most of the driving on our winter travels. Be sure to look ahead at travel conditions and make arrangements if winter advisories are in place. Besides having a car accident, I cannot think of anything worse than being stranded on the highway for hours due to winter weather. We were lucky that we didn’t encounter much snow on our drive to Winter Park, but there were several snowstorms that occurred while we were there and the Denver area received their first snow of the winter during our stay. Our drive home looked a lot different than our drive in.
It’s also important to make sure that you have windshield wiper fluid, the roads are super nasty with sand and salt treatments and at one time our windshield fluid froze up on the drive and the windshield was covered in dirt and Jereme had a small, fist sized spot to look out of until we were able to pull over and clean the whole windshield off. Be sure to have blankets, water, and food as a precaution for any winter weather delays.
We spent New Year’s Day doing what we love!
As always, I hope this information is helpful for all of your winter travel planning! I am available to help with any questions you may have and have tons of recommendations for amazing locations around Colorado. We’ve visited several mountain towns and have loved them all! Winter Park is becoming one of our favorites, closely behind Crested Butte!
Be sure to follow me on Instagram at road_trip_queen to see more photos and videos! And stay tuned, we have a lot of awesome travel plans for 2022 which include Ruidoso, NM later this month, Redwood National Park in the spring, and Yellowstone & Grand Tetons National Parks this summer!
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Seeing the Grand Canyon in person has been a dream of mine for a long time. I am happy to report that we finally made that dream come true over this past Thanksgiving holiday! And it was an ideal time to visit the park, the weather was perfect and the crowds were smaller than I have heard they can be in the summer months.
We booked this trip very last minute, so we didn’t get to stay inside the park, but we had the most amazing trip with our boys. If you follow along on our adventures, you know that I like to take advantage of our school breaks. And Jake had asked to go to the Grand Canyon for his birthday… in the summer. Being how it’s super-hot at the Grand Canyon during that time, I decided to push this one off until the weather got cooler. I was wracking my brain for somewhere to go over Thanksgiving break and decided that this might be the perfect time to see the Grand Canyon. We also had Spirit Airline credits that needed to be booked before the end of the year, so the trip planning began!
Being home for Thanksgiving was really important to us, so we decided that we would travel from Sunday – Thursday morning and fly home in time for lunch and dinner with our families. Thankfully we had zero issues with our flights and our traveling days went so smoothly… well everything except for the turbulence on the way home! Eek, that’s a story for another time haha!
Our Itinerary
Sunday – Flight to Las Vegas, Nevada
Drive to Horseshoe Bend in Page, AZ
Drive to hotel in Tusayan, AZ
Monday – Grand Canyon National Park
Tuesday – Grand Canyon National Park
Wednesday – Drive back to Las Vegas, NV
Stop by Hoover Dam
Thursday – Flight home to Dallas, TX
A big goal of mine is to get my boys to all 50 states, so since we had already been to Arizona, I thought it would be cool to start this adventure in Las Vegas and mark Nevada off the list. Plus, flights into Vegas were way cheaper than flying to Phoenix or Flagstaff. We had early morning flights and made it to Vegas by 8:00 am. We were on the road in our rental car by 9:00 am! We decided to drive down the strip and show the boys where we would be staying on our last night of the trip and then we headed to Arizona.
We never claimed to be good parents ha!
Even though this stop put us about 2 hours out of the way, I knew we needed to go by Horseshoe Bend since we were so close. And that’s exactly what we did! We made it right before sunset and it did not disappoint. This site is about 4 hours from Vegas, and then we had to drive another 2 hours to our hotel in Tusayan. The boys loved exploring Horseshoe Bend and being out of the car. They always enjoy climbing rocks and there were plenty for them to crawl and climb on. But they got so cranky on the drive from Page to our hotel. I mean, we were up at 3:00 am for our flights, so I understood. Because of this, we actually decided to sleep in the next day before getting up for the Grand Canyon.
Horseshoe Bend at sunset!
We really enjoyed our stay in Tusayan. We actually drove through after dark and the town was completely decked out in holiday lights and Christmas décor! We stayed at The Red Feather Lodge and really enjoyed it. Like I said earlier, we booked this trip in October, so I didn’t get to book lodging inside the park. However, the location of The Red Feather Lodge was wonderful and it only took about 5 minutes to drive to the South Rim entrance.
Grand Canyon Day 1
I wasn’t really sure what to expect when visiting The Grand Canyon. I didn’t think we’d see forests and animals, but man did we! Tall trees and lots of elk made the drive to the lookout points really exciting. We decided to start our first day at Mather’s Point. There was lots of space to park the car and a really nice visitor center area with food and coffee options, bike rentals, and Ranger talks. This visitors center was closed when we were there, but we probably wouldn’t have visited anyway. We were way too excited to see the Grand Canyon! The trails are paved and marked very well. The first sight of the canyon is truly awe-inspiring. I always knew it was grand, but it’s almost hard to take it all in, it’s that grand! The lookout points are very crowded, so we decided to venture along the rim trail and explore more on our own away from all the other visitors.
Lookout from Mather’s Point
I really wanted to get down into the canyon, so we decided from Mather’s Point we would take the rim walk to the Kaibab Trail and hike down into the canyon to Ooh-Aah Point. If I am being honest, I would have really liked to hike all the way to the bottom of the canyon and camp and then hike back up. But that just wasn’t an option with our boys. I also looked into mule rides to the bottom, but you have to be 9 and older and Jake is only 7. So, we did the hike and trail that we thought the boys would be able to handle the best. We ended up hiking 8 total miles. The switchbacks on the start of the trail were really cool, until the hike back up! Just remember that however far you hike down, you must hike back up. And while we didn’t go that many miles down, it was very hard for me to get back up and I am in pretty decent shape. I am thankful that the weather was cooler, I cannot imagine doing that hike in the summer temps. The views were stunning and the photos will never do it justice!
There are several dining options in Tusayan, but we opted for dinner at the Mexican restaurant at our hotel. It’s called Plaza Bonita Restaurant and it was so, so delicious! Plus, we got a discount for staying at the Red Feather Lodge! We also enjoyed lunch at Foodie Club while we were there! There were several options for all of us and it was a great stop before we hiked the canyon on day two.
Grand Canyon Day 2
Our original plan for the 2nd day in Arizona was to drive about 45 minutes and visit Bearizona. But, the weather had other plans for us and there was a 90% chance of rain there for the majority of the day. So, we decided to head back to the Grand Canyon to visit the Yavapai Geology Museum and do more exploring. This day was colder and cloudier than the day before, so it was nice to have a place to warm up indoors. The views were a little different here, especially with the clouds! We walked around for a bit and then decided to just drive around the park. It was exciting to see so many elk roaming around. We pulled over into a parking lot and explored the forest area. The boys played “pine cone dodge ball” and some hide and seek. Then, we decided to go back into town and have dinner. We LOVED the restaurant, We Cook Pizza and Pasta. The boys were able to get pizza and I really enjoyed the pasta.
Las Vegas
On Wednesday morning we checked out of the hotel and started the four hour drive to Las Vegas. We made a quick stop to see the Hoover Dam on the drive. The drive was really easy and felt like it went by pretty quick. The dam is really a lot cooler than I thought it would be. We didn’t do the tour inside because this is a bucket list trip for my Dad and I wanted to wait to take it with him! But it was fun to drive over the dam and we also walked along the bridge that overlooks that area. And I got a picture with my boys in their 32 state right there on the walk up to the bridge!
Our 32nd state!
Finally, we made it to Vegas. We stayed at the Bellagio and we were all impressed with the hotel! The Christmas décor was spot on. The only downside was how crowded it was. We got our best Christmas photo at 5:30 in the morning on the way to the airport. The boys just wanted to walk around the strip and check out the different hotels and sights outside. I tried to book tickets to a magic show while we were there, but there wasn’t anything available. We did about 6 miles of walking through different hotels and then decided to head back to our room and order room service for dinner. The boys thought we were so fancy! We only spent one night here and I think the boys actually liked it better than the Grand Canyon. I can’t wait to take them back in the summer so we can enjoy the hotel pools.
Overall, we really had a good time adding a new state to our list and visiting another National Park this year. I know there is so much that we didn’t see or do while we were there. Maybe one day we can visit again when the boys are a little older. I would love to hear any tips or recommendations that you have if you’ve been there. If you’re reading this to help plan your next trip, feel free to reach out with any questions! Don’t forget to follow our fun on my IG at road.trip.queen.
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How many of you travel over the Christmas holiday for fun? I’m a teacher, so we try to take advantage of every school break. We’ve found some really great places to visit over the holiday season, so keep reading to check out our favorites!
Colorado
Dog Sledding in Monarch!
Can you ever really go wrong visiting Colorado any time of the year? It might just be one of my favorite states! Christmas is a magical time to visit this winter playground! My family loves to snowboard, so we’ve been visiting every winter for almost twenty years now. Over the years we’ve traveled to Crested Butte (my absolute favorite ski town), Steamboat, Keystone, Breckenridge, Winter Park, Copper Mountain, and Granby. Each of these ski towns offer their own bit of charm and they all do Christmastime right! You’ll often see torch light parades down the mountain, Christmas decor galore, and snow, snow, snow! Most of these ski towns offer a wide variety of skiing and snowboarding for all skill levels, sledding, tubing, ice skating, dog sledding, sleigh rides, snowmobiling and more! It’s always a good idea to check out each mountain town’s website for more details. If you’re looking for a white Christmas and outdoor winter adventures, then Colorado is the place to go! Click here to read more about our latest winter adventure in Colorado!
Building snowmen in Granby!
Santa Claus, Indiana
Last December I was looking for a fun holiday destination to take my boys. Life just felt hard with all that was going on with the pandemic. So I began researching and found a fun place called Santa Claus, Indiana! It ended up being just the place we needed for a long weekend away from the real world. While this wasn’t like a Hallmark Movie location, it was still magical in its own way! With a name like Santa Claus, you can bet that there’s a Santa Claus on just about every corner! We loved spotting them all. We participated in a FREE drive through breakfast with Santa, photos with Santa, wrote letters to Santa in an old post office (and he even wrote us back), and found the best candy store in town. Click here to read more about our adventures in Santa Claus, IN!
Check out this dabbing Santa!
Williamsburg, Virginia
This state is also becoming one of my favorite states to visit. I’m a huge history nerd, so of course it makes sense that I’d be drawn to Virginia. Last winter we had several flight vouchers to spend before the end of the year. So, I found great prices to Virginia and decided we needed to take Jereme back to the places I had visited with the boys over spring break earlier in the year. Colonial Williamsburg at Christmas was everything I hoped it would be! The decor was perfect for the colonial time period. Wreaths adorned every door and candles were lit in all the windows in the historic district. Farther down near the restaurants and shops was a huge Christmas tree and an ice skating rink! It was such a fun experience to step back in time and enjoy the holidays like the people in colonial times did! Click here to read more about our winter trip to Virginia!
Historic Colonial Williamsburg
San Antonio, Texas
Lights galore!
Have you ever been to the River Walk in San Antonio? They do it right during the holidays! I have never seen so many trees covered in Christmas lights. This is a destination that would be fun for families or even a couple’s romantic getaway. Luckily the weather in Texas is typically mild, even in December. You can enjoy a delicious dinner and margarita at one of many of the famous restaurants that line the River Walk. Dining outside under a canopy of Christmas lights is a must! Plus, you can even knock out some of your holiday shopping while you’re there! Don’t forget to visit the Alamo or take a boat ride down the river! Click here to learn more about Christmas on the River Walk!
Sea World San Antonio
Dallas, Texas
Isn’t this amazing!
Did you know that there is the MOST amazing Home Alone themed Airbnb in Dallas? I had to include this one because it’s a family favorite for us! We actually live just north of Dallas, so this wasn’t a long trip for us but we still loved the getaway nonetheless. The detail that went into setting up this place is top notch and we could not believe the relics from the 80s and 90s that were there! If you book a stay, you’ll even get a free cheese pizza delivered for dinner. If you have kids or even if you just love the movie Home Alone, I highly recommend checking this place out! I felt like I was back in my childhood, and who doesn’t want to feel like a care-free kid again, even just for a night? Plus Dallas has so many fun places, although we never ventured out. We were completely content hanging out in the Airbnb and watching the Home Alone movies… on VHS tape! Click here to read more about our visit and to find all of the booking details.
Once again, we haven’t been everywhere that’s on my holiday travel list and I am sure there are many more wonderful holiday destinations across the US! I hope to add more to our favorites in the coming year! Be on the lookout for our next holiday adventure to Winter Park, CO this Christmas break. No matter how near or far your holiday travels take you this year, I hope you have the best time with your family! As always, feel free to comment for any questions or advice! Follow me on Instagram at Road_Trip_Queen.
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I get asked the question all the time, “why do you road trip?” Easy answer for me, “because I love driving!” But my husband absolutely hates to road trip and would prefer to fly. So I’ve come up with some pros and cons for both to hopefully help you make the decision!
Road Tripping
Monument Valley
Like I mentioned before, I love driving and long car rides. Nine times out of ten, I’d pick a car ride over a flight any day. But when your husband has sciatica and can’t handle driving for long, you have to compromise at times. Here are all the reasons I love a good road trip…
First, you can bring All. The. Things! There’s nothing I despise more than a 50 lb. weight limit or trying to stuff everything into a carry on. If I want to bring 7 suitcases, 7 suitcases it is. I especially love this for hiking trips and beach trips because I can pack all the gear and beach toys our little hearts desire. I also prefer to bring a large selection of snacks/groceries and have yet to figure out how to do this when flying!
I also love being on my own time. If we want to leave early, we can. If we decide to sleep in a little longer, it’s up to us. The flexibility on time is so much less stressful for me.
When we drive, we get to see so many more sights than if we were to just to fly straight to our destination! For example, when we drove to Utah last spring, we got to visit Shiprock in New Mexico and Monument Valley! We would’ve missed this with a direct flight in. Click here to read more about our road trip to Arches National Park!
You never have to worry about a canceled flight or a long delay when driving. I swear I lose sleep on vacation worrying about getting stranded at the airport for days with our kids.
For us, driving is usually more cost effective. We don’t have to spend any money on flights, luggage, or a rental car. Even when we have to add in a hotel stay, that is usually far cheaper than airfare!
Flying High
I am not the best flyer there is, but I am getting better! And I will admit, there truly are some benefits to flying…
First, you get to your destination and back home much quicker when you fly. For us, that means less time off work since we don’t have to figure in several days for driving.
Flying is also much safer than driving. We have seen a couple of major wrecks in our travels, which makes me very nervous at times to be on the road.
Who hates traffic as much as I do? Man, we’ve been stuck in some pretty long traffic jams before. When we drove to St. Louis it took us about 3 hours longer to get there because we ended up stuck behind an RV crash and the highway was closed. That was definitely not fun for anyone. Click here to read more about our fall trip to St. Louis!
If you fly, you get to spend more time at your destination enjoying all of the things that you are there to see and explore!
Many people think flying is relaxing. I am not one of those people and am usually stressed and nervous the entire flight. But my husband and kids really enjoy it.
You can be productive on a flight. Often times I catch up my blog when we’re in flight. My boys love to watch movies or nap. Same with my husband. I also see other passengers getting work knocked out before vacation begins or ends, so that’s always a plus to get things complete and then get to enjoy the rest of the trip!
Finally, you don’t have to clean your vehicle after a road trip if you fly! I don’t know what my kids do, but my car is always a disaster after a road trip. And when I say disaster, I mean a disaster! It’s always nice to land, get into your ride and head home without that added chore.
As you can see, there many pros and cons to both driving and flying. I think for trips that are under a few hours, your best bet will be to drive! The most I have driven to date is to Maryland and that was about 19 hours from Texas. We obviously stayed the night halfway and did about 9 hours a day over two days. And as my kids always say, the drive to a destination is much better than the drive back home! Wherever you go next, and however you decide to get there, I hope you have the best time! And as always, let me know if you have any questions or need any travel ideas.
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My boys and I have been lucky enough to visit The Historic Triangle in Virginia two times, once during spring break and once at Christmastime. Being history enthusiasts, we really enjoyed both visits, but our winter experience was the absolute best!
What is The Historic Triangle?
Essentially, The Historic Triangle is three separate communities in coastal Virginia which are significant in our county’s history. These communities are now living history museums that represent early life in America, before our country was even a country. These three historical sites are very close to one another, which make it great for a weekend visit!
Colonial Williamsburg
When we visited the area we stayed in Colonial Williamsburg, at Bluegreen Patrick Henry Square. We loved our accommodations and the location was ideal for walking to Colonial Williamsburg’s historic district. Since it was Christmastime, there was magic in the air. I really enjoyed the holiday décor, which was indicative to the time-period. The homes and storefronts were adorned with holiday wreaths and candles were lit in the windows. The weather was also wonderful, although we were hoping for a little snow! We spent a full day here enjoying the history and time period. We also came back most nights for dinner since we stayed in the area.
One of our favorite activities was a guided Colonial Ghost Tour throughout the historic district. If you follow along on our travels, you already know that we do this in most of the places we visit! I guess it’s kinda our thing ha. We learned a lot of history about different homes and the church, and even more about the people that lived there! While we didn’t see any ghosts, we really enjoyed ourselves and did have several hits on the magnetic field detector that was provided in the tour (at an additional charge).
More Colonial Williamsburg Information:
· First, check out the Colonial Williamsburg website for more information on ticket pricing. Adult tickets are $42, children ages 6-12 are $25 and kids 5 and under are free.
· But also note that you can walk along the streets of Colonial Williamsburg for FREE. While you’re there you will literally feel like you’re in a different time period. You will see actors playing the part and they are wonderful! Ask them to pose for a quick picture, they will be happy to. You’ll see old Colonial homes, storefronts, gardens, and people riding in horse drawn carriages. If you do not purchase tickets, you will not be allowed entrance into any of the homes or stores. We did NOT purchase tickets, we got there really late and wanted to walk around to explore the streets before we made the decision to buy tickets. I mean let’s be honest, I am not really sure our kiddos (ages ranging from 5-9) would’ve really cared about going inside homes and listening to re-enactments. BUT they absolutely loved being out of the car, exploring the streets, and getting to walk around and see the sights. If I was there with just adults, I probably would’ve purchased tickets for the day. But if you don’t want to spend the money you will still have a wonderful experience just walking down the streets of the town. And you can look inside the windows of the houses and stores, so you can see what’s inside!
· There are also several restaurants along the streets so you can plan to eat when you’re in the area. Click here for a list of the top 10 best restaurants in Colonial Williamsburg!
· One full day spent in Colonial Williamsburg was plenty of time to see the sights! We spent our other days there visiting Yorktown and Jamestown – these three sites are about a 15 minute scenic drive apart.
· There are signs everywhere telling you how to get to different places, which we found very helpful!
Jamestown
Jamestown is my favorite historical site of the three! There are actually two parts to Jamestown, the original site and the living history museum. Think John Smith and Pocahontas! I cannot believe I got to see where these famous historical figures lived and walked in person.
Historic Jamestowne is the first permanent English Settlement in North America and you can explore ruins and artifacts left behind. There is also an archaeology museum on site, along with statues and monuments for Pocahontas and John Smith. This site was actually closed during our winter visit due to Covid, so be sure to check the website to see if it has re-opened.
Jamestown Settlement is the living history museum and here you are able to get a glimpse of life in the early 1600s in a Powhatan Indian Village, behind the English fort, and on the ships of the English settlers. There is also a large museum on site with different artifacts. We spent the majority of our time here! The docents are amazing and really get into their role of early life. Talk to them, ask them questions! They are full of knowledge and are there for that reason!
Yorktown
Yorktown was the site of the last battle of the Revolutionary War, where Gen. Cornwallis surrendered to Gen. George Washington! This waterfront town has museums, shopping, and restaurants. We visited the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, which is another living history museum with docents and it also has a large array of artifacts inside the gallery. Here we were able to see life as a soldier at the Continental Army encampment, as well as, life on a revolution-era farm.
Once we left this museum, we walked along the beach, played a little football with our boys, and then had dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Yorktown, The Yorktown Pub. The weather was a little chillier on this day, so I enjoyed warming up with their delicious clam chowder!
We really had an amazing winter visit to Virginia! I absolutely love this state. If you are in the area, be sure to check out The Ruins of Presidents Park that are located in Williamsburg. This was a bucket list adventure of mine and I am so thrilled that we were able to experience all of these amazing activities during our trip!
Please feel free to ask any questions, I am always happy to help! Thanks for following along on our travels!
Fall has always been my favorite season, ever since I can remember having a favorite season. I love everything about the fall… the food, smells, weather, decor, family time, fashion, and just recently, the travel! I am by no means an expert at fall travel, but I’m getting there!
You may already know that I am a teacher and fall can be a busy season for educators. We are just getting back into the routine of school after being out all summer. Grades are due, parent conferences are happening, and if you have kids, fall sports are in full swing. But if you can sneak away, even for just a weekend, I cannot recommend it enough! Usually, destinations are less crowded in the fall, since most people are back to work/school. And you can’t beat the cooler temperatures, either. I honestly think that fall travel is my new favorite thing! It was hard to choose just five, but listed below are my favorite fall destinations to date!
5. Broken Bow, Oklahoma
Quivera Cabin in Broken Bow
Coming in at number five is Broken Bow, Oklahoma! This has become a family favorite of ours, especially since it’s only about three hours from our home in Texas. There truly is something here for everyone. In my opinion, Broken Bow has the very best accommodations for every budget, from luxury cabins to campsites. The temperatures in the fall are very nice, typically warm during the day and chilly at night. There really is nothing better than being able to enjoy the day outdoors hiking or at the lake, shopping around the downtown area, or hanging around your cabin; then cozying up at nighttime and roasting marshmallows around the firepit. Most cabins in Broken Bow have firepits and outdoor hot tubs. We enjoy bringing food to cook, but there are also many restaurants, breweries and wineries in town. Be sure to book your lodging early for a fall weekend, they tend to book up quick!
4. St. Louis, Missouri
Family photo at the Gateway Arch National Park
We visited St. Louis last October and had a spooky good time! I was looking for a quick family getaway over Columbus Day weekend and settled on St. Louis, and I am so glad I did! This was also the first trip we took our puppy on and she did great. St. Louis is a very dog-friendly destination and they even have several tourist attractions that allow your pups to tag along. We only had two full days in this city, but I feel like we were able to do so much in that time. Our favorites were visiting the Gateway Arch, walking along the Mississippi River, visiting Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, and taking a haunted history walk around the city at night! St. Louis has many great hotel and restaurant options and several museums to check out, including our favorite, The City Museum. While I was hoping for more fall colors, this quick weekend trip has remained a fall family favorite for all of us! Click here to read more about our weekend in St. Louis.
3. New Buffalo, Michigan
Lighthouse in St. Joseph
I was lucky enough to visit a dear friend in New Buffalo, Michigan late October of last year. This was just the girls trip I needed in my life! It was also my first and only visit to Michigan and I cannot wait to go back! I mean, fall foliage, lighthouses, beaches, and quaint water front towns, what more can you ask for? I highly recommend staying at the Marina Grand Resort. The rooms are so cozy, right on the water and ours had a fireplace and patio. We enjoyed our time in New Buffalo and also had fun driving around Michigan and checking out St. Joseph and Saugatuck. Saugatuck was also the best day trip, with delicious restaurants and all the shopping my little heart could handle! Click here to read more about my weekend in Michigan.
2. Snowbird, Utah
Scenic view from the hike to Gloria Falls in Utah
I actually just returned from Utah last weekend and moved it up on my favorite list to number two! What a weekend! I was able to get away with my best friend of almost 30 years for a spa weekend in the mountains and it was everything we both needed. We took full advantage of the spa and got massages, pedicures, took a yoga class, enjoyed the steam room and roof top hot tub and heated pool. But we also hiked and drove around in the mustang convertible we rented for the weekend. The hiking was my favorite part, besides the room service! And the fall colors were to die for! I must also mention that we experienced the first snow of the season in Utah and it was such a nice surprise. I would absolutely go back to Snowbird in a heartbeat. This destination would be great for a romantic getaway, a girls trip, and even a family adventure! To read more about my weekend in Snowbird, click here.
1. Washington, DC
Fall in DC!
Ranking number one for my family is our fall trip to Washington DC! Not only is this my favorite fall destination, it may also be my favorite family trip we’ve taken. We actually visited DC over Thanksgiving Break in late November. This is a wonderful time to visit because the weather is fantastic and most of the businessmen and women leave the city for the holidays. It wasn’t crowded at all and we were able to visit those historic landmarks and world famous museums without the crowds! The daytime temperatures were perfect and we enjoyed walking around the city and playing football with our boys at the national mall. At night, we bundled up and walked to see the monuments at night. It was just truly the perfect week with my family. Click here to read more about our trip to DC!
Most of these adventures took place over long weekends, when the boys and I were out of school for a holiday. I am learning to leave the work behind and enjoy these breaks with friends and family. The laundry and housework will always be there, as will the never ending pile of papers to be graded! But I’ll never get back these long weekends meant for family, friends and adventures. There are still so many places on my fall travel bucket list. I hope that I can add more destinations to this list very soon. If you have any fall travel recommendations, be sure to leave a comment and let me know! We will be traveling to the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas over Thanksgiving Break this year, so be sure to be on the lookout for more information about those two destinations!
Road Trip Queen 