Vacation Ideas: Top Things to do on a Weekend Trip to Nashville

1. Take a stroll on The Honky Tonk Highway. An amazing sight to see and experience while in Nashville! Live music, food, drinks, music history, souvenirs, roof top bars and lots of crowds. Ole Red, owned by one of my favorites, Blake Shelton, was my favorite roof top view and live band music. Visit https://www.visitmusiccity.com/things-to-do/attractions/honky-tonk-highway for more information.

2. When in the Hometown of Country Music, you have to see a live recording at The Grand Ole Opry. It was an entertaining lineup and we also took a backstage tour, which including a lot of history and fun facts. Visit https://www.opry.com/home

3. Take a Mural Scavenger Hunt! Many famous murals that you have seen on social media are located in Nashville. We incorporated them while eating and drinking our way through Nashville.

4. Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame. We opted for the self-guided audio tour, which highlighted 41 exhibits in the museum. It brought you from the start of country music to present day. This was a great way for my husband, who does not listen to country music, become more familiar with its history and development in the music world. Visit https://countrymusichalloffame.org/

5. Booking a trolley tour was an easy way to see the whole city in a quick amount of time! While on the Old Town Trolley Tour, you can hop on and off at the 15 different stops. You can also stay on the trolley for the whole tour, which lasts approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. Visit https://www.trolleytours.com/nashville

6. Visit the Farmers’ Market, located in Bicentennial Park. A unique venue for all things local! Food, drinks and artisans. Saturdays are best with many local vendors who come to visit and sell fresh produce and crafts.

7. Walk through the campus of Vanderbilt University and check out the souvenirs at the campus bookstore, located in Barnes and Noble.

8. If you are brave enough, like my husband, try Hot Chicken (which is fried chicken with different levels of a hot rub, not sauce)! Let’s just say he bit off more than he could chew! It was so hot! We ate at Party Foul, but other popular options include Hattie B’s and Prince’s.

9. Treat yourself! As usual, I ate my way through Nashville! Five Daughters Donuts (Salted Caramel Chocolate) , Goo Goo Chews (Original and Peanut Butter), and GiGi’s Cupcakes (Vanilla Salted Caramel) were my favorites! Visit https://fivedaughtersbakery.com/ , https://gigiscupcakesusa.com/ , and https://googoo.com/

10. Eat local dinner fare favorites. Urban Grub on 12 South was a family recommendation and it did not disappoint! Our waiter created our Grub Experience, which included some Southern Delights, Pork Chops, Collard Greens, Four Cheese Mac ‘n Cheese, Po’ Boys, Biscuits, Letters to Juliet for a drink and an All American Dessert Sampler, which included Chocolate Chunk Cookies, Apple Pie Ala Mode, Churros, Sugar Cookies, and Funnel Cake.

11. Eat, indulge, drink and dine in local and unique shops in various areas, including The Gulch and 12 South. One famous spot is Draper James, owned by one of my favorite actresses, Reese Witherspoon, which is located on 12 South (located near Urban Grub, the “I Believe in Nashville” mural, and Five Daughters Donuts).

12. A movie tip…you hear a lot about Johnny Cash and June Carter and his presence in Nashville, I recommend downloading “Walk the Line” with Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix for your plane ride.

13. Looking for a little R and R while in Nashville, book a room at the J W Marriott. Offers a convenient location near the Country Hall of Fame and a less than 10 minute walk to Honky Tonk Highway. The rooftop pool and spa was an added bonus to our weekend getaway! Visit website at https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bnajw-jw-marriott-nashville/?scid=bb1a189a-fec3-4d19-a255-54ba596febe2

Have a great vacation y’all!

Vacation Ideas : Take a Road Trip to a New Country…Montreal, CA

My daughter has been wanting to travel to Paris for the last couple of years. My husband and I have both been, but have not brought our kids yet…so for one of our summer vacations this year, we decided to venture on a 3-day road trip across the border to Montreal, Canada! This trip did not disappoint my daughter, from the French speaking natives to every sign and menu being in French, she definitely felt the European flare everywhere!

A To-Do List in Montreal

Spend the Day in Old Montreal. Travel to a miniature “Paris” with cobblestone roads, window flower boxes, small boutiques, creperies, cafes, and bistros. Indulge in crepes filled with Nutella, pick up some Canadian souvenirs, or shop for some trendy French fashions. Explore different restaurants for lunch and snacks, everyone will enjoy the different cultures and tastes offered. Take a short walk to Notre Dame Basilica.

Find Adventure in Old Port. Located in Old Montreal, Old Port offer a wide variety of family-fun activities including zip lining, ropes courses, paddle boards, site-seeing cruises, vendor tents with unique gifts,a ferris wheel, an IMAX theater and The Science Centre. Visit http://www.oldportofmontreal.com for more information.

Travel Back to the 1976 Olympics! Take a drive or metro ride out to the actual Olympic Park location of the 1976 Summer Olympics. Walk the grounds on your own and then take a guided tour of the original and newly remodeled sports facilities, stadium and pool, which are still used by athletes and locals today (we caught the US Water Polo Team practicing while we were there!). It is amazing to see the planning that goes into a host city preparing to host an Olympics. Visitors can also ride up The Montreal Tower (requires additional fee) for amazing 360-degree views of the city from the Tower’s Observatory. Olympic Park is also the home for Montreal’s Biodome, Planetarium, Botanical Garden, and Insectarium (all require additional entry fees). Visit parcolympique.qc.ca for tour, venue and museum information.

Seek the Thrills at Six Flags La Ronde. Ride on both classic and thrilling amusement rides, and enjoy carnival-themed games and food. Visit http://www.laronde.com for ticket and hour information.

Be Amazed at the Fireworks Display. If you plan on traveling to Montreal in the summer, the city hosts the L’International des Feux Loto-Quebec, which is an international fireworks competition set to music. Suggestions for viewing the fireworks are from the Jacques-Carter Bridge (it is completely closed to traffic on the scheduled dates), from Six Flags La Ronde, or we were lucky and our hotel (Hilton Garden Inn Montreal Centre-Ville) had a rooftop pool and deck and we were able to watch the fireworks right on the rooftop! For firework dates, visit http://www.parcjeandrapeau.com/en/international-des-feux-loto-quebec-montreal/

Shop and Dine in The Underground City.  A unique shopping center includes restaurants, hotels, and clothing stores all underground. Visit montrealundergroundcity.com for more information.

Travel to Little Italy! Indulge in the finest Italian delis, restaurants and desserts on Boulevard Saint-Laurent. We enjoyed a traditional Italian meal al fresco at Risorante Corneli and saved room for nocciola (hazelnut) gelato at Gelateria Pierino, which was right next door to the restaurant we dined at.

Dine at a French Steak and Frites Inspired Restaurant. I was so happy my husband happened to find L’Entrecote Saint-Jean on Yelp. One of the Yelp comments stated that it reminded them of  the infamous steak and frites restaurant in Paris, Le Relais de l’Entrecote, ironically that was my favorite restaurant on our vacation to Paris 10 years ago, they literally only serve steak and frites! We dined here one night in Montreal and the menu was exactly the same. My family loves steak and frites and this restaurant did not disappoint. Check out one of my quick and easy recipes for Steak and Frites at An Easy and Unique “Steak and Frites” Recipe

Summer Vacation Ideas: An Educational (and Fun!) Visit to The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

If you ever find yourself in New York City or New Jersey,  plan a fun, family-oriented visit to The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island!

Last summer,  my children and I were visiting New Jersey  and decided to spend the day exploring some history with Lady Liberty. After some  online research, I discovered a cruise line tour called Statue Cruises that offered departures from Jersey City, NJ and also Battery Park in NYC.  We were staying on the NJ side of the Hudson River, so we headed down to Liberty Park in Jersey City, NJ to catch our ferry ride over. With a little bit of planning, you can spend a day exploring US history with amazing views!

Book tickets online to avoid long lines. Visit https://www.statuecruises.com/ for cruise information and also to book tickets for the ferry ride to both Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (a combo ticket). The time you purchase your ticket for is the time you will depart for your first stop. They recommend for you arrive 30 minutes prior.

Parking is available on-site  in NJ. Reminder that there are heavy security points before loading onto the ferries. Visit the website for items that are forbidden. Reminder to take a jacket or sweatshirt (the ferry ride can get chilly and windy), hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, cameras, and wear comfortable shoes.

Take a self-guided family tour. I went back and forth with which type of tour to book for both Ellis Island and The Statue of Liberty. In the end, I decided to take the free self-guided tour, while using the free headsets that offer a family-friendly recording of the history of both The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. It was a great way for everyone to listen at their own pace all while following along together. We chose not to reserve a tour of the pedestal and crown, due to extra time and money that was needed. Not having gone to the crown or pedestal before, I think the time and money saved doing the self-guided tour was very informational, fun and easy-going for our family, and we made a good choice!

Don’t forget to stop for snacks and souvenirs. All along the walking path around The Statue of Liberty, you will find food and drink carts, along with many souvenir shops.

Photo opportunities galore! Riding over the ferry along with walking around base of The Statue, you will have plenty of opportunities to take photos of the historical landmarks, in addition to the amazing skyline of NYC across the Hudson River.

Plan time for your visit. Depending on which tour you decide to take, plan time to spend on each “island”. Different aged children may spend more or less time reading signs and listening to the self-guided recorded tours. You will also need to get on a 2nd Ferry to visit Ellis Island. (Note: If leaving from NJ, the cruise will go from Liberty Park, NJ to The Statue of Liberty to Ellis Island to Liberty Party. If leaving from NYC, the cruise will go from Battery Park, NYC to Ellis Island to The Statue of Liberty to Battery Park. Make sure you get on the correct ferry to either NYC or NJ.) I would recommend setting aside approximately 4-5 hours for this tourist attraction from parking  your car to standing in security lines to ferry rides to both attractions and the time to explore and relax.

Explore your heritage! While on Ellis Island, you can pay a small fee to search the immigrant databases and find the paperwork and certificate of your ancestors. You will need the first and last name and year of immigration.

Visit the 9/11 Memorials in both NJ and NYC. At Liberty Park, near where you will board the ferry, take a moment to visit the 9/11 New Jersey Memorial.If you take the ferry from Battery Park in NYC, the main 9/11 Memorial and Museum (for a fee) are located a couple of blocks away from the ferry landing. (Note: you can only access the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in NYC if you take the Statue Cruises from Battery Park in NYC. The NJ ferry does not go to NY.)

Start Planning Your Summer Vacation : Glamping … yes, Fancy Camping!

For the last couple of weeks, I have been sharing summer vacation ideas that I have planned and enjoyed with my family. This vacation blog post was a new one for me 2 years ago… the closet thing to camping that I had ever experienced (and actually loved!) Glamping… yes, that’s fancy camping! If you are looking for something adventurous, fun and different this summer… maybe glamping is for you! Hoping to return back soon! Check out our family’s glamping experience in the post below … click blog post link below:

Summer Vacation Ideas: Glamping (yes, that’s fancy camping!)

Start Planning Your Summer Vacation : Road Trip to Hilton Head, SC

Hilton Head, South Carolina was a family road trip idea we had one summer! We all enjoyed it so much, we went back again two summers later! Check out our road trip to the sun and sand of Hilton Head Island!

Visit  Summer Vacation Ideas : Sun and Sand on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Start Planning Your Summer Vacation : A Family Experience in Washington, D.C.

Now is the the time to begin planning your family’s summer vacations! Whether it is a road trip, visiting family or booking flights, I always like to research others tips and tricks before making our vacation reservations. Planning vacations (and taking vacations!) is one of my favorite activities. Last summer, I shared tips on vacations that I had enjoyed with my family. I recently resposted my suggestions for Hershey Park in Pennsylvania. Visit https://homesweetmamamia.wordpress.com/2017/05/03/start-planning-your-summer-vacation-hersheypark/ for more information.

Today, I will review our trips to Washington, D.C. and over the next few weeks, I will continue to review family vacation suggestions for your summer fun!

Start Planning Your Summer Vacation : Experience Washington, D.C. 

Visit my tips and suggestions : Summer Vacation Ideas : Experience Washington, D.C.

Day Trips with Kids in Massachusetts

Fun and adventure is a must on our day to day summer adventures with my kids. I keep everyday a “secret” until the day of the event. This year we were able to take a few local day trips to nearby Massachusetts. Here is a list I put together for the other adventurous parents out there (or families visiting the New England area this summer or fall!) Have fun!

10 Family Fun Day Trips in Massachusetts

1. Purgatory Chasm Sutton, MA – Take a hike on rocks, boulders and trails in this natural challenge! Pack a picnic lunch, visit the playground and stop for an ice cream treat at West End Creamery (before getting back on the highway).
2. Plimouth Plantations, Mayflower II and Plymouth Rock Plymouth, MA – Visit a replica of where the first colonists and Native Americans lived. A great educational experience! Tips : 1. Make sure to stop by the bakery to pick up a loaf of fresh baked bread! 2. Visit Plantations first, then drive over to the Grist Mill (free parking) and walk along the river to experience the Mayflower II and Plymouth Rock. Ice cream and cupcake treats available along a serene town. (And yes, Plimouth Plantations is spelled differently than Plymouth, MA – even Moms learn something new everyday!) Visit http://www.plimoth.org
3. Fenway Park (Stadium Tour and Red Sox Game) Boston, MA – A fun experience to watch the Boston Red Sox play ball and a memorable tour of this historical landmark. Visit http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/bos/ballpark/tour.jsp
4. Boston Museum of Science Boston, MA – A great science museum for all ages. Be sure to check out the lightening show, planetarium and a cool roller coaster simulation ride (additional fees required).
5. Great Wolf Lodge Fitchburg, MA  -Ok, so this is not a day trip… But…  A perfect “vacation” any time of the year. Unfortunately, GWL requires an overnight stay in order to use their water park, but the kids (and parents) won’t be disappointed. There are many activities in addition to the water play, my kids enjoyed the ropes course the most! If you are looking for a day trip option, consider CoCoKey Indoor Water Park in Danvers, MA. Visit https://www.greatwolf.com/new-england or http://www.cocokeyboston.com
6. An Unlikely Story Plainville, MA  Visit this quaint book store located inside a refurbished general store in a quaint little town. Owned and operated by my son’s favorite author, Jeff Kinney from the Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series. Autographed books available for sale. There is also a cafe located inside the book store for a quick lunch or treat! If you are lucky, maybe you will bump into Mr. Kinney himself! Located down the street from Wrentham Village Outlets. Visit http://www.anunlikelystory.com
7. Boston Duck Tours Boston, MA – A fun and unique way to tour this harbor city. The tour guides are hilarious and guide you through many parts of Boston, both on land and in water!  Tours can be picked up at the Boston Museum of Science. Visit http://www.bostonducktours.com/mobile-home/
8. Gilette Stadium (New England Patriots Training Camp and Fan Zone) Foxboro, MA – Come and cheer on the New England Patriots in an exclusive opportunity to watch them practice before the football season starts! Arrive early for front row seats to experience all of the action! A Fan Zone is also set up for more excitement, meet the cheerleaders and mascot, inflatables, food, treats, games and many prize opportunities. Take a walk over to Patriots Place for more food, shopping and events. Visit http://www.patriots.com/trainingcamp
9. Corporation Beach Dennis, Cape Cod, MA – This is my family’s family beach in Cape Cod. It is family-friendly with a food shack and facilities, a great place to swim and explore in the sand bars during low tide for hermit crabs. Visit http://www.town.dennis.ma.us/Pages/index
10. Southwick Zoo Mendon, MA – A great day out with the family to visit a wide variety of animal species. Our favorite is the rhino! Visit http://southwickszoo.com

Summer Vacation Ideas : Newport, RI …fun and historical!

Continuing to live in our state as a tourist this summer, our next destination is Newport, RI! What a wonderful mix of beaches, history, education and fun! Whether you are visiting Rhode Island for the day, weekend or week, add Newport to your “must see” list! Newport is a 20-minute drive from Narragansett, RI.

10 Must See Family Stops in Newport, RI:

1. Educational Fun at the Newport Mansions – Newport, RI offers many historical mansion tours. See how the rich and famous lived back in the day. Keep in mind, these were their summer homes! The Breakers is a top pick for families with children, as it gears their tour information with facts and memories from some of the children that vacationed in these homes. Most mansion tours offer a self-guided iPad tour with headphones.  Group mansion packages are also an option of you are looking to see mansions from other families or eras. Visit http://www.newportmansions.org for tour information. (Recommended for school-aged children).
2. Take a scenic stroll on the Cliff Walk. Walk along the edge of this beautiful shoreline.
3. Explore the Rhode Island ocean life! Visit the Save the Bay Exploration Center and have the opportunity to touch sea life from the RI coast. After your visit with the fish, take a ride on the Carousel and cool off with a refreshing Del’s Lemonade (frozen lemonade at it’s finest, only in RI!) Visit http://www.savebay.org/aquarium or http://www.cityofnewport.com/departments/easton-s-beach for more information.
4. Relax on various Newport Beaches! My children’s favorite Newport Beach is Gooseberry Beach, where the hermit and sand crabs capture their attention every time!
5. Go fly a kite! Take a scenic ride on Ocean Drive toward Brenton Point State Park. Watch in awe as various people fly their kites at this beautiful location on Newport. Bring your own kite to fly or, at times, we have spotted kite vendors on the grass. Enjoy a picnic lunch and watch the waves crash into the rocks.
6. Take a boat ride! An economical way to take a boat ride in Newport is to take a Harbor Shuttle, it will take you around the Newport Harbor, and your driver will also point out various famous yachts, ships, and landmarks in the Harbour. The boat also stops at Fort Adams (we have never been on the official tour here yet, but plan to soon!) Visit http://www.newportharborshuttle.com for stops, prices and sights!
7. Tailgate at a Polo match! This is on our Summer’s to-do list. Have fun with family and friends while tailgating with a picnic and lawn games at a Newport Polo match. Visit http://www.nptpolo.com for match schedule and prices.
8. Take a short drive over the bridge to Jamestown, RI! Visit Beavertail Park for scenic ocean views, nature strolls, a “mini” aquarium of RI sea life, a lighthouse and a Musuem on the history of the lighthouse. Visit http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationBeavertail.html for more information. Treat yourself to ice cream at Spinnakers or Island Scoop. Climb aboard a unique playground made with tires… The Jamestown Community Playground will sure be a hit with kids, no matter what age! Visit http://www.jamestownri.gov/town-departments/parks-recreation/parks-and-facilities-/head-s-beach/community-playground for location.
9. Visit the oldest lending library in America ! My daughter loves to read and learn about history. We visited the Redwood Library  and Athenaeum for an informative tour on this library’s amazing history (Tour recommended for school-aged children). Visit http://www.redwoodlibrary.org for tours and information on a children’s story time that they offer.

10. Indulge in designer cupcakes! Visit Cupcake Charlies near the historic cobble and brick Thames Street for an incredible treat! My favorite is the Hostess Cupcake (just like the original!). Check out http://www.cupcakecharlies.com/ for hours and directions.

Summer Vacation Ideas : Hersheypark

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What is better than taking a family vacation that has both chocolate treats and roller coasters? If you ask my kids, nothing! I vacationed to Hersheypark as a child. Now, as a Mom, I have planned 3 road trip vacations to include Hershey Park, and have planned another one for this summer!

Hersheypark  is located right near Harrisburg, PA, the capital of Pennsylvania. We have included Hershey Park on road trips from New Jersey, New York City, Rhode Island and Hilton Head, SC! It is a fun and nostalgic amusement park, for both young and older children, with characters, tours, shows,  a variety of amusement rides, and, of course, lots of Hershey chocolate!

Here are some tips for families considering  a road trip to Hershey Park:

Book “Sweet” Accommodations. Being located so close to Harrisburg (approx. 15 minutes), we were able to find many chain hotels for our vacation stay there very easily online. We usually vacation with our small dog, so needed to find a hotel that allowed dogs. We have stayed at the Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel and Marriot Residence Inn Harrisburg Hershey. Both were good family accommodations with pools and kitchenette, and allowed our dog to stay for a fee. This summer, we will be leaving our dog at home and trying out one of Hershey Park’s own resorts (which does not allow pets)- The Hershey Lodge . (There are also two other Hershey Properties – Hotel Hershey and Hershey’s Campground.)

Learn a Little Bit of History.  Hershey Park Is not only fun and games, add a little history lesson on your vacation! Take a trolley ride through the town of “Hershey” to learn how is all began by a man name Milton Hershey! The trolley tour provides a fun way to teach the history, sample the Hershey brand chocolates and sing a little tune, all while riding in a comfortable trolley! (The trolley tours are available at Chocolate World). I would recommend this activity for your first visit to Hershey. (Tip: for children that enjoy to read, pick up Who was Milton Hershey by James Buckley for a book to read on the drive up!) 

Visit Chocolate World. Chocolate World is located right near the entrance of Hershey Park. It offers a variety of programs and events, including a 4D movie, a behind the scenes look at the history of chocolate making, a fabulous souvenir and chocolate shop, trolley tour through the town of Hershey, chocolate tasting, and a variety of other activities (all activities, except the behind the scenes history tour, require a fee.) Visit http://www.hersheys.com/chocolateworld/explore for more information!

Be Amused by the Rides! One of the characteristics I like about the rides at Hershey Park is that the kiddie rides are mixed in with the larger amusement rides. So, if you are traveling with another family who has smaller children, or your own children have an age gap, you can stay together in the park and ride the rides. At the entrance of the park, you can have your child officially measured by park staff to receive a bracelet to confirm their height. Each ride is categorized by a candy for its height regulations. A “Jolly Rancher” is the highest level and a “Hershey’s Miniature” is the smallest.  Visit http://www.hersheypark.com/things-to-do/just-for-you/index.php to find out which candy your kids are!

More to see than Roller Coasters. Hersheypark also offers ZooAmerica and The Boardwalk at Hersheypark (a water amusement park). Both attractions are included in your Hersheypark entrance ticket. Since we have always included Hersheypark within a road trip, we have never been to ZooAmerica or The Boardwalk but have added it to our next visit to Hersheypark!  Visit http://www.hersheypark.com/things-to-do/zooamerica.php or http://www.hersheypark.com/rides/search.php?ride_type[]=2 for more information.

Plan a preview night. Hersheypark offers ticket holder a preview to the park 2.5 hours prior to close the day before you plan to visit. This is a great chance to ride the larger rides that usually have long lines!

Look for Discounts!  We have received ticket discounts from local Giant Foodchains and also picked up coupons at local Dunkin’ Donuts. AAA and hotels also offer discounted park tickets. Every saved dollar counts!

Suggested trip schedule: 

Day 1: Travel to Harrisburg or hotel location. Visit Chocolate World for trolley tour, 4D Movie, history of chocolate making and shopping. Grab lunch at Chocolate World. Check into hotel, swim in pool, dinner and “preview” Hersheypark 2.5 hours prior to close.

Day 2: Spend the whole day at Hersheypark.

Day 3: Visit The Boardwalk and/or ZooAmerica for the 1st half of the day and then Hersheypark after dinner.

Day 4: Travel Day

Visit HersheyPark.com for more information regarding tickets, events, hours and accommodations! 

Please note these opinions and suggestions are my own and I was not reimbursed by Hersheypark to write this blog post. I will update my blog once we vacation there again this summer! Have a “sweet” vacation!

Create a Family Vacation Map

What a great way to track vacation memories… Create a family vacation map!

About 14 years ago, I gave my husband a present for his birthday and never thought we would still be using it! I purchased him a map of the United States, had it professionally framed it and bought colored push pins. I hung it in his home office and, as we began to travel together, we would add pins to the map, a different color for each of us.

Once we had children, we would continue to take even more vacations and my husband also began traveling weekly for work.  We added 2 more colored pins for our children and continued adding new pins to our new vacation, business, and family events travel destinations.

It continues to be one of my cherished family traditions. As we plan our next vacations, we look at the map to see what states we still need to visit (as you can see from my picture above, we need to take a northwestern road trip soon … which is on my husband’s wish list!)

I hope this will inspire my blog followers to  start their our family vacation map tradition! Have fun!

Another vacation tradition:  In our family, we also started an ornament tradition when my husband and I got married. We purchase a Christmas ornament on every vacation as a memory that can be revisited every Christmas when we trim our tree!

Also,  it can be a creative idea for Father’s Day gifts!

Summer Vacation Ideas : Adventure in New Hampshire

Vacationing in New Hampshire is exciting in every New England season! Our family’s favorite NH vacations have been both in the winter months to ski and seeking outdoor adventure in the summer months. Once my children outgrew Storyland and Santa’s Village, we developed a new summer adventure list with recommendations from friends and research we did online. Continue reading to learn about exciting  new adventures for your family’s summer vacation … Destination North Conway, New Hampshire!

Adventure Parks – Many of New Hampshire’s ski resorts transform into mountain adventure parks during the summer months. The adventure parks offer a wide variety of outdoor skills and thrills to achieve, such as ropes courses, trampoline jumping, mountain coasters, ziplining and many more exciting adventures! Our family skis in the winter and plays in the summer at Cranmore Mountain. Cranmore has activities for varying ages and a great transition away from the younger aged themed amusement parks. Visit http://cranmore.com to learn more and to start planning your mountain adventure today! Other mountains that also offer summer activities include Attitash and Loon. They have been added to our vacation to-do list!

Nature Adventures – An amazing and natural adventure activity is an afternoon spent at Diana’s Bath. Diana’s Bath is a hidden gem that offers fresh water swimming in streams and waterfalls and hiking on rocks and paths. Don’t forget water shoes, towels, bathing suits and snacks. Enjoy a picnic with amazing views and nature sounds! Take a hike up Mount Washington! Hiking to the top may not be an option (our family of 4 and small dog only made it about 1/3 of the way up), take your time, enjoy the fresh air and beautiful nature views. Each year, try and climb a little higher. For those that may not enjoy the hike, but want to take in the breathtaking views, take the ride to the top of Mount Washington in your vehicle on the Auto Road.  Visit http://mtwashingtonautoroad.com or https://www.mountwashington.org/visit-us/getting-and-staying-here/  and http://northconwaynh.com/dianas-baths/ for more information.

A Rainy Day Activity – It’s raining out, now what? Call Kahuna Laguna Indoor Water Park to see if they have day passes available. A fun way to splash around inside while it’s raining outside. Kahuna Laguna is an indoor water park that has water slides, splash pools, a lazy river and a wave pool. Food, lockers, and showers are also available. Visit http://www.kahunalaguna.com for more information.

Evening Activities – Take a ride to Settler’s Green Outlets for special evening events in the summer months. Our family has enjoyed Movies on the Green. Enjoy stars in the sky while watching a movie on a big outdoor screen. Lawn chairs are available, but just in case, pack your own chairs, snacks and bug spray! Visit http://www.settlersgreen.com/calendar/20/314-Movies-on-the-Green for movies and dates. After dinner, enjoy a delicious ice cream treat at Lickety Splitz right up the road! Lickety Splitz also has a great playground for the kids to enjoy !

Dining Recommendations – Some local restaurants where we have had pleasant experiences and were family friendly (and some were even pet-friendly on their dining patio)include : Muddy Moose http://muddymoose.com Flatbreads Co. http://www.flatbreadcompany.com Black Cap Grille http://www.blackcapgrille.com Peaches http://peachesnorthconway.com/mobile/index.html Chef’s Bistro http://chefsbistronh.com

Hotel Recommendations – We have rented houses and condos in the past, but lately we have been staying at the following two family friendly hotels and have had great experiences. Both have indoors pools and/or water slides, are pet friendly and offer free breakfast : Hampton Inn and Suites and Residence Inn by Marriott. Visit http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pwmcw-residence-inn-north-conway/ or http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/new-hampshire/hampton-inn-and-suites-north-conway-NOCNHHX/index.html

Note: This information is only my opinion and based on my personal experiences. I was not reimbursed to write these recommendations and reviews. 

Summer Vacation Ideas: Glamping (yes, that’s fancy camping!)

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Our glamping vacation last summer was added to my list of favorite family vacations because it was not like any other trip we had ever experienced!

Over the next few months,  I will share family road trips, day trips and vacations that we have taken that may inspire you to plan a new memory for your own family this summer!

My daughter has been a Girl Scout for 7 years. She has always loved the camping events more than any other activities they participated in. Now, me on the other hand, I have never actual been “camping”. The closest I came was about 15 years ago, while sleeping in a cabin tent (a tarp tent on a wooden deck) while chaperoning a white water rafting trip with teenagers. Although a fun experience, I just knew it wasn’t something that I would want to plan again in the future. Fast forward 15 years,  my daughter had been asking me to plan a family camping trip. I decided to meet her half way with her request and began researching RV rentals (something that was on my vacation wish list). My quick research turned out to require more planning than we had time for, including renting an RV, reserving campsites, pet policies, etc. My husband’s summer vacation was approaching and I needed a vacation plan. His friend just happen to mention if we considered “glamping” as alternative option. What is glamping you ask? And this is where my blog post begins…

Glamping… Yes, that’s fancy camping! It is having the ability to experience what family camping has to offer, while still experiencing the comforts of home (or a hotel!) …running water, electricity, and bathrooms! Some camping enthusiasts may say that we didn’t really go “camping” and my response is, I know that we didn’t to camping, we went “glamping” and I am completely fine with that!

I literally googled ” glamping” in my surrounding living area and found local campgrounds within a 4-hour driving radius. I researched housing options available : on site RV rentals, cabin rentals, and YURT rentals (Year-round Universal Recreational Tent). I was not ready for popping up my own tent! The winning vacation destination was a YURT rental at a family campground only 45 minutes from our home. As close as we were, it seemed like we were far away in the woods as can be.

What  is a YURT? A YURT is a year-round universal recreational tent. Our YURT had a full bathroom, electricity, a small kitchen, including a microwave and 2 stove top burners, and refrigerator. It had a queen bed, 2 pull out futon chairs and a pull out sofa, a flat screen tv, gas fireplace, and even fans! It was the most unique living arrangements I had ever slept in! This particular YURT had a wrap around deck and patio furniture, picnic table, fire pit, and grill. Besides our clothes, the only items we needed to bring were food, linens, towels, fishing gear and bikes.

What to look for in a Glamping Campground? Our campground was a standard campground, that just happened to offer glamping housing options (3 YURTs and 4 cabins). The rest of the campground offered hookups for RV’s and tents. It offered many amenities such as pools, a fishing pond, bike trails, soccer fields, disc golf, playgrounds, dog park, softball fields, basketball courts, yoga classes, hiking trails, cafeteria dining, ice cream and sandwich shop, planned family activities, such as basketball competitions, kid olympics and scavenger hunts, a game room, bocce court, and a general store.

Other tips:

• Booking Your Stay – The 4 finalists for our glamping adventure all required a 7-night minimum stay for the housing rentals. Since it was a new experience, I was looking to stay for only 3-4 nights. Most campsites advised us to check in with Reservations 2 weeks prior to our desired vacation time and we may be able to rent the YURTs or cabins for shorter time periods. We called 2 weeks prior and were able to book our YURT for 4 nights over the 4th of July holiday weekend, which was perfect.
• Local Events – Research your campground’s surrounding area for other local activities and events. We just happen to be located near Gillette Stadium (Home of the New England Patriots). Due to the 4th of July weekend, there were many family events planned including a 5k Finish at the Fifty Yard Line race that my husband ran in and fireworks in the evening. All an added bonus to a fun-filled weekend. Other than our visit to Gillette, we never left the campground, there were so many things to occupy us. As for food, since we lived so close to the campground, we packed a cooler before our arrival and cooked on the grill or visited their sandwich shop. I packed deli meats, hamburgers and hotdogs, pre-made dips and salads, breakfast foods, snacks and bottled water (and adult beverages too!).
• Outdoor Fun –  I am not a camper (yet!), but you can make your glamping experience as outdoors-y as you would like. We did not allow any electronics (such as iPads, TV’s, video games or laptops to be used, only phones for weather, map and phones calls, if needed). You can bring a tent and set it up outside of your cabin or YURT. Pack sleeping bags for bedding instead of standard linens. Don’t forget your s’mores supplies for the fire pit (or just visit the campground’s general store). We also brought our bikes for fun and it ended up being an easy way to travel throughout the campground.
• Read Reviews – We relied on online reviews when we were finalizing our campground options, such as YELP. They gave additional information, such as suggested items to bring, when to visit, pet policies, etc.

Our glamping vacation was truly a fun-filled family experience, one that I am sure we will plan again. There are many campgrounds that offer glamping all throughout the United States. We just happen to find one in our backyard (well, 45 minutes away)!

Happy Glamping!

Note: This blog is my own opinion and I was not reimbursed by the campground we visited. If you live in the New England area and want to experience the campground we visited, visit http://www.normandyfarms.com/ .