Category Archives: Travel

Horsing Around at Drakesbad Guest Ranch

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Sunset at Drakesbad Guest Ranch, Lassen Volcanic National ParkLast week during our northern California trip to Shasta Cascade area, we stayed in cabins, camped in tents, slept in a loft next to a river, hiked to mountain tops and deep valleys, explored caves, kayaked rivers, and had close encounters with birds and bats. There were tons of first time experiences and opportunities for adventure, but the best part of the trip was horseback riding at Drakesbad Guest Ranch. Athena rode on horses before but I have a feeling this is the one that she’ll remember.  Continue reading →

Going with the Flow at Tsasdi Resort

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Tsasdi Resort, Lake Shasta, CaliforniaWe arrived at Tsasdi Resort in Lakehead, California with high hopes of exploring nearby waterfalls, lakes, and caves. There’s so much to experience in the Lake Shasta area and I never want to miss an opportunity to see or do something new. Once we checked in, though, we completely changed our outlook. Staying at the resort and utilizing the dock was the best way to spend the entire afternoon. We could easily go with the flow and avoid a schedule completely.  Continue reading →

5 Bucket List Worthy Things You Have to Do in New York City

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New York City, New York, USA
You have probably overpaid for some craft cocktail, been late waiting for some train on an A/C-less platform, and perhaps stepped on a few hundred roaches. However, whether you have months or a few days to explore New York City, there is no way you will be able to conquer even half of it even with your entire credit-card debt, permanent insomnia, and stolen moments of subway sleep.  From participating in early-morning karaoke to exploring the Statue of Liberty, here are five things you should absolutely include in your NYC tour bucket list. Continue reading →

Getting Away at Strawhouse Resorts

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Strawhouse Resorts, Big Flat, CaliforniaI struggle with balance. Staying away from social media sometimes seems impossible. I say that I’m going to put my phone away or avoid using the Internet, but it’s an addiction. I like to plan a trip away from it all every couple months so I can get back to what’s really important – quality time with Athena. We spent a night at Strawhouse Resorts in Big Flats, California and with no WiFi, phone service, or even television, we had time to share some great moments together.  Continue reading →

A Warm Welcome at Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding, California

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Visit California Welcome CenterAthena and I have been exploring new areas of California every other month in the last year thanks to Visit California. Yesterday, we arrived in Redding, California and we had a hot, hot, hot day exploring the family-friendly activities in the area. We spent the better part of the day at Turtle Bay Exploration Park. There was way more to do there than I expected and Athena loved a surprise that waited for us in the animal section.  Continue reading →

A Bucket List Day at Knott’s Berry Farm

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Knott's Berry Farm roller coasterWe’ve been to Knott’s Berry Farm a number of times now, but we always fight traffic to drive up on the weekend and deal with lines and crowds. It stresses us rather than creating an amazing day with lasting memories. We wanted to experience Knott’s in a bucket list way with minimal guests in the park, minimal hassle to get there, and maximum fun all around. We planned the perfect Knott’s day including an over night stay at Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel, dining at the best restaurants, and a visit during the slowest day of the week, Monday. It paid off tenfold and we had the best day at Knott’s Berry Farm yet.  Continue reading →

Legoland Water Park the Bucket List Way

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Legoland Water Park, California, USA

Legoland is our favorite park in California. We love the staff, the rides, the food, and the hotel, but we never make enough time for the water park. With so much to experience in one day, I usually feel like we need to choose between spending the whole day at the water park or the whole day in the main section. Last week, though, we found the perfect balance between the main park and the water park. Here’s how we explored Legoland Water Park the bucket list way.  Continue reading →

Sunset at Hilton Hawaiian Village

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Sunset at Hilton Hawaiian Village, Oahu

Hilton Hawaiian Village is one of my favorite properties in the world. When I was trying to decide my ultimate vacation spot for Thanksgiving, it topped the list. There are so many things about it that make it one of my favorite destinations including the endless array of activities, the amenities, the dining, and the views, but the sunsets are so truly magical that they make the flight worth it themselves.  Continue reading →

SNUBA with Catalina Scuba Luv

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Catalina Scuba LuvI love being under water. There is beauty and grace. The fish. The kelp. They flow in an elegant rhythm. After swimming with whales, sharks, dolphins, manta rays, sting rays, and dozens of species of fish, I still haven’t been dive certified. It’s high on my list, but I need more practice using the regulator and I still feel a sense of claustrophobia or panic. It’s like I can’t breathe, but I know it’s all in my head. I went to Catalina last weekend to try SNUBA with Catalina Scuba Luv. I wanted to suppress the fear and maybe overcome it. After years of panicking and still trying, I finally found my comfort zone under the water.  Continue reading →

Escape Room Options in Montreal

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Escape rooms in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Have you ever been to an escape room before? They’ve become very popular in Montreal and I wanted to see what all the hype was about. I checked out two different escape room companies in Montreal to test my deductive skills and problem solving capabilities. With less than an hour in each room, come along for the journey to see if I escaped and what I thought of both experiences.  Continue reading →