I like nice restaurants as much as the next guy, but sometimes when you are traveling…especially with kids and a family, you just want some good cheap street food or a hearty meal that is delicious and doesn’t break the bank. Eating in Venice on a budget can be a bit of a challenge since … Read more
If you are thinking about a family trip to Venice, Italy this year, look no further for a fabulous hotel. The JW Marriott Venice Italy located on Isola delle Rose Venezia is amazing! Venice can be a hot and crowded place to visit during the summer, and I’ve heard many people say that it wasn’t … Read more
If you are traveling to London you will, with out a doubt, need to familiarize yourself with public transportation while visiting. Using the tube is the easiest and most cost effective way to get around the city. The endless system of trains, the Underground and buses make it simple to get all over Central London … Read more
A small city with personality to spare, New Orleans is a lively city full of more food, history, music and culture than most cities many times it’s size. There is so much to New Orleans beyond Bourbon Street. Visit New Orleans and spend a few days here wandering the streets of the French Quarter, exploring … Read more
Over Labor Day weekend we decided to make a last minute family trip to the town of Jackson, WY. I had been to Jackson Hole, Wyoming many, many years ago as a kid when my family passed through on their way to Yellowstone National Park, but I didn’t remember much, and the rest of my … Read more
As a little girl growing up in Southern California, the Matterhorn was always a symbol of Disneyland to me. I would see it standing tall on the side of Interstate 5 and it seemed to tower above everything else. As I’ve gotten older and buildings have gotten taller, it’s a little harder to spot the … Read more
I have always loved the movie The Holiday. Have you seen it? It’s on repeat at our house throughout Christmas. 😉 The idea of spending the holidays in a cozy little thatched roof cottage in the Cotswolds is so appealing! On a recent trip to Italy we found flights that made it cheaper to stop … Read more
When we decided to visit Salzburg, Austria during our summer in Europe, (a Sound of Music Tour was a must for us!) we knew we wanted to stay right in the heart of the old city center. (affiliate links are included in this post) We spent some time researching the best family hotels in Salzburg. … Read more
This fall John and I had the chance to sneak away for a few days in New York City…as many of you know, it’s one of my favorite places on the planet, and fall is my favorite time there. We are fortunate to visit often, so now, rather than trying to hit all the touristy … Read more
If you love eating, drinking, and wandering stalls full of food and produce of every kind, then you do not want to miss Borough Market when you are visiting London. This amazing food market by London Bridge has been around for centuries. You can walk and eat your way through history at the same time. … Read more
Visiting Venice in August can be described in two words: hot and crowded. On a recent trip to Italy, knowing that the temperatures were going to be in the triple digits with high humidity, we opted to stay off of the main island and have a very different Venice experience at San Clemente Palace Kempinski. … Read more
We travel a lot. It’s our passion, hobby, and many times, a necessity for work. Splitting time between OC and Salt Lake now has me on the road more than ever. I sat down to add it up the other day and realized that I had been gone for 162 days of the last year. … Read more
If you’ve been visiting the blog for awhile, you know we love to travel. Homeschooling the kids really allowed us to be a lot more flexible and travel in the off-season. When John has a work trip, we are able to tag along, which allows us to see much more of the country each year. … Read more
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…Halloween at Disneyland! 🙂 Disney has definitely done a fantastic job of turning October into an even more magical time at the Happiest Place on Earth. Are you considering taking a trip to Disneyland in October? If you’ve never seen Disneyland decorated for Halloween, it is a must. … Read more
If you are considering a trip to Jackson, Wyoming, hopefully you’ve read all about our favorite things to do in Jackson Hole, and Chuckwagon dinner show is on your list of things to do. After researching the options for the best chuckwagon dinner in Jackson, Wyoming before our recent trip, I settled on reservations for … Read more
If you are heading to Southern California and looking for beautiful, family friendly resorts in San Diego, look no further. The Omni La Costa Golf Resort and Spa offers something for everyone in the family. Golf, a beautiful spa, Kid’s Club, water slides…the list goes on. Both John and I grew up in San Diego, … Read more
Here’s an interesting fact for you: The Eiffel Tower attracts more visitors than any other paid tourist attraction in the world. So, needless to say, when you plan to visit Paris, it is incredibly important to be well aware of different Eiffel Tower tips and tricks for visiting the Eiffel Tower and getting Eiffel Tower … Read more
When you are planning a family trip to London you must put a Tower of London visit on your list of things to do. For centuries, families have lived and worked in this famous fortress — Royal families, guards, servants, even prisoners. The Tower of London is a must see. Wondering what to see at the … Read more
We already know it’s the most important meal of the day, but Breakfast served with a side of an ocean view isn’t just good for your body, it’s good for your soul. Here are what we consider to be the 4 best brunch spots at the beach in Orange County where you can grab some … Read more
It’s no secret that I love New York City. Every chance I get I am sneaking away to the city that never sleeps. I have always wanted to be in New York City at Christmas and last Christmas we had the chance to travel to New York City with kids and spend 10 days in … Read more
I get asked all the time where to eat, shop and play in Orange County when people come to town, so I thought it was about time that I do some posts about the place I love so much. Now that I am splitting time between SLC and OC, when I’m gone I REALLY miss … Read more
If you are really looking for the ultimate Italian experience, you must visit Tuscany. This rural and beautiful region is full of rolling hills dotted with stunning, living medieval towns. When we traveled to Europe for our three month excursion, we knew one thing we really wanted was the quintessential Italian experience…to stay in a Tuscan … Read more
I’ve been getting many emails lately asking for a Rome Travel Guide, so I think it’s about time I write a little about our adventures in Rome and some Rome Travel Tips. It’s no secret I love Italy. Give me a few days off to vacation and I would rather spend it there than really … Read more
Traveling to Italy is definitely something to add to your bucket list if you haven’t already visited. For those that have been, you know it is a magical place full of delicious food, ancient cities and stunning countryside. I often get the question, where should we stay in Italy? While I am always a fan … Read more
Happy Monday! (or is there such a thing 😉 lol!) . This past several weeks has been a whirlwind, and this weekend was no exception. I hopped on a flight Friday morning to Chicago to meet up with some talented bloggers for a pow-wow. While it was a super quick trip, it was also packed … Read more
Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start. I don’t know about you all, but when The Sound of Music airs on TV, we love to watch together as a family. I grew up on it, and chances are you did too. Even some of our parents did. And now I … Read more
Exploring Dublin, Ireland is a true delight! Dublin is a wonderful urban destination that is quickly growing in popularity among tourists visiting Europe. We had the pleasure of visiting Dublin, and I must say, it has to be one of the happiest, friendliest places on the planet! The people were so warm and welcoming. We … Read more
Perched atop a beautiful bluff in Dana Point, CA, overlooking the glistening Pacific Ocean, the Monarch Beach Resort offers families looking for the perfect Southern California getaway a wonderful experience. I may be partial to Orange County, considering it is home, but let me tell you, after traveling the world, it really doesn’t get much … Read more
What a week! So much has happened at the Utah house, I’m actually headed back up there today because there are so many decisions to be made. All of this back and forth, leaving my kiddos and hubby behind are starting to wear on all of us I think. This weekend my sweet husband surprised … Read more
I feel so fortunate to work with some of the best companies on the planet, and HomeGoods is definitely one of them. Back in 2012, HomeGoods ran a contest on Facebook for fans of their page. I, of course, being a huge HomeGoods fan couldn’t help but enter…the prize was a $250 gift card! Visions … Read more
You may have heard me mention it here before a time or two ;), but I am a So Cal girl through and through. I was born and raised in San Diego and then transplanted to south Orange County 20 years ago when I got married and started my own family. I remember the day … Read more
Dare I say…travel is back? Could it be? I decided it was about time to dust off the travel archives and write a travel post. This has been the strangest 15+ months. I have never been so grounded. While there are parts of being a home body I have definitely enjoyed, the wanderlust has been … Read more
January is always a great time for cleaning, organizing, reflection and goal setting. Having a slower month to focus on getting life in order for the new year is something I have really come to appreciate. I’m excited to kick off a new year of blog hops with an organizational post. As I thought about … Read more
There is no better time to travel than fall. Near perfect temperatures, reduced crowds and travel deals are just a few of the reasons to book a trip in September and October. John and I put off celebrating our anniversary which falls in the heat of the summer, and instead opted for a celebration in … Read more
If you have never had the opportunity to visit one or more of the National Parks, here is my formal invitation to make Zion National Park a vacation destination in the near future. Living in Southern California my whole life and traveling back and forth between CA and Utah for school, St. George was always … Read more
Cinque Terre quite literally means “five lands” in Italian. Dotted along the Italian coastline these pretty little centuries old fishing villages have become a super popular tourist destination over the last several years. Each of the Cinque Terre villages has it’s own charm, and each boasts colorful cliffside houses, steep rugged terraced land and quaint … Read more
Finding hotels in London with family rooms can be a challenge. Last time we were in town we were there long enough we decided to check out luxury vacation rentals in London, but on a recent stop in town for a few days, we decided to just find a hotel for the four of us. … Read more
We have been traveling to Phoenix for years for a fun desert getaway. A quick drive from our home in Orange County and home to many of our extended family, we usually find ourselves there several times a year. Over spring break this year John was fortunate to have a conference at the Arizona Biltmore … Read more
Visions of Amsterdam canal houses and bicycles were running through my head when we set out planning to visit Amsterdam. I knew that I wanted to stay on a canal, in a traditional house, but beyond that, I didn’t know anything about where to start looking or where exactly in the city was best to … Read more
When I think of Notting Hill, I think of a teeny bookshop nestled on a busy street full of white townhouses with colorful doors. I also can’t get “Ain’t no Sunshine” out of my head. Needless to say, when we were planning our list of things to do in London, Notting Hill was a must … Read more
If there is one thing that’s a must when in London, it is having some sort of afternoon tea experience. Tea time and London are so inextricably linked, I do not believe you can truly experience London without participating in this cultural tradition. Tea at the Orangery at Kensington Palace is one of these amazing … Read more
You’ve seen it in just about every skyline image of London, the huge ferris wheel towering 443 ft in the sky over Big Ben, the London Eye. Before we left for London I read up on tings to see and do in London and this was definitely on the list. There were many different … Read more
When we were planning our trip it seemed natural to start in London. We figured we would have some culture shock, maybe a bit of homesickness at some point, and to be honest, we were a little bit scared when we left, simply because we had never attempted anything of this magnitude before and we … Read more
Ah, the City of Lights. There are so many great places to visit in Paris that you can visit there multiple times and still not see everything. Climbing to the top of the Eiffel Tower for breathtaking views of this magical city is undoubtedly one of life’s greatest thrills, a must do for anyone visiting … Read more
These days, it is nearly impossible to get through a day without making a call, checking email, or posting to social media accounts. If you are planning a trip overseas, you may find that staying connected is more difficult and expensive than you expected, right at a time when you need to be relying heavily … Read more
Traveling through continental Europe by train is easy, convenient and reasonably priced. If you are thinking about taking a trip and seeing more than one city or country, it is definitely an option you want to look at. When coming from the United States it’s not necessarily the first mode of transportation we think of, … Read more
When we traveled to London recently for an extended period, John and I debated what to do for accommodations. If you have never traveled to Europe with your family, then be advised that it is rare to find a hotel room that will accommodate more than three people. While we were not opposed to booking … Read more