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
I can’t believe it’s been a year since we started planning and six months since we returned. I’ve started this blog post probably 25 times, and just haven’t been able to adequately put into words the experiences of this past summer. But now I’m feeling pressure to get it written down before the memories start … Read more
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GrabAWetOnes #CollectiveBias Winter is here and that means it’s time for the dreaded cold and flu bugs to start making their rounds. Our family often travels during the winter months, and that brings with it a greater risk of … 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
So often when we travel we feel like we barely have time to scratch the surface of the “main tourist attractions” of whatever city we happen to be visiting. One of my favorite things to do when traveling is to get off that tourist trap path and explore smaller, lesser known parts of a city … 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
11 weeks, 77 days, 1848 hours. At the beginning of June, my family and I embarked on a journey of a lifetime. As luck would have it, a unique situation at work- timed perfectly with the end of the school year, allowed our family to truly use the world as our classroom for the summer. … Read more
AH…my hometown. I will always be a San Diego girl at heart no matter where the world takes me. I love this city. It has changed so much in the years since I left, grown up a ton. There are so many fun things to do in San Diego…so many great neighborhoods, restaurants, shops, sights…it’s … Read more
Salt Lake City feels a little like a second home to me. I attended college a bit down the road from here, and this was the city I really “grew up” in. I became an adult learning how to navigate life on my own in Utah, had my first baby there, and spent the first few … Read more
I thought I’d try something new here and see what you all think. I frequently get questions via text from friends and email from readers asking for my favorites. They are visiting a city and want to know my recommendations for where to go, what to see, places to stay, things to eat…etc. Travel is … Read more
If you’re headed to Southern California this summer, I have an activity to add to your itinerary. 😉 I grew up going to the Del Mar Fair (now re-named the San Diego County Fair…ugh) and it is always a favorite summer activity for me. I love the fair for the pictures, sights, sounds and smells, and … Read more
Granville Island Vancouver was a fun spot to visit last time we were in Canada. It reminded a little of Seaport Village in San Diego and Pike’s Place Market in Seattle. You know I love a good market! 😉 We lucked out and it was a beautiful day, so we had incredible views of the … Read more
Victoria, BC: This beautiful, sleepy island is home to a true Canadian landmark, The Fairmont Empress Hotel. I visited here when I was a child, and had memories of walking into the grand building and eating at its fancy restaurant. When we planned a tour of British Colombia for a family vacation, I couldn’t imagine … Read more
With the world’s attention focused on Arizona today on Super Bowl Sunday, I thought that would be a perfect excuse to highlight “The Grand Canyon State” as our February vacation spot. There’s a reason most of the MLB teams have their Spring Training facilities here, and that’s because February and March are the perfect times … Read more
So excited to share this third installment of 48 hours in San Francisco. Hopefully my last two posts about where to stay, the best way to get around town, and day one itinerary have you excited for your trip! If you just stumbled upon this and haven’t seen those posts, you can find the post … Read more
I love the feeling of waking up in a big city! It makes me feel like there are endless possibilities and adventures ahead. If you’ve been wondering what to do in San Francisco, look no further! Saturdays in the city are tons of fun! Hopefully you had an easy trip in and started the trip off … Read more
This suburban girl LOVES the city. I’m sure if you’ve been following me for a while now, you know that I can’t get enough of a big city. New York has my heart, but I also love any excuse to sneak up to San Francisco. There are SO many fun shops, restaurants and things to … Read more
On our trip to the Pacific Northwest earlier this year, we spent a few days in Vancouver Canada. What a beautiful city! It reminded me of a nice mix of San Francisco and New York. Our first night in town we were looking for a place to eat dinner. We have a strict rule when … 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
