Destinations & Memories

Unsure if you should bring your kids on a trip to Muir Woods in Marin, California? Worry no more. Muir Woods is a fantastic place to visit with your entire family. Full of the tallest living creatures known to man, prepare for a day of easy hikes, learning opportunities and great photo ops. Still...

For some parents, taking your kids to Disneyland is a childhood goal. You can’t wait to see their faces light up as they approach their favorite characters. Or ride their first dark ride. Or watch fireworks light up the night sky. For others, Disneyland is a crowded and expensive venue in the middle of...

Maybe it’s a remnant of COVID era lockdowns. Maybe the beautiful and inspiring views of nature are enough to get you out of the house. Whatever the reason, hiking has become a significant family pastime and the national parks are a great destination. California’s newest national park, Pinnacles National Park, offers varied and interesting...

The weather was starting to warm up and Little Bro was slightly less inclined to scream at us during a long car ride which meant… time to hit the road and do some hiking! Derek needed to pick up his Military Lifetime America the Beautiful Pass (thank you, US Army) and I wanted to...

Have you heard about SeaQuest? I hadn’t, myself, until recently when my mother-in-law requested a trip out to Folsom. “Doesn’t this look awesome?” she asked… and I had to admit, it totally did. Sort of like an aquarium, but with an interactive component, SeaQuest allows kids (and adults) to actually feed the animals on...

I was on the hunt for a hot tub and a view. With spring break fast approaching, we had decided on a coastal getaway. I had decided on a hot tub with a view. A relaxing coastal getaway in The Sea Ranch fit the bill nicely. The Sea Ranch is a small coastal community...

Watching snow falling is a magical experience. Derek and I have a fair amount of snow experience (less than some, more than others) after living in Missouri for a couple of years. Big Bro was introduced to snow around his first birthday, however it involved a quick walk and some hastily snapped pictures after...

We had to promise Big Bro we were going to see something “fun and cool” in order to get him out of the house. Isn’t that how it always goes when there is an actual activity planned? Do you need to stay in to hastily get some laundry done the day prior to work?...

I was anxious to sit on the back deck. We had finally made it to begin our stay in Moss Landing. And, as often happens in a new place, it was taking way longer than normal to get the boys to sleep. Fighting over sleeping arrangements ensued with the older two before Little Sis...

The “Sweetheart City” and the “Gateway to the Rockies,” Loveland is the perfect launching pad for any adventures you have planned in Northern Colorado. Less than hour from the state capital of Denver as well as the beautiful town of Estes Park, it is easy to see a variety of what Colorado has to...