When I started researching our 10 day trip in Alaska, I realized that spending time in Seward was a must-do for many reasons. Among other things, it is home to Kenai Fjords National Park, glaciers, and abundant marine life. Seward is about two and a half hours from Anchorage by car, but you would want to make time for stops along the way. It’s also a busy cruise port during the summer season. Whether you travel to Seward by the Alaska Railroad, bus, or car, you’ll enjoy beautiful scenery along the way. After arriving by train, our first view of Resurrection Bay and the snow-covered mountains gave us pause to stop and take it all in. We spent 3 days exploring Seward, which gave us a chance to enjoy activities like a wildlife cruise and kayaking during the day and the local restaurant scene at night. The jaw-dropping scenery on a Kenai Fjords National Park cruise is one of the top reasons to plan a visit to Seward.
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Alaska is a big place and certainly overwhelming when planning a first visit. When we started putting together our first, big empty-nester Alaska trip back in late 2019, I decided to reach out to Alaska Tour & Travel for assistance. It made sense to turn to a local company to put together our Alaska vacation package given the vast size of the state. The trip was all mapped out by January 2020, before travel came to a screeching halt. Fast forward to August 2022, and we finally got to take our Alaska trip. It was an amazing 10-day adventure that began and ended in Anchorage and included Seward, Kenai Fjords National Park, and Talkeetna in Southcentral, Alaska, and Denali National Park in the Interior region. I am confident this trip will be the first of several to see more of Alaska.
If I’ve learned one thing about visiting America’s National Parks, it’s that each park truly offers something unique. California’s Joshua Tree National Park, home to two different desert ecosystems, the Colorado and the Mojave, is no exception. Our recent California trip to visit family gave us the opportunity to explore the park’s roughly 800,000 acres. So what’s special and what’s there to do in Joshua Tree? Experiences at the park span scenic drives, hiking and rock climbing to stargazing, ranger-guided tours at historic Keys Ranch, and unique flora and fauna. Read on to learn about our favorite Joshua Tree hikes, a two day plan for exploring the park, and tips you’ll want to save if you are planning a visit.
*This post was updated March, 2023
I don’t know about you, but as the weather turns cooler, I often feel this mad rush to get active outside! Now more than ever people are discovering the simple joy of spending time in nature. One easy way to get outdoors without traveling far from home is to head to your local state park. In Virginia, we are lucky to have 41 diverse parks scattered throughout the state. In the past year and a half alone, we have discovered natural wonders, waterfalls, bald eagles, and hidden places on the water. Plus we love that Virginia State Parks are both super family and dog-friendly, with many easy, accessible trails. Read on to discover 3 Virginia State Parks in particular that we think are worth exploring--Natural Bridge, Shenandoah River, and Mason Neck State Parks. Plus find ideas for other fun things to do near each park. And while you travel around the state keep a lookout for all the unique LOVEWorks, like the one above we found at Natural Bridge State Park.
Head to Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary For a Unique Kayaking Adventure9/3/2021
Did you know there is a place less than an hour from Washington, DC where you can kayak through history? Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary in Charles County, Maryland gives you the chance to glide among the ‘Ghost Fleet’ — the remains of over 100 wooden steamships built as part of a massive World War I American shipbuilding effort. Even more amazing is the amount of life that this unique ecosystem now supports. Besides an abundance of marine life, common bird sightings include bald eagles, herons, ospreys, and cormorants. Not to mention the sanctuary is home to islands of vegetation woven into the skeletons of the sunken boats. Kayaking here will bring you up close and personal with both a piece of America’s history and the natural world. Here’s what you need to know before you spend the day kayaking and exploring at Mallows Bay in Maryland. May to September is the recommended time for this exciting outdoor adventure in the DC area, but of course it’s all weather dependent.
Have you ever heard of the New River Gorge National River in West Virginia? Don’t let the name fool you, the New River is considered to be the second oldest river in the world. The area was recently redesignated, and New River Gorge National Park and Preserve became America’s 63rd national park. We recently spent a few days exploring this expansive, outdoor area and came away impressed by the scenic views and variety of activities. Like most of our national park visits, there was much to see and do, and not enough hours in the day. Besides the scenic mountains, the area offers multiple levels of hiking and mountain biking trails, white water rafting, rock climbing, fishing, and a thrilling opportunity on the New River Gorge Bridge Walk. As a bonus, the park has no entrance fees! Keep reading to find things to do at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, plus a few tips to know before you go.
Welcome 2021! Like so many, we are yearning to get out and safely explore after staying at home and distancing for months on end. While there are still many travel restrictions in place at this time, it’s never too early to start planning for a future getaway. As a family, we have found that vacationing with tweens and teens opens up opportunities to include more adventurous activities and visit places better suited for older kids. These four adventure activities are sure to add some lasting memories to your next vacation. The first one still makes me smile thinking of the look on my son’s face watching a curious young manatee check us out! Each activity is paired with a vacation destination or can be part of a family road trip. Of course, be sure to review destination and attraction websites for any travel restrictions and updated business hours.
Are you searching for a fun place for outdoor adventure, scenic views, and great food? Then add the mountain town of Roanoke, Virginia to your list. Over the years we’ve driven up and down Interstate 81 at least a dozen times, stopping in Roanoke for an occasional meal or a quick visit to the unique Black Dog Salvage. We recently had the chance to throw our bicycles in the car and spend a few days exploring this outdoor playground in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. With a population of just under 100,000, Roanoke has received dozens of accolades over the years like Top Adventure Town and in 2022, included in the Best Mountain Towns in the United States. Once you take in the view from the top of McAfee Knob or one of the many other trails, you’ll understand why. From hiking and biking to a thriving food scene, here’s our suggestions of ways to enjoy Roanoke’s outdoor playground along with a few restaurants we discovered during our recent visit.
*This post was updated August, 2022
Every year at the end of August, my husband looks forward to a week of outdoor adventure with the guys backpacking in the wilderness. Whether they are hiking parts of the popular Pacific Crest Trail, or heading to the Cascades, the backdrop is the spectacular scenery found in the Pacific Northwest. This year, the original plan to backpack for several nights near Buck Creek Pass in the Central Cascades fell through just a few weeks out. With a non-refundable airline ticket in hand, the silver lining was that it gave my husband a chance to spend more time with extended family and take a series of 4 interesting day hikes around the Seattle area. I recently had a chance to sit down with him to learn more about what he enjoyed about each of the hikes. He also shared some helpful tips along with a few photos. Keep in mind that he is an experienced hiker and backpacker, so some of these hikes may not be suitable for beginners. And always check the weather, especially with winter coming, and understand that conditions can deteriorate rapidly, especially at higher elevations.
*This post was updated August, 2022
Growing up on the east coast, I always considered myself lucky that the ocean was just a few hours away. Like many families in the Mid-Atlantic area, our yearly ritual was taking a beach vacation to nearby Delaware, so it was easy for me to assume that the best water vacations had to be near the ocean. Then I found myself reading more and more about the many scenic lakes scattered throughout the USA. When this blog post was originally published back in 2015, I had been inspired by an article that highlighted some of the beautiful beaches on the Great Lakes. While we still haven’t taken that Great Lakes beach to beach road trip yet, over the years we’ve had the chance to explore a few other lakes. Here’s five places to consider for a summer lake vacation, including a few accessible by car from the DC area, and some that are still on my USA travel bucket list!
*This post was originally published in April, 2015; updated May, 2022 |