Family Vacation Ideas in Phoenix!

Family Vacation in Phoenix ~ Hot Summer Deals! (she: Allison)

Byallison l.

Hi! It’s Allison from Tips for Family Trips. I’m excited to be back at Or So She Says to share my tips for getting a fantastic deal on a family-friendly luxury resort this summer.

Budget travelers know that the off-season is the best time to score deals at resorts that might be financially out of reach at other times of the year. It’s always the off-season somewhere, and during the busy summer travel season, that somewhere is Phoenix, Arizona.

favorite posts round up

Favorite Family Vacation Posts ~ A Grateful Farewell (she: Allison)

Byallison l.

Happy November from Allison at Tips for Family Trips! This is my last post for Or So She Says, and as we sail into the Thanksgiving home stretch, I feel especially grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to work with Mariel and rub shoulders with all of the fantastic contributors at Or So She Says in the past 18 months.

Today I’m sharing a favorite post round up that I’ve written for Or So She Says and a few posts from my family travel blog.

Utah's Haunted Hotels | Or So She Says...
|

Haunted Hotels of Utah, Good for a Getaway (she: Allison)

Byallison l.

Hotels of a certain age nearly always have a ghost story, and this is the time of year when staying in a “haunted” hotel is especially fun. I have stayed in a few “haunted” hotels because I love their historic character. However, I don’t like to be scared, so I am relieved to report that I have never had a paranormal experience in a haunted hotel.

Here are three haunted hotels of Utah that would be great choices for a romantic getaway during the Halloween season – or any time of year!

http://www.skiutah.com/passes/passports
|

Save Money in New York City- 5 Tips for Families (she: Allison)

Byallison l.

Hi, it’s Allison from Tips for Family Trips! Last summer, I finally(!) visited New York City for the first time to celebrate my 40th birthday. It was a family vacation and we wanted to do it right, so we planned obsessively to find the best attractions, hotels and transportation for a price we could afford.
New York City is expensive, but it’s an exciting and truly American city that most of us want to see at least once. My family had a wonderful trip and we’d love to return. Hopefully it won’t take me another 40 years!
If you’ve been to New York City, I hope you’ll share your own favorite places and money-saving tips in the comments!

Adirondack Park
|

Adirondack Park for Families (she: Allison)

Byallison l.

Happy August from Allison at Tips for Family Trips! I know that many of us are getting into the back-to-school groove, but I can’t let the summer slip away without sharing one more top vacation destination – Adirondack Park in New York.
August is one of the best times to visit the Adirondacks because temperatures are cool and comfortable, while the park’s many lakes are just right for swimming and canoeing. If you love colorful autumn leaves, then fall in the Adirondacks is unbeatable.

Lake Placid, a two-time Olympic host city, is located in the Adirondacks, and my family had the opportunity to visit this lovely town last June. Here are some of the fun activities we recommend in Adirondack Park.

http://www.skiutah.com/passes/passports
| |

Tips for Visiting Utah’s Dinosaurland in Vernal (she: Allison)

Byallison l.

Hey there! It’s Allison from Tips for Family Trips and today I’m sharing my tips for visiting one of Utah’s most under-rated vacation destinations – Vernal. The Vernal area is Utah’s Dinosaurland, and if you haven’t been there lately, you might be surprised to find how much the area has grown and how many fun activities there are. Vernal is located about three hours’ drive from Salt Lake City, so for us, this was an easy weekend getaway.
Here are our recommendations for a fun weekend visit to Dinosaurland in Vernal:

Oregon Coast for Families

The Oregon Coast is a No-Fail Family Vacation (she: Allison)

Byallison l.

It’s Allison from Tips for Family Trips! Today I am excited to share a destination to which my family could return every summer – the Oregon Coast. The Oregon Coast is a beautiful place to cool off and unwind, and there are lots of fun and educational activities for all ages. You can rent a beach house and use it as a base for your entire vacation or road trip down the coast, spending every night or two in a different beach town. I have done both.

Charming towns and beaches can be found along the entire Oregon Coast, but my experience is on the northern coast, which is a scenic, 2-hour drive from Portland. Most of my recommended cities are fairly close to each other, making it easy to choose a base and enjoy the activities in most of them.

Dinosaur Destinations
|

8 Dinosaur Destinations in Utah for Families (she: Allison)

Byallison l.

It’s Allison from Tips for Family Trips with another monthly dose of travel inspiration. Does anyone in your family love dinosaurs? If so, it’s hard to find a better place than Utah for dinosaur destinations.

Paleontologists recently discovered several new dinosaur species in Utah, and you can find out more about them in the May 2014 issue of National Geographic magazine. These new species, along with (really) old favorites, are on display in Utah museums. There are also plenty of places in Utah where you can still see evidence of ancient life in nature.

Here are my favorite Utah dinosaur destinations for families.

http://www.skiutah.com/passes/passports

10 Reasons to plan a Black Hills Vacation (she: Allison)

Byallison l.

Hi, it’s Allison from Tips for Family Trips with a fun summer road trip idea for families. We’ve been to Orlando, San Diego, Disneyland, the Oregon Coast and other fun destinations in recent years, but the trip that my children still rave about is our Black Hills vacation in South Dakota. It’s the road trip that rivals Disney World.

The Black Hills offers an unbeatable combination of fun family activities and natural beauty that are equally enjoyable for kids and adults. Here are my Top 10 family attractions in the Black Hills.

attractions for families at balboa state park

Top 10 attractions for families at Balboa Park in San Diego (she: Allison)

Byallison l.

It’s Allison again, and I’m here to share with you my family’s love of Balboa Park. It’s one of my family’s favorite destinations in San Diego. It is located near downtown San Diego and is the largest urban cultural park in the United States. It is home to 15 museums as well as performing arts venues, gardens, playgrounds and the San Diego Zoo.

If you’re planning a trip to San Diego, I recommend spending one full day at the zoo and another full day enjoying other attractions in Balboa Park. Here are my top 10 attractions for families at Balboa Park.

family reunion planning
|

Jump Start Your Family Reunion Planning (she: Allison)

Byallison l.

Hello! It’s Allison from Tips for Family Trips. I believe that travel makes families stronger, smarter and happier, and there is no better way to strengthen families than through family reunions. If it has been a few years since your family has come together, this can be the year to make it happen!

A family reunion can be as simple as a picnic in the park with your parents, siblings and their children (heaven knows that just getting that group together can be hard enough), or a multi-day vacation that includes second and third cousins. Whatever works for your family is the right way.

If you want to plan a reunion for this summer, now is the time to start. Here are five steps to follow to help you with your family reunion planning:

Clearwater Beach

Vacation Inspiration: Clearwater Beach in Florida (she: Allison)

Byallison l.

Happy New Year! It’s great to be back at Or So She Says, writing about favorite travel destinations and ideas. This is the time of year when I dream about beach vacations. So today I’m spotlighting one of the best family beach destinations in the United States – Clearwater, Florida.

Clearwater is a fun and family-friendly beach town located on Florida’s gulf coast. It is a short drive from the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg, and about two hours away from Orlando.