Throughout the holiday season, all of us seem to be in all the same places at all the same times as we prepare and celebrate during the holidays. Though this season is often magical and memorable, holiday crowds can leave me feeling utterly un-festive. Through our travels near and far, I’ve picked up a few…
Hello! It’s Allison from Tips for Family Trips. I’m straying from travel this month to share an idea that has made dinner easier for my busy family.
My family’s dinner will be delivered to our house tonight, and not by Pizza Hut. I participate in a dinner exchange with two other families where each of us cooks the same meal for all three families on one night each week. Wednesday is my night to cook. Friday is my family’s pizza night, and we often spend weekends traveling or with extended family. These days, I only cook on two nights each week.
Here are my tips for starting your own dinner exchange:
School started less than a month ago for my children, but Fall Break is already just around the corner! In Utah, Fall Break is scheduled for October 17-18, 2013 in many school districts, offering families a great opportunity to enjoy a long weekend getaway.
Fall is also one of the best times of the year to visit Utah’s national parks. Temperatures are cooler and colorful fall leaves make the parks even more beautiful, if that is possible. It only takes about four hours to drive to any of Utah’s national parks from Salt Lake City.
Utah is known as the Beehive State because when Mormon pioneers settled the state, they strived to emulate the industry and perseverance of the honey bee. The state was originally named Deseret, which means “honey bee.” When Brigham Young pulled his wagon over the hill and declared “This is the right place,” he was probably not thinking about family entertainment. Over 160 years later, however, The Beehive State is one of the best places to find high-quality, family destinations.
Here are my top 10 family activities in Utah (that you can only find in the Beehive State):
Carlsbad, California is a family-friendly beach town located about 35 miles north of San Diego. Many families know it as the home of LEGOLAND California Resort. However, Carlsbad has lots of other fun activities too, making it worthwhile to make Carlsbad the base for your next Southern California vacation.
Here are five favorite family things to do in Carlsbad, California:
LEGOLAND California Resort was a slam dunk for my kids, ages 8 and 6. Its roller coasters, playgrounds and shows are perfect for kids their age. Teens and adults may find the rides tame, but anyone with any interest in LEGOS will likely get a kick out of the LEGO structures throughout the park. Don’t miss Miniland, where famous cities, the worlds of Star Wars, and busts of famous historical figures have been recreated entirely in LEGOS.
Are you ready to escape the summer heat? Try a ski resort. Ski resorts are not just for winter fun. Many resorts have transformed themselves into year-round destinations. Here are five reasons why ski resorts are great places to visit during the summer…
1. Cooler temperatures
When temperatures reach triple-digits in the summer, that’s typically my cue to retreat indoors, which is a shame on an otherwise beautiful, sunny day. In the summer, ski resort temperatures are more likely to top out in the 80’s (F), which is just about right for me. The mountains are also a great place to escape summer smog.
Family travel doesn’t get any better than in the national parks. National parks are the best places to see our nation’s most spectacular scenery and best cultural destinations. National parks offer activities for all ages. National parks are also an incredible bargain. Admission to most parks is $25 per vehicle (or less) for seven days.
The U.S. National Parks are also the home of the Junior Ranger Program, which has been a lot of fun for our family. My children have collected Junior Ranger badges from a dozen national parks, national monuments and national historic sites in several states. We have also found a few state parks that offer their own junior ranger programs.
Hi. I’m Allison Laypath and I am delighted to be a new contributor to Or So She Says… I write the family travel blog Tips for Family Trips, where I share my favorite destinations and my best tips for successful family travel. My family is passionate about travel and we believe that travel makes families…