utah activities
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Top 10 family activities in Utah (she: Allison)

Byallison l.

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):

October is Kids Free Month in San Diego! (she: Kimberly)
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October is Kids Free Month in San Diego! (she: Kimberly)

ByKimberly w/Get Away Today

San Diego is one of my all-time favorite vacation destinations with so much to offer year round. I normally visit at least once a year and have visited San Diego during each of the four seasons. I honestly don’t know that there’s a “best” time of year to visit if you’re looking at weather, crowds and seasonal events, BUT if you have kids, I have a secret that will probably affect when you decide to vacation in San Diego. OK, it’s not necessarily my secret. I would say it’s San Diego’s Best Kept Secret… Each October the best San Diego attractions join forces and offer free admission for kids – ALL MONTH LONG! When you consider your kids get in to most attractions free and your school aged kids have a Fall Break scheduled, October seems like the perfect time for a San Diego vacation.

Each of the top attractions have different rules and ages, so here’s what you need to know:

5 fun things to do in Carlsbad, California (she: Allison)

5 fun things to do in Carlsbad, California (she: Allison)

Byallison l.

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.

Finish Carpentry Ideas ~ Courtesy of My Husband!
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Finish Carpentry Ideas ~ Courtesy of My Husband!

ByMariel

It’s been a while since I bragged about my husband, so I figured it’s time. Plus, maybe you need some finish carpentry ideas? Maybe, maybe?? So, every year in Utah, there are home shows called The Parade of Homes where general contractors will showcase homes they build, with their best work. Dan just recently did the finish carpentry inside five of the Parade of Homes houses, so of course I had to go check them all out. I brought my camera along and thought it would be fun to share with you some of my favorite things that he built with his crew.

I won’t go through and blab about each one, so enjoy!

5 Reasons to Visit Ski Resorts in the Summer
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5 Reasons to Visit Ski Resorts in the Summer (she: Allison)

Byallison l.

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.

Christmas in July – Plan Your Disneyland Holiday Vacation Now! (she: Kimberly)
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Christmas in July – Plan Your Disneyland Holiday Vacation Now! (she: Kimberly)

ByKimberly w/Get Away Today

It’s hard to think of anything other than summer fun in the July heat, but winter will be here before you know it. At Get Away Today we’re already getting calls from families who know it’s never too early to start thinking about the holidays. If you’re toying with the idea of visiting Disneyland or surprising your family with a vacation this holiday season, NOW is the time to start planning. It’s no secret that one of my favorite destinations is Disneyland and I absolutely LOVE Disneyland over the holidays. In fact, I love it so much I’m in the process of planning my own family’s trip for December. Here are some of the whys and hows of getting your family’s holiday trip to Disneyland on the books today!

3 Reasons to love the Junior Ranger program (she: Allison)
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3 Reasons to love the Junior Ranger program (she: Allison)

Byallison l.

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.

Top 20 Things to Do at Disneyland When it's Crowded: 2016
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Top 20 Things To Do At Disneyland When It’s Crowded (she: Kimberly)

ByKimberly w/Get Away Today

Summertime is here and that means summer vacations are just around the corner! Disneyland is without a doubt one of the most popular summer vacation destinations. It’s true that summer time is known as a busy time for Disneyland, but that certainly doesn’t mean you should delay a trip because of it. There is so much to do at the Disneyland Resort – even during busy travel times. Of course, it’s nice to visit when crowds are low, but there are some perks to visiting during summer – extended hours and seasonal entertainment are just a couple.

Here is my top 20 list of favorite things to do at Disneyland, when it’s crowded. Oh, AND…did you hear how Disneyland raised their prices?? Well, I can still get you the old price for about one more week, plus save you a few more bucks! …come read the rest of the post!

Family Gathering Vacations – THE Travel Trend for 2013 (she: Kim)

Family Gathering Vacations – THE Travel Trend for 2013 (she: Kim)

ByKimberly w/Get Away Today

It’s hard to imagine, but summer is right around the corner. With the season, a lot of things come to mind, but let’s not forget the most important – family vacation! I firmly believe that the most fun way to strengthen a family is through vacationing together. Luckily, I’m not the only one who thinks so. In fact, one of the hottest travel trends of 2013 is what’s coming to be known as family gathering vacations.

When I say family gathering vacations, I’m not talking about traditional family reunions where you have over 100 people and can’t possibly connect with everyone—although those can be fun too. Family gathering vacations are right in between the extended family reunion and a standard family vacation, where just grandparents, their adult children and their kids (the grandchildren), or similar family groupings get together for an unforgettable vacation together.
My husband and I have been lucky enough to do a few of these vacations with both sides of our families and I can honestly say that everything is more fun with the ones you love – especially vacations! We have made so many memories that we simply wouldn’t have made otherwise. But, perfect family gatherings don’t just happen. Since Get Away Today is an expert on family vacations, I’ve compiled our best travel tips for planning a successful, stress-free family gathering vacation:

Finding the Right Cruise for You ~ My Best Tips! (she: Jen)

Finding the Right Cruise for You ~ My Best Tips! (she: Jen)

ByMariel

Hey everyone!! I just returned from an Extreme Western Caribbean Cruise and loved every minute of it. If you’re considering a cruise, go for it! Here are some of my favorite tips to find the right cruise line, destination, and most of all have the most fun as possible! Finding the right cruise for you:…