Tag: Travel

Adventures

All 50 by 40: West Virginia

A HOUSE WITH CHARACTER

My quest to visit all 50 states was hindered a bit by the antics of 2020. Like many people, I canceled several travel plans during that year. After a lot of careful consideration (and vaccination) my husband and I decided we were ready for a family adventure.

We flew into Washington, D.C. and decided on a day trip to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia for some hiking, exploration, and of course history lessons. Harpers Ferry National Historic Park sits on the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. Abolitionist John Brown was active there, and the area is full of historical facts.

Our daughters enjoyed going in and out of the old buildings. We hiked along the river at the foot of the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains. We saw a lot of turtles, too, which earned the area extra points with the girls.

I would love to come back to this area in the fall. I can imagine the beauty of the foliage then. To be honest, it just felt so good to explore a new place again.

The weather was gorgeous and crowds were light the day we were there. We took in a lot of history in Washington, D.C., too, but Harpers Ferry was definitely a highlight of the trip. That John Denver was right.

One state to go! I’m planning to cross off Michigan later this year, which will be two years ahead of schedule for this goal. Stay tuned for that.

The Updated List

Michigan (I have been to airports, but that doesn’t count)

Advertisement
Adventures

Disneyland

A HOUSE WITH CHARACTER

It has been almost a month since we boarded a plane for a few fun-filled days at Disneyland with my husband’s family. I was excited, and determined to have fun despite the inevitable monkey wrenches that traveling with two small kids can throw at a person. It was a success!

Disney 2019 (31)

This was my first time at Disneyland and I absolutely loved seeing my daughters’ reactions to all of the magic.

Disney 2019 (19)

Halloween is a great time to visit the park. My five-year-old braved the Haunted Mansion with her dad while I hung out with our two-year-old.

Disney 2019 (3)

We met Woody, Bo Peep, Mickey, Minnie, Moana, Milan, Cinderella, Elsa, Anna, Captain Hook, Goofy, Snow White, and Ariel.

Disney 2019 (44)

We spent time two days at Disneyland and one day at Disney California Adventure Park. We stayed at Disneyland’s Paradise Pier and loved it there.

Disney 2019 (37)

We kept our expectations fairly light, started each day early, and left the park by mid-afternoon to return to the resort for naps or pool time.

Disney 2019 (15)

I probably got just as excited as my daughters did to meet some of the characters. I have no shame.

Disney 2019 (8)

My two-year-old could’ve spent hours on the park carousel.

Disney 2019 (7)

Overall, it was an awesome trip. My legs were tired from the walking, but overall, I felt rested and rejuvenated after some amazing time with family.

Disney 2019 (10)

Until next time, Disneyland. We love you.

Disney 2019 (18)

 

Adventures

All 50 by 40: Alaska

A HOUSE WITH CHARACTER

Alaska is vast and stunning. Of course this was kind of a major one in my quest to see all 50 states. It did not disappoint.

Alaska 2019 (57)

Traveling with young children means a different pace, so we definitely didn’t do the level of exploring we might have if we were solo. Still, we enjoyed ourselves more with the girls along and it was fun discovering a new and beautiful place with them.

Alaska 2019 (69)

We had plans to take a small plane around the summit of Denali, but due to smoke from wildfires were unable to do that. The glacier cruise out of Whittier was a perfect way to spend a Sunday. The views were fantastic and the water was the bluest I have ever seen.

Alaska 2019 (99)

It reached record-high temperatures while we were there, hence my sleeveless shirt while cruising around glaciers.

Alaska 2019 (108)

We got up-close views of wildlife.

Alaska 2019 (65)

Of course I had to take in the food scene, which meant eating a lot of delicious seafood (halibut, salmon, and crab), as well as reindeer sausage.

Alaska 2019 (54)

Anchorage has no shortage of delicious bakeries. Macarons at Sweet Caribou were a fun treat to take to the park.

Alaska 2019 (82)

The cardamom buns at Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop were amazing.

Alaska 2019 (49)

We explored the adorable town of Talkeetna.

Alaska 2019 (74)

Here we shopped for a few souvenirs and I had the best blueberry ice cream ever.

Alaska 2019 (75)

The girls were interested in stopping at every playground they spotted from the rental car window.

Alaska 2019 (85)

They also couldn’t get enough of the hotel pool. Again, traveling with kids means taking time for the things that we as adults maybe don’t find as exciting. The reward is that the kids have a blast and we do a little more relaxing than we might have otherwise. (Like sitting in the grass eating a vanilla blackberry macaron.)

Alaska 2019 (84)

My husband did some halibut fishing while we were in Alaska and we shipped some delicious fish home to enjoy in the months to come. Alaska is a special place with so much to see and do. We definitely plan to return.

Alaska 2019 (64)

I only have two states left and I would love to hear your suggestions for places to go and things to see in Michigan and West Virginia. I’m looking at plans to cross at least one more off next year. Which will I choose?

The Updated List

Michigan (I have been to airports)

West Virginia

Adventures

Girls’ Weekend: Phoenix

A HOUSE WITH CHARACTER

I was aching for some time with my bestie, who lives far, far away, so when we had the idea to meet up in the desert for a weekend of relaxation, it seemed to be the perfect plan. Because her daughter and my oldest daughter have birthdays within two days of each other, it also seemed like a great idea to take them along to celebrate their seventh and fourth birthdays, respectfully. The weekend was divine.

July 2018 (6)

July 2018 (7)

July 2018 (23)

July 2018 (13)

July 2018 (17)

July 2018 (10)

Yes, it was Phoenix in July. Yes, it was more than 100 degrees out the entire time we were there, but since pool time was the number one item on the agenda, the heat was fine with us. We stayed at the Sheraton Grand Wild Horse Pass. The resort caters to families, but also has plenty for the adults, including great food and yummy margaritas. S’mores night was also a hit among all four of us.

July 2018 (29)

We took a jewelry-making class, a canvas-painting class, and a class on dream catchers, all included in our resort fee. Another major highlight for all four of us was movie night in the pool. The service was impeccable and every time we turned around the girls were being treated to free smoothies or a decadent slice of birthday cake. We dined at Ko’Sin several times and the chipotle beignets and quinoa breakfast bowl were absolutely stellar.

July 2018 (5)

July 2018 (28)

The best thing about the resort was that everything we needed to enjoy a relaxing and fun-filled weekend was right on-site. Aside from a morning at a local mall for a Build-a-Bear and ear-piercing outing, we stayed put and enjoyed everything the resort had to offer. The quality time and watching our daughters get to know one another was so special and I can’t wait to do it all again!

Adventures

All 50 by 40: Texas

A HOUSE WITH CHARACTER

My quest to visit all 50 states by the time I turn 40 has the self-imposed rule that airport layovers don’t count. This is why Texas remained on the to-visit list despite the fact that I have been to airports in various Texan cities several times. My husband and I decided to make this one a family trip and chose San Antonio for the history, River Walk, and abundance of kid-friendly activities.

IMG_1412

My three-year-old has flown several times and is a pro as well as a lover of all things vacation-related.

IMG_1272

This was my one-year-old’s first time flying and she didn’t take too kindly to it despite the happy photo below. I’m not giving up that easily, however.

IMG_1274

The grounds of the Alamo are beautiful and made for a great place for the girls to run around and experience some fresh air while my husband and I got our history fix.

IMG_1405

IMG_1404

We explored all five San Antonio Missions, which were fascinating.

IMG_1425

We stayed at The Hotel Contessa on San Antonio’s beautiful River Walk. I’m working on a separate post just about the hotel, which was elegant, yet kid-friendly. This was a great location close to shops, restaurants, and, of course, a pink horse-drawn carriage.

IMG_1366

The below photo pretty much sums up the highs and lows of traveling with small children. There are smiles, fun, happy memories, mixed with occasional inevitable meltdowns.

IMG_1372

IMG_1388

IMG_1387

IMG_1377

Sea World was a must and the whole family enjoyed our day spent there.

IMG_1321

IMG_1307

IMG_1309

The little one sampled the duck food. Gross.

IMG_1327

IMG_1346

San Antonio is somewhere we’ll definitely revisit in the future. We will also continue to take family vacations at least once a year, despite the hiccups that accompany traveling with small children. In the end, the memories of their laughter while splashing in the pool and watching them experience something new will always overshadow the screeching, spilled milk, and flights with a squirmy, nap-fighting one-year-old.

IMG_1390

IMG_1423

I have six states left to visit and tomorrow marks exactly five years to visit them all before age 40. I can’t wait to book my next trip!

The Updated List

Alaska

Arkansas

Michigan (I have been to airports)

Tennessee

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Adventures

Our Maui Top 10 List

A HOUSE WITH CHARACTER

When it comes to Maui, I probably would have been completely satisfied spending the week on the beach or poolside reading, but after that long plane ride it seemed only right to do a little exploring.

IMG_0587

My husband helped me come up with our 10 favorite experiences in Maui. Yes, three of them involve food. No judgment, please. Full disclosure: The list originally featured four food-related faves.

IMG_0502

10: Hike at ‘Iao Valley State Park. This hike is beautiful and since our bodies were still on Mountain Time and we were up before dawn, we had the trail all to ourselves.

IMG_0556

9: Fish tacos at The Fish Market, Lahaina. I had the most amazing grilled fish tacos served in a basket with macaroni salad. Casual. Quick. Divine.

8: Trivia night at The Pour House. For two nerds who haven’t missed an episode of Jeopardy since we started dating (even counting the nights our two daughters were born), we jumped at the opportunity to play trivia on the island. We ended up winning a $20 bar tab and were embarrassingly proud of our efforts.

7: Hawaiian sweet bread at The Banyan Tree. This stuff. I can’t even explain how delicious.

6: Pools at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua. We stayed at the villas near the Ritz-Carlton, but our villa had an agreement with them for guests to use the pool. There is a wonderful kids’ area our daughters would have adored, and an adults-only area where we could read in pure peace. The pools overlook the ocean, which is a plus.

5: Spa day and couples’ massage at The Grand Waleia. Our flight home didn’t leave until 9:30 p.m., which left us one last day to soak in some relaxation. This spa is absolutely amazing. We spent the afternoon in the sauna, steam room, and healing pools, then got a couples’ massage. The only thing left to do was have a glass of wine at the airport and completely zonk out for the long overnight flight home.

4: Twin Falls hike. The waterfalls on this hike are stunning exactly the kind of thing I imagined I’d see in Maui and they didn’t disappoint. I was also intrigued by the amazing flowers on this hike. Many were like nothing I had ever seen before.

IMG_0572

3: Sushi at Sansei. We are both sushi fans and agreed this was the best we’d ever had. The service was also excellent. Make a reservation. We tried to get a table our first night in Maui and had to make a reservation for the next night.

2: Whale watching with Ultimate Whale Watch. Our small boat made it easy to get close to the whales. We saw at least a dozen whales breaching, slapping the water, and even swimming right under our boat! We went on the 4 p.m. tour, which meant we caught a stunning Maui sunset during the ride. Our captain and the marine biologist onboard were knowledgeable and clearly very excited about their jobs.

IMG_0524

1: Helicopter ride with Sunshine Helicopters. I was a little apprehensive about getting on a helicopter for the first time, but just moments into the ride I experienced complete relaxation as we flew over the Maui countryside. This is truly the best way to see the island and worth every penny.

IMG_0562

 

Adventures

All 50 by 40: Hawaii

A HOUSE WITH CHARACTER

I just finished visiting my 43rd state on my quest to visit all 50 by age 40, and this last trip left me with one question: Why did I leave Hawaii until number 43?! Silly.

IMG_0500

My husband and I stayed on Maui. It was absolutely gorgeous. We chose not to island-hop on this trip because we really wanted to absorb as much of Maui as we could while still having time to relax.

IMG_0523

I am currently working on my Maui Top 10 list, which will definitely include whale watching and eating my weight in fish tacos.

IMG_0486

There was relaxing pool time.

IMG_0510

The Banyan Tree, which gets creepily loaded with noisy birds at sundown.

IMG_0516

Our beautiful resort made it difficult to come back to snowy South Dakota.

IMG_0584

Our beautiful resort made it difficult to come back to snowy South Dakota.

IMG_0576

The fantastic hiking trails were one of our favorite parts of the island, and, in my mind, an excuse to eat more fish tacos.

IMG_0566

I took my first helicopter tour. It was awesome!

IMG_0563

We left our three-year-old and eight-month-old daughters home with my very generous and caring parents. We missed them so much, but the time away was good for us. Thank you, dear friends, for reminding me of that, and squelching that mommy guilt before it had a chance to take hold.

IMG_0554

Stay tuned for my favorite parts of Maui. What state should I visit next? Here are the remaining seven.

The Updated List

Alaska

Arkansas

Michigan (I have been to airports)

Tennessee

Texas (I have been to airports)

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Adventures

All 50 by 40

A HOUSE WITH CHARACTER

I love traveling and lists, so it seemed only natural to set a goal of visiting all 50 states before I turn 40. I have a six short years left to visit the remainder of my list, which you’ll see below. I have detailed the rules, essentials, and list below. After hitting Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky later this month and Hawaii in January, seven states remain. If you have been to these states, what are your pointers? If you live in one of them, do you have a couch I can sleep on? (Kidding, not kidding).

Picture1

The Rules

I must set foot in each state for them to count.

Airports don’t count (sorry, Texas and Michigan)

Extra credit for eating local fare.

The Essentials

Enablers: These are the people who are willing to hop on a plane with me, stay home with the kids, or drive me five hours out of the way so I can cross Idaho off the list (my mom, husband, and bestie, respectively).

A plan: I have a full-time job, two kids, and have to stay within budget. Having a game-plan is important.

Willingness to explore the boring ones: People keep asking “why Ohio?” We’ll make it fun!

The List

Alaska

Arkansas

Hawaii (scheduled for January 2018)

Indiana (scheduled for August 2017)

Kentucky (scheduled for August 2017)

Michigan (I have been to airports)

Ohio (scheduled for August 2017)

Tennessee

Texas (I have been to airports)

West Virginia

Wisconsin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adventures

Omaha Children’s Museum and Henry Doorly Zoo

A HOUSE WITH CHARACTER

Last weekend when my husband drove eight hours to Omaha for a work conference, my daughters and I decided to join him. It seemed the perfect opportunity to have a little family vacation, if you can call road-tripping with a near-three-year-old and a six-week old a vacation.

1

The girls did great, and since my husband was only in the conference during the morning, we had plenty of family time. The two main highlights were the Omaha Children’s Museum and the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.

15

We actually ended up going to the museum, which was downtown and very close to our hotel, both mornings while my husband was in meetings.

14

It offered a lot of fun activities like a water table, a grocery store and dress-up area, and an entire room full of pneumatic tubes sucking in a spitting out plastic balls.

7

There was a room for treating injured dolls.

16

The carousel was my two-year-old’s favorite, and, I will confess, mine, too.

8

The zoo was hot and crowded, but also full of amazing exhibits. The elephants, zebras, penguins, and giraffes were favorites among our little family.

2

My younger daughter spent most of her vacation sacked out in her car seat or stroller, but, hey, whatever you do to relax.

5

My older daughter used any and every excuse to ride Daddy’s shoulders like here…

6

and here.

4

I love family vacations. It’s so rejuvenating and special to make memories with my children and husband, and get away from the distractions of home, even if it’s just a simple road trip this year. Cheers to summer!

9

Adventures

Beignets and Battleships: Mississippi and Alabama

A HOUSE WITH CHARACTER

I have been thinking about baby stuff so much lately I almost forgot to share the rest of the photos from our anniversary trip. We started the trip with one day and night in Mississippi and Alabama, mainly because I had never been to those states and I’m attempting to visit all 50.

Le Cafe’ Beignet is in a quirky old house full of southern charm. The made-to-order beignets are to die for. I had devoured most of mine before I remembered to take a picture of them. That’s how amazing they are.

biloxi

biloxi-beignets

And because we like to pack a little something educational in with our relaxation and gluttony, we visited the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile.

uss-alabama-9

The ship is docked in Mobile Bay, but visitors can walk right up on it and explore.

uss-alabama

Climbing the many decks was also a good way to work off all the shrimp and grits we had just consumed prior to visiting the ship.

uss-alabama-8

uss-alabama-4  uss-alabama-3

uss-alabama-7

uss-alabama-6

We really enjoyed weaving a little history lesson into our trip.