Landmarks to Visit
Outdoor Movie Theater in Pinecrest: Fun For All Ages
Watching a movie under the stars is always a novel experience, and it should be on every family’s summer bucket list. When you add in a lake-front setting and some concessions, it’s even harder to top. That’s what the Pinecrest Outdoor Movie Theater has to offer in Stanislaus County, California. Pinecrest Movie Theater in a Campground We discovered the Pinecrest movie theater when we were camping at Pinecrest Lake. This outdoor movie theater plays the latest box office hits several nights a week from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and on select weekends through September. Although the outdoor theater is in the campground, it is open to the public. In…
Walking Through Stars Hollow: An Exclusive Event for Gilmore Girls Fans
If you’re anything like me, you probably fell in love with the town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, while watching Gilmore Girls. Grabbing a coffee at Luke’s Diner, strolling past Doose’s Market, and wandering through the town square–it all seemed magical. Especially since having grown up in San Diego, the idea of of small town like Stars Hollow truly sounded magical. And I am thrilled to have experienced this magical fictional town, even if for only a few hours. On occasion during the holiday season, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood transforms its iconic Midwest Street backlot into the town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, creating a limited-time, immersive experience that feels like…
Hoopii Falls Trail in Kauai: A Hike for the Whole Family
Two waterfalls, cliffs to jump from, a rope swing… what more could you ask for? Oh, how about also being a location from a famous scene in Jurassic Park? It’s no wonder the Hoopii Falls trail in Kauai was one of my family’s favorite things we did on our family vacation in Kauai. And it definitely makes my list of the 6 most kid-friendly hikes in Kauai. The Hoopii Falls trail in Kauai is a pretty flat 1.8-mile out-and-back hike that takes you to two different waterfalls. Knowing this would be a pretty short hike, we set out to do it between breakfast and lunch, only bringing some snacks. But…
June Lake Skiing at June Mountain, CA
June Lake is an adorable mountain town not far from the ever-popular Mammoth Mountain. It’s one of my favorite California lakes to camp at. I’ve written about camping at Oh Ridge Campground in June Lake before, but June Lake also has a ton to offer in the winter months like June Lake skiing at June Mountain. I grew up going to June Lake during my childhood, although we never once went skiing. We just never did as a family. So when I got older and wanted to go snowboarding, I never even thought about June Lake. I’d hit up the ski resorts in Big Bear, and when I had the…
Explore Pioneertown: A Wild West Adventure Near Joshua Tree
Did you know that there is an adorable old-timey town just outside of Joshua Tree? Pioneertown Joshua Tree is located in Yucca Valley, just a stone’s throw from the national park and is an easy drive from Palm Springs. From Joshua Tree, it’s about a 20-minute drive to Pioneertown and from Palm Desert, it’s about 50 minutes. When I first heard about this little town, I couldn’t wait to bust out my best wild wild west clothing and head on over for some cute photo ops, delicious food and a Wild West gun fight. What is Pioneertown Joshua Tree? Pioneertown is a 1880’s themed town that was designed as a…
Chichen Itza Tours: Cruise Excursion
If you book at Mexico or Western Caribbean, there is a decent chance you will also be able to book one of the Chichen Itza tours as a shore excursion. But if you’re like me, sometimes the number of shore excursions can be overwhelming. I’m never sure which to pick or if I even want to book an excursion. When we went to Progreso, Mexico, however, I knew I wanted to take the opportunity to visit Chichen Itza. We had been to a few different popular Mayan ruins sites in the past, but Chichen Itza was one place we still hadn’t visited. Chichen Itza is the most famous, and therefore…
Dia de Los Muertos San Diego Celebrations
My kids attend a Spanish immersion school where they receive instruction in Spanish every day and learn about the Mexican culture. Because of this, they have always had a big appreciation for Dia de los Muertos and the traditions that come with this holiday. We’re lucky to live in such a diverse city, and whether you live in San Diego or are just visiting, you can find amazing, family-friendly Dia de Los Muertos San Diego celebrations to enjoy throughout the county. Fiesta de Reyes, Old Town, Oct. 1 – Nov. 2 Old Town is one of my favorite San Diego destinations, especially this time of year. The Dia de Los…
4th Grade National Parks Pass: Free!
Did you know that there’s such thing as a 4th grade national parks pass that all 4th grade students can get for free? It’s true! As part of the Every Kid Outdoors initiative, all 4th grade students get a free national park pass that’s good for the entire year–including through the end of summer! The pass is valid through Aug. 31 each year. How Do I Get My Free Pass? It’s easy! All you have to do is visit the EveryKidOutdoors website and click a couple of buttons. Then print out the pass. That’s it. It only took me about 20 seconds to get. How Does it Work? This pass…
Flagstaff Lava Tube: Plan Your Visit
A few years back, my sister and I decided to take our families to Flagstaff for Spring Break so that we could see the Grand Canyon. We rented a house in Flagstaff that would fit everyone, and on our first night there, I posted a picture. Somebody on Facebook replied and told me that we had to go see the Flagstaff Lava Tube while we were in the area, and I am so glad they did. Even though the Grand Canyon is absolutely amazing, I think going to this lava tube was truly the highlight of our trip. Since then, anytime anyone we know is in the area, I always…
A Perfect 3-Day New York City Itinerary
A New York City Travel Itinerary for Any Kind of Traveler I first visited New York City when I was 22 years old. I instantly fell in love. And I wouldn’t want my life to turn out any differently than it has, but part of me wishes I had left home and gone to college there. Because, man, what a great city it is to experience when you’re young, wild and free. But no matter what phase of life you’re in, a trip to New York City will be a memorable one. It’s truly a bucket-list travel destination. Planning a trip to the Big Apple can feel overwhelming—there’s just so…
