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Best National Parks For Kids
The Best National Parks to Visit with Kids: Nature’s Playground When it comes to travel, I truly don’t discriminate. You’ll find me sipping margaritas at an all-inclusive resort in Cancun or hiking in Grand Teton National Park. I love it all. We spent a lot of time over the past year visiting national parks with the whole family, which made me start thinking about which parks are the best national parks for kids. Exploring national parks with your kids is a fantastic way to create lifelong memories while introducing them to the beauty of the great outdoors. The U.S. is home to over 400 national park sites, each offering unique…
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Exploring Hurkey Creek Campground: A Family-Friendly Getaway
We wanted to try camping somewhere new over Memorial Day weekend. We looked at lots of fun options, but we knew we’d want some water near by to let the kids splash around in–especially knowing it could be hot. I came across the Hurkey Creek campground online, and it sounded like it was just what we were looking for. (P.S. Here are some other vacation ideas for Memorial Day weekend!) The Hurkey Creek campground is located in Mountain Center, CA–just across from the Lake Hemet campground and about 15 minutes away from Idyllwild. This is one of the best Riverside County Park campgrounds, in my opinion. Amenities at Hurkey Creek…
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Memorial Day Weekend Getaway Ideas
Memorial Day weekend always feels like the unofficial kickoff to summer. Pools reopen. Amusement parks fire up their roller coasters. Beach towns dust off their boardwalks. And suddenly, everyone is ready to get outside again. Even better, it’s a 3-day weekend, so it’s a great opportunity to travel. And I’ve got a lot of good vacation ideas for Memorial Day weekend. Whether you want thrill rides, mountain air, beach sunsets, or small-town charm, here are some creative and totally doable ideas for the long weekend. Last year, we spent the long weekend in Palm Springs–one of my favorite getaways when I want sunshine and relaxation. I love staying at one…
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Best Campgrounds in Yosemite Valley
Getting campsites in Yosemite Valley is so difficult, most people are happy with anything they can get. And understandably so because camping in Yosemite Valley is amazing no matter where you stay. You’ll find some of the best campgrounds in Northern California here. But if you want to have a shot at securing a campsite, you need to be totally prepared. That means knowing the best campgrounds in Yosemite so you know which campground you want to book your site at. Let me paint you a picture real quick: It’s 6:50 in the morning on February 15. You log into recreation.gov and you wait until 6:59 staring at a list…
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Yellowstone National Park Campgrounds
Yellowstone is one of those parks that you can spend a week in and still leave feeling like you didn’t have enough time in it. But when you choose to camp in Yellowstone, you can cut out some of the driving time and really spend your days exploring the park to its fullest. There are many Yellowstone National Park campgrounds to choose from, and each offers a unique charm and amenities. Yellowstone National Park campgrounds are very popular and should be booked far in advance to give you the best chance at securing a spot. Some of the campgrounds can be booked a year in advance. If camping isn’t your…
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Best Family Camping in Southern California (Beach, Mountain & Desert Sites)
I am constantly planning a family camping trip in Southern California. With everything from beachfront campgrounds to mountain retreats and desert adventures, this region offers some of the best camping experiences for families. And I am so lucky to call it home. My family loves to camp. I grew up camping (although we really only went to the beach or desert), and I knew it was something I would want to continue doing with my kiddos. Luckily here in San Diego, there are so many great family campgrounds and the weather allows us to get trips in all year long. The list below includes some of my favorite spots to…
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Bass Lake Camping Guide (2026): Best Campgrounds + Tips for Families
I know it feels like the winter will never end, but summer will be here before we know it. And now is the time to start thinking about all the fun summer camping destinations that need to be booked months in advance, from Lake Tahoe spots like Meeks Bay Campground to hidden mountain lakes. If Bass Lake camping is on your agenda, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s what to know about each of the Bass Lake campgrounds. We were supposed to be camping in a Mammoth Lakes campground last summer, and had even considered spots like June Lake’s Oh Ridge Campground. But due to the abundance of snowfall,…
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What To Do When Camping: Fun Camping Activities
The other day, I had someone ask me what I like to do when camping. I didn’t know how to respond at first. There was so much I could say. Part of what I love about camping is there isn’t anything I really have to do. The days tend to be long, and the pace tends to be slow. And I love that. The list of what to do when camping will fluctuate depending on where you go, who you are with and what time of year it is. But I have compiled this list of some of my favorite camping activities. Also, just to note, many family campgrounds have…
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Things to See in Joshua Tree: The Ultimate Guide to Iconic Sights & Can’t-Miss Experiences
A look at the best things to see and do in Joshua Tree National Park I don’t know what it is about a desert getaway, but I just love everything about it. The peace and quiet, the sunsets… heck, even the smell–I love it all. And Joshua Tree National Park sure has a way of stopping you in your tracks. Maybe it’s the otherworldly rock formations, the spiky silhouettes of the Joshua trees themselves, or the way the desert light seems to glow at sunrise and sunset. If you’re planning a visit and wondering about the best things to see in Joshua Tree, this guide covers the iconic sights inside…
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Easy Camping Desserts That Kids Go Crazy For
No camping trip is complete without s’mores. They’re easy, delicious, and not too messy (unless you buy the giant marshmallows–we’ve learned that lesson the hard way). But when you’re camping multiple nights, or you really want to pull out all the stops to wow your camping crew, these are some easy camping desserts to add to the rotation. My goal for this upcoming year of camping is to take better pictures of these amazing camping desserts. While we have tried (and loved) each of these, my pictures don’t do them justice. I have found better images online until I can replace all of them with my own. And, if you’re…
