Vacationing in Key West Florida brings to mind warm sunshine, palm trees swaying in the tropical breeze, delicious seafood and a fun local atmosphere. But with a fascinating history dating back to Civil War times, and the reputation as one of America’s most haunted cities, there is another side of Key West unknown to many…
How would you spend 24 hours in Chicago? Most people would say it depends on the season. I recently had the chance to visit on my way to a family wedding in nearby Indiana, and with sunny skies and perfect temperatures, had an amazing day in the city. What’s not to love about Chicago in…
(Updated February, 2026) So many things to do – it’s a tough decision to have to make when you visit Philadelphia. I’ve written several posts about Philly, including 24 Hours in Philadelphia, but every time I go, I discover something new to share. Visitors to the city are overwhelmed just trying to cover some…
Of all the cities we have visited as a family, I have to say that I was most excited when we planned our Pacific Northwest vacation. Maybe it was the allure of traveling to a part of the US that I had never been. The city has so much to offer, with a number…
San Francisco is an awesome city for so many reasons. Not only does the city offer unique opportunities such as riding on cable cars and walking across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, there are plenty of nearby places you can visit in a day trip. We spent several days in San Francisco during a California road…
Looking for a fun place to spend the day with teenagers in the DC metro area? Head to the National Aquarium in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. It’s a great day trip from the DC area, and it was the perfect activity for us to do over spring break, since we hadn’t been to the aquarium in…
Recently I had the chance to spend a long weekend in beautiful, southern California. It was a whirlwind trip for a family wedding, and the timing couldn’t have been better. Spending a few days in the warm California sun after shoveling mounds of snow during the January blizzard was the perfect family getaway. Unlike most…
One thing I love about the US is that you can find unique cities from coast to coast. Each has its own charm, ranging from history, museums and local foods, to unique parks and playgrounds. Our family road trips have always included spending time in cities big and small combined with visiting attractions and…
Everyone loves to start the New Year with a resolution, so this year I decided mine would be to work harder to keep in touch with extended family. When I saw that the weather was looking perfect the first weekend in January, my daughter and I decided to make a quick road trip to visit…
When this post was originally published almost 10 years ago, the National Park Service was getting ready to celebrate their 100th birthday, and kicking off the Find Your Park initiative. The campaign was not only about national parks, but “state parks, local parks, trails, museums, historic sites and the many ways that the American public can…