Have you heard of the word “glamping?” It’s a term often used to describe camping with a few luxury amenities to go along with the traditional tent camping experience. While my husband would never turn down the opportunity to go backpacking in the wilderness, I’m more inclined to enjoy the great outdoors with a comfortable bed and pillow to lay down on at the end of the day. After reading about different glamping setups around the country, I’ve been eager to try it for myself. So when one of my lifelong friends rented an entire campground to celebrate a milestone birthday, I was excited! Gold River Camp in Marion, North Carolina, offered the chance for a unique stay while exploring the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains in Western North Carolina, just about 40 miles from Asheville.
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Do you always stay in a hotel when you take a vacation? Certainly the ease of booking, liberal cancellation policies, full amenities, and on-site dining are all great reasons to go this route. Over the years traveling as a family, we’ve had wonderful experiences in hotels of all shapes and sizes, including the Grand Beach Hotel Surfside in Florida with its rooftop pool, the spacious suites at the Magic Castle Hotel in Los Angeles (who can forget all the free snacks and drinks!), and the quaint Motel Del Rogue perched on a river in Oregon. But with a family of five, as the kids got older we quickly outgrew most hotel suites. That’s when we began searching for vacation home rentals and condominiums, through sites like VRBO and Airbnb. I remember nervously booking a cabin in the mountains of Tennessee, worried that I was sending money to a random stranger and there would be no recourse. Fast forward to 2022, and we now have quite a few vacation rental experiences under our belt. So whether it’s a long weekend or long vacation, here’s a few reasons to consider a vacation home rental, plus some things to know before you book.
If you are a dog owner, you probably are familiar with that look—the sad eyes when your dog sees your suitcase and waits patiently to see if you are going to invite them to go along. Our 10 year old dog Hallie goes on many day trips and hiking adventures with us, so she’s always hopeful when she sees a suitcase. And once or twice a year her wish comes true when we take her with us on an overnight adventure. Recently, we decided to combine a visit to see family with a stay at the dog-friendly Lazy L at Willow Creek in Lewes, Delaware. Just a few hours from the DC area, the Lazy L at Willow Creek is truly a hidden gem near the popular beach towns of Lewes and Rehoboth Beach. This was our third visit, and I’m already thinking about a return in the spring. If you are looking for a dog-friendly bed and breakfast not far from the DC area, or just a relaxing weekend getaway in Delaware, read on to see why we love the Lazy L at Willow Creek. Plus find a few things that we've learned from traveling with our dog.
*This post was updated August, 2022 
I love exploring new places whenever I get the chance, so when the opportunity presented itself to explore the beautiful city of Charleston, South Carolina for a quick trip, I took it. If you haven’t visited Charleston, it’s one of those places filled with colorful historic homes, palmetto trees and waterfront views. There’s an almost endless selection of ways to explore the historic downtown area, several nearby family-friendly beaches, and enough restaurants for eating your way around town. Definitely too much to see and do in a short visit, but here’s some of colorful photos from my weekend in the Charleston area. I hope you get inspired to plan a trip to this historic and beautiful slice of the south.
*Updated September, 2023  Hawaii has always been on my travel bucket list. But with a family of five and the long distance from the DC area, there were many reasons to put off the trip. Several months ago, I realized that time for our family vacations together was dwindling, so my husband and I made the decision that this was going to be the summer of Hawaii! As I began searching for accommodations in late March, I quickly realized how popular Maui is during the summer, particularly near the 4th of July. To make it more difficult, many of the more affordable, larger accommodations were already booked. So I was excited when I came across Kihei Sands Condominiums, and now that we have returned from our trip, I have to say that it made for the perfect first vacation to Maui.
*This post was updated October, 2022 
Tucked in the middle of the Florida Keys on Duck Key, you’ll find the family-friendly Hawks Cay Resort. It was the perfect spot for our family to relax for four nights on the second half of our Florida Keys vacation. What makes this resort so special? How about 5 pools, a saltwater lagoon, access to water sports, walking/bike paths, and daily activities, along with the popular Dolphin Connection program. Here’s what you need to know to have a great stay at Hawks Cay, especially with older teens.
 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 the summer? In our case, it was a girls trip, and my daughter, sister and I had enough time to enjoy deep dish pizza, the skyline reflected in “the Bean,” and spectacular views from several unique vantage points. Follow along as I recap 24 hours in Chicago through pictures.
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