A Relaxing Escape to Coronado: A Local Staycation Meets a Parent's Visit to San Diego

Whether you're a local looking for a coastal staycation or a visitor coming to San Diego, Coronado offers that perfect blend of laid-back charm and upscale relaxation. Nestled just across the bay from downtown, this sun-soaked area is full of walkable streets, great food, gorgeous sunsets, and just the right amount of luxury.
One of the best ways to experience Coronado is by staying at Loews Coronado Bay Resort, a serene property tucked away on its own private peninsula. It offers everything you need to park your car and forget it while still being just minutes away from all the action in downtown Coronado! I recently visited my daughter who has lived in the San Diego area for the past year, and I got a few tips from her on things to do in the area and I'm passing them on to you! So take notes and get ready for an incredible trip!

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Parents Weekend Prep Guide: Everything You Need to Know to Prepare for a Parents Weekend Visit

You might be a seasoned college parent like we are or maybe you're brand new to this phase of parenting, regardless, attending your child's college Parents Weekend is a bit of a milestone event. It's a chance for you to get to step into your student's world, get a peek at their day-to-day life, and reassure both of you that everyone is adjusting. It's also a great time to remind your boys to wash their sheets and towels more often and for the girls to beg for some shopping time...you know, for bonding and stuff! You'll be reminded of how expensive kids are and while you'll roll your eyes at the total as you stock them up on supplies, you'll be grateful for that little squeeze and quiet thank you.
But keeping it totally real, sometimes planning a visit to your child's college campus isn't always simple. Especially if you are like us, and are visiting from out of state. You'll need to navigate hotel bookings and campus schedules and try to manage emotions {yours and theirs}, and there's a lot to think about and keep in mind. After going through this many many times and talking with other parents in the same boat, I've gathered my best tips to help you prepare for a smooth and memorable Parent's Weekend experience.

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The Magic of Returning to the Same Vacation Spot: Why Seabrook, WA is Our Family's Home Away from Home

In a world where the allure of new destinations and experiences is ever-present, there is something profoundly special about returning to the same vacation spot year after year. For our family, that place is Seabrook, Washington-a charming beach town that has grown with us as we've created memories, shared laughter, and watched our children grow up against the backdrop of its picturesque landscapes. Seabrook has become more than just a vacation spot; it's a place that feels like home, filled with memories that span the years and generations. And while Seabrook might not be "your spot", I want to dig into why it's important to return to a vacation destination, wherever that may be, for your family! 

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Cultivating Wanderlust: Raising Kids That Love to Travel

When you have kids, one of the greatest gifts parents get to experience is the ability to see a new human discover and experience things for the first time. With travel, you often get that opportunity together! The world is brimming with all kinds of things just waiting to be discovered and explored and giving your children a love for travel can be one of the greatest gifts you can give them. Recently, as my husband and I wandered through a busy airport on a layover on our way home, we saw moms and dads with little ones strapped in front backs, holding hands of kids doing their best to carry their own tiny backpacks, and older ones in a line following behind rolling suitcases with earbuds in place. The thought of travel for a lot of parents can be daunting, but in the midst of all of those challenges, there is an opportunity to nurture a sense of curiosity, resilience, and open-mindedness in your kids that will change their lives. I'm hoping you'll read on so that you can discover how you can raise kids who not only tolerate travel but embrace it and make it their own. 

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Three Must Visit Islands Around Seattle

The Seattle area is surrounded by some of the most breathtaking islands, each offering a unique blend of natural beauty, culture, and adventure. Whether you're seeking a serene escape, outdoor exploration, or a cultural getaway, the islands of Camano, Vashon, and Whidbey all have their own distinct charms. They are each my favorite and all for very different reasons! I'm sure that you will see why and you'll be drawn to do your own exploration and discovery as well! Take some notes, and start jotting down all the reasons to explore a few of my favorite islands around Seattle!

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A Month-to-Month Guide to Making Family Memories

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it's easy to get caught up in routines and forget to prioritize quality time with our loved ones. However, building lasting memories as a family is essential for fostering strong connections and creating a sense of unity. This month-to-month guide is designed to inspire families to embark on a journey of intentional togetherness throughout the year, with each month offering unique opportunities for creating cherished moments. Feel free to change things up and add your own personal family flare to it!

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Day Hike Colchuck Lake Without A Permit

Nestled deep within the enchanting Wenatchee National forest in Washington State, just outside of the cutest little Bavarian town, you'll find the Colchuck Lake hike. You've probably seen images of this beautiful alpine lake hike and wanted to know more about it. It's one of the most unforgettable day adventures for you can take! With its crystal-clear alpine waters, breathtaking mountain vistas and serene surroundings, Colchuck Lake is a destination that beckons hikes to embark on an unforgettable journey. You may have heard lots of rumblings about permits and maybe even something about the longer trek, The Enchantments, I'll cover everything you need to know about this popular trek.

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25 Things We've Learned in 25 Years of Marriage

Today is our 25th wedding anniversary. It's funny, because only old people are celebrating their silver anniversary and we are still young kids just learning how to adult. At least that's what it feels like! We married young {I was 19, he was 20} and we immediately started our family {ahem...I was 26 weeks pregnant when we walked down the aisle}. We were the first of our friends to get married and we've seen our fair share of couple friends get divorced. We've had a lot of good years and some bad years in there, but overall, I think at 25 years we have a few things we've learned that we can share to those coming up behind.

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Top Tips for International Travel with Teens

Traveling with your teenagers can be a fun and fulfilling experience for both you and your teenager. Traveling can not only help your teenager experience new cultures but can also help you bond and build memories together. If you’re new to traveling with your teenager, here are a few of my best tips to help with international travel with teens.

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The Best Time to Visit Iceland: The Answer Might Surprise You!

I don't like to be cold, so Iceland really wasn't at the top of my travel list. However, when my daughter and I started planning a high school graduation trip {that had to be thrice rescheduled...sorry class of 2020!}, the stopover flights through Iceland had me intrigued. We could add a stopover and explore a new country without any extra cost for airfare! So we booked the trip. We made the most of a 24-hour stopover {you can read about how we maximized our time here} and after getting a small taste of this beautiful country that my daughter says is like a colder Hawaii {an apt description}, it's definitely on my radar to explore again!  So when is the best time to visit Iceland? Read on! The answer might surprise you!

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Family Fun with Teens in Wilsonville, Oregon

A few years ago, I realized I hadn't spent a lot of time exploring the beautiful area that we live in and I set out to change that. The PNW is arguably the most beautiful place to be in the summer with mountains, rivers, trees, and trails. The weather is mild and it's easy to be outside or relax inside. Our family was hosted by ExploreWilsonville recently and we had the best time. Wilsonville is in the heart of it all and only 16 miles south of Portland, making it the perfect home base to explore Oregon. 

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Best Place to Watch Sunrise on Grand Canyon's Southern Rim

When you find yourself close to a National Park, you should always take advantage of viewing sunrise and/or sunset. Many of the National Parks we visited on our Ultimate Southwest Road Trip™ are doing their best to work towards the International Dark Sky status. This just means that a park is doing its best to improve the night sky visibility in order to protect and preserve the nighttime environment. Sunrise is a different story! One of my first questions to any and all of the park rangers and volunteers was "where is the best place to watch the sunrise?" I got a lot of different answers and with only one morning sunrise to test it out, I think we found the winner! Read on!

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The Best 7 Day Grand Circle Road Trip Itinerary! The Ultimate Southwest Road Trip!

What started as a {potential} college visit to Prescott, Arizona, with a side trip to the Grand Canyon, turned into a road trip through Nevada, Utah, and Arizona making stops at Zion National Park, Bryce National Park, Glen Canyon, and the Grand Canyon {to name a few} in what is often referred to as {a portion of} The Grand Circle. We actually deemed it "The Ultimate Southwest Road Trip" and it will forever be known as that from here on out. {We never made it to visit the college.} 
It's easy to look at a map and see how close some of the most spectacular parts of the southwest are to one another and get carried away planning a road trip. We planned the Ultimate Southwest Road Trip­­™ and think that this was the best way to spend seven days around some of the United State's most beautiful vistas. We fit a lot in, allowing for some downtime, and felt like we saw all the things {and a few things you could skip}. Read on for tips on how you can plan your own Ultimate Southwest Road Trip.

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Taking a Cruise or Going to an All-Inclusive Resort: Which is Better for a Family with Teens?

Regardless of how you choose to vacation as a family, I'll always be the person on the sidelines cheering you on to take that trip. Family vacations are so important in building long-lasting shared experiences with memories that will last a lifetime. Traveling as a family is so important in building those healthy family bonds and while traveling with teens brings its own set of hurdles to overcome {sports and school schedules are complicated!}, it's worth it to push through to plan that trip and take that time for your family. That said since time is limited, I know you want to make the best choice for travel for your family, which is why I'm taking a look at a cruise or all-inclusive vacation for your family. Which is better? I'll lay out some pros and cons and will let you decide!

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The Ultimate Back-to-School Experience with Cricut

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cricut. All opinions are 100% my own.
I've had kids in some form of school since 2000, so after 21 years, I feel like I'm probably some kind of expert. I have a closet stocked full of frequently used school supplies because you don't ever want to run out! With my youngest entering into his junior year of high school, there are fewer back-to-school supply shopping lists and more of finding supplies that work for each kid. My teens are beyond particular about what pens and pencils they use and while I liked multi-subject notebooks for notetaking, I can't get anyone else on board with my system! Everyone has their own thing and that's totally ok which is why I LOVE using Cricut for all of our back-to-school supplies because it allows us to be creative with otherwise ho-hum supplies. And there's nothing more teens like than having their own unique style and with the Cricut, you can make that happen! Come check out how I elevated some plain school supplies and made them into something my teenager would love to go back to school with.

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How to Afford Family travel {10 Mistakes You're Making and How to Fix Them}

When it comes to planning a trip with your family, it can start to get expensive quickly. Between flights or gas, accommodations, and fun while you’re there, you could be spending thousands on your next trip! To help you save some money and plan smarter, here are ten mistakes you’re making and how to fix them so you can afford to travel as a family.

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Turtle Holiday Hot Cocoa Bombs

Hot chocolate bombs are literally the HOTTEST thing right now. Ask your teen or young adult if they've heard of them and I'll bet you they have! Hot chocolate bombs are simply just chocolate spheres filled with hot chocolate mix and your favorite variations of hot cocoa stir ins. You release the bomb into a mug and pour steaming hot milk over the top and watch the chocolate melt away and the insides open up to create the most fun hot cocoa you've ever had! These are so much fun to make and they make great gifts too! Here is everything you need to know to make your own hot cocoa bombs. This one comes with a little turtle {caramel and walnut YUM!} twist.

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Everything You Need to Know Before you Visit Whidbey Island, WA

In the past few years, all of us have been finding ourselves just a little closer to home. We've stayed closer to home the past few months and it's been helping me check a few of those areas I wanted to get out to explore, like the Tri-Cities, Camano Island, Vashon Island and Hood Canal. This midwest transplant spent nearly two decades living on this coast and I really didn't feel like I'd seen much. While we don't get as much changing leaves in the fall {hello evergreen state!}, the best time to enjoy the ones we do have are in late October or early November and they provide the perfect backdrop for exploring our area. This time, we navigated north, to Whidbey Island. I've got everything you need to know so you can plan your one-tank trip from the Seattle area too.

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Mickey Mouse Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods

Travel is weird right now. I know many people who had family vacation plans that had to cancel due to the current pandemic, myself included. I've been impressed at how people are finding creative ways to still make the most of the situation. Maybe you didn't have plans of visiting Disney this year, but you are missing the magic and want to bring that home. I've got a fun Mickey Mouse chocolate dipped pretzel rod you can create and weave into whatever magical plans you want from the comfort of your home.

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Top Things to do in Boise, Idaho With Teens

I visited Boise, Idaho for the first time a few years ago on a college visit with my daughter. My teens seem to be on the cusp of all things cool and move to the best cities just as they are exploding {see also when my oldest son moved to Waco as the Fixer Upper rage swept the nation!}. That son has since relocated to Boise, Idaho and now 3/4 of my favorite young people live in this {not so} hidden gem. Boise, Idaho is the fastest growing city in the US and it's been ranked as the best city to live for Millenials, which means, your teens will love visiting Boise just as much as you do. I'm sharing my top things to do in Boise, Idaho with teens. And of course, you can always leave those kids at home and enjoy the city on your own too!

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