The following is a paper I wrote for a university travel writing course. The assignment was to take a local bus and write about it. A Bus Story is the result and, in case you were wondering, I got an A. I remember the first time I stepped onto a London bus. I hadn’t been to the UK before and every single thing was exciting. We had been there for a few days and I was still in awe that all of these places I had only seen on a screen were actually real and as amazing and imposing as I could have ... Read More
family travel
Top Ten Things to do in Hawaii with Kids
Hawaii has always been a popular destination for mainland Americans. Who can say no to a tropical getaway?! Hawaii is often thought of as a romantic holiday, but it is also a fantastic place to take kids. Marcie Cheung of Hawaii Travel with Kids is here to tell us the top ten things to do in Hawaii with kids. If you are looking for a tropical getaway for your next family vacation, look no further than Hawaii. This island paradise is just a 5 hour flight from the West Coast and there’s really ... Read More
Five Family Friendly Hikes in New Zealand
New Zealand has ample opportunities for hiking through incredible scenery, including many family friendly paths for you to enjoy with your children. Whether you are a local looking for a new spot to explore or a visitor seeking New Zealand’s natural beauty, these five hikes are sure to create a memorable day for you and your family. A Waterfall Hike Taranaki Falls Loop in Tongariro National Park is a six kilometer walk that can be completed in about two hours. Halfway through the ... Read More
Everything You Need to Know about Hong Kong Disneyland
We couldn't visit Hong Kong without spending some time at Hong Kong Disneyland. The last time Scott and I were there was in 2006, just a few months after the park opened. The park was pretty empty back then--both from people and attractions. I can remember feeling like we walked through twenty minutes of nothing to get from one ride to the next. I was looking forward to visiting both because I spent a year being disappointed by Disneyland Paris and I wanted to see how the Hong Park had grown. ... Read More
Six Reasons to Take a Road Trip Instead of Flying
There are several reasons to take a road trip instead of flying, but for me it mostly comes down to three things: budget, timeline, and preference (I'm of course talking about those trips where driving is a possibility in the first place!). If you’re on a tight budget, a road trip is going to win almost every single time. However, if you’re on a strict timeline and not as strict of a budget, flying is probably a better option! There are some flights that are cheaper than driving solo (say, ... Read More
How to Plan a Family Road Trip on a Budget
When we knew we were leaving the States, I knew that I wanted to take the girls (and Scott!) to Asheville, North Carolina, which is where my grandparents lived. I spent so much time there growing up and the area is so special to me. I had avoided it for a long time because I felt like it would hurt too much to go back but I was suddenly desperate to share such an important part of my childhood with my family, especially with not knowing when the next opportunity would be. We lived outside of ... Read More