Oct-2016
The Great Wolf Lodge Resort— the largest chain of indoor waterparks in North America—opened their latest location in Garden Grove, California a mere two miles from Disneyland earlier this year. And, in taking advantage of their grand opening special, we booked a one-night stay recently. On top of the hours of fun the family can […]
Sep-2016
50 percent of the world’s plants and animals can be found in rainforests and is one of the most verdant playgrounds for photographers. Prepare yourself for an intimate look at a hike our family took through Costa Rica’s Volcán Arenal National Park. Lake Arenal Starting Our Hike Garden Emerald Hummingbird Thoas Swallowtail Butterfly Learning Poisonous […]
When taking our kids abroad we have two main goals: first to introduce them into a new culture, and secondly to introduce them to a different way of living. And scouring the globe earlier this year for our summer vacation we came upon Costa Rica. We figured surely any kid would love the jungle as […]
Jul-2016
Families travel to Costa Rica for fun-filled adventures. However, our precocious 4yr old was very vocal about being less than thrilled to swing through the jungle on a zip-line. So we opted for less vulnerable option, a true jungle river cruise — well, unless you are afraid of sharing the river with crocodiles. To start […]
Jun-2016
While Spring Break usually means enjoying the hot sun, donning bathing suits and relaxing at the beach or poolside we decided to the hit the road, for northern Oregon on our alternative take of the springtime tradition. Museums This city divided by the Willamette River offers many choices when it comes to stimulating the mind. […]
On our recent Oregon road trip, we had the pleasure to enjoy a short stay at the Running Y Ranch Resort. We used the ranch as our jumping off point for the lower Oregon area and Crater Lake National Park. The ranch featured an overall comfy western ranch-style atmosphere with attentive staff and nicely appointed […]
The Oregon coast has over 300 miles of rugged shoreline, windswept beaches and moody skies. We continued our spring break road trip hugging the Oregon coastline from Astoria down to Lincoln City. Around every twist and turn were rocky vistas, sleepy coastal towns, miles of public beaches and working fishing towns. Oregon’s unusually mild weather […]
Apr-2016
Nature in winter can be one of the most beautiful things you will ever witness. The crisp white of fallen snow seems to sharpen the contrast of the other colors in the environment. The greens and browns of the landscape pop out and the blue of the sky and deep water appear endless. On our […]
Perched atop pilings 300 feet or so out into the swift current of the Columbia River is a unique building. The Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa was the dream of a local Astoria native, Robert Jacob. It took Jacob thirteen years to see his dream built, but it was well worth the wait. Location The […]
Mar-2016
Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada’s Gold Country is this 1850’s boomtown frozen in time, Columbia, California. Once one of the largest cities in California, after the gold rush dried up the city fell into decline and was finally saved from demolition in the 1940s when the State of California bought the town […]
Mar-2016
On the way home from a recent Yosemite trip, we decided go off the beaten path and explore the Merced National Wildlife Refuge. Located in the San Joaquin Valley, the refuge hosts up to 15,000 wintering cranes, large concentrations of ducks and geese. Since our kids were tired from our Yosemite hikes, we opted for […]
Mar-2016
With nearly 4 million people visiting the majestic Yosemite National Park each year, it is hard to avoid the crowds. People from around the world flock here to see the soaring granite cliffs, peaceful grassy meadows, raging waterfalls and au inspiring vistas. Let’s face it, Yosemite’s unforgettable splendor is one of the reasons California is […]