We are back from a week in Disney World and it was the BEST. TIME. EVER! We will never forget experiencing the Disney magic with our kids (ages 5, 4 and 1 ½). As a bonus surprise, we were joined by Ryan’s brother, wife and their kids (ages 7, 5, and 1 ½). We couldn’t have asked for better travel companions and having cousins to ride and play with made the experience all the more incredible. I’ve heard people say to wait to bring your kids to Disney until they are older and will remember it, but for us our kids were the perfect age to feel the wonder and awe of Disney magic. We loved watching their faces light up when they saw their favorite characters, cheering them on as they conquered their fears on some coasters we never imagined they would step foot on, and seeing them count their precious piggy bank money to bring home some fun Disney goodies. They may not remember exactly what rides they went on, but I do believe they will always remember the happiness and joy they felt during this week together. I need to start by saying this trip would not have been possible without the help of our incredible travel agent Patricia Tarabocchia at Mickey World Travel. I consider myself ...
How to Plan the Ultimate Long Weekend in Washington, D.C.
By Franshisca Diaz If you live anywhere near the tri-state area, Washington D.C. is no more than four hours away by car. This makes it the perfect destination to explore on a long three-day weekend. No matter if you’re traveling with friends, family, a special someone, or even alone (no one’s judging), D.C. has so much to offer. In April of this year, my boyfriend and I found ourselves with some time off from work and nothing to do. We decided to go on a quick little trip to Washington D.C. as I had never been before. After recruiting my best friend and her boyfriend, we decided we would drive down early Thursday morning and come back Sunday afternoon. THURSDAY Upon our arrival, we had a seamless check-in into our hotel for the weekend. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Washington D.C. Downtown. We landed on this specific hotel not only due to the affordable nightly rates but also because it was in the center of all of the activities and places we were interested in visiting. Also, we took into account the fact that Uber rides to and from the hotel would remain economical, something that was important to us being that we would be Ubering everywhere we went. Our first stop ...
3 Days Exploring Charleston with Kids
Two years ago, we were days away from boarding a plane to Charleston when the world shut down. I’ve always dreamed of family vacations and showing my children different cultures, cities, languages and environments from an early age. Needless to say, it was so incredibly refreshing to be back on the road and to experience a new city for all five of us. I’ve always been drawn to the city of Charleston for its picturesque waterfront parks, charming architecture, award-winning restaurants and U.S. historical significance. We thought it would be a great city to explore with our kids – ages 4, 3 and 10 months – that would give them a taste of southern living and hospitality. I’m so thrilled to share our adventures of 3 Days Exploring Charleston with Kids… WHERE TO STAY Hyatt Place Charleston / Historic District – 560 King Street The location of this hotel was perfect for our family. It sits right in the heart of Charleston, steps away from blocks and blocks of shopping and restaurants. It’s also walkable to Waterfront Park and Charleston City Market, although with kids in tow we chose to drive and had no issue finding free parking. The rooms were clean and spacious, with ...
10 Amazing Farm Vacations in New York State Your Kids Will Never Forget
It has been a year spent in lockdown with the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, and it feels so amazing to finally book our first family vacation: an amazing farm vacation in New York's Catskill Mountains. As a kid, my parents would take us to a small farm in Pennsylvania where we could help with barnyard chores like milking the cows and feeding the chickens. My siblings and I still talk about our childhood memories visiting that farm and the unforgettable adventures we had exploring the farm property. I’ve been dreaming of finding a similar place for our two boys (age 3 ½ and 2) to help them develop a love for the mountains and outdoors. And I finally found the perfect place: Mountain View Dairy in Bloomville, NY. We rented a three-bedroom home on the 260-acre property for a long weekend. This home was a complete escape and a true taste of farm country, with tractors rolling by and clear night skies for stargazing. The house was very clean and well-kept with a fully equipped kitchen where we cooked all of our own meals. Here’s how we enjoyed our stay at this amazing farm property: Day 1: Arrival / Exploring the Farm Grounds We scheduled our getaway for April ...
Things to Do & See in Shenandoah National Park
I believe there is nothing more relaxing and restorative than spending time in nature. This was never more true than our road trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and I'm so excited to share my list of things to do and see in Shenandoah National Park. My husband and I love hiking in our beautiful wooded area of New Jersey. We were excited to plan our first ever family vacation as a family of three with our son, Gavin, when he was 10-months old. We want to share our love for the outdoors with him at an early age, and we quickly decided that the Blue Ridge Parkway would be a perfect destination for our first family adventure. We spent the first two days of vacation visiting my cousin in Washington, DC. This is another great East Coast destination for families, and we enjoyed a slow-paced visit walking the National Mall and viewing the monuments. Washington DC is a short 2 ½ hour drive from the North entrance of Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive, so it’s a great stopping point or add-on. Here’s the deal: I did mention we’re traveling with a 10-month-old, right? Well, our darling baby foiled our vacation plans two days in when he woke up with a 104 fever. We ended ...
How To Plan The Ultimate Road Trip In Ireland
Some beautiful destinations can’t be discovered without getting a little lost. This is what I quickly learned when my husband and I set out on a road trip in Ireland. Ireland is famous for so many wonderful things: magnificent castles, Celtic history, traditional Irish cuisine, folk music, Irish whiskey, and, of course, Guinness. I’ve traveled to Ireland three times, each at different stages of my life, and repeatedly what I love most about the country is its luscious green landscape and rural countryside. And so, Ireland is the ultimate destination for a cross-country road trip. Step on the gas! Let’s speed ahead for a look at our seven-day road trip in Ireland. Day 1: Dublin Good morning Ireland! Our Aer Lingus flight landed at 6 a.m. and so our adventure begins. There was a man standing with a tray of whiskey shots in the airport right after we disembarked. My husband quickly assimilated to his Irish roots by enjoying this traditional Irish breakfast without hesitation. We picked up our hot wheels for the week, a silver diesel Skoda. Read on to the bottom of this post where I will share everything you need to know about renting a car in Ireland and how ...
