When my sister suggested a family vacation in Maine for this summer, I thought it was an interesting idea but so far from our usual Florida beach trips I could hardly wrap my head around it. Spoiler Alert: It was glorious. We borrowed a friend’s house in the Rangeley Lakes region and while it was remote and getting there was a challenge, it was completely worth it. It was stunningly beautiful and so unspoiled. The air was fresh and filled with the scent of fir trees. We hiked and played and explored the region all while enjoying time away with our extended family. Read on to find out what we did and find our tips for planning your own visit.
Tag: family travel
Seven Simple Tips for Family Travel on a Budget
Family travel can seem out of reach when you are living on a budget, but it doesn’t have to be. With planning and strategy, we are able to have incredible adventures with our family without busting our budget. Today I’m sharing seven simple tips we’ve learned over the last few years living in financial freedom and finding space in the budget for travel. Before I start, let me say that we put travel on hold while we paid off all of our debt and created an emergency fund. While I believe travel is an important part of our lives, it is a luxury. Though we live debt free, we are on a teacher & part time blogger/non-profit salary, so we aren’t exactly rolling in the dough. If we can do it, so can you.
Three Tips & Tools to Simplify Family Travel
We love to travel as a family, but getting to our destination with small children in tow can be a serious hassle. Today we are sharing three of our favorite tips and tools to help you simplify family travel this summer. As we do every summer, we are planning a big family trip and the air travel portion seems so daunting. That’s why I was so thrilled to find out about the service CLEAR offers and add it to my #ToolsforTravel, and share it with my readers as well. With our CLEAR membership, we will breeze through the airport with no hassle. Best of all, CLEAR is offering a FREE two month membership for all of my readers! Click here to get it and use the code CLEAR2M2.
Dreaming of a Vacation in Puerto Rico
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Puerto Rico, The All-Star Island. All opinions are 100% mine.
We love to travel with our family, and when winter weather hits my travel dreams turn to warm water and sandy beaches. I’ve long dreamed of a vacation in Puerto Rico and we’re hoping to make it happen soon. Why is Puerto Rico so high on my travel life list? It is easily accessible from the U.S., family friendly, and has something for everyone. Read on to find out why I’m dreaming of the crystal waters and sand in my toes right now. Live your own 5-star vacation story in Puerto Rico.
Family Travel: Hiking Craggy Pinnacle near Asheville, North Carolina
One of my all time favorite short hikes, Craggy Pinnacle is just 1.4 miles with a 250 foot gain in elevation. The view from the top is incredible on a clear day, and the hike through the rhododendrons feels like you stepped in to a magical fairy land. We took our kids this summer, and the Bear was able to hike it on his own at age 3. If you are in the Asheville area, hiking Craggy Pinnacle is a can’t miss hike. Be sure to read our post about hiking with toddlers here, and more hikes we love here.
Visiting the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in Fort Walton Beach, Florida #FamilyTravel
The last week of our Southern Road Trip was spent in one of my favorite places, the Florida Panhandle. I grew up vacationing on the sugar white sands of the Miracle Strip and visiting the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park. I had the opportunity to visit the Gulfarium again with my own children this summer and can’t wait to share our adventure with you. Read more about our beach vacation tips for families here, our beach week meal plan here, and activities for the kids at the beach here.
Frugal Family Travel Tips: How to Take a BIG Trip on a Little Budget
We recently returned from a 26 day road trip through the southeastern United States. We visited 11 states, drove over 3000 miles, and had an amazing time. We live on a tight budget on my husband’s teacher salary (plus the part time income from this blog and my part time job with Young Life). We live debt free and don’t use credit cards at all (thanks to Dave Ramsey‘s Total Money Makeover). So, how did we take such a big trip on a little budget? We got creative, kept it simple, and made a plan we could stick to. Read on to find out tips for taking big trips when your income is small.
The Great Smoky Mountains Getaway Giveaway ~ Win a $790+ Family Vacation Giveaway
Are you in need of a vacation somewhere beautiful? We are partnering with Hidden Mountain Resort, the Titanic Museum of Pigeon Forge, and Dollywood to give one lucky reader a luxury getaway to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. This family vacation giveaway is valued at over $790 with no strings attached and it is free and easy to enter. We just visited the beautiful Smoky Mountains and they are the perfect retreat and family vacation destination. Read on for more details and enter to win today.
Family Travel: Visiting Dollywood in Tennessee with Kids
As a fan of theme parks, roller coasters, and Dolly Parton, loving Dollywood comes naturally for me. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to take my family to the park on our recent trip to the Smoky Mountains. I received free tickets to the park to facilitate this review, but all opinions are my own. I love Dollywood because it is family friendly, family focused, and has a little something for everyone. Read on to find out how our trip went with two toddlers and how to enter to win a trip to Dollywood for your family.
Family Travel: Our Smoky Mountain Family Vacation at Hidden Mountain Resort
Our family loves to spend the summer traveling, and this year we were blessed to spend a few days of our family vacation in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee at Hidden Mountain Resort. The family owned resort features luxury cabin rentals and villas, as well as a motor coach resort. Located in Sevierville, Tennessee, Hidden Mountain is close to all of the action in The Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg, but feels tucked away and secluded. We stayed at Hidden Mountain at no cost in exchange for this review, but all opinions are strictly my own. Read on to find out why we love cabin rentals for frugal family vacations, what we thought about Hidden Mountain Resort, and how you can win a trip of your own to the Smoky Mountains.