Yosemite National Park is one of our favorite places in California to visit in spring and summer. However, visiting Yosemite in winter is even more magical if you are up for the adventure. After tons of visits to Yosemite throughout the year, we finally made the trek there during winter and share everything you need to know to visit yourself. Can you even imagine? Yosemite’s most iconic sites covered in snow, glistening with a natural sparkle. It really is spellbinding and worth the effort to get there.  You might be surprised to see the amount of things to do in Yosemite in the winter mo ..read more

Coming from Southern California, we are wimps when it comes to the cold. Through our years of ski trips, we have come up with a great list of the best kids ski gear to keep the littles warm and comfortable on the slopes whether you are in the cold mountaintops of Whistler or enjoying the blue bird days common in California. Figuring out what ski clothes to buy can be daunting especially for first timers or those who don’t live in cold weather climates.  Best Kids Ski Gear I will admit that before my son was born I had no real idea about kids ski gear or ski gear for adults even. All the t ..read more

Have you seen the news that visiting Saudi Arabia is now a possibility for many people in the western world? It is true, the kingdom is now opening its doors to tourism which means a lot more people are planning a trip to Saudi Arabia than ever before. My son and I were lucky enough to travel to Saudi Arabia for the first time just after the country reopened post pandemic closures. We share all that we learned along the way as planning a trip to Saudi Arabia can be a bit overwhelming since it’s been closed to the outside world for so long and there isn’t a ton of information out there.   ..read more

If you are heading to Germany this year for the holiday season Christmas markets, this post is for you as we share all the most popular German Christmas market food you will want to try on your trip. The assortment of amazing and delectable Germany Christmas market foods are reason enough to book your flight over! After sampling our way through more than 10 Christmas markets in Southwest Germany, we are here to share our favorite finds and what you should keep your eyes peeled for.  The fun for us was exploring the markets through the abundance of traditional German Christmas market foods ..read more

On my recent visit to Germany I had one goal in mind, check out as many of the unique German Christmas Markets as we could. While many visitors flock to the more well known Christmas markets of Nuremberg or Munich, our goal was to check out the smaller towns and what locals regard as some of the most unique and beautiful Christmas markets in the country. When you think of a fairy tale winter scene – sparkling snow, fairy lights and gingerbread houses – it can be a reality in Germany during the holiday season. Walking along cobblestone streets while smelling the sweet roasting nuts and mulled w ..read more

Are you planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park? If so you have come to the right place. Here we share our ideal Yellowstone itinerary for three to five days. From visiting bubbling mud pots to spewing geysers and wildlife galore you will find everything you need to plan your perfect trip.  For most families time is limited, but given how much there is to do and see in  Yellowstone, I highly recommend staying for as long as you can to really get off the beaten path a bit to experience more than the top tourist spots. Since we know people are limited in their time, we have given ..read more

One of the most magical times to visit Germany is during the festive holiday season. Christmas markets in Germany take over the landscape in late November through the Christmas season making it the best place to visit for those looking to transport themselves to a what open feels like a winter wonderland fairytale. Yes, the weather is cold, the days are short, but that doesn’t stop anyone from enjoying these markets to the fullest. Read on to find out all you need to know to book a trip to see the Christmas Markets of Germany! History of Christmas Markets in Germany Germans invented the tradit ..read more

One of my favorite national parks that is often overlooked is Kings Canyon National Park. Most visitors see only a tiny portion of the park from the top entrance, never taking the time to get down into the deepest canyon in the US. If we can inspire you to do anything, it is to get down into the canyon where you find so many amazing things to do in Kings Canyon National Park that you will fall in love just like we did! If you are planning a joint trip to Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon, make sure to check out our extensive post on visiting Sequoia which includes visiting the General She ..read more

We went to Uganda for the sole purpose of gorilla trekking. It exceeded all of our expectations plus some. Seeing these majestic animals in their natural habitat (because they don’t live in zoos anywhere in the world!) is truly a remarkable experience that should be on every animal lovers bucket list. Here I will share as much information as I can on planning gorilla safaris so that you can experience this for yourself! You might be surprised to find out that mountain gorillas are one of the most endangered animals on our planet. In the 1960s and 70s, mountain gorillas were captured and taken ..read more

Little Lakes Valley in the Eastern Sierras is one of the most beautiful hikes in the high sierra and one our favorite backpacking hikes in California with kids and for beginners. This beautiful hike follows along a creek, passes several pristine alpine lakes and offers gorgeous scenery without too much hard work. This is almost unheard of in the sierras, but it is true! Below I share all the details you need to day hike or backpack this beautiful trail. Where is Little Lakes Valley? Little Lakes Valley is also often called Rock Creek. This trail is located in the Eastern Sierras just south of ..read more