4000 feet up! Are you traveling again? A family vacation in Vegas (yes, you read that right – more on that in an upcoming post) was our last big trip before lockdown in March 2020. Aside from all the Vegas fun, I managed to work in a daytrip to Grand Canyon West and it was the best decision ever! Don’t have a rental car? No problem! You can opt for booking with a tour company like Pink Adventure Tours that will take the guesswork out, or rent a car and go at your own pace, which is what we chose to do. Either way, you do NOT want to miss seeing this giant hole in the ground. The West Rim is on ..read more

You’re going to paradise! Congratulations! The bad news is you probably have to return home at some point. While you’re vacationing at this incredible location, you want your family to experience all that Oahu has to offer, including the best Hawaiian food, music, folklore, dancing and cultural activities! In that case, a luau is totally in order, but which one and what level of tickets? We have some honest answers to your questions. And some pictures and video as proof! Which luau should I attend? I spent hours reading reviews and comparing luaus, specifically KA WA’A (which means “the cano ..read more

Mickey Gingerbread Cookie? Yes, please! Mickey and Mele Kalikimaka belong together…like hula and hot cocoa. Ever since our 4th child was born on Christmas (which was not cool of her) I’ve been trying to make December 25th a spectacular day for her, in addition to making it work as a holiday for the rest of us. A bit of a challenge. A few years ago, I started hatching an idea to make her 5th birthday the most incredible adventure ever. What I came up with was … Disney Magic + Christmas Magic + Hawaii = Vaca/Bday/Sugarplum dreams come true.  There is no place to find that magical combinatio ..read more

  So you have a few kids.  Maybe a little more than a few.  Perhaps 3 or 4 or 5 or more, because you’re crazy like we are, I mean brave with hearts exploding with love like ours (it’s probably a little of both). And now you want to travel, but it seems like nothing is designed to fit your extended brood except for minivans.  We feel it too!  But options ARE out there.  It may come as a surprise to you that one of the best options is CRUISING – a luxurious, affordable and fun way to travel with a large family! WHAT WE WILL COVER IN THIS POST: What rooms to bo ..read more

Do you suffer from FOMO?  I do.  The dreaded “Fear of Missing Out.”  Those who have it tend to stay up late, get up early, over-plan and over-extend.  I am bringing this up because this post is about ONE DAY in Barcelona.  Those words should never be strung together!  But when Barcelona is your port of call during a Mediterranean cruise, you have no choice.  The whole premise of a cruise is a recipe for a FOMO crisis, but you can alleviate the symptoms with good planning. My remedy for a day in Barcelona was the following: (Results may vary. Consult your the ..read more

Day at a glance: Morning – Pick up at La Spezia port; Leaning Tower of Pisa — Shore excursions from the ports of La Spezia and Livorno most often combine Pisa and Florence or Pisa and Lucca.  We asked the tour company Shore Excursions in Italy to take us to Pisa and Pinocchio Park in the Tuscan town of Collodi, and they happily obliged! Afternoon – Pinocchio Park in Collodi Day in Detail: Morning – Port pickup; drive through Tuscany; Leaning Tower of Pisa For this port of call, we had a driver but no tour guide to inform and entertain our kids. Sometimes you need to feel the rush of fl ..read more

Day at a glance: Morning – Pickup at port of Naples by AP Tours driver (AP tours offer a variety of excursions from several different ports from Amalfi to Livorno) Morning tour – Kid-friendly private Pompeii Tour with AP Tours Afternoon – Pizza-making class for families in Sorrento at Il Tirabuscio Day in Detail: Morning – Pickup at Naples port by AP Tours driver AP Tours is a wonderful company to work with! We booked this family-friendly tour only a few weeks in advance and were so lucky they had availability for the day we requested. They offer a variety of private and shared experiences ..read more

Ahhh, Firenze (fee-REN-say).  The name of this city sounds as smooth as Medici velvet.  I say it and I am transported like Boticelli’s Venus arriving on the shore.  I am transformed like Michelangelo’s David, rough marble to brilliance.   I am catapulted back 20 years to my study of art history abroad, mesmerized by my professor’s melodic accent and emphatically rolled R’s: “Brrrrrrrrrrrunelleschi.” “Verrrrrrrochio.” “Rrrrrrafaelo.” Then, the daydream takes a turn. Venus gets an eyeful of sand.  David takes a blow to the chiseled pectoral.  The Medici velvet ..read more

4000 feet up! Are you traveling again? A family vacation in Vegas (yes, you read that right – more on that in an upcoming post) was our last big trip before lockdown in March 2020. Aside from all the Vegas fun, I managed to work in a daytrip to Grand Canyon West and it was the best decision ever! Don’t have a rental car? No problem! You can opt for booking with a tour company like Pink Adventure Tours that will take the guesswork out, or rent a car and go at your own pace, which is what we chose to do. Either way, you do NOT want to miss seeing this giant hole in the ground. The West Rim is on ..read more

You’re going to paradise! Congratulations! The bad news is you probably have to return home at some point. While you’re vacationing at this incredible location, you want your family to experience all that Oahu has to offer, including the best Hawaiian food, music, folklore, dancing and cultural activities! In that case, a luau is totally in order, but which one and what level of tickets? We have some honest answers to your questions. And some pictures and video as proof! Which luau should I attend? I spent hours reading reviews and comparing luaus, specifically KA WA’A (w ..read more