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Travel Ideas!

Explore our unique Travel Ideas to create your own crazy family adventures! We search out the odd, the fun, the unusual, and the very best vacation ideas so you can theme your next vacation.

Travel ideas are posted a few times a year. Check back or enjoy browsing our extensive archives for other great ideas. 

In-A-Day activities

Brokechilla- April 18-19th, 2015

4/2/2015

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Looking for a concert-among-concerts, on a budget? Join the fun at Brokechella in San Francisco on April 18-19, 2015 with an awesome lineup of bands to check out. 

Brokechilla was created in response to the frustration on crazy, out-of-control priced concerts. While some single artist concerts are running a minimum of $100.00 for a nose bled seat, Brokechilla is charging $10-$20 for admission to the event. What? Yes, a whole day event! Brokechilla started out in a coffee house and now has outgrown its first venue and has taken over the music scene in size and popularity.

Brokechella is the considered to be the concert that is gentle on your pocketbook. The experience offers a great lineup of bands at rock bottom prices.


Info according to their website: This year, BROKECHELLA is back to 590 Santa Fe Ave, in the heart of Downtown. We’ve got 4 stages, a World Initiative, comedy and variety stage, a bigger than ever vendor fair, more puppychella, giant jenga puzzles, and so much more.

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Paddlewheeler Adventure

3/18/2015

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 Have you ever considered a Mississippi River paddlewheel cruise? I have been on a few paddle-wheeler day-trips, but they were more of  sight-seeing adventures in places like New Orleans, so spending a few days aboard one would be incredible. 

A paddle-wheeler adventure would make an awesome family-reunion activity or even a multi-generational trip. 
Since there are not as many high-energy activities on this style of cruising, as opposed to maneuvering around one of the mega-sized cruise ships, you can spend time relaxing and bonding as a family. Enjoy a slow-paced and luxurious trip through time while hanging out on the top deck viewing the passing country side or even relaxing in the library reading a Mark Twain book. Bring along some family games or cards to enjoy with your family while taking in the views.

If you are looking for authentic paddlewheeler, check out the Queen of the Mississippi. They have several itineraries to choose from and  you will find well-appointed staterooms with complimentary room service including High Tea in the afternoon. This particular paddlewheeler has an exercise room and a putting green, so you can make sure and stretch a bit from all the relaxation. 

Visit Americancruiselines for more information

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Houseboat rentals and Lake Powell

3/3/2015

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Summers sneak up fast.  Since pre-planning usually offers the ability to get the best deals, this is the perfect time to talk about house boating. For the last couple of years, we have spent a few days on beautiful Lake Powell.  It is, in my humble opinion, one of the most amazing lakes to spend some time on. The rock formations alone make it a majestic dream vacation. With that being said, it can be hotter than a lot of people are use to. Since I am use to Arizona weather, it is cool for me. There are a lot of houseboat rentals available on Lake Powell.  If you go online to Wahweap, you can pick one to rent, from a demure and basic place to lay your head, to an opulent two story, fully air-conditioned, BBQ included, mega-slide for the kids, lake mansion. They are costly to rent, even the basic models. But if you have a large group or family, that cost can work out for you by sharing the price and by saving with the peanut butter and jelly lunches you will eat on the lake.  Restaurants on vacation add up, as do tours.  You can rent a boat  in advance as well to take around and save on gas since, honestly, you will not want to be toting around the lake on the houseboat and spending money for that with the price of that liquid gold.  They also have jet ski rentals.

How we usually did it, and take this for what it is worth and the type of group you will be going with, is that we all put a certain amount of money in, to cover the rental costs, gas, the basics, and food. That way no one person is being stuck for the costs of things you do not anticipate.  Each person can bring their own snack and keep it for themselves by marking it.  We also always did BYOB.  Plan to spend your first day loading, looking for the perfect beach to park at, and getting a quick dip to cool you off. You will need it!  We also have the first meal of the night prepared in advanced. There will be no time for that with setting up.

Here are some good cheats if you are not a seasoned house boater but want to give it a try:
Have the dock captain take your to a spot and set you up. The can also pick you up and take you home.  You might say "Well what is the point of house boating them?"  I understand what you are saying, but how fun will it be trying to figure out how to drive, park, set up, navigate, and ultimately have a problem on your dream trip.  It cost for this service, but if you are like me, I am all about the camping in a great spot, not worrying about an accident or harming a very expensive rental boat.
Book in advance for the best prices.  You can also look for people who own timeshares on them and rent them out.
You can order groceries to be put on the boat for you.  Again, a cheat, but a worthy cheat if you are coming a long distance and do not want to find a store.  Besides, that way you know what grocery bill to split before you go.

http://www.lakepowell.com/

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Yes, Texas has Wineries!

2/17/2015

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Everyone thinks California when they think wine, but did you know Texas has some great wineries as well? Traveling through Texas on our road adventure, we found that you could actually order a glass of wine and walk with it on the San Antonio River walk. We also located quite a few regional wineries through out Texas and found them to be a unique, fun, and tasty experience. 

We found a gem of a place in Lubbock, Texas called Caprock Winery. This is a great place to stop as you are making your way across Texas or are stopping in at Texas Tech. Their beautiful facilities include an open wine-tasting room, an outdoor patio, and a banquet hall. They offer tours of the winery and delicious wine tastings. My personal favorite was their Blush wine. Our personal wine tasting hostess and crew were truly some of the most friendly people we met on our wine journey.  As an added bonus, we each received an adorable commemorative wine glass to take home that was included with the tasting and they say it is shatterproof. 

 This place is a must for those traveling through Lubbock or actually a great destination stop. Looking at their schedule, the winery hosts really fun events as well such as live band performances, movies in the courtyard, a wine festival, and BBQs. These events they host sound great on their own, but paired with some of their lovely local wine, you can't go wrong!

Visiting regional wineries is a great way to experience a town, socialize with the people, and try locally-made wine.  Stop in a few on your way across the lone star state and let us know which ones you enjoyed as well.

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Comic-Con Tips and Tricks.

2/3/2015

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  Comic-Con is an outrageous outing made of all things comics, science fiction, and movies. This event started in 1970 when a group of fans all came together to put on the first comic book convention in Southern California. Even if you are not a big fan, attending one of these conventions will make you one or at least make you appreciate the energy of the fans. 


This is a great outing for the whole family, if you can handle large crowds and standing in a lot of lines. We stood in line three hours for tickets to the Masquerade Ball and then had to come back a few hours later and stand in line for an hour to just to get into the ballroom. Important to note,  this was one of the smaller lines. Here's a tip, you don't even have to go inside or buy the expensive tickets while waiting with your fingers posed over the buy-it-now option on your computer screen only to find out they sold out in five minutes last year, because just sitting outside and people watching is an event in itself.  Of course, I am not suggesting that it is not better inside. It is. But a lot of the activities are outside of the Convention center. You can see some of the most elaborate costumes walking by as the people stay in character from the vantage point of one of the restaurants that face the strip and the Convention Center. We were in awe at the amount of work that goes into one single outfit. We found everyone approachable for pictures and information. 

What I do recommend, if you are wanting to brave the fan storm, is that you do your homework! Download the Comic-Con app that tells you who, what, and where everything is. Then pick your top two items to do every day and prepare to stand in line chatting with all types of folks. While in line, you can people watch and visit. Bring snacks. What ever you do, bring snacks!  Because you really have to leave the convention for good food, it takes away of your time inside. Then again, you can people watch from some of the nearby restaurants as well.

Biggest tips I wish I had known: Wear comfortable shoes at all times. You will walk, walk, walk. Know the schedule before hand and come prepared to stand in long lines, be patient, maybe bring a good book or buy one autographed while you are there. Check the bus schedule! That is the most important. They start and stop at different times. We were on the red route about a mile away and after walking all the way there at midnight with tired kids after the masquerade, we found out they picked up in front of the Comic-Con starting at 11:30 pm.  Yep, that just happened. We had to walk all the way back. Last, always know what limited edition item you want to buy and get in line early for it. They sell out quickly and the lines are insane if you wait too long.  Look for the one thing that would make your trip worthwhile if you could score, and concentrate only on trying to get that. But don't be disappointed if you don't get one. You can always find it later on eBay.


The big granddaddy of them all is the one in San Diego, which is scheduled for July 9-12  2015.  Not to worry if you can't make it all the way to California, there a mini-cons all around the country to enjoy. The local one we attended made a great introduction, and the best part was watching the kids just stare gape-mouthed at all the creativity from the fans. To be honest, it was not just the kids, we were all in awe.

 For dates and locations of Comic-Cons near you check @ http://www.upcomingcons.com/comic-conventions
For the granddaddy of them all, check out  http://www.comic-con.org/frontpage
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London: Haunted Pub and the Clink

1/20/2015

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These are two places that I wish I had known about before we went to London instead of finding them our very last day there. This could have been a full-day adventure of unique fun.

The Clink Prison Museum:  At this location, situated in Southwark, it is said that J.K Rowling's herself got her inspiration for the Death Eaters. How cool is that? And it is relatively inexpensive for a London attraction. At only 7.50 pounds per person, you cannot beat the value. It is built on the site of the original clink prison. It is also right across the way from the other place that should have mention...

The Anchor Pub: This historic and charming place is said to be one of the most haunted pubs in London, at least this was according to our tour guide. It is said to be haunted by a dog who lost its tail and its master by a presser gang in the 1700's. They say at closing time it comes back to sniff around. I am not sure if a dog haunting constitutes the most haunted pub in your book, but there are lists and lists of haunted pubs in London. I think that at least a half day dedicated to checking out all of the haunted pubs (with or without a cocktail) would be a great way to explore some of the English history, sample unique food, and enjoy a day pub crawling.

http://www.clink.co.uk/index.html
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Volun-tripping

1/6/2015

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 Have you ever considered spending your vacation time volunteering on a mission trip? There are literally endless numbers of tour companies that offer trips that include helping those less fortunate. Some offer the opportunity to provide medical aid, build homes, visit orphanages, or even help out a Marine Conservation groups.
  You can take your trip as a family, as a couple, or even solo. Some trips are done in the United States and others require abroad travel. In the United States, at Global Volunteers, you can work with local people for a week of service in education, labor, and cultural projects. If you enjoy the ocean, then maybe choose a marine conservation project in Seychelles that includes counting turtles and helping identify marine species. If you are adventurous, you can climb Mt. Kilimanjaro while also providing equipment and services to those with special needs including the wounded vets that have taken the journey with K2Adverntures.

Marine Conservation http://www.responsibletravel.com/holiday/2280/marine-conservation-project-in-seychelles
Veterans assistance and build hospitals
http://www.k2adventures.org/about-us
Reservations in the USA
http://www.globalvolunteers.org/usa/

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Stonehenge and Salisbury - England

12/16/2014

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When we were in England and staying in London, we opted for a day trip to Stonehenge.  If you are unfamiliar with England and considering taking a tour there, you do not have to book with a tour company to get there easily from London. It is super easy to get to and around on your own. Save your pocketbook and your time by going solo. Most of the tour companies travel by van or bus and have strict times that you must come and go. On this trip, we did not want to, and did not have to, deal with another person's schedule. So, how easy is it to get to Stonehenge?  This easy... Go to your nearest train station, buy a return ticket (not a one way) for an upcoming day, hop on the train, and at the end of the train terminal you grab the Stonehenge tour bus. The bus takes you to the site, hands you a ticket, and you view this amazing monument on your own time schedule. On the way back to the train station, you have a few stops where you can get on and off by way of the double-decker. You have already bought an all-day pass for this option to sight-see before you go back to the train. Very simple! Just watch your times. We were enjoying ourselves so much that we almost missed the last bus back to the train station.


Just to let you know, so that you can be prepared, all the way to Salisbury, the locals on the train made fun of us for going all that way to see a pile of rocks. We told them that we were from Arizona and some of our locals considered the Grand Canyon just a giant hole, so we understood why they did not see it as a big deal. Every one of them recommended we go to Bath instead. We were glad we stayed the course and were extremely pleased with our choice. Not only did we enjoy our visit to Stonehenge, but to Salisbury as well. It is a fantastic, quiet day trip from the bustle of London. The eighteen-year-old in our group loved it the most. She enjoyed the medieval feel of the place. We really enjoyed the quaint shops in Salisbury including some of the very best food we ate on our whole trip, and we ate at some amazing places in London. Don't miss the Ox Row Inn and the unbelievable homemade scones with clotted cream and strawberries from Reeves the Baker on Market Square, which is very close to the Ox Row Inn. We were in heaven. During the time we were there, the upstairs formal High Tea did not have any scones left. At first we were disappointed, until the very friendly worker at the downstairs bakery was polite enough to catch us before we left and showed us the scones downstairs.  I am not sure how amazing the ones upstairs at a higher price had to be to be better than those.  Honestly, I am a scone fanatic and they blew me away with their sweet, perfectly-baked, fresh scone with  mounds of fresh cream and strawberries on top. The price upstairs is probably for the ambiance, but we enjoyed eating outside in the square in their private table space. 

Tickets on the direct train from London Waterloo Station to Salisbury are about seventy-eight pounds for a round-trip ticket any time.  Look online for cheaper tickets though. They are all over the internet. We did ours last minute, so we paid the price for that decision. I recommend the "anytime return" since you might not know how long you will want to stay. We stayed and played in Salisbury til the last train.

Tickets on the double-decker bus in Salisbury cost is twenty-six  pounds per adult and sixteen pounds per child. The price includes your ticket in to Stonehenge and an on-and-off bus tour.
The bus is located  right out the front door of the train station. You can't miss it. 

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Christmas Markets with Viking River Cruises-Europe

12/2/2014

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Viking River Cruise's Christmas Market:   This cruise tops off my personal list of things I would love to do! Floating through your choice of river cruise itineraries to explore a Christmas Wonderland.

The holiday inspired activities are endless. Sip coffee in Vienna, eat gingerbread in Passau, go gift shopping in Berlin, see wreath-making workshops; the list of things to do on this dream cruise is endless. Stay in the traditions of the season while enjoying the colorful and romantic Christmas Markets in Europe.


If this cruise is too far from your reach, sit back with a up of cocoa and enjoy their video on the different Christmas Markets. They did a great job showcasing  the places they go.
                                                                          
http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/holiday-cruises/

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Rent a Teardrop Camper

11/18/2014

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 Have you ever considered taking a unique camping adventure?  Teardrop campers are basically high-end tents, but they are super cute and off the ground! 

There are several themed campers that can add to your adventure, so, of course, we love that!  Most are outfitted with a sleeping area, an area to keep some dishes and cooking supplies, a place for water, and some even have electricity.

These little darlings are attached by trailer onto your vehicle. According to people in the know, they are lightweight enough to pull easily. I can only imagine the attention your family would get driving one of these into a KOA park.  


http://tinyyellowteardrop.blogspot.com/2013/01/rent-teardrop-trailer.html

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