** This post is sponsored by Wente Vineyards but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. My intention for the summer has been to explore. Last summer I didn't have much time for the outdoors. I spent most days inside and not enjoying Chicago's best season to be outside. I also didn't explore my new neighborhood as much as I should have. I didn't garden at all, even ... Read more
Things to Do in Munising, Michigan | Upper Peninsula
I really enjoyed our family's relaxing trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which is a 5.5 to 6 hour drive from Chicago. I was pleasantly surprised that family-friendly and dog-friendly things to do were plentiful in the area. I'm sharing some ideas to get you started on your trip planning to the UP, although I acknowledge we have a lot more to see. We mostly explored the Au Train and ... Read more
Our Pictured Rocks Cruise Tour on Lake Superior, Michigan
One of the highlights of our Upper Peninsula family road trip was our cruise with Pictured Rocks Cruises, which is the only approved vendor at the National Park Service's Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. We booked the 2.5-hour cruise that ventures all the way to Spray Falls one afternoon. Other options for cruises were the classic cruise and the sunset cruise. We paid four tickets were $92. ... Read more
A Summer Day at Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory
I've wanted to visit Lincoln Park Conservatory since we moved to Chicago three and a half years ago, but I didn't make it until this summer. My cousins visited for a week recently and I thought they'd enjoy Lincoln Park Zoo. The Lincoln Park Zoo and the Lincoln Park Conservatory are both free. I would suggest both to visitors and locals looking for affordable things to do in Chicago, especially ... Read more
Add Boating to Your Summer Plans
** This post is sponsored by Discover Boating but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. I have shared quite frequently that I love being on or near water. Turns out I am not alone in that: 142 million Americans go boating each year, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association. And summer is the best time to spend on a boat! There's just something so relaxing about ... Read more
An Unforgettable Hawaii Beach Day | False Ballistic Missile Threat
When you wake up one morning, grab breakfast and begin to get ready for a beach day, you don't expect to hear what sounds like an Amber Alert ringing on your phone. I looked at my screen and read aloud the words I was seeing: Extreme alert BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL." This is not a drill. How could this be? I immediately suspected a ... Read more
Family-Friendly Snorkeling at Kahaluu Beach Park
When we decided to visit the Big Island again, I wondered if the beaches would be suitable for a toddler. Many of the beaches we had visited during our Hawaii honeymoon in 2014 were rocky and the waves were sometimes rough. We were pleasantly surprised by how family-friendly Kahaluu Beach Park, a popular snorkeling beach in Hawaii, turned out to be. The park doesn't have a huge chunk of sand, ... Read more
Cheap Family-Friendly Things to Do in San Francisco
I hadn't been to the Bay Area since I was a child, so when my great aunt hinted that we should visit, I jumped at the chance. I really don't know why it's been this long since I reconnected with my family in the Oakland and Union City area, but I'm glad I finally took the opportunity. It was also a perfect time for Victoria to meet family members she had never met before, like her great, great ... Read more
Big Island Fun: Rainbow Falls in Hilo, Hawaii
Rainbow Falls in Hilo, Hawaii, seems be a popular attraction on the Big Island. It's easily accessible and free, so visitors of all ages can see its beauty. Even if you've been there before, Rainbow Falls is worth revisiting because you just might catch a glimpse of a rainbow in front of the waterfall, depending on the weather. We first went to Rainbow Falls during our honeymoon on the Big ... Read more
Muir Woods National Monument With a Toddler
When we booked a last-minute weekend trip to the Bay Area recently, we had only two must-dos on our list besides seeing our family. One of them was visiting Muir Woods National Monument. We've been fans of redwood trees for a long time as nature lovers, so we couldn't wait to see them in person. Muir Woods recently enacted a new parking and shuttle service, which means you must make a parking ... Read more