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