Tips for making the most of Knott’s Berry Farm

Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California is, in many ways, the OG of Southern California theme parks. Originally created around an actual berry farm, where the Knott family sold boysenberry jam and homemade desserts and comfort food, Knott’s has retained many of its quaint characteristics, from its famous fried chicken restaurant to its marketplace of artisan shops and holiday-themed … [Read more...]

Five things to do with kids in Moran State Park, Orcas Island WA

Orcas Island is a great destination for families in the San Juan Island network. Kids will enjoy kayaking or exploring the numerous farmer's markets and two public beaches, but the highlight for us was Moran State Park. Located on the Doe Bay section of the island, Moran includes two lakes, numerous hikes, beautiful cascade waterfalls, a wonderful nature center, and swimming beaches. What … [Read more...]

Outdoors and wellness in Gulf Shores Alabama

I love it when a destination surprises me. Before visiting Gulf Shores Alabama, I pictured pretty white sand beaches, a party scene of high rises and beach bars, and plenty of greasy fried seafood in paper-lined plastic baskets. And I'm told that up until about ten years ago, my impression would have been correct. The Gulf Shores and adjacent Orange Beach of today, however, offers so much more. … [Read more...]

Five free things to do in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Sioux Falls is a surprising city in many ways: it's larger than most visiting families would guess, and is well-stocked with family friendly activities and historical sites...many of them cheap or free. Read on for our top five cheap or free things to do in Sioux Falls. 1. Ride the Sioux Falls Trolley This trolley system works its way from downtown Sioux Falls to the falls themselves at Falls … [Read more...]

Southern Illinois pit stop: Jeremy Rochman Memorial Park

Southern Illinois is an area with many beautiful natural parks, forests, and lakes to explore. Just south of Carbondale, Ill., home to Southern Illinois University, you’ll find a park you won't want to miss if you're traveling through the area. Online, you'll find it listed as "Dungeons and Dragons Park," or by its more official name, Jeremy 'Boo' Rochman Memorial Park. My kids, however, call it … [Read more...]

Day in the Ozarks with kids: Dogwood Canyon

A day in Dogwood Canyon Nature Park is a great way to get an introduction to the beauty of the Ozarks with kids. Privately owned and operated as a non-profit by Johnny Morris, the owner and founder of Bass Pro Shops, my first impression of Dogwood Canyon was that 1. it’s beautiful enough to be a state park or otherwise preserved by the US government, and 2. that Morris is doing a pretty good job … [Read more...]

Florida Caverns State Park

State parks make some of the very best pit stops, as fans of Florida Caverns State Park well know! One of the few state parks with dry (air-filled) caves, Florida Caverns is the only Florida state park to offer cave tours to the public. Accessible to all ages, the cave has dazzling formations of limestone stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, flowstones, and draperies. The park is also popular … [Read more...]

Outside the box budget Seattle vacation

There are many wonderful cities worth spending a vacation in, and Seattle is certainly high on the list of cities where you have the ability to really tailor-make your experience based on what your idea of a great urban weekend is. Budgets can be tricky, but if you're willing to take advantage of good deals on Apollo RV rentals and think outside the box a little bit then you can absolutely enjoy … [Read more...]

Massachusetts with kids: Purgatory Chasm

A unique natural landmark, Purgatory Chasm State Reservation runs for a quarter of a mile between granite walls rising as high as 70 feet. Popular with picnickers and rock-climbers alike, the Chasm is believed to have its origin in the sudden release of dammed-up glacial meltwater near the end of the last Ice Age, approximately 14,000 years ago. Trails lead to a wide variety of rock … [Read more...]

What to do on Mt. Hood in summer: a three day itinerary

Mt. Hood Oregon is a winter playground, but it's an amazing outdoor destination in the summer months as well. Located just an hour from Portland, Mt. Hood National Forest offers stunning mountain vistas for hikers, backpackers, campers, and kayakers. The central 'town' is Government Camp, which is a smaller community of outdoor-focused shops and dining, but the actual towns of Welches and … [Read more...]