Several years ago, my family resolved to travel more of our home state of California. We realized we were jetting around all over the country and the world while missing out on amazing destinations right in our backyard. In fact, these were the very same destinations that many other people jetted from all over the …
The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival at the Disneyland Resort is back for another year of tasty treats and special events. I’ve attended the festival multiple days each year since 2018, and have always been impressed at the offerings. If you are thinking of planning a spring Disneyland visit in 2023 to check …
When most travelers think of travel to the Florida Keys, a Jimmy Buffett song probably springs to mind. Lazy days, gorgeous white sand beaches, and colorful tropical drinks are definitely the stuff of a Keys vacation. Margaritaville indeed. Despite its laid back vibe, a successful Florida Keys trip definitely requires a fair bit of planning. …
Many things have changed since Walt Disney World reopened its gates in the summer of 2020. Out of all the changes, the new Disney Park Pass Reservation system stands as one of the biggest changes to the Disney vacation experience. For better or for worse, gone are the days where you could just figure out …
One of the best deals in family travel is the Every Kids Outdoors program. This program provides free national park passes to all fourth graders for a full year, giving kids and their families access to hundreds of national park sites and other federal lands. The program was formerly known as Every Kid in a …
RIP FASTPASS. We hardly knew ye MaxPass. Everything you knew about cutting the lines to ride attractions at Disneyland (and for that matter, Walt Disney World too!) has been hit with some big changes. If it’s been a year or more since your last Disneyland vacation, it’s time to learn something new. Disney unveiled the …
Vacation rentals have grown increasingly popular over the last decade. For family travelers looking for more space or the amenities and conveniences of home, renting a condo or a vacation home instead of staying in a hotel while traveling just makes sense. A lot of additional travelers discovered vacation rentals in 2020 and 2021 when …
The Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California has now been reopened for nearly two years, and we can finally say that operations have returned to normal. But things are still, practically speaking, quite a bit different in 2023 at the Happiest Place on Earth – some of them permanently so. If you haven’t been to the …
When Southwest Airlines announced plans to fly to Hawaii in fall 2017, fans began hoarding Rapid Rewards points with palm trees and mai tais on the brain. As frequent Southwest flyer who travels often to the Aloha State from my home base in Northern California, I was pretty excited myself. Flights began in March 2019. …
The most anticipated Disney attraction of the decade – Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance – debuted at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios on December 5, 2019 and in Disneyland on January 17, 2020. Headliner ride openings at Disney parks mean long lines, some times for years to follow. Several years have now followed, with …
Whether you are a local or a tourist, the city of San Francisco has dozens of family-friendly activities and events to keep you busy. But sometimes it’s rewarding to get out of the city and explore more of the greater Bay Area and Northern California. Day trips are logistically easy as well as a cheap …